City of Bloomington, Indiana City Council, 14 Oct 2020

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From YouTube: Bloomington City Council, October 14, 2020

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meeting agenda: https://bloomington.in.gov/onboard/meetingFiles/download?meetingFile_id=7732

A

Okay um looks like the game: yes, nicole. I'm sorry.

B

I'm sorry did you say that um steve vollen is not here tonight.

A

No, he won't be here this evening, okay, so I am your very honored chair this.

A

Evening sounds good all right, I think, stop it stop. It.

A

um I think everyone's here so it's time to get started.

A

um Today is wednesday october 14th, uh and this is a special session of the.

A

Bloomington common council, um madame clerk, shall we start with the.

A

Roll call yes uh councilmemberallo, I'm here.

B

Here rosenberger here, sims.

C

Here: piedmont, smith,.

D

Here: clarity here smith here.

B

And sandberg here: okay, okay, thank you um and before we.

A

Really get into anything um I'll say this a couple times throughout.

A

The night, I'm sure- and this is directed mainly for public comment-.

A

For our community members, um when it comes time for that, please.

A

Use the raise hand, function in chat or send us a note. I'm sorry.

A

In zoom the hand raised hand function in zoom.

A

Or send us a note in chat and we'll try to.

A

Accommodate everyone this evening, so we're down to agenda summation.

A

After well, we're going to have appointments to boards and commissions.

A

And then we have legislation for second readings. They are as follows:.

A

Pardon me ordinance 20-25 to amend ordinance 19-20.

A

Which fixed the salaries of officers of the police and fire departments for the.

A

City of bloomington indiana for the year 2020.

A

Replacing maximum salaries with salary ranges for certain.

A

Public safety personnel, the committee recommendation for that ordinance was do.

A

Pass: nine zero zero next one ordinance 20-22.

A

An ordinance fixing the salaries of officers in the police and fire.

A

Departments for the city of bloomington indiana for the year 2020.

A

Committee recommendation do pass 900 third item ordinance, 20-23.

A

An ordinance fixing the salaries of appointed officers.

A

Non-Union and afscme afscme afscme employees for.

A

All the departments of the city of bloomington monroe, county indiana for.

A

The year 2020, the committee recommendation for that.

A

Ordinance was three six zero.

A

Next item ordinance 20-24 to fix the salaries of all elected city officials.

A

For the city of bloomington for the year committee recommendation for that.

A

Ordinance was 900 to pass.

A

Next ordinance number five appropriation ordinance, 20-05.

A

An ordinance adopting a budget for the operations, maintenance, debt service and.

A

Capital improvements for the water and wastewater utility departments of the city of bloomington indiana for.

A

The year 2021 uh committee recommendation was due past.

A

Nine: zero zero. Next item number six of.

A

Appropriation ordinance, 20-06 appropriation and tax rates for.

A

Bloomington transportation corporation for 2021.

A

The committee recommendation was do pass nine, zero.

A

Zero and lastly, number seven appropriation ordinance 20-04.

A

An ordinance for appointment and tax rates establishing.

A

2021 civil city budget for the city of bloomington.

A

The committee recommendation uh do pass. The account was four three and two.

A

Okay, um do we have any appointments to boards or commissions.

A

This evening, yes, council, member clarity, uh yes, the um on behalf of the climate action and.

E

Resilience committee: I would like to recommend um bailey uh anderson to the uh council appointment for.

E

Environmental commission packing all right. Thank you.

A

Would you repeat her name again, I'm sorry yeah, it's bailey anderson.

A

Okay, thank you um been properly moved in second.

A

uh Madam clerk, will you please call the roll.

B

Yes, before we go any further, uh mr flaherty did you have a particular seat.

B

That you were appointing it's the only vacancy on the enviro.

E

Council vacancy, I believe it's c2, okay, so the motion is on appointing.

B

Bailey anderson to seat c2. Yes, all right, council.

B

Member rallo, yes scandalory, yes, rosenberger.

B

Yeah sims, yes, piedmont, smith; yes, clarity!.

