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From YouTube: April 8, 2013 - City Council Meeting
Description
April 8, 2013 - City Council Meeting
Intro music by www.RoyaltyFreeKings.com
A
B
A
Hereby
call
this
regular
meeting
of
the
City
Council
of
the
city
of
Bloomington
Illinois
to
order
please
stand
for
the
Pledge
of
Allegiance
in
a
moment
of
silence:
I
pledge
allegiance
to
the
flag
of
the
United
States
of
America
and
to
the
Republic
for
which
it
stands.
One
nation
under
God
indivisible
with
liberty
and
justice
for
all.
D
D
A
Okay,
at
this
time,
it's
our
practice
to
allow
public
comment
on
any
matter
that
pertains
to
any
matter
of
the
commoners
choice
that
pertains
to
the
operation
of
the
city
of
Bloomington.
We
limit
such
comments,
23
minutes
apiece,
and
we
have
five
people
that
wish
to
comment
today
and
the
first
is
Alton
Franklin.
E
E
It'd
be
real
nice
if
we
could
all
live
perfect
life
that
we
wanted,
but
it
doesn't
work
out
that
way.
There
are
realities,
simple
point.
In
fact,
we've
got
going
on
somewhere
in
the
neighborhood
of
about
two
hundred
million
dollars
of
obligations.
I
do
not
understand
what
that
is
a
given.
Why
we're
cutting
back
on
the
contributions
to
the
pension
funds
that
are
already
grossly
underfunded?
I,
don't
understand
why
we're
not
addressing
infrastructure
in
a
more
aggressive
way.
E
I've
heard
some
good
ideas
coming
out
of
some
of
the
folks
that
I've
talked
to
there's
one
specific
instance
and
I
guess:
I've
diskin
fitted
the
City
Council
enough
that
I
can
discomfort
a
few
than
my
fellow
citizens
as
well.
I
believe
that
the
part
that's
being
discussed
is
something
that
it's
not
time
for
there's
another
park
or
quarter
of
a
mile
away.
E
E
E
That's
not
reason
enough.
I
am
without
a
doubt
one
of
the
biggest
proponents
of
children
and
the
care
and
nurturing
of
children.
I
am
not
in
the
habit,
though,
of
addressing
wants
before
needs,
and
several
point
in
fact
is:
we
have
too
many
needs.
We've
got
infrastructure,
that's
over
a
century
old
down
here.
We've
got
other
places
where
we
got
major
failings.
We've
got
a
lot
of
things
that
need
to
be
addressed
and
they
don't
need
to
be
addressed
by
talking
about
talking
or
planning
to
plan.
E
There
comes
a
time
when
you
gotta
cut
bait
or
fish.
You
gotta
do
something:
it's
not
enough
to
talk
it's
time
to
start
acting
like
grown-ups,
I,
look
forward
to
a
new
city
council
that
will
address
the
needs
of
the
citizens
and
help
us
build
a
beautiful
community
for
the
citizens
and
especially
the
children
that
are
part
of
this
community.
Thank
you.
F
Thank
you.
My
name
is
Peggy
miles.
I
live
at
2212
river
woods
lane
lymington
before
I
begin
I
mean
clearly
I'm
here
to
represent
the
neighbors,
an
eagle
view.
Okay,
I,
just
ask
real
quickly,
who
here
in
the
room,
is
in
favor
of
eagle
view
park.
Is
that
why
you
came
here
today?
Okay,
good?
Thank
you!
F
It
may
be
that
the
kids
in
the
audience
need
to
leave
before
the
final
vote
is
made,
and
please
don't
take
that
negatively.
It's
because
neither
bedtime
and
need
to
leave
when
they
need
to
leave
just
quick
background.
You
all
know
this
information
I've,
given
you
every
little
bit
of
information
that
I've
got
but
2005
the
eagle
view
park
was
planned
on
the
plat
map
for
the
neighborhood
and
the
city
of
Bloomington
required
that
six
acres
be
donated
by
the
by
the
builders
and
the
city
of
Bloomington
purchased.
F
The
other
eight
acres
with
a
50-percent
auslly
a
grant
in
2008.
The
city
applied
for
a
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
grant,
which
was
ultimately
approved
and
we're
now
in
the
fourth
year
of
a
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
grant
that
remains
pending,
and
this
is
probably
the
last
year
that
the
grant
will
be
available
in
2009.
Eagleview
was
identified
as
the
number
one
priority
on
the
parks
master
plan
and
then
in
2012
eagleview
is
still
not
built
because
the
city
leaders
were
not
able
to
agree
on
funding.
F
G
Are
you
folks
have
to
listen
to
me
again?
I'm
Carl
Woodward
live
in
300
high
in
thornwood
for
over
30
years.
I
want
to
encourage
the
council
to
vote
against
the
budget.
That's
going
on
tonight.
If
the
pantograph
article
is
correct
and
if
I'm
relying
on
bad
numbers,
I
apologize
when
you're
showing
a
six
million
dollar
deficit,
I
like
in
new
infrastructure
and
you're,
going
to
spend
a
lot
of
money
on
that
and
hire
several
employees.
The
prudent
thing
is
not
to
hire
but
freeze
or
reduce
it.
G
G
The
way
this
this
doesn't
you
folks
who
have
somebody
else
said:
have
a
two
hundred
million
dollar
shortfall
of
nothing
set
aside
for
the
roads,
streets,
maintenance
of
parks
and
the
pension
fund
of
130
million
I've
tried
to
get
answers
several
months
now,
without
going
through
the
FOIA
request
for
certain
numbers
on
pension
payments,
I'm
still
holding
my
breath
if
I
have
to
start
using
for
you
I'll
do
a
lot
of
them.
I'd
like
to
get
a
response,
I
think
I'm
entitled
to
it.
So
please
your
budget
to
any
third
party
out
of
town.
G
If
they
also
added
about
the
pension
stuff
in
there,
no
prudent
person
that
knows
finances
could
vote
for
it.
It
makes
no
sense.
I've
had
more
than
one
person
here.
Call
me
ask
questions.
I!
Think,
that's
great!
If
anything
I
said
is
wrong
or
you
think
I'm
misleading.
Let
me
know
I've
read,
or
at
least
one
person
there
thinks
lower
percentage
of
funding.
The
pension
will
have
us.
It'll
do
work
better
for
the
city
and
the
rating
agencies
will
think
more.
That's
ridiculous!
G
That's
people
up
here:
okay,
I'm,
not
sure
as
a
group,
not
picking
on
the
individuals.
You
folks
know
what
you're
doing
it
appears
to
me,
trying
to
get
the
pension
thing
paid
for
the
last
few
years.
I've
done
a
terrible
job.
Do
you
realize
to
catch
up
on
a
level
basis?
That's
over
four
million
dollars
a
year
on
the
pension
fund,
we're
going
to
come
up
with
that
I've
tried
to
find
out
how
much
we
paid
this
year
through
April
thirtieth,
I'm
still
holding
my
breath
for
an
answer.
G
Is
that
the
way
citizens
should
be
treated
so
as
a
summary,
the
prudent
thing,
it's
not
even
a
close
call.
You
need
to
give
David
direction
to
go
back
and
freeze
the
help
when
someone
quits
or
retires,
don't
replace
them
shift
people
around
you're,
dooming,
our
grandkids
and
kids,
by
your
actions
to
overspend
the
revenues
on
what
you
want
instead
of
other
things.
Thank
you
very
much.
H
I
Ron
Schultz,
1208,
East,
Oakland,
Avenue
I,
just
couldn't
believe
I
still
can't
believe
that
we're
going
to
try
to
hire
15
more
pensions
or,
as
you
say,
50
more
employees
to
me,
it's
15,
more
pensions.
It
just
blows
my
mind.
We
have
to
have
priorities
and
15
more
people
doesn't
help
priorities.
Priorities
are
to
pay
down
130
million
dollars
in
pensions,
as
you've
heard
at
least
once
today
fix
the
in
stress
infrastructure.
I
You
know
the
roads
need
a
lot
of
help
if
you,
if
you
drove
here
to
the
meeting
sewers,
are
getting
old
and
they
are
combined
well,
they're
going
to
have
to
be
separated.
Eventually,
that's
millions
of
dollars.
Water
needs
millions
to
reach
their
goals.
If
we're
going
to
go
to
the
Mohammed
aquifer,
and
we
will
go
there
eventually,
but
we
better
have
the
money
or
it's
going
to
be
very
difficult.
I
Hiring
non
public
employees
non
public
safety.
Employees
are
kind
of
a
kick
in
the
face.
The
solution
to
a
lot
of
these
problems,
I
feel,
is
contracting
out
you've
already
started
into
it
and
contracting
out,
I
think,
is
a
great
idea.
