June 28, 2008

June 4: Regular Session

Reports

Special report from Bloomington Hospital about possible integration with Clarian Health Partners. Hospital CEO Mark Moore, Hospital board chairman Dan Peterson, and Local Council of Women president Susan Wier attended and presented information explaining why they are seeking a merger with Clarian. Council members asked many questions, including whether the merger would mean a move of the main hospital location to North Park and whether the impacts this would have on Bloomington had been calculated.

Council member Andy Ruff made a motion requesting that the LCW postpone its vote on the merger by 6 weeks, and Council approved the motion 8-1.

Legislation for 2^nd Reading

Appropriation Ordinance 08-02: This was the final hearing on an ordinance to:

1)     Move $11,000 in Jack Hopkins Social Service Funding from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2008 (it went unused last year)

2)     Move funds from the Parks General Fund to the Parks Land Acquisition Fund to pay for paving over the former motorcycle shop near Cascades Park (as part of environmental remediation)

3)     Move more money from the city’s designated workers’ compensation fund into the Risk Management Fund.

The ordinance was approved 9-0.

Ordinance 08-09: This was the final hearing on an amendment to the city’s salary ordinance. Several positions in various departments that underwent review were determined to merit a job grade change and accompanying salary change.

The ordinance was approved 9-0.

Legislation for 1^st Reading

Ordinance 08-07: This would change the rules governing pawnbrokers. The ordinance was tabled to give the city administration time to revise it.

June 11: Committee of the Whole

This meeting was cancelled because we had nothing on the agenda.

June 18: Regular Session

Reports

Economic Development Director Danise Alano presented the annual report on businesses that receive tax abatements from the city, including (in most cases), how that business has followed through with providing promised community benefits such as jobs, low-income housing, and historic preservation. Council members learned that the businesses are not required to fill out the report form completely, which was a surprise. One tax abatement was rescinded due to lack of compliance with the initial statement of benefits to the community – Schulte Corp, a manufacturer of closet storage units.

Legislation for 2^nd Reading and Resolutions

Resolution 08-08: Approving grants from the Jack Hopkins Social Service Fund for various agencies for 2008. $176,000 was granted to 16 different agencies to fund programs for low-income and underserved members or our community, as well as the disabled. The allocation of $2,500 to Planned Parenthood to partially fund a program which provides free or low-cost colposcopy exams to women received the most attention from the public present at the meeting. Many people spoke against taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood.

Legislation for 1^st Reading

Ordinance 08-10: Repealing and re-enacting the city’s fire prevention ordinance.

June 25: Committee of the Whole

We discussed Ordinance 08-10. Currently, the city’s fire prevention ordinance is not very detailed and the fines are not serving as a deterrent to violations. So the city legal department and the city fire department have drafted this new, more comprehensive ordinance. The ordinance applies to all building except private residences. It follows Indiana fire code and spells out how it will be enforced. The proposed fines range from $10-$2500 for a first offense. The fire department will offer free inspections upon request to help business owners find and address problems.

There was much discussion about a common fire code violation: over-occupancy. Some council members think that a business owner should not be charged the same fine if they are over by 1 person as they would if they were over by 100. We expect to see an amendment to change this particular fine to a graduated one based on severity of the over-occupancy. Also, some bar owners feel that they are being singled out by this ordinance, although none attended the meeting.