F

Yes, smith, yes, sam! Yes, thank you.

A

Thank you very much um before we get into deliberations on.

A

Our legislative business this evening, we have three items that I'd like to take.

A

Care of the first two are.

A

Conflict of interest disclosures that is appropriate.

A

During this time of the year and I'll go first, if that's okay with you.

A

Councilman for clarity, council, council president, sam.

G

Yes, um I maybe uh I may have misheard um uh our corporation.

G

Council is uh sending me a note that I, when you were reading the legislation, the titles um I for some of them, you may.

G

Have mentioned the year 2020., I know the first item on the agenda is 2020.

G

But I just wanted to clarify that all the uh other items after that. First item.

G

uh Relate to the 2021 budget so just to clarify I.

G

I don't know if I misheard, but I think you may have said the.

G

Budget for 2020 for some of those items so just to clarify for the public.

A

Actually, I did because that's what I have on this sheet so.

A

I is it okay with you correcting them that.

A

Then we can move forward uh just a note for the public ordinance 2025. I believe.

G

Relates to the uh salary, the public safety, salary.

G

Ordinance for the year 2020, yes, six items relate to the 2021.

G

Budget and related salary ordinances, okay to correct that order, is it simply.

A

Okay for me to say that um I think that's fine. I will share the.

G

uh The agenda for this evening in the chat uh for any folks attending the meeting that want to access that.

D

um Point of information- yes, the error was actually in the agenda so.

D

Oh yeah, that's kind of way, uh yeah sharing. It will not help.

A

I was just reading what I've got. Yes, I'm glad you pointed that out. Then that's.

G

Why you read it? Yes, we'll get that corrected, but uh we'll.

G

Post a corrected agenda. Okay, thank you very, very much. Okay,.

A

And I'll start, as some of you may know, my wife serves as a department head for.

A

The housing and neighborhood development department tonight the.

A

Council will consider legislation relating to the city budget for 2021.

A

By voting on this budget, I would be voting in part.

A

On the funds for a departmental budget, overseen by my spouse,.

A

Including my spouse's salary, there is a provision in local code which applies.

A

When a council member is required to take action on a matter where he or she has a direct financial interest.

A

Which is more than minimal or different from that shared by the general public.

A

In that event, the council member must explain the potential conflict and.

A

Either one asks that he or she be excused from voting deliberating or.

A

Taking action on the matter or number two state why he or she is.

A

Able to participate fairly objectively and in the public interest.

A

Despite the potential conflict in this case, I wish to declare the.

A

Potential conflict and state that one the salary for my spouse is part of.

A

A larger departmental, a departmental budget and aligns with.

A

City policies and practices that apply to non-union city employees.

A

As was explained in the course of the august departmental budget hearings,.

A

And the september 30th presentation by the human resources department.

A

Number two because of the size and significance of the overall budget.

A

I believe I have a duty to participate in order to effectively represent the.

A

Constituents of the city and lastly, when doing so, I intend to.

A

Carry out those duties fairly objectively and in the public interest.

A

And believe I am able to do so. Thank you, uh council, member flaherty.

E

Thanks have a similar statement to make, um as some of you know, my wife.

E

Serves as the planning services manager within the planning and transportation department and tonight, the council will consider legislation relating to the city budget for 2021.

E

By voting on this budget, I would be voting in part on funds for a.

E

Departmental budget that would include the salary for my spouse. There is a provision in local code which applies when a council member.

E

Is required to take action on a matter where he has a direct financial interest.

E

Which is more than minimal or different from that shared by the general public.

E

In that event, the council member must explain the potential conflict and.

E

Either ask that he be excused from voting deliberating or taking action on the matter or state why he is able to participate fairly.

E

Objectively and in the public interest, despite the potential conflict.

E

In this case, I wish to declare that potential conflict and state that.

E

First, the salary for my spouse is part of a larger, departmental budget and.

E

Aligns with the city, policies and practices that apply to non-union city.