You
can
even
instead
of
hiring
15
more
people,
you
can
probably
reduce
15
people
by
looking
at
what
is
modern
and
the
modern
services
that
are
available
to
the
city
are
in
finance,
human
resources,
administration
and
legal
and
other
departments.
I
A
lot
of
these
can
be
hired
out
without
paying
any
pensions
using
modern
software
in
a
lot
of
cases
and
a
lot
of
times.
A
lot
of
the
work
doesn't
even
have
to
be
here.
For
instance,
we
do
out
of
state
or
out
of
Department
billing
for
water
at
times
and
I
suppose,
possibly
for
legal
I'm,
not
sure.
Finally,
I
agree
with
Karl.
That
just
said,
you
need
to
work
with
the
city
manager.
I
I
The
last
city
manager
is
currently
making
119,000
696
dollars
a
year
pension
and
he's
contributed.
One
point:
eight
percent
to
it.
John
rich,
is
currently
making
ninety
seven
thousand
five
hundred
forty
dollars
a
year.
He's
contributed
at
least
four
point:
two
percent
Richard
Clem
has
contributed
ten.
A
I
Two-Point-Three
percent-
and
he
is
making
ninety
thousand
a
year-
and
this
is
just
a
painting
of
the
list
way
down
at
the
bottom-
is
52,000.
That's
about
40
people
down
these
pensions
are
out
of
hand.
They've
got
something's
got
to
be
done,
it's
got
to
be
done
soon
because
our
kids
are
going
to
pay
for
them.
Thank
you.
J
J
J
J
J
We
need
safe
pill,
two
places
for
our
children
to
play.
We
need
safe
places
on
the
east
side
of
bloomington,
where
we're
growing
very
quickly.
The
design
work
is
already
done.
It's
paid
for
and
the
neighborhood
has
agreed
on
all
of
the
elements
of
the
park.
It
seems
wasteful
at
this
point
not
to
build
it.
J
The
pension
discussion
and
the
park
discussion
I,
don't
believe,
should
we
talked
about
together
the
pension
issue.
What
we're
asking
for
is
so
insignificant
relative
to
the
pension
issue.
I
know
that
the
city
has
voluntarily
put
in
an
extra
half
million
dollars
each
year
to
cover
the
cost
of
the
pension.
That's
basically
what
we're
asking
for
for
the
park.
I,
don't
understand
why
we
can't
get
it
I.
Don't
think
that
this
is
a
difficult
decision
to
make.
It's
a
fiscally
responsible
one
we're
getting
a
million-dollar
park
at
forty
percent
off.
J
A
Thank
you
that
completes
our
request
for
public
comment
for
this
evening.
We
have
no
items
on
recognition
or
appointments
plan
for
this
evening.
So
we'll
move
right
into
item
number
seven,
which
is
the
consent
agenda.
The
items
on
the
consent
agenda
are
placed
there
by
our
staff
in
the
belief
that
each
individual
item
is
not
it's
not
necessary
to
have
separate
votes
or
separate
discussion
on
those
items.
Should
any
member
of
the
Council
disagree
or
be
persuaded
by
a
member
of
the
public
that
there
should
be
separate
discussion?
A
D
A
A
A
A
K
K
A
A
A
A
This
is
a
repeat
application
that
happens
every
year
by
all
I
state
university
that
was
approved
by
the
liquor
commission
that
allows
them
to
hold
a
license
for
the
selling
and
serving
of
beer
and
wine
only
upon
the
premises
at
the
Ewing
manner.
Shakespeare
Festival.
This
will
expire
at
the
end
of
the
the
season
and
like
that,
pretty
much
takes
it
up.
That
is
there
a
motion
on
this
I'll.
A
L
C
L
A
A
The
next
item
on
the
regular
agenda
is
something
that
we
have
been
preparing
for
for
some
time,
and
that
is
the
2014
fiscal
year.
Budget
for
the
city
of
Bloomington
is
proposed
to
be
approximately
168
million
dollars.
Work
on
this
started
actually
late.
Last
summer
by
staff
and
City
Council
has
had
retreats.
We've
had
a
citizen
voice
meeting
for
informal
comments
by
public
specifically
on
the
budget,
and
we
did
a
hold
a
public
hearing
at
the
last
council
meeting
on
this
matter
and
received
public
input
tonight.
A
We
need
to
consider
this
because
this
new
budget
will
take
effect
may
first
of
this
year
and
by
law
that
we
have
to
have
a
budget
in
place.
I
do
have
a
few
comments
on
the
on
the
budget
before
we
move
on.
I
do
want
to
start
by
saying
that
anybody
that
has
seen
the
budget
documents-
hundreds
and
hundreds
of
pages
knows
that
it's
very
complex
and
I
have
to
say
that
it
is
likely
that
there
is
something
in
those
hundreds
and
hundreds
of
pages
that
just
about
everybody
up
here
might
not
totally
agree
with.
A
A
A
serious
disagreement
with
the
budget
can
be
worked
out
in
the
various
meetings
that
we've
had,
as
I
said,
we
have
retreats
and
so
on,
and
the
budget
can
be
amended.
So
somebody
can
offer
an
amendment
to
try
to
add
or
take
something
out
if
you
disagree,
try
to
make
it
better,
but
we
need
to
be
careful
in
voting
on
the
budget.
We
don't
throw
out
the
baby
with
the
bathwater.
A
Collectively,
it's
going
to
be
worth
all
the
work,
because
it's
going
to
give
us
a
comprehensive
picture
of
all
those
obligations
and
how
we
can
allow
us
to
set
priorities
and
decide
how
much
funding
we're
going
to
need
now
if
we
vote
on
the
budget
tonight,
that
is
not
necessarily
final.
Remember
this
council
always
has
the
right
to
amend
the
budget
in
the
future.
The
new
council
after
may
first
can
in
fact
make
certain
amendments,
and
we
we
do
expect
that
the
pension
study
is
going
to
be
complete.
A
What
David
in
September
is
that
our
target,
so
there
should
be
recommendations,
including
a
set
of
principles
that
we
need
to
follow
in
funding
the
pension
to
do
so
fairly
and
to
complete
our
obligations,
as
several
people
have
said,
and
also
it
will
provide
us
with
some
alternative
funding.
Ideas.
Take
account
of
all
three
pension
plans
collectively,
so
I
just
want
to
remind
you
that
whatever
I
do
tonight
needs
to
be
a
consensus.
A
It
needs
to
fund
vital
activities
and,
lastly,
it
can
be
flexible
and
as
things
change
as
we
get
additional
revenue,
as
we
see
additional
expenses
or
expenses
that
do
not
have
to
be
made
and
staff
has
always
been
very
good
at
that-
not
spending
every
dollar
that
we
have
that
this.
This
budget
is
flexible
and
can
be
a
living
document
so
to
speak.
A
And,
lastly,
and
David
I'd
like
you
to
comment
on
this
too,
we
attended
last
week
a
meeting
where
some
remarkable
numbers
were
being
thrown
around
that
the
city
of
looming
tins
retail
sales,
we're
up
by
2000,
almost
twenty
two
percent
over
the
previous
year,
which
is
a
remarkable
recovery
from
their
session.
Now,
not
all
that
is
subject
to
sales,
tax
and
I
think
what
I
think
David
our
actual
sales
tax
numbers
appear
to
be
up
around
15
point
nine
percent,
which,
if
you
look
at
that
that
is
far
and
away
of
other
communities.
A
We
are
far
outstripping
other
communities
in
in
that
percentage
of
gain.
So
that's
a
very,
very
healthy
sign
and
I.
Think
that
bodes
well
for
having
a
flexible
budget
and
being
able
to
do
some
some
more
things
in
the
future,
anything
else
David
or
once
you
go
ahead
and
introduce
the
remainder
of
it.
Thank.
N
You
mayor
I,
first,
let
me
just
acknowledge
again,
you
know
the
hard
work
of
our
city
staff,
including
patty
and
Lynn
Silva.
The
new
finance
director
who's,
been
here
less
than
a
year,
she's
helped
to
kind
of
direct
this
effort
to
mervyn
all
the
directors
and
many
members
of
our
staff.
It
has
really
been
a
very
significant
and
dedicated
service
that
they've
been
going
through
to
put
this
together
mayor.
N
As
you
mentioned,
the
budget
document
I
think
if
you
would
compare
this
to
what
you
were
getting
four
year
or
five
years
ago,
I
think
staff
has
made
a
tremendous
progress
to
provide
you
in
the
public,
with
a
much
more
open,
transparent,
detailed
budget
with
performance
measures,
indicators
and,
as
you
say
yet,
when
I
got
here,
we
had
over
60
governmental
funds.
