City of Bloomington City Council met Feb. 27.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The City Council convened in regular session in the Government Center Chambers at 6:00 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2023. Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe called the meeting to order and led the Pledge of Allegiance ending with a moment of silent prayer/reflection.
Roll Call
| Attendee Name | Title | Status |
| Mboka Mwilambwe | Mayor | Present |
| Grant Walch | Council Member, Ward 1 | Present |
| Donna Boelen | Council Member, Ward 2 | Present |
| Sheila Montney | Council Member, Ward 3 | Present |
| Julie Emig | Council Member, Ward 4 | Present |
| Nick Becker | Council Member, Ward 5 | Present |
| De Urban | Council Member, Ward 6 | Present |
| Mollie Ward | Council Member, Ward 7 | Present |
| Jeff Crabill | Council Member, Ward 8 | Present |
| Tom Crumpler | Council Member, Ward 9 | Present |
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler
Motion carried.
Council Member Montney joined the meeting remotely at 6:02 P.M.
City Clerk Leslie Yocum shared Council Member Montney was having technical trouble. Public Comment
Mayor Mwilambwe read a statement on public comment procedure. Scott Stimeling spoke in person. No emailed public comment was received.
Recognition/Appointments
The following item was presented:
Item 6.A. Recognition of Firefighters Cody Cheeseman, Tyler Eft, and Kyle Walder who have completed their one-year probation, as requested by the Fire Department.
Fire Chief Eric West introduced Firefighters/Paramedics Cody Cheeseman, Tyler Eft, and Kyle Walder and provided a brief background on each. Leslie Yocum, City Clerk, then swore them in and Fire Chief West presented their Firefighter Commission Certificates. Mayor Mwilambwe thanked them for their commitment to their profession and the City.
Consent Agenda
Items listed on the Consent Agenda are approved with one motion; Items pulled by Council from the Consent Agenda for discussion are listed and voted on separately.
Council Member Boelen made a motion, seconded by Council Member Crabill, to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of 7.H.
Item 7.A. Consideration and Action to Approve Bills and Payroll in the Amount of $6,298,933.28, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Bills and Payroll be approved.)
Item 7.B. Consideration and Action to Approve Appointments and Reappointments to Boards & Commissions, as requested by the Administration Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Appointments and Reappointments be approved.)
Item 7.C. Consideration and Action to: (1) Repeal Approval of the Purchase of Five Police Interceptor Utility Hybrid Vehicles in the Amount of $304,909.80 from the Meeting on February 13, 2023; and (2) Approve the Purchase of Five (5) Ford Police Interceptor Utility Vehicles from Sutton Ford, in the Amount of $292,404.80, and to Approve the Disposal of Surplus Police Vehicles Not Reassigned , as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The approval on February 13, 2023, of the purchase of the five hybrid vehicles in the amount of $ 304,909.80 be repealed and the proposed purchase of the five police interceptor utility vehicles in the amount of $292,404.80 and proposed disposal be approved.)
Item 7.D. Consideration and Action on a Contract between the City of Bloomington and Cushings Commercial Carpet, Inc. for the Police Department Administration and Police Annex Building Flooring Replacement Projects (Bid #2023 -18), in the amount of $67,888.00, as requested by the Police Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Contract be approved.)
Item 7.E. Consideration and Action on the Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Bloomington and the Town of Normal for the use of the City of Bloomington Police Shooting Range, as requested by the Police Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.F. Consideration and Action on the Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Bloomington and the County of Mclean for Use of the City of Bloomington Police Shooting Range, as requested by the Police Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.G. Consideration and Action on the Approval of an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the City of Bloomington and County of McLean, IL regarding the 2023 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program Award (Grant #13686637), as requested by the Police Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Agreement be approved.)
Item 7.H. was pulled from the Consent Agenda by Council Member Ward.
Item 7.I. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Approving a First Amendment to Economic Incentive Agreement By and Between the City of Bloomington, Illinois and Forgetful Friends, LLC, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 7.J. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Amending the Budget Ordinance for the Fiscal Year Ending April 30, 2023, in the Amount of $593,928.88 and Transferring the Same Amount to the Golf Fund to Pay Cash for Equipment and Address Deferred Building Maintenance, as requested by the Finance Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 7.K. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Approving the Final Plat of the Sixteenth Addition to Hawthorne Commercial Subdivision, as requested by the Public Works Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 7.L. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Approving Text Amendments to the Zoning Code of the City of Bloomington [Chapter 44] Relating to Review and Hearing Process Clarifications, Removing Duplicative Language, and Updating Certain Zoning Classifications, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Item 7.M. Consideration and Action on an Ordinance Designating a Local Landmark, and Approving a Zoning Map Amendment to add the S-4 (Historic Preservation District) Overlay, for the Property Located at 33 Sunset Road, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department. (Recommended Motion: The proposed Ordinance be approved.)
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried.
Items Removed from the Consent Agenda:
The following item was presented:
Item 7.H. Consideration and Action on a Resolution Approving the Acceptance of a Grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority's Home Repair and Accessibility Program in the Amount of $350,000.00, as requested by the Economic & Community Development Department.
Council Member Ward explained she was not in opposition of the item, but believed the community would benefit from being educated on the application process of the Program.