E

Employees, as was explained in the course of the august departmental budget hearings and the september 30th presentation by the.

E

Human resources department, second, because of the size and.

E

Significance of the overall budget, I believe I have a duty to participate in.

E

Order to effectively represent the constituents of the city and third.

E

When doing so, I intend to carry out those duties fairly objectively and in the public interest and believe I am able to do so.

E

Thanks, thank you very much. um Did I see someone with a hand up? No, I.

A

Did not okay? Next, the mayor has asked to address.

A

The council and the public briefly before we get.

A

Into deliberations um so mayor hamilton, you're on.

H

Thank you very much. It's really good to be with you all. I appreciate it tonight.

H

As you know, or the 2021 budget and salary ordinance votes.

H

I just want to give brief context that uh six months ago,.

H

In april, so the public knows as well as you do. The.

H

In the budget advance, we heard detailed priorities and suggestions and comments.

H

From each of the nine council, members that helped guide.

H

This budget development, three months ago in july, we shared.

H

Recover forward ideas, proposals and got reactions.

H

Feedback questions about that and, of course, the council approved phase one of that in july and.

H

August two months ago, in august the.

H

Administration presented our detailed budget proposals.

H

For 2021 over four nights and with many meetings and discussions since then,.

H

With the council and the public and then two weeks ago,.

H

The final formal presentations of the budget ordinances were given.

H

I want to thank again the team of administration.

H

Officials who helped with this for everybody helps, but particularly.

H

Deputy mayor maker and eisen um uh human resource director, caroline shaw and of.

H

Course, comptroller, jeff, underwood and the full cabinet for their great work and and tonight after this extensive and.

H

Detailed six-month process, you gather for a final vote.

H

um Just a brief summary about tonight, all of this input led to an.

H

Unprecedented budget for unprecedented times dealing with four enormous.

H

Challenges that both the council and the administration.

H

Want to address for our community, the economic collapse were amid amid.

H

The climate emergency facing us, the racial and economic injustice and of.

H

Course, the health pandemic. This overall budget deals with all of.

H

These issues, together and intentionally and.

H

Consistent with goals that the council has articulated and building on our.

H

Momentum, the budget keeps basic services going and supports.

H

And values the 850 people who deliver services for all the.

H

City, it also tightens our belt in the face of the fiscal challenges and is transparent in all that we do.

H

These times have called for special investments.

H

To recover forward, we, this budget invests in jobs and economic recovery.

H

For the people suffering in our community, it invests.

H

In climate responses, including new energy efficiency, investments, local.

H

Agriculture supports and non-automobile infrastructure.

H

It invests in greater economic and racial opportunity.

H

And justice, the social safety net expansion and more affordable housing.

H

And continued innovation and evolution in our public safety departments.

H

This budget also reflects the momentum of investing in our basic infrastructure.

H

You may recall uh that in the first three.

H

Years of my administration, we doubled the pace.

H

Of basic infrastructure investments from public.

H

Works parks, bloomington transit city.

H

Bloomington utilities, public safety doubling from 2016 to 2018.

H

The previous three years from 20 million to 40 million dollars of investment.

H

That doubling has helped us build new or repair 29 miles.

H

Of sidewalks trails and side paths with more to come, it has also meant our.

H

Parks department, beyond opening the 34 million dollar largest.

H

New switchyard park, it also is investing nearly 20 million.

H

Dollars more in general obligation than bicentennial bond proceeds.

H

Or even more new trail and path miles, we've invested 13 million dollars for.

H

Solar expanding production by five megawatts.

H

And four million dollars in the city of bloomington utilities, new.

H

Green infrastructure program increased public tree population by 50.

H

Percent and nearly a thousand affordable housing units supported lots.

H

Of good momentum but hard times confront us right now,.

H

The need for counter cyclical government is is critical to help us recover.

H

Forward and tighten our belts managing finances carefully.

H

The extensive feedback and support from city council.

H

Through the years and through the last six months.

H

Of budget engagement together have helped us focus on maintaining.

H

Forward momentum, even during challenging times.