We
reduce
that
about.
In
half,
we've
made
tremendous
progress,
trying
to
rebuild
a
number
of
our
reserves
and
fund
balance.
N
We
still
have
a
couple
we're
working
on,
but
I
think
it
is
this
council
that
is
overseeing
the
tremendous
strides
made
in
in
rebuilding
and
and
returning
the
city
to
a
very
strong
financial
condition
which
has
been
recognized
by
the
credit
rating
agencies.
As
we've
seen,
our
credit
ratings
go
up,
we're
only
one
step
away
from
a
triple
A
credit
rating,
and
that
is
phenomenal
to
see
you
know
just
the
progress
made
mayor.
As
you
mentioned,
the
capital
improvement
program.
N
When
I
came
here,
we
had
I
believe
it's
probably
just
one
capital
improvement
master
playing
the
parts
pretty
soon
you're
going
to
see
sanitary
sewer,
you're,
going
to
see
storm
drain,
we're
working
on
water,
we're
working
on
transportation
and
others.
These
will
be
20
year,
capital
improvement,
master
plans.
I
think
it's
important
to
point
out
that,
even
though
numbers
are
thrown
out
like
12
hundred
million,
these
are
estimates,
and
until
you
see
these
master
plans
and
the
public
sees
this,
we
will
not
know
the
definitive
total
of
what
the
long-term
need
is.
N
But
neither
will
we
have
until
we
see
the
report,
what
the
priority
is
and
frankly
I
think
it's
going
to
be
very
important
for
this
council
to
look
at
all
capital
improvements
together
once
we
update
those,
and
then
you
have
the
tough
decision
and
balancing
capital
improvement
improvements
with
operating
expenses.
This
budget
has
over
16
million
dollars
in
capital
expenditures
and
and
that's
on
top
of
just
the
10
million
locusts,
Colton
CSO
separation
project,
probably
one
of
the
largest
projects
that
I
think
the
city
is
seen.
N
This
has
included
new
water
mains,
new
sewer
mains,
new
stormwater
and
elimination
of
CSO,
which,
if
we
don't
address
them,
we
could,
you
know,
face
the
wrath
of
the
EPA,
but
we
have
made
great
progress.
So
I
think
it's
important
that
the
public
understand
this
council
has
made
a
serious
commitment
to
infrastructure
we've
seen
our
street
resurfacing
go
from.
I
saw
a
10-year
stretch
here,
where
maybe
half
million
dollars
was
being
spent
in
the
90s
2000
we're
now
at
four
million
dollars
each
year
in
street
resurfacing
and
that's
without
property
tax
increases
and
other
sacrifices.
N
We
have
a
very
lean
staffing
we've
eliminated
over
a
hundred
full-time
employees
since
the
recession.
Yes,
we're
trying
to
bring
back
a
couple
of
key
positions,
but
you
can
only
squeeze
so
much
blood
out
of
a
turnip
and
that's
what
we
have
to
keep
in
mind
on
our
employees.
We've
asked
more
than
a
fair
share
of
them
the
last
four
years.
You
cannot
continue
to
ask
an
unreasonable
you
know,
burden
on
our
employees.
N
Believe
me,
I,
know,
I,
see
the
impact
it's
having
on
employees,
health,
family
relationships
and
everything
else,
and
you
can
only
go
so
far.
We,
but
even
with
that,
we
made
tremendous
progress.
I
think
it's
also,
as
you
mentioned,
even
though
we've
given
you
some
previous
fund
balance
general
fund
balance
projections
based
on
the
last
four
to
six
months.
We
do
think
those
numbers
will
be
eclipse
and
we
could
very
well
be
seeing
an
extra
half
million
to
a
million
dollars
in
actual
sales
tax
receipts
when
we
ultimately
calculate
the
fiscal
year.
N
2013
final
numbers
now
again,
things
can
change.
I
believe
also,
we've
been
very
diligent
and
very
aggressive
in
asking
both
our
governor
and
our
state
legislators
to
not
solve
state
fiscal
problems
on
the
backs
of
cities,
towns
and
counties.
They
have
a
fiscal
mess.
They
need
to
solve
it.
Just
like.
We
took
it
upon
ourselves
with
your
leadership
to
restore
this
city's
financial
situation
to
a
very
healthy
level,
including
recognizing
the
the
the
impact
that
costs
are
having
on
a
residence.
N
The
council
provided
some
property
tax
relief
with
a
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
reduction
in
property
tax
levy
and
I
think
that
is
a
very
great
token
or
significant
action.
Given
the
fact
that
we
are
seeing
some
of
our
revenue
in
other
areas
like
sales
tax,
beginning
to
come
forward
and
mayor,
like
you
indicated
yes,
pensions
is
a
concern
this,
but
the
city
of
Bloomington
has
always
made
its
annual
required
contribution
and,
furthermore,
I
think
you
got
to
keep
in
mind.
This
council
does
not
set
pension
benefit
levels.
N
They
have
to
pay
for
it
by
loving
the
property
tax.
It's
the
General
Assembly
that
decides
the
benefit
levels
for
the
pensions
and
we
all
have
to
be
much
more
aggressive
in
having
our
General
Assembly
become
and
to
address.
You
know
the
pension
situation.
The
five
pension
systems
that
you
keep
hearing
about
is
what
the
state
of
Illinois
is
on
the
hook
for,
but
we
have
to
pay
for
the
police,
the
fire
and
the
IM
RFI
I
might
want
to
mention
to,
as
we
were
trying
to
get
some
answers
to
the
question.
N
I
think
it's
helpful
to
point
out
that,
based
on
our
finance
directors,
research
with
the
executive
director
of
the
IM
RF,
we
are
seeing
our
funded
ratio
on
IM
RF
go
up.
It
had
been
in
the
30s,
it's
now
over
fifty
percent,
we're
asking
them
to
make
an
apples-to-apples
comparison
of
truly.
Where
is
the
IM
RF
funded
ratio?
We're
being
told
that
could
be
the
neighborhood
of
seventy
to
eighty
percent?
When
you
make
an
apples-to-apples
comparison
and
it's
that
pension
fund,
that
really
controls?
You
know
more
than
half
of
the
city
employees.
N
So
it's
in
much
better
fiscal
condition
than
even
the
police
and
fire
mayor
life.
Who
said
this,
this
budget,
I
think,
is
a
reasonable
budget,
given
all
the
concerns
it
in.
It
is
consistent
with
this
councils
priorities
of
focusing
on
public
safety
and
those
needs.
Half
of
those
new
positions
are
in
police
and
fire
to
address
the
ongoing
needs.
We
have
their
the
infrastructure
and
infrastructure
improvements
like
street
resurfacing.
N
It's
constantly
gone
up
in
the
last
four
years
and
we're
you
will
hear
more
in
the
water
supply
update,
but
one
reason
we're
able
to
move
ahead
in
the
very
near
future
on
the
southwest.
Well
field
is
because,
with
your
approval,
water
rates
have
been
adjusted
to
help
build
it.
A
very
sizable
water
fund
reserves
such
that
we
might
even
be
able
to
sell
fun
pay
for
a
lot
of
those
improvements,
because
you've
been
prudent
and
helping
to
build
up
those
funds.
N
So
I
for
one
and
yes
I,
may
take
credit
as
the
recommendation,
but
it
is
truly
a
team
effort.
I
think
anyone
who
feels
that
there
ought
to
be
more
expenditures
made
need
to
also
proposed.
Where
do
we
take
money
away
from
programs
because
to
have
the
high
quality
of
life
that
we
have
in
this
city,
which
we
want
to
maintain?
We
don't
want
to
see
it
go
down.
We
want
to
see
it
improved.
It's
critical
for
Economic
Development,
it's
critical
to
retain
businesses
that
we
have
so
they
don't
leave
and
I.
N
Think
it's
critical
that
everyone
here,
whether
it's
for
a
part
for
good
streets,
good
infrastructure.
We
have
to
continue
to
make
these
investments
and
I
think
this
recommended
budget
is
a
great
balance
for
this
upcoming
fiscal
year
of
trying
to
meet
your
priorities
and
also
deal
with
what's
realistic
from
the
standpoint
of
what
the
city
can
do
this
upcoming
year.
N
So
mayor
I
just
want
to
leave
with
you
that
I
strongly
recommend
to
the
council
tonight
this
budget
it
has
incorporated
as
you've
seen
in
the
back
up
the
one
change
dealing
with
the
loots
road
sign.
We've
incorporated
that
and
I
would
recommend
the
ordinance
for
the
fiscal
year
2014
budget
be
approved
tonight
by
the
City
Council
I'll
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
might
have
and
before.
