September 27, 2008

September 3: Regular Session and Committee of the Whole

Note: We had discussed all salary and budget legislation for 2009 in detail during the budget hearings in July.

Appropriation Ordinance 08-03: City budget for 2009.

Highlights of the 2009 budget include:

• Average staff salary increases of 3.7%

• Funds for engineering of a roundabout at the intersection of Sare & Rogers Rd.

• $15,000 increase in Jack Hopkins Social Service funding

•  4 new police officers

• Development of a dog park at Ferguson Park (currently a city tree nursery near Griffy)

• Intersection improvements at Allen & Henderson, Atwater & Henderson, and Arlington & 17^th

• A South Walnut St. redevelopment plan

• The creation of a separate Economic Development Department

Appropriation Ordinance 08-04: Budget for the City of Bloomington Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Utilities

There was some concern that the budget included appropriation of funds for the water treatment plant expansion. The expansion can only go forward if the city council and the Indiana Utilities Regulatory Commission approve a rate increase. Pat Murphy, director of City Utilities, assured us that the money budgeted is not dependent on the rate increase.

Ordinance 08-14: Fixing the salaries for Police and Fire departments for 2009

Ordinance 08-15: Fixing the salaries for appointed, non-union, and AFSCME staff for 2009

Ordinance 08-16: Fixing the salaries for elected officials.

For elected officials, the merit rating that was in the middle of the scale was used, for a 3.5% increase.

Ordinance 08-17: Budget for the Bloomington Transportation Corporation.

The budget of BT was significantly revised from what was presented in July – a reduction of $103,190 – due to lack of a funding increase from Indiana University. Due to the increased cost of fuel and the ever rising number of student riders, BT had asked IU for a 15% increase in its contribution. IU only provided a 2.5% increase. So BT had to cut back its budget, which meant cutting back on services, namely on routes C-9, 6, and 1-South, with reduced frequency and an earlier service end time at night. These routes are heavily used by students. Council members expressed dismay at these service cuts and frustration with IU for not providing an adequate level of funding.

Ordinance 08-18: To establish the Department of Economic and Sustainable Development.

The economic development staff was housed in the mayor’s office, and this proposal was to move them to their own independent department within the city. There was some concern among council members that a goal of the new department would be to pursue growth, without explaining what growth means. Quantitative growth often costs the community more than it generates in new income, and such growth is not sustainable, so we wanted the wording to be very clear.

September 10: Special Session and Committee of the Whole

We discussed and formally adopted all ordinances that were on the September 3^rd agenda. The language in Ord. 08-18 was changed to replace the term “economic growth” with “economic development” and to inject the goal of sustainability more clearly into the mission of the new department.

Resolution 08-11: To authorize expenditures from the Industrial Development Fund for attainment of benchmarks by Cook Pharmica LLC at the Indiana Enterprise Center.

When the huge Thomson consumer electronics plant closed down in the mid-1990s, the city created a Community Revitalization Enhancement District, which captures tax income from the area where the plant stood and funnels some of it into the IDF. When Cook Pharmica set up shop in this district in 2004 and agreement was reached whereby their investment in the area would be rewarded by partial reimbursement from the IDF. This resolution authorizes giving Cook Pharmica $2 million.

Resolution 08-12: To authorize expenditures from the IDF for physical improvements to support the expansion of Cook Pharmica.

$500,000 was requested from the IDF to make changes to intersections around the Indiana Enterprise Center, the extension of Hillside Dr. into the IEC, and work on a bridge and rehabilitation of the stream running through the IEC. Council members wanted more details as to what the “intersection improvements” would look like, concerned about whether they would be pedestrian and bicycle-friendly.

September 17: Regular Session

Resolution 08-11 was adopted.

For Resolution 08-12, an amendment was put forward by Council Member Rollo which would require the final plan for intersection and other infrastructure improvements to come before the Council for final approval before the funds were spent on construction. The administration opposed this amendment, and it generated heated discussion between council members. It passed 6-2, and the resolution as amended passed 7-0.

September 24: Committee of the Whole

Resolution 08-13: Approving the purchase of Cascades Trailer Park and Stone Mill Properties.

The city’s Parks & Rec department would like to purchase this land adjacent to Cascades Park to add to their green space inventory. There is a special fund in the city for parks land acquisition that would pay for this. The Council was in support.

Appropriation Ordinance 08-05: To appropriate money for the above purpose.

 Ordinance 08-19: To Amend Title 15 of the Bloomington Municipal Code Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic.”

This is a large ordinance with many changes to the traffic code including changes in parking downtown, adding a couple of stop signs, and changing the regulations on abandoned vehicles. An amendment by myself was also to be discussed, adding a stop sign at Allen & Henderson, but the whole ordinance was instead postponed to a later date.