H

And, and that has resulted in these 20 21 budget.

H

And salary ordinances now, even after the extensive engagement and discussion on.

H

Many many items there are some issues of disagreement.

H

That remain primarily about two components: in the 166 million.

H

Dollar budget for 2021. one concerns the new.

H

Proposed transportation demand management position and a second.

H

Is the police budget and some of the planned reforms I'll just touch very.

H

Briefly, on both on tdm transportation, demand management.

H

I believe we share goals for this position.

H

And the program to reduce single person and overall automobile usage.

H

Particularly downtown and to collaborate outside government.

H

With in in implementing effective strategies.

H

There is some dis differences of views about where to house the new position.

H

Inside city hall and I've said reasonable people may differ on.

H

The optimal placement, I hope when we can agree.

H

That the focus should be on the results of this position and this administration.

H

Is absolutely committed to being held accountable.

H

For results and for transparent reporting and continued collaboration.

H

I believe we share overall support for the tdm position.

H

And the program which depends upon a positive vote for the budget.

H

To be able to hire a person and implement the program.

H

At all, as to police, I and the community deeply appreciate.

H

The people of the bloomington police department who serve us every day, our sworn officers and all employees.

H

Amid extraordinary times of attention and energy.

H

About policing in america and sensitivity to the history of policing.

H

In america, our community and our department.

H

Share a strong commitment to continued improvements.

H

Building on the history of downtown resource officers,.

H

Body cameras, uh social workers, neighborhood resource specialists, this.

H

New stride center extensive training, the open data.

H

Initiative, 21st century policing, review, etc and more members of this.

H

Council, like members of the public, have varying.

H

Views on the best paths forward as a reminder.

H

For the basic plan for 2021 in the budget.

H

We have proposed fully funding 100 sworn officer positions.

H

For the year 2021 and adding new five positions for social workers.

H

Neighborhood resource specialists and one public data.

H

Analyst, as I've previously mentioned, I also will be supporting the creation of.

H

A community-based task force to consider the future of policing in.

H

The community to consider wider and deeper questions, including for.

H

Example, the best alignment of resources and personnel in the public safety world over the.

H

Coming months, we will continue to work closely with.

H

Council and the community in standing up this process very shortly,.

H

Also working with the bloomington police department and members of the council.

H

We're identifying some steps to encourage and support.

H

More officers being able to live in the city.

H

To be closer to our community through a new housing allowance program,.

H

For current or new officers who choose to live in the city.

H

And we will be encouraging retention of current officers and recruitment of.

H

High-Quality new officers through a take-home car program for all.

H

Officers living in the city and a pilot take-home car program for.

H

Some officers living in the county outside city limits.

H

Who have special responsibilities and for whom? Immediate.

H

Access to patrol cars will be helpful to our community.

H

Both the housing allowance and that take-home car program will be.

H

Accomplished within the 2021 budget, as presented to.

H

You and I'll close where I began. I appreciate the indulgence I want to thank the council and the public for six.

H

Months of extensive engagement to put together.

H

This most important annual document of the budget- these are.

H

Extraordinary times, they demand extraordinary focus to help.

H

Us all recover from and confront major.

H

Challenges to our community every one of us no doubt can point to.

H

Something in this budget that we might like changed or different, but I believe.

H

It very well embodies our community's values in the face of.

H

These times- and it is a prudent and effective investment for a better.

H

Future for our community, I really appreciate your attention and.

H

Your collaboration and I strongly encourage your support of.

H

This 2021 budget. Thank you very much. Thank you. Mayor hamilton,.

A

I'll ask the um parliamentarian is this: is this appropriate time for questions.

A

Or do we just move on just a statement? um I would think that we would do.

D

Questions uh with each piece of legislation.

D

No, no, I mean for the mayor's um statement just now.

D

Right, no, he that's. No I'm sorry. I was I didn't know if we could open.

A

That up for questions to council members to the mayor's statement that he just gave so, okay, I think it's up to you.