A
We
go
to
that
one
one
thing
that
has
come
up:
we
hear
a
lot
are
the
additional
employees.
Would
you
please
comment
on
where
we
stand
on
number
of
employees
today
versus
where
we
were
pre
recession
when
we
began
aggressive
cutting
of
employees,
you've
talked
about
the
workload,
but
we
also
were
starting
to
see
growth
in
the
city
again
we're
seeing
calls
some
of
the
people
have
spoken
against.
Additional
employees
are
the
same
people
that
that
have
asked
we
need
increased
transparency
and
public
access,
and
so
on.
N
And
Emily
you'll
need
to
kind
of
nod
your
head
and
patty.
It
seems
to
me
that,
just
before
the
recession
and
and
right
after
we
have
cut
somewhere
in
the
neighborhood
of
a
hundred
120
130
full-time
positions,
so
even
with
adding
back
like
in
this
this
year
about
these
15
positions
were
still
about
a
hundred
plus
or
minus
full-time
positions.
N
A
A
K
You
two
people
have
held
up
the
two
books
at
661
pages
by
the
way,
the
reason
I
know
that
is
I
spent
two
hours
with
the
city
manager,
the
finance
director
and
other
staff
people
going
through
it
page
by
page.
That's
what
you
get
when
you
put
a
banker
on
your
City
Council,
just
how
it
works.
I
also
serve
on
the
aldermen
committee,
that
is
administration
and
finance,
and
one
of
the
main
purposes
and
functions
that
were
performing
is
to
look
at
the
pension
plan
we
brought
in
outside
consultant
to
help
us
look
at
that.
K
We
have
a
finance
director
who
has
experience
in
this
and
I'm,
confident
that
by
September
we're
going
to
have
a
long
range
plan
for
the
pensions,
that's
going
to
be
the
envy
of
other
cities
and
other
communities
in
this
state.
I've
also
talked
to
all
of
our
state
elected
officials,
state
senators,
state
representatives,
we're
fortunate
to
have
for
those
and
they're
willing
to
help
us
with
ours
and
they're,
looking
forward
to
seeing
what
we
develop.
So
they
can
go
to
their
other
communities
and
use
it
as
a
model.
K
We
will
not
just
solve
what
should
we
put
in
our
pension
one
year,
we're
going
to
be
looking
at
the
whole
30
years,
and
we
will
have
a
good
pension,
solid
plan
for
making
sure
that
when
the
money
is
needed,
it
will
be
here
now
the
state
of
Illinois
may
or
may
not
give
us
a
number
that
we
like
I'm,
confident
we're
going
to
exceed
whatever
the
state
of
Illinois
asks
us
to
put
in,
and
we
will
budget
for
it.
It's
not
going
to
be
unnecessarily
in
the
budget
that
we
see
right
here.
K
This
budget
shows
how
much
we
need
to
put
in.
We
probably
will
be
making
adjustments
going
forward.
The
mayor
mentioned
that
we
had
a
good
rating
of
fifteen
percent
increase
in
sales
tax.
Let
me
put
that
in
perspective.
For
you
all
the
communities
in
the
state
we
were
the
highest.
The
second
place
was
a
town
a
little
bit
to
the
north
of
us
and
their
rating.
They
had
a
five
percent
increase.
K
The
next
community
had
a
four
point,
something
and
the
one
after
that
of
four
point
something
we
were
three
times
as
good
as
anybody
we'd
be
proud
of
that
and
we'll
use
that
money
wisely.
The
people
increases
the
city
manager
and
the
mayor
both
mentioned.
We've
gone
down
over
a
hundred
and
thirty
out
of
those
fifteen
people.
I
think
city
manager.
You
said
that
almost
half
of
them
are
city
and
fire
I
mean
city,
are
police
and
fire.
K
That's
yes,
yeah,
and
when
we're
looking
at
those
we're,
not
just
looking
at
how
much
more
money
we're
going
to
have
to
put
in
our
budget
we're
going
to
reduce
overtime
by
as
much
as
we're
increasing
salaries,
if
I'm
not
mistaken,
as
that
sound
right
yeah,
so
we're
going
to
be
increasing
most
of
those
fifteen
people
with
no
increase
in
total
expense
to
the
city.
It'll
also
reduce
the
amount
of
overtime
which
is
putting
real
stress
on
the
people
who
are
having
to
work
all
that
overtime.
So
it
will
accomplish
two
things:
it
will.
K
Let
us
reduce
the
stress
on
the
people
that
we
depend
on
for
our
safety
and
it
will
be
revenue
neutral.
So
don't
look
at
that
number
of
15,
as,
oh
goodness,
we're
getting
out
of
hand
again
we're
not
getting
out
of
hand
every
one
of
those
increases
is
for
a
very
good
reason
that
that
project
that
the
city
manager
talked
about
where
we
were
separating
the
Colton
project.
K
If
we
had
tried
to
do
that
project
in
2009,
when
the
city
manager
got
here,
we
would
not
have
been
able
to
do
it
and
here's
why
we
wouldn't
have
had
the
money
we
had
to
spend
10
million
dollars.
The
government
is
going
to
give
us
two
and
a
half
million
dollars
back
the
federal
government.
All
right
right
and
the
interest
rate
on
the
loan
was
that
one
point:
nine
percent
yeah
so
somewhere
around
two
percent.
So
we're
getting
such
a
sweet
deal,
it's
unbelievable,
but
we
would
not
have
been
able
to
do
it.
K
If
we
want
to
double
A+
rated
city,
we
wouldn't
have
had
the
money.
We
would
have
had
to
pass
that
up
so
by
cutting
people
and
doing
all
the
things
we
did.
We
put
ourselves
in
a
position
to
be
able
to
take
advantage
of
a
federal
program
and
if
we
didn't
take
advantage
of
it,
city
manager
was
right.
The
EPA
forced
the
city
of
peoria
to
do
some
projects
that
it
wasn't
ready
to
do
didn't.
Have
a
choice
had
to
do
them
didn't
get
a
twenty-five
percent
discount
did
not
get
a
two
percent
rate.
K
They
have
to
do
it
at
the
current
rate.
Now,
because
we
are
financially
sound,
we
can
do
things.
We
can
increase
15
people
without
increasing
much
in
the
way
of
of
expense.
We
can
improve
our
pensions
as
soon
as
we
have
a
good,
solid
plan.
I
wouldn't
vote
for
an
increase
in
pension
funding
right
now,
unless
I
knew
it
was
going
to
work
over
30
years.
We're
working
on
that.
We
will
have
that
and
we
will
make
the
adjustments
in
the
budget
so
I'm
for
the
budget.
K
Even
though
there's
some
things
in
here,
one
of
them
in
particular,
I,
really
don't
like
and
I,
did
my
best
to
convince
my
friends
up
here
and
they
didn't
agree
with
me.
My
problem,
I
guess
I
have
to
be
a
better
salesman,
but
I
didn't
get
what
I
needed,
but
I'm
going
to
vote
for
the
budget,
because
that
one
item
isn't
enough
that
350
thousand
dollars
that
I
wanted
to
save
it
isn't
enough
to
have
me
not
vote
for
it.
K
L
Well,
thank
you
for
Rob
for
explaining
all
that
we
only
put
3.1
million
for
police
pension
funds
in
this
year
and
2.94
fire.
There
is
130
million
dollars
of
unfunded
obligations,
part
of
that
39
million
for
Alma
Municipal
League
I,
only
municipal
retirement
fund,
37
for
police,
37
million,
37
million
for
fire
and
18
million
for
health
care
as
pay-as-you-go,
but
it
still
has
to
be
paid
to
the
retirees.
L
If
you
divide
that
by
27
years,
that's
4.8
million
dollar
ketchup
a
year,
so
I
mean
that's
some
serious
money
and
when
we
probably
only
put
a
couple
hundred
thousand
dollars
extra
in
this
year,
I
haven't
haven't,
got
a
number
from
David,
but
I.
Don't
know
how
much
extra
be
putting
ketchup,
but
probably
not
quite
enough.
So
my
feeling
is
pensions
before
parks.
L
Okay,
take
the
money
for
that
we
found
for
the
park
and
put
it
into
the
pension
to
six
hundred
thousand
dollars
and
not
hire
the
extra
seven
people,
but
just
public
safety
and
I
could
go
for
the
budget
other
than
that.
I
cannot
support
the
budget
because
it
does
not
take
care
of
the
pensions
in
the
future.
There's
120
to
130
million
dollars
looming
there
and
we
are
not
catching
up
at
all.
K
What
we
will
do
first
and
primarily,
is
to
look
to
contract
those
other
additional
employees.
So
again,
I've
heard
I
sit
here
and
I've
heard
several
times
now.