Deputy City Manager Billy Tyus called upon Melissa Hon, Economic & Community Development Department Director, to address Council.
Ms. Hon explained that staff did not yet have all the parameters of the Program from the State of Illinois. She shared that the Illinois Housing Department Authority ("IHDA") had merged the Single-Family Rehabilitation Program ("SFR") and Home Accessibility Program ("HAP") to create the Home Repair and Accessibility Program ("HRAP"). She stated that staff would have more information to share as soon as they complete the Program’s training. Council Member Ward confirmed with Ms. Hon that Program funding would be available for individuals. The two then discussed their hope that the HRAP would become an annual offering.
Council Member Crabill and Ms. Hon discussed how the HRAP was a two-year program with a total $350,000 to be awarded. He then asked whether the HRAP funding was more or less than the funding received from the SFR and the HAP. Ms. Hon stated the SFR and the HAP were on different cycles and that staff would need to review City records to know.
Council Member Boelen confirmed with Ms. Hon that the proposed amount was available above and beyond the previously allotted American Rescue Plan Act ("ARPA") funds. Council Member Boelen noted the significant amount of funds available and expressed her support.
Council Member Ward made a motion, seconded by Council Member Emig, to approve the Resolution as presented.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler
Motion carried.
Regular Agenda
The following item was presented:
Item 8.A. Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Update 2, as requested by the Finance Department.
Deputy City Manager Tyus explained the presentation was the second budget update.
Scott Rathbun, Finance Director, addressed Council and recapped the Fiscal Year ("FY") 2024 budget highlights. He noted the FY 2024 budget included a $2M Arena budget managed by the Arts & Entertainment Department. He compared the FY 2024 Budget growth review over eight years. He then compared the FY 2023 and FY 2024 major tax revenues, and general fund revenues, highlighting adjustments from the previous presentation. Mr. Rathbun then presented FY 2024 anticipated expenses, noting the focus on recruiting, and retaining employees, as well as explaining the changes for each expense category. He discussed revenues by category highlighting key changes and explained that the Finance Department continuously sought ways to better use funds. He concluded with a list of steps to approve the budget and where the community could find the presentation on the City’s website.
Council Member Crabill clarified with Mr. Rathbun that it was projected that major tax revenues would be over budget by $13M for FY 2023 and $5M for FY 2024. Council Member Crabill noted public safety departments and capital projects as FY 2024 funding priorities.
Council Member Ward highlighted the 43% increase for asphalt and concrete capital improvement projects. She then discussed with Mr. Rathbun how the IHDA program changes affected the budget.
Council Member Boelen confirmed the subsidy from the General Fund to the Arena as $3M with Mr. Rathbun. She noted that seven additional staff members would be hired specifically for the Arena and asked how costs compared to costs under the VenuWorks contract. Mr. Rathbun explained that the total compensation was still less than the cost of the VenuWorks contract. The two then discussed debt and where to find the debt schedule in the budget book. Council Member Boelen asked for additional information on the amounts budgeted for O'Neil Pool and Mr. Rathbun provided additional information.
Council Member Emig expressed support for additional staff members at the Arena and Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. She then discussed the opportunity to further promote resident programs within the community.
Council Member Montney asked for follow up on commodity pricing of asphalt and how inflation would affect the number of miles that could be repaired. Deputy City Manager Tyus responded that the City was completing four times the amount spent on roads in 2016.
Finance Director's Report
Scott Rathbun, Finance Director, addressed Council. He discussed major tax revenues for Fiscal Year 2023 and compared year-to-date figures to variances from prior years. He then presented General Fund Revenues and Expenditures and the Enterprise Funds, highlighting significant changes. He ended by reminding the community where to locate the presentations on the City's website.
Council Member Walch commented to the increase in salary expenditures and asked for additional information. Mr. Rathbun explained the City had hired around 20 individuals.
Council Member Urban and Mr. Rathbun discussed sales tax figures and how staff took the State's reporting delay into account when preparing the Report.
Council Member Ward asked for a continuous update on the number of open positions, what they were, and the department they belonged to.
City Manager's Discussion
Deputy City Manager Tyus discussed multiple upcoming events in Downtown. He then responded to Council Member Ward's question regarding the number of positions posted by the City reporting that 13 jobs were currently posted not taking into account the number of positions the Fire and Police Departments were down.
Mayor's Discussion
Mayor Mwilambwe commented on the upcoming OneVoice Conference he planned to attend in Washington, D.C. and thanked the individuals that would also attend.
Council Member's Discussion
Council Member Crabill noted the City would have a Job Fair on March 7, 2023. Deputy City Manager Tyus confirmed the event was for the Parks & Recreation Department.
Council Member Boelen discussed a Nicor project in Ward 7 that affected the portion of Washington St. that remained closed, and shared she had visited the site and was impressed by all that was going on to better improve the area. Deputy City Manager Tyus commented that staff anticipated Washington St. to reopen by the Summer of 2023.
Executive Session
No Executive Session was had.
Adjournment
Council Member Montney made a motion, seconded by Council Member Ward, to adjourn the meeting.
Mayor Mwilambwe directed the Clerk to call roll:
AYES: Walch, Boelen, Montney, Emig, Becker, Urban, Ward, Crabill, Crumpler Motion carried (viva voce).
The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m.
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