D

I would say no, but well uh I listened to my parliamentarian so.

A

Thank you, mayor hamilton. um I think we'll move on to.

A

um The first item on our legislator for second reading.

D

Yes, mr chair, I moved that ordinance 2025, be introduced and read by the clerk by.

D

Title and synopsis only second, okay, it's been moved in second.

A

Madam clerk, would you.

A

Call the role um or please read, I think I call the rule first on the.

B

Royal first, yes, and then we thank you. Yes, we've got a lot of them to do.

A

Tonight, yes,.

B

And I still wasn't ready so my apologies. Everyone.

B

Okay, council, member scamilari, yes rosenberger yeah,.

B

Sims, yes, piedmont, smith, yes, flaherty.

F

Yes, smith, yes, sandberg. Yes,.

B

B

Did we lose council member.

A

Yes, we have a couple he's trying to get in now.

B

Okay, um I think we can go on from here if you want to, unless he's on, I'm.

A

Trying to see, if he's trying to see if he's getting on.

A

Okay, I think we can handle that later. um Madam clerk, would you please read.

B

Yes, ordinance 2025 to amend ordinance 1920, which fixed the.

B

Salaries of officers of the police and fire departments.

B

For the city of bloomington indiana for the year 2020.

B

Regarding replacing maximum salaries with salary ranges for certain public.

B

Safety personnel. The synopsis is as follows. This.

B

Ordinance amends ordinance 1920, which fixed the salaries.

B

Of officers for the police and fire departments for the year.

B

2020., the amendment assigns pay grades and.

B

Replaces maximum salaries with minimum and maximum salaries.

B

Your due pass recommendation for this ordinance was nine.

B

Zero, mr chair, I move that ordinance 2025 be adopted.

A

Second, it's been moved in second um kirk. Will you please call the role do.

A

We not call the role again. Okay, thank you um who do we have.

A

Presenting tonight, thank you.

A

I'll see miss shaw down here: hi michelle hi everyone good evening, council.

I

And um everyone, my name is caroline shaw: I'm the hr director. Thank you for having.

I

Me I presented this in detail a couple of.

I

Weeks ago, as you know, um and I for sake of time, I'm happy to.

I

Answer any specific questions you might have, but I won't go into it in more.

I

Detail unless you'd like me to.

A

Hey, thank you um we'll go to council members for any.

A

A

Council, member piedmont, smith, yeah- I don't have a question but just for the.

D

Benefit of the public. Ms shaw, could you just briefly summarize.

D

What this ordinance would accomplish absolutely.

I

This ordinance replaces fats flat salaries rather for our.

I

Many of our police positions and fire positions that are not.

I

Covered under the contract with salary ranges which allows us some more.

I

Flexibility in assigning salaries in future years.

D

Great, and was there an amendment, there is thank you for bringing that up, and I.

I

Had several people volunteered to sponsor that today and I really.

I

Appreciate that I'm not sure who got the honor.

J

Are you speaking of amendment one two? I have that as listed with ordinance 2022.

J

Not 2025., so do I so. Okay, it's there's actually an.

G

Amendment for both- I I think uh packet addendum- that went.

G

Out there should have been three amendments.

C

J

Oh got it sorry: okay! um Yes! um Vice president sims I'd like to.

J

Read shall I read this into the record. You just need to move the amendment. Yes,.

J

I would like to move that section: 2 of ordinance, 20-25.

J

Shall be amended by increasing the job grade of supervisory sergeant.

J

To grade 8 and by increasing the salary range of supervisory sergeant,.

J

To a minimum salary of forty three thousand ninety eight dollars.

J

And a maximum salary of sixty eight thousand nine hundred and fifty nine.

J

Dollars second, thank you.

J

And for those of you who want to refer for those of you want to refer to a.

J

Packet in the legislative packet from september 30th, this is on page 91.

A

Okay, this parliamentarian, um should the synopsis be read as well.

A

All right, council, member scumbler, um that's not necessary, since she read.

D

The whole thing: yeah. Okay, thank you.