Well,
we're
you
know,
we
were
assuming
all
this
pension
liability
for
these
new
positions,
no
we're
not
not
for
the
non
public
safety,
because
we're
going
to
contract
those
employees
first
and
again
appreciate
your
help
and
your
willingness
to
work
with
the
Consul
in
that
respect,
because
you
understand
the
business
implications
of
that
of
being
able
to
do
that.
K
N
Correct
we
got
an
award
from
the
GF
away.
The
budget
document
I
think
of
the
first
one
was
a
year
ago,
did
receive
the
budget
and
excellence
award
and
there's
not
that
many.
You
know
more
cities
get
the
geofoam
a
pop
annual
financial
report,
but
not
as
many
go
after
the
budget
excellence
award,
and
that
is
correct
that
we
just
received
that
two
years
ago
and
and.
K
It
is
nothing
short
of
amazing
and,
and
I
too
will
support.
The
budget
am
I
in
agreement
with
every
page.
No
do
I
think
that
we
have.
We
have
not
had
too
hard
conversations
about
the
priorities
that
we
need
to
have
absolutely,
but
but
I
finally
have
realized
that
that
that
simply
as
Rob
alluded
to
with
with
some
of
his
conversations
I
understand
now
that
we're
not
going
to
have
that
conversation
about
the
priorities,
David
I
believe
is
the
city
manager.
K
You've
done
the
best
without
without
clear,
console,
consensus
and
direction,
I
believe
you
and
the
staff
have
done
again
an
exceptional
job,
managing
that
the
priorities
as
the
competing
priorities,
as
you
see
them,
and
creating
a
budget
document
and
again
I
will
support
it.
So
thank
you
for
for
your
efforts,
as
well
as
those
of
your
team.
A
A
O
I'm
trying
to
try
not
to
prolong
this
because
it's
been
a
half
an
hour
for
a
couple.
People
to
speak,
but
I
will
point
out
my
position
on
the
budget,
and
I
will
say
mr.
mayor
that,
with
all
due
respect,
I'm
not
going
to
violate
my
conscience,
nor
am
I
voting
against
all
of
the
good
things
in
the
city
of
Bloomington.
If
looking
back
at
our
state,
just
for
instance,
most
of
us
understand
the
dire
financial
condition
and
who
among
us
has
not
thought.
O
Oh,
if
only
one
of
our
state
legislators
would
have
voted
no
to
all
this
pension
expansion.
But
we
find
ourselves
in
the
position
we're
in
today,
because
the
majority
has
a
tremendous
amount
of
power
at
majority
rules
and
certainly
has
the
certainly
has
the
public
speaking
the
I'm
trying
to
think
of
it.
Sprays
and
I
can't
figure
it
right
now,
but
they
have
the
pulpit
and
I
as
a
as
a
lowly
alderman
one
in
a
minority.
Really
don't
I
don't
really
have
that
per
se.
O
But
I
do
have
the
and
I
highly
encourage
any
of
you
out
there.
If
you'd
like
a
copy,
ask
me
it's
in
the
questions
it's
in
and
it's
something
that
isn't
isn't
just
me:
it's
Carl
Woodward
and
Thank
You
Carl,
it's
Bruce
makes
who
spoke
at
the
public
hearing.
It's
all
in
Franklin,
it's
Laine
Hanson.
These
are
people
that
I
consider
to
be
my
boss.
O
Now,
maybe
somebody
got
up
and
said:
gee
I'm
really
glad
you
guys
aren't
funding
the
pensions,
but
I
missed
that
person.
I'm
going
to
conclude
by
going
over
the
my
statement
on
the
budget,
the
most
important
part:
it
isn't
me
I'm,
not
a
financial
guru,
I,
don't
even
work
in
finance.
I
do
run
a
small
business
successfully
and
when
I'm
out
of
money
I'm
out
of
money,
there
is
no
going
to
the
tax
page.
So
I
understand
that
concept.
O
I
also
understand
that
in
the
future,
yes,
we
will
have
a
plan
for
pensions,
and
the
only
possible
funding
mechanism,
I
can
see,
is
higher
taxes
and
higher
fees,
and
it
will
be
a
lot
higher
a
lot
higher
so
for
these
lovely
little
children
and
they're
all
adorable
sitting
here
tonight
and
I've
plot
every
one
of
you
for
bringing
them.
If
they
stay
in
the
city
of
Bloomington
and
I
hope
they
do
they're
going
to
have
a
payday
that
will
not
be
not
be
sustainable.
O
That
will
not
be
payable
when
they
have
a
30
million
dollar
pension
contribution
that
the
pantograph
alluded
to
not
long
ago.
Fitch
fitch
is
a
is
a
bond
rating
agency
that
rates
cities
and
here's
what
they
said
about
the
city
of
Bloomington
in
February
of
2013
pension
funding
levels
are
very
low,
with
increased
funding
levels
likely
creating
financial
pressure
in
the
future.
That
will
be
the
payday
I'm
talking
about
they
in
their
credit
profile.
They
cite,
we
can
quote
week,
pension
funding,
they
further
state.
O
The
city
participates
in
three
pension
plans,
all
of
which
are
poorly
funded,
finally
fit
states
in
their
narrative.
Fitch
views.
These
pension
plans
as
a
credit
concern
for
the
city
and
any
material
deterioration
in
funding
levels,
could
apply
negative
pressure
to
the
rating.
The
next
paragraph.
Again,
I'm
concluding
goes
on
to
cite
the
fact
that
our
pension
funding
is
falling
to
say
that
we
don't
have
the
option
of
funding.
Our
pensions
is
absolutely
you
know
not.
The
case.
We
certainly
have
that
option
and
I
have
strongly
supported
year
after
year
and
I'm
in
the
minority.
O
O
I
simply
cannot
you
know,
I
cannot
change
a
budget,
that's
been
in
the
works
and
I
understand
that,
but
I
think
it's
my
moral
duty
and
my
fiduciary
duty
to
the
future
taxpayers
in
the
city
of
Bloomington,
not
to
support
what
a
major
bond
rating
agency
told
us.
We
should
not
do
and
thank
you
very
much.
That's
all
I
have
to
say.
K
David,
it's
just
one
question
as
it
relates
to
the
next
agenda
item.
The
budget
that
we
are
voting
on
does
not
include
eagleview
funding.
Is
that
correct?
That
is
correct.
So
what
will
happen?
Kind
of
administrative
Lee
is
if
we
approve
the
budget
and
then
on
the
next
item.
If
that
is
approved,
we
will
basically
back
six
hundred
dollars
out
of
our
reserve
fund
to
cover
the
costs
and
reallocate
that
to
eagle
view
park.
Is
that
correct
in.
A
D
P
K
I'll
clarify
one
thing
since
we're
working
on
that
plan
in
our
committee.
One
of
the
critical
elements
is
that
whatever
our
policy
is,
we
will
meet
it.
Not
we
may
not.
We
might.
We
absolutely
will
otherwise.
We
jeopardize
our
bond
rating
agency
costs
ourselves
more
money
for
borrowing,
it's
not
an
option
whatever
it
is.
We
will
need
it
and
we're
fortunate
to
have
a
large
reserve
now
so
that,
if
we're
short
for
some
reason,
we
can
fund
it,
but
that
policy
will
be
met
under
every
circumstance.
A
A
A
C
O
K
N
A
Okay,
the
budget
for
the
fiscal
year
2014
has
been
passed
as
proposed
by
staff.
That
now
brings
us
to
something
I
know.
A
lot
of
people
out
here
have
been
waiting
for.
This
is
item
8b,
which
pertains
to
an
amendment
to
the
current
budget
year,
not
the
2014
that
we
just
talked
about
with
the
current
budget
year
to
spend
to
authorize
spending
of
up
to
six
hundred
thousand
dollars
for
eagle
view
park.
A
Now
we
we
just
got
through
talking
about
all
the
obligations
and
there
are
many
obligations,
pension
and
infrastructure
and
so
on,
but
we're
slowly
working
our
way
down
the
list.
Just
completing
a
ten-million-dollar
storms,
sewer
project,
for
example,
which
is
not
insignificant
for
the
city
of
Bloomington,
Morris,
Avenue
and
Tanner.
Street
is
another
project
that
has
been
around
for
a
long
time.
So
there's
a
lot
of
things
that
we
have
done.
A
However,
I
believe
that
some
of
those
obligations
include
things
like
parks
that
we
have
in
the
past
said
that,
or
at
least
implied
that
we're
going
to
build.
Now
we
certainly
didn't
commit
to
an
exact
time
commitment,
but
I,
don't
think
anyone
can
say
that
we
never
had
any
commitment
or
do
not
have
any
commitment
to
ever
build
these
parks.
