April 24, 2010

What has the city council been up to?

March 31: Committee of the Whole

Resolution 10-03: Creation of a Deer Task Force

Dave Rollo and Andy Ruff presented their resolution to create a joint city-county Deer Task Force to look into the interaction between deer and humans in our local community. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources has jurisdiction over deer in the state, so they will be involved in the task force. At this meeting, there were a lot of public comments describing how deer are a problem because they eat plants and thereby destroy gardens.

April 7: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading

Resolution 10-03: At this meeting, County Commissioner Iris Kiesling spoke in favor of the Deer Task Force, which was relevant because it is to be a joint city-county effort. There were a few comments from the public against hurting the deer and in favor of accepting them as co-habitants of Bloomington and learning to live with them. The resolution passed unanimously.

April 14: Committee of the Whole

Resolution 10-05: To authorize a loan from the Business Investment Incentive Fund (BIIF) for Feast Bakery Café to help establish the business at the corner of Hillside Drive and Henderson. Assistant Director of Economic and Sustainable Development Adam Wason explained that the BIIF was established in 1986 through a $400,000 payment from westside industries in lieu of taxation. (The industries did not want to be annexed to be part of the city, and so the city made a deal with them to pay into this new fund instead of being annexed and having to pay property taxes to the city.) The goal of the BIIF is to attract new businesses and to retain and expand existing businesses in Bloomington, mainly in the greater downtown area.

Feast Bakery Café is currently a catering business out of Brown County that is familiar to Bloomington residents as the supplier of tasty tamales at the Farmer’s Market. Since their new location is not in the greater downtown area, and exception from the usual BIIF rules was requested. They are asking for a $25,000 loan, and the interest rate is currently at a low 1.25%. The loan period is 5 years.

Resolution 10-04: Conveyance of the John Waldron Arts Center to Ivy Tech. At the time of this meeting, the final details were still being worked out, but City Attorney Margie Rice explained that the agreement would include the following:

1. The legal description will be as it was in 1990, before it was conveyed to BAAC = one parcel. The condo association formed in the early 1990s would be dissolved.

2. The building will be quit-claimed to Ivy Tech with a requirement that no less than 70% be used as a community arts center.

3. Ivy Tech cannot rename or amend the name of the building or the spaces therein. They are allowed to add Ivy Tech signage.

4. WFHB will have guaranteed 2,223 s.f. rent free in the building. WFHB has to pay its own expenses related to its occupancy. This is the same as what they have been doing. WFHB will acknowledge sponsorship by Ivy Tech and work with IT to develop an internship program in exchange for waiver of rent.

5. Ivy Tech will purchase from the city the equipment and fixtures the city purchased from BAAC ($150,000).

6. Ivy Tech will honor all existing contracts for use of the space.

7. Public offerings of classes and performance space will continue.

8. Establishment of a Program Advisory Committee to advise on use of the building (not management of the building).

9. Reversion clause: If at any point, IT fails to comply with the agreement, the building shall revert to the city after a 30-day period.

10. No liens or encumbrances on the building without the city’s permission.

11. IT must maintain and insure the building.

12. Recognition of appraisal (joint appraisal by 2 appraisers, paid by the city) and environmental assessment (paid for by IT). Appraisal came to $290,000 due to the serious deed restrictions on the property.

Council Member Volan asked why the city could not give the former city fire station adjacent to the Waldron (and in the above agreement, considered part of the Waldron) to WFHB. Ms. Rice said that Ivy Tech would not be interested in obtaining just part of the Waldron – they would like the whole building. Mr. Volan argued that the space is actually two buildings. Ms. Rice pointed out that the WFHB board of directors had unanimously adopted a Memorandum of Understanding with Ivy Tech accepting the agreement as outlined above.

April 21: Regular Session

Legislation for Second Reading

Resolution 10-05: Passed unanimously

Resolution 10-04: Was postponed to May 5

Legislation for First Reading

Ordinance 10-06: To increase the water rates of the City of Bloomington Utilities by 47%.

This would provide funds for:

• Maintaining the financial viability of the utility (paying for ongoing maintenance and administrative costs)

• Installing a second water line from the water treatment plant near Lake Monroe into the city

• Expanding the water treatment plant to increase capacity and reduce single points of failure, thus reducing the vulnerabilities of the current plant when unplanned failures occur

The recommendation from the Utilities Service Board was for a 54% rate increase, which would allow the utility to begin paying down the principle of the bond right away and ultimately save $9.6 million. But the administration chose to bring forward the 47% rate increase for consideration by the Council.

Ordinance 10-07: To approve issuance of a bond for expansion of the water treatment plant and addition of a second water line from Lake Monroe.

The Council adopted the following schedule to discuss Ord. 10-06 and Ord. 10-07:

• Committee of the Whole meetings April 28 and May 12

• Special Session May 17

• Possibility of adding a third Committee of the Whole meeting, which would likely postpone final action to June 16.

NOTE: If Ordinance 10-06 is adopted, the proposed rate increase must go to the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission for hearings. This is a long process that is expected to take about 8 months.