A

Okay, so did you move to have this adopted? Yes,.

J

I did and season council member stanberg seconded.

J

Okay, thank you. Sean may have some additional comments on this.

I

I'm happy to make additional comments. They'll be brief.

I

We made a mistake in hr, we assigned the supervisor sergeant.

I

To the wrong pay grade, and we didn't catch it until after we presented to you.

I

On september 30th, and I'm very thankful for your support in helping us get this fixed. It's also, mr lucas, for.

I

For helping us expedite this, you make mistakes occasionally.

I

Thank you all any questions for me about that.

A

I don't see any um clerk, can we call the role of this.

A

K

Do we need um before we call roll on the motion to adopt.

B

Amendment one: do you guys have to go to the public or anything on that? Yes, we should no. I thought this was a.

A

Roll call to um accept her not her.

A

Motion, but so we don't do that, that's not necessary. Okay. Thank you.

A

Okay, so we'll go to council members for questions or comments.

A

Okay, saying none will go to the public if anyone has any comments on amendment.

A

One for ordinance, 20-25.

A

Is that is that correct? No, no! That is correct.

A

No, I'm checking with the clerk see if we go to the public for comments on this.

A

Okay and that's what I'd ship.

A

Do we have any none that I can see? Okay, thank you.

A

Going back to the council for any final comments or questions.

A

Okay, seeing none um clark, would you please call the role.

B

Yes um for amendment one council, member rosenberger,.

B

Yes, sims, yes, piedmont, smith,.

B

Yes, clarity, yes smith. Yes,.

B

Sandberg, yes, rallo still not with us um scandalory.

B

A

Thank you. um Do we have another amendment? That's.

A

Known, that's the only amendment for for 2025.

A

25, okay, thank you.

A

Now the ordinance do we need to vote on it as it's been amended.

D

We need to go to the do. I need to sick and do I need to.

A

uh Okay, thank you. We're now open for public comment. Please.

A

Indicate by using the raised hand, functions if you have any comments on ordinance, 20-25.

A

As amended or send us a note in chat and we'll allow you to speak, that.

A

A

Okay, do we see anything madam clark.

A

Okay, seeing none should we go back to council for final.

A

Comment or recall the role, councilmember, piedmont smith, um I'm.

D

Sorry, I just have a quick question for ms shaw. Yes, um so since we're.

D

Revising the 2020 salary ordinance will um there be any salary adjustments to.

D

Actual personnel as a result of this ordinance.

I

There actually will- um and that's I put that one aside- that's covered in the.

I

Memo I issued, but I'm happy to go over that again. We realized that fire management.

I

Salaries were, let me just find that section really quickly. It came to our attention that compared.

I

To their peers and other depart other city departments, the fire deputy chief.

I

Of italian chiefs are underpaid and we have made corrections to their.

I

Salaries pending your approval of this legislation, so will they then get back.

D

Pay for all of 2020, they will, and I can actually tell you if.

I

You'd like um what their, um what their salaries were and what they.

I

Will be, would you like that information? I don't need that. I just um they will.

I

Get back paid and we have that in our budget in the.

D

Fire budget: yes, we do okay, very good. Thank you.

A

Thank you. Do we have any further questions or comments from council.

A

Okay, seeing none um madam clerk, do we go to the role to.

A

Adopt ordinance 20-25 as amended.

B

Yes, councilmember sims, yes,.

B

Oh piedmont, smith, yes, flaherty. Yes, smith,.

L

Yes, sandberg, yes,.

B

Scandalory, yes, rosenbacher, yes, okay,.

A

Okay and that passes seven zero, um I'm wondering if councilmember rallo.

A

Is still trying to get in so he still may join us.

A

So thank you very much.

A

Council parliamentarian, yes, I move that ordinance, 2022.

D

Be introduced and read by the clerk by title and synopsis only.

M

Second, it's been moved in second.

B

um Council, member piedmont, smith; yes, clarity, yes, smith,.

B

Yes, sandberg, yes,.