After
all,
we
accepted
land
from
the
developers.
A
We
certified
our
intention
to
fund
and
build
two
parks
when
we
applied
for
a
grant
to
the
state
of
Illinois
for
matching
funds,
and
we
allowed
developers
to
at
least
imply
our
intention
to
build
the
park
by
posting
signs
and
telling
would-be
buyers
that
a
park
would
soon
be
built
now.
I
do
have
an
issue
a
little
bit
with
the
fact
that
soon,
but,
as
I
said,
I
think
there
is
a
commitment
there.
A
I
agree
with
that,
and
we
have
to
make
a
lot
of
decisions
like
that
priorities.
My
concern
is,
however,
if
we
say
let's
kick
the
can
down
the
road,
maybe
you'll
build
it
next
year.
It
is
likely
that
we
could
lose
a
state
grant
and
if
we
kick
it
down
the
road
to
next
year,
that
will
be
1
million
dollars
in
other
projects
over
1
million
dollars
that
we
can't
spend
on
other
projects
in
years
after
that,
if
we
kick
the
can
further
down
the
road
there's
going
to
be
construction
cost
increases.
A
So
that
leads
me
to
the
conclusion
that
we're
going
to
do
it.
If
we
have
any
intention
river
doing
it,
this
is
the
time
to
do
it
when
we
get
that,
as
somebody
set
a
forty
percent
discount
now
I
personally,
don't
like
the
idea
of
being
painted
into
a
corner
because
of
an
acceptance
of
a
grant-
and
you
know
we
also
accepted
land
from
developer
what
eight
years
ago
to
build
this
park,
but
we
do
have
to
play
the
cards
that
we
had
been
dealt
and
I.
A
Think
right
now,
the
best
play
on
the
card
is
to
go
ahead
and
get
this
behind
us
when
it's
cheaper.
To
do
so,
however,
there's
a
couple
of
things
I
would
hope
that
we
would
learn
from
this
number
one
when
we
apply
for
a
grant
that
requires
substantial
funding
at
some
future
date.
I
think
we
should
consider
a
setting
up
a
reserve
fund
to
to
meet
that
obligation
in
the
future,
so
it
doesn't
become
a
one
time
or
we've
got
it.
What
year,
do
we
put
this
big
expenditure
in?
A
That
might
also
have
the
advantage
if
we
start
funding
something
right
away,
make
the
council
at
the
time
they
vote
for
it.
Think
about
you
know
we're
going
to
start
funding
this
right
now,
rather
than
thanking
hall,
we'll
just
leave
that
to
somebody
eight
years
down
the
road.
The
other
thing
I
think
we
really
need
to
look
at
is
the
whole
concept
of.
A
Can
we
continue
to
afford
a
neighborhood
park
in
every
neighborhood
subdivision,
say
with
200
homes
if
we
spend
a
million
dollars
on
that
park,
that's
five
thousand
dollars
a
home
that
we're
investing
in
that
park
and
remember
we're
collecting
on
on
the
average
home
in
the
city.
What
four
hundred
and
fifty
five
hundred
dollars
even
on
a
larger
home,
maybe
six
or
seven
hundred
dollars,
and
that
goes
for
other
services
too
I-
don't
think
that
the
city
can
afford
any
longer
parks
in
it
in
every
subdivision.
A
So
I'm
urging
you
as
your
mayor
to
minimize
the
long-term
costs
of
all
of
our
expenses
and
specialty,
give
you
park
by
taking
by
going
ahead
and
getting
us
out
of
the
way
when
it's
cheaper
and,
secondly,
learning
from
this
and
looking
at
some
possibilities
as
to
how
we
can
avoid
being
painted
in
the
corner
in
the
in
the
future.
So
with
that
David,
would
you
like
to
go
ahead
and
add
some
things?
Let.
N
Me
just
add
one
or
two
points:
one
I
I
just
want
to
reiterate
again
in
the
budget
workshop
we
had
on
a
Saturday.
We
did
give
you
an
updated
spreadsheet,
showing
our
calculation
of
the
general
fund,
unreserved
fund
balance
and
how
we
did
have
sufficient
funding
there
to
allocate
towards
the
city's
portion
of
this
project
600,000,
as
I
mentioned
earlier,
we
do
even
feel
based
on
our
sales
tax
receipt
collections,
that
that
general
fund
reserve
number
will
leave
an
increase
as
we
get
to
the
end
of
the
fiscal
year.
N
I
think
it's
important
point
out
that
anytime,
we
look
at
any
of
these
fund
balances
and
especially
in
the
general
fund.
Even
our
policy
says.
These
reserves
should
be
used
for
one-time
expenditures
like
a
capital
expenditure
which
this
is,
we
don't
want
to
begin
to
draw
and
utilize
those
for
operating
expenses,
so
I
believe
it's.
It
is
consistent
with
our
policy
of
trying
to
use
it
for
a
one-time,
fixed
asset
type
of
expenditure
and,
as
the
Bears
indicated,
I
do
believe
that
the
time
is
right,
as
we
even
continue
to
see
contractor
bids.
N
This
is
a
very
it's
a
good
timing
for
construction
and
labor
costs,
because
the
yes,
while
the
economy
is
picking
up,
labor
costs
are
still
very
low,
maybe
as
low
as
we're
going
to
see
more
likely
they're
going
to
increase
and
like
this,
the
mayor
says
at
some
point
in
time.
If
we
don't
follow
through,
there
is
the
possibility
of
losing
the
forty
percent
funding
from
the
odds,
lead,
grant.
I.
N
Think
it's
important
to
point
out
that
since
the
recession
since
I've
been
here,
we
have
not
submitted
any
other
application
requests,
mainly
because
of
our
financial
situation.
We
tried
to
resolve
and
to
bring
to
some
closure
those
two
outstanding
oslet
grand
applications,
gaelic
park,
and
now
this
last
ones
Auslan.
So
you
know
with
your
leadership
and
guidance
we
have
not
sought
and
the
other
sled
grant
requests.
N
You
know
this
will
be
the
last
and
by
approving
that
tonight
it
guarantees
that,
if,
in
the
future,
when
there
is
an
opportunity
to
look
at
additional
funding,
we
preserve
you
know
a
good
positive
relationship
with
the
Illinois
Department
of
Natural.
Resource
they've
been
very
gracious
to
give
a
couple
of
extensions
of
this,
but
they're
always
looking
for
results.
N
They
want
to
make
sure
that
if
they
approve
a
grant
request
that
will
follow
through
and
even
as
it's
been
pointed
out,
we
made
pass
commitments
that
we
had
the
funding
to
see
this
through
and
typically
you
would
see
it
through
the
the
original
grant
term,
but
we've
exceeded
that
several
times
so.
Mayor
like
you,
I
would
strongly
recommend
that
the
council
approved
the
funding
for
the
eagle
view
park
and
that's
in
the
form
of
an
ordinance.
N
K
I
A
L
I'm
going
to
try
to
make
this
as
short
as
possible
pensions
before
parks
and
the
reason
I
say
that
is
25
years
from
now,
when
people
want
to
retire
that
we
promised,
when
we
hired
a
mere
at
the
city,
that
money
may
or
may
not
be
there
for
there
for
their
paycheck
okay,
because
there
has
to
be
four
and
a
half
million
dollars
more
each
year.
Put
in
to
make
up
that
difference
right
now
and
this
six
hundred
thousand
dollars
could
be
a
start
in
the
right
direction.
L
If
we
have
extra
money
we
should
be
putting
in
the
pensions.
We
won't
have
money
to
build
any
future
parks
if
this
is
passed
tonight
because
of
before
and
half
million
dollars
every
year
put
in
to
catch
up
on
the
pensions.
Okay,
this
is
serious.
I'm
not
joking
around
here
I
have
four
children
and
they
have
five
grandchildren,
two
oldest
six
years
old
to
him,
62
of
them
21,
22
and
a
half
and
six
months,
and
today
he
could
just
sit
up
in
the
bed
by
himself
when
he's
old
enough
and
he
lives
in
Charleston.
L
K
David
David
a
couple
of
I
guess
clarifying
questions.
You
alluded
to
this,
but
again
we
talked
about
it
in
a
budget
workshop
so
that
we
have
kind
of
full
disclosure
here.
So
everybody
in
a
room
here
is
the
same
thing
that
the
capital
expenditure
for
this
part
will
be
capped
at
1
million
dollars.
That
may
or
may
not
build
the
park
as
it's
designed,
but
it
will
be
capped
at
1
million
dollars.
Is
that.
N
Correct
exactly
that's
what
the
budget
and
this
budget
amendment
sets
a
calf
at
a
million
and,
as
you
know,
the
the
plan,
if
it
was
fully
built
out,
would
cost
more
than
a
million.
But
we
have
looked
at
delaying
to
some
future
unspecified
time.
Certain
improvements
in
that
part
that
we
just
felt
you
know
could
not
you
know,
stay
within
the
million
dollars.
N
So
yes,
a
million
dollars
will
not
get
the
entire
park
built,
but
I
think
all
the
residents
if
they've
seen
the
maps
in
that
we
have
specifically
identified
portions
of
the
park
that
will
have
to
wait
for
future
funding,
but
it
will
comply
with
the
odds,
lab,
grant
application
and
commitment
the
state's
looking
for
a
million-dollar
expenditure,
cash
or
in-kind.
That's
what
we
have
to
meet
to
ensure
that
we
get
used
to
the
400,000
so.
K
N
Correct
but
they're
going
to
have
a
very
substantial
part
bill
to
even
with
the
million
dollars,
okay,
but
any
future
expenditures
will
have
to
compete
with
all
other
parks,
recreation
projects
that
are
found
in
the
parks,
master
plan
and
that'll
have
to
compete
just
like
with
all
the
other
infrastructure
master
plans
that
are
will
be
coming.
The
council's
way,
you
know
and
they'll
all
have
to
compete
against
one
another.
The.
N
Doubt
there
will
be
operational
expenses
that
will
come
with
any
new
facility
like
this.
Yes,
the
operating
budget
will
have
to
absorb
then
I
think
at
one
time
our
Parks
and
Rec
director
tried
to
identify
that
I.
Just
can't
think
of
what
that
is
of
course,
in
this
upcoming
fiscal
year,
most
of
the
expenditures
will
be
construction
related
right
and
even
until
some
of
the
turf
gets
in.
So
the
more
of
the
operating
expenditures
will
show
in
the
following
Fister
fiscal
year,
two
thousand
fifteen.
K
Mile
cost
of
the
park,
we
have
capital
expenditures,
the
startup,
if
you
will,
and
we
have
the
ongoing
the
maintenance
or
operational
expenses.
So
it
is
a
little
bit
more
than
a
million
dollars
that
we're
talking
about
tonight,
capital
and
operate
yes
capital
and
operating
of
a
total
cost.
If
you
will
it's
okay,
appreciated
Stephens
comments.
K
I
likewise
will
be
voting
know
in
a
few
minutes
when
we
vote
for
this,
but
but
appreciate
that
additional
line
of
sight
around
the
operational
expenses
as
well
as
I
wanted
to
make
sure
that
everybody
in
the
room
understood
that
the
million
dollars
is
the
cap.
At
this
point,
mayor
net
may
or
may
not
build
a
design,
as
was
presented
in
the
master
plan.
A
few
years
ago,
okay,
Thank
You,
mayor.
N
If
I
could
just
one
follow-up
I
do
want
to
say
to
the
this
going
forward,
it
is
one
of
our
practices
to
institute
on
an
ongoing
basis.
You
know,
and
again
and
we've
been
short
of
staff
to
do
that.
But
every
time
we
see
a
big
capital
expenditure
like
this,
we
want
to
also
give
the
council,
what's
the
future
operating
expense
going
to
be
what's
going
to
be
that
long
term
kind
of
replacement
cost
we
just
haven't
had
the
ability
to
do
that.
So
we
do
see
that
as
comprehensive.
N
A
I
do
want
to
underline
one
thing
that
david
just
said
that
staff
will
in
fact
take
steps
to
work
with
the
bids
to
assure
that
the
city's
portion
is
no
more
than
six
hundred
thousand
dollars.
That's
all
we're
authorizing
here,
and
there
is
a
possibility
that
something
that
is
even
in
the
trim
back
thing
might
not
get
built
as
you
do
that,
because
we're
only
authorizing
600,000
correct.
Yes,.
A
N
M
A
M
Want
to
first
of
all
acknowledge
the
comments
Steven
that
you've
made
I
appreciate
them,
I
understand
where
they
come
from.
We've
heard
them
from
some
of
our
citizens
this
evening
as
well
and
I
agree.
We
have
a
problem
that
we've
made
with
our
pensions
and
I'm
very
confident
that
were
going
to
meet
that
promise.
When
I
put
myself
in
the
and
I've
gone
back
and
forth,
and
really
thought
about
this
and
I've
appreciated
the
input
I
have
received
from
the
residents
around
the
park,
as
well
as
others
in
this
community.
M
When
I
put
myself
in
the
shoes
of
the
people
who
many
of
whom
are
represented
here
tonight,
I
also
think
that
we've
made
a
promise
to
them
and-
and
I
can
see
that
in
basically
and
everything
that
you've
outlined
mayor
everybody
who
has
build
out
there
or
bought
out
there
has
said
that
that
they've
made
that
investment
based
on
the
information
that
they
were
given
and
I.
Think
we
have
to
make
good
on
that
and
I
do
intend
to
support
the
park.
K
Rob
I
think
I'll
start
with
the
pensions.
We
didn't
make
a
promise
to
pay
the
pensions.
We
made
a
legal
obligation
to
pay
the
pensions.
The
only
way
we're
not
going
to
pay
the
pensions
and
Mayor
I
have
to
apologize
right
now.
Stockton
California
has
filed
bankruptcy;
they
won't
have
to
pay
their
pensions,
but
that's
it
if,
unless
we
file
bankruptcy,
we
will
pay
these
pensions
period
now.
They're.
The
reason
that
I'm
going
to
vote
for
this
two
things
and
both
of
them
start
with
quality.
The
first
one
is
quality
of
life.
K
People
come
to
our
community
because
of
the
quality
of
life.
We
increase
our
population
about
a
thousand
a
year
because
of
quality
of
life,
those
people
pay
property,
tax
and
sales
tax
and
other
fees,
and
that
helps
our
city
grow
so
that
we
don't
have
to
pay
higher
sales
tax
on
what
we
already
own.
The
second
one
is
even
more
important
it's
the
quality
of
the
city
of
bloomington's
reputation,
and
there
are
three
parts
to
that:
our
reputation
to
our
citizens
and
I'm,
going
to
give
you
a
quick
points.
K
We
put
parks
as
a
number
one
priority
in
2007,
and
this
was
one
of
the
two
parks
we
apply
for
an
oz
lead
grant
in
2007.
We
then
purchased
8.1
acres
from
the
developer
and
received
an
oz
led
grant
for
over
120,000
dollars.
For
that
purchase.
We
received
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
oz
lab
grant
in
2009
a
commitment
we
extended
that
grant
twice
once
in
2011
once
in
2012,
there
will
be
no
oz,
lab
grants
given
to
the
city
of
Bloomington
for
two
years.
K
If
we
don't
take
this,
those
are
promises
that
I
think
were
made
to
citizens.
We
also
promised
the
state
of
Illinois
we
applied
for
the
grant
and
received
it,
and
we
said
at
the
time
we
had
the
money
to
fund
it.
They
gave
us
a
grant
for
120
thousand
dollars
because
we
bought
eight
acres
from
the
developer
and
we
applied
for
two
extensions
and
got
both
of
them.
I
think
our
reputation
with
the
state
of
Illinois
would
be
harmed.
K
K
We
accepted
the
donation
of
6.15
acres
from
the
developer
to
build
a
park.
They're
not
going
to
be
real
happy
when
we
don't
build
a
park
and
then
we
purchased
another
8.18
acres
from
the
developer.
They'll
be
happy
with
that,
because
they
they
got
over
two
hundred
forty
thousand
dollars,
but
I
think
we
have
an
obligation
to
keep
our
promises.
We
promise
the
citizens,
we
promise
the
state,
we
promise
the
developers
I
can't
go
back
on
that
promise.
O
Just
as
quickly
promises
are
important
and
some
you
there's
a
history
of,
we
promise
to
pay
valleys
throughout
the
shitty
people
signed
up.
They
got
themselves
on
a
list.
They
waited
years
literally
years
to
reach
the
top
of
that
list.
Now
this
is
an
old
neighborhood
there's
an
old
neighborhood
issue
and
at
one
point
in
time
the
list
was
simply
tossed
out
and
a
lot
of
people
never
got
their
papers
which
I
have
been
championing
for
years.
So
you
know,
I
do
understand
promises
I,
do
support
promises.
O
A
P
Agree,
it's
a
for
me.
It's
a
matter
of
priorities
and
priorities.
Right
now
need
to
be
on
pensions
and
infrastructure,
and
we
were
told
in
the
same
budget
session
that
we
have
upwards
of
50
million
dollars
worth
of
infrastructure
bills
coming
towards
us
in
the
next
few
years.
Once
we
have
our
sewer
plans
completed
and
our
Road
plants
completed,
that
we
don't
know
how
to
pay
for
right
now,
and
so.
A
K
Try
to
keep
these
two
two
or
three
minutes.
Everybody
has
received
some
emails
from
me
over
the
months
and
the
phone
calls
and
I
appreciate
your
reception
to
that
I'll.
Try
not
to
duplicate
a
lot
of
good
things
had
been
said,
but
I
do
have
some
prepared
remarks.
I
wanted
to
be
accurate,
so
tried
to
read
them
for
the
most
part,
but
as
I
thought
about
this
I
had
a
conversation
with
an
alderman
last
week
in
the
comment
was
made
well,
what
else
can
be
said?
K
K
A
yes
vote
will
recognize
our
appreciation
to
the
neighborhood
residents,
who
have
shown
their
patience,
understanding
and
awareness
of
why
the
final
approval
delays
have
occurred
in
the
eighth
year
journey
to
finish
this
community
park,
the
surrounding
neighborhoods
have
worked
cooperatively,
cooperatively
with
each
other
and
have
openly
welcome
the
inclusion
of
the
entire
community.
They
have
worked
very
cohesively
with
a
design
firm
of
planning
associates
to
reach
a
solid
and
unified
consensus
of
the
park
features.
Neighborhood
representatives
have
communicated
and
appeared
before
us
several
times,
always
in
a
polite
and
very
respectful
manner.
K
A
yes
vote
will
continue
our
strong
relationships
with
the
department
of
natural
resources
in
springfield,
with
whom
we
have
received
four
million
dollars
in
grants
throughout
our
bloomington
community.
The
many
supporting
materials
provided
by
staff
clearly
show
the
consequences
that
would
result
to
the
community.
If
we
would
not
finish
the
build
out
this
year,
the
city
of
Bloomington
were
to
be
removed
from
any
further
grant
considerations.
It
could
impact
future
collaborative
projects
with
other
governmental
partners
to
include
the
town,
the
county,
the
airport
authority,
possibly
our
school
districts,
the
CVB
etc.
K
Thirdly,
yes,
vote
clearly
demonstrates
our
support
of
policy
commitments,
as
defined
in
our
strategic
plan,
which
includes
our
vision,
our
mission,
our
core
beliefs
and
our
goals.
A
decision
to
support
the
finishing
of
this
eighth
year
journey
will
further
demonstrate
alignment
to
our
seven
guiding
principles.
I
think
this
is
a
very
important.
The
approval
of
the
requested
funds
represents
one
third
of
one
percent
of
our
budget,
one-third
of
one
percent
of
our
budget.
K
A
Okay,
we're
taking
all
the
suspense
out
of
the
vote
by
announcing
this,
but
let's
go
ahead
and
get
to
the
conclusion
of
this
and
I
would
like
the
clerk
to
take
a
roll
call
vote.
A
yes
vote
supports
staffs
recommendation
to
allocate
up
to,
but
not
to
exceed
six
hundred
thousand
dollars
for
the
construction
of
Eagle
you
park
and
implicitly,
to
get
that
done
this
year,
so
that
we
can
get
that
forty
percent
discount
and
have
more
money
next
year
to
spend
on
other
things.
Oh
with
that
go
ahead
and
all.
P
A
And
again,
keep
in
mind
that
this
is
a
balance
in
this
case
I
think
we
decided
to
do
this,
hopefully
because
it's
going
to
be
cheaper
to
do
it
this
year
and
we
can
have
more
money
next
year.
I'll
have
a
million
dollars
next
year
to
spend
on
something
but
take
a
look
and
David
keep
us
advised
on
where
we
are
on
the
on
the
park.
So
we
are
at
the
end
of
the
regular
agenda.
A
N
Several
mayor
I
I
do
want
to
if
I,
could
invite
RT
Finney
interim
police
chief
come
forward.
If
you
come
up
to
the
podium
mayor
and
council,
I
want
to
introduce
our
T
fini.
I
have
pointed
him
interim
police
chief
he's
going
to
be
with
us
for
a
number
of
months,
as
we
continue
through
the
recruitment
process
for
a
new
police
chief.
Not
only
does
does
chief
any
come
with
I
think
it's
how
many
years
as
a
chief
of
police
in
Carbondale
and
champagne,
approximately
about
approximately.
N
We're
very
fortunate
to
have
our
tea
with
us.
He
and,
as
you
may
have
read
in
the
paper
some
couple
of
areas
that
we
can
really
take
advantage
of
his
expertise.
Experience
as,
as
we
finish,
a
report
coming
to
you
next
month
on
the
downtown
nightlife
I,
think
it's
important
to
point
out
that,
with
clay
wheeler
attending
the
FBI
Academy
were
down
from
three
command
level
positions
to
one
with
Bob
wall,
at
least
with
mr.
Finney
coming
on
board.
N
Were
it
too,
but
we're
still
down
a
critical
command
staff
and
with
a
city
as
large
of
a
police
department
as
complex
and
with
the
issues
we
deal
with
again
we
have
a
proven
police
chief
who's
going
to
be
here
to
help
see
us
through
until
the
permanent
police
chief
appointment
is
made.
So
I
just
wanted
to
introduce
you
to
our
tea
you'll,
be
seeing
him
see
its
emails,
things
of
that
nature,
so
I,
don't
know
RT.
Is
there
anything
else?
You
want.
D
A
N
Thanks,
sir,
thank
you.
I'd
also
like
to
make
known
you
may
have
seen
in
the
paper
as
part
of
our
preparation
or
what
is
the
final
version
of
the
solid
waste
report
that
Alex
McElroy
the
assistant
to
the
city
manager
is
preparing.
We
also
told
you
in
the
past
that
we
were
going
to
have
bring
to
you
some
community
input
citizen
input
as
you've
seen
on
April,
10th
and
11th.
We
have
several
public
input
sessions,
we're
trying
to
get
some
broad-based
some
input
to
help
us,
as
we
finish
with
some
recommendations,
to
bring
to
you.
N
So
this
is
consistent
with
the
plan
we
have
put
together
to
ensure
that
the
final
report
incorporated
some
citizen
input
also
want
you
to
be
aware
that,
as
required
by
state
law
within
barb,
I
think
it's
57
days.
Within
six
days
after
adoption
of
the
budget,
we
post
on
the
city's
website
updated
total
compensation
information
for
all
our
employees.
N
In
doing
this,
our
deputy
city
manager,
finance
director,
has
been
working
with
our
employees
to
do
a
couple
of
new
things
to
help
improve
that
one
we've
reached
out
to
the
town
of
normal
to
try
and
have
that
both
what
they
post,
what
we
post
as
consistent
as
we
can.
However,
it
won't
be
exact,
but
you
know
each
city
sometimes
ultimately
reverts
to
certain,
but
it
is.
N
Secondly,
it's
going
to
be
much
more
comprehensive,
you're
going
to
see
more
information,
so
citizens
public
at
large
can
see
not
only
salary,
but
pension
costs
and
I
think
you'll
be
pleased.
It
is
much
more
robust.
There
is
greater
amount
of
information
and
detail
and
within
that
time
period
that
will
be
posted,
so
we
did
this
last
year
and
that
information
was
out
there
and
will
be
coming
shortly
as
well.
Also
just
want
to
indicate
that
in
two
weeks
we
are
planning
a
special
reception.
N
A
And
I
just
want
to
follow
up
on
one
thing,
you
said
remember
that
our
municipal
elections
are
tomorrow.
Please,
if
you've
had
an
experience
here
as
to
how
this
works,
but
remember
it
all.
It
all
starts
with
you.
The
people
up
here
are
people
that
you
select
so
be
sure
to
do
your
job
tomorrow
and
go
out
and
vote
here.
N
And
hopefully
you
know
it's
it's
nothing
like
a
presidential
election,
but
you
know,
hopefully
tomorrow
even
be
much
better,
but
that's
what
it
was
four
years
ago,
twenty
percent
voting
for
the
elected
officials
that
govern
and
make
all
the
critical
decisions,
no
not
only
financially
but
policy
and
ordinance
wise
as
well.
Thank
you,
Karen
could.
N
N
Corporate
counsel
has
been
working
on
that
with
all
the
other
work
load
were
to
the
point
where
we
have
an
updated
version,
we're
going
to
the
automatic
committee
first
and
then
ultimately
will
bring
that
to
the
council,
but
I
also
want
the
council
to
know
that
I
did
speak
with
chief
any
today
and
I
made
sure
that
he
could
pass
the
word
on
to
all
the
officers
we
already
do
have
existing
ordinances.
We
can
use.
You
know
if
there
is
noise
complaints
out
there.
So,
please,
you
know
I
think
any
citizen.