B

Narallo yet um scandalory, yes, rosenberger.

B

Yes and sims: yes, okay, okay, thank you.

A

um Madam clerk, will you please read yes, ordinance 2022, an ordinance fixing.

B

The salaries of officers of the police and fire departments.

B

For the city of bloomington indiana for the year 2021.

B

And the synopsis is as follows: this ordinance sets the minimum and maximum.

B

Salary rates for all sworn fire and police personnel for the year 2021.

B

In accordance with council approved collective bargaining agreements,.

B

Your due pass recommendation for ordinance 2022 is 900.

A

Okay, thank you, mr chair. I moved that ordinance 2022 be adopted.

M

Second, okay, it's been moved in. Second, um I do believe we have two amendments.

J

We do and I'll be sharing those okay. Thank you. Yes, the first is actually.

J

A housekeeping um that actually runs parallel to.

J

The ordinance we just passed vice president council members, I move.

J

That section 2a of ordinance 2022, shall be amended by.

J

Increasing the job grade of supervisory sergeant to grade.

J

8 and by increasing the salary range of supervisory sergeant.

J

To a minimum salary of forty three thousand nine hundred and sixty dollars.

J

And a maximum salary of seventy thousand three hundred thirty eight dollars.

A

Second, okay, thank you very much.

A

And we've heard that one and before we go to the next one.

A

Do we have um looks like councilmemberallo is back, do.

A

We have I'm sorry, do we have any questions or.

A

Comments from the council.

A

Ordinance one um I'm sorry amendment one on ordinance, 20-22.

A

Okay, see councilmember p, my smith, so this is just making the same.

D

Correction that we made for 2020 and now we're applying it to.

D

2021 is that right, yes, correct? Thank you.

A

Thank you any further questions.

A

Okay, um I believe we need to go to the public for comment on this amendment.

A

Number one for ordinance: 20-22, please use the raised hand function in.

A

Zoom or send a message on chat if any of the members of the public has.

A

A

Do we have any, madam clerk that you see no okay? Thank you.

A

And we'll go back to the council on any final comments.

A

Okay, saying none, madam clerk, can we call the role on amendment one for.

A

Ordinance 20-22.

B

B

um Councilmember.

B

Flaherty, yes, smith, yes, sandberg! Yes,.

B

N

Yes, scandaloury, yes, rosenberger.

B

Yes and since yes, sorry, one more and piedmont smith.

B

Yes, sorry thank you and I believe that passes.

A

Eight zero, okay um and we have amendment two. You.

J

Vice president sims, I would like to move uh that ordinance. 2022 shall be amended.

J

By inserting a new section, three and renumbering.

J

Subsequent sections, accordingly, the news section three shall read.

J

Section three: the maximum number of sworn officers within the police.

J

Department for the year 2021 shall be set at 105.

J

And I bring this amendment on behalf of sponsored by myself.

J

And council member sandberg.

M

And second, okay, smith, move the second: do we have any comments or questions.

A

From council members, council member p mount smith.

D

um I guess I don't understand the openness of this.

D

Amendment sure would it be helpful if I provided.

J

Some additional background- yes, I didn't want to do so without it.

J

Mr lucas, I'm going to screen share, but if that attempt fails.

J

Please let me know, okay um by way of background.

J

um For those of you, many of us on all of us on council and many in the public.

J

Have followed this conversation for the last several months and particularly where the policing budget is concerned.

J

The questions have have circled around two issues. One has been the balance of.

J

Resources, how much is devoted to sworn officers.

J

How much is devoted to non-sworn officers and the other is, is focused on staffing levels.

J

How many officers do we have and as part of his.

J

His proposal to us, the mayor, proposed dropping the number from 105 to 100.

J

And fully funding that 100.. So one of the bits of information I think.

J

That the all of us want to make this decision based on good information.

J

One of the statistics that was shared during the september 30th public hearing.

J

Had to do with the amount of resources that.

J

Have been devoted to increasing staffing in the police department.

J

Since 2015., so I want to express my appreciation: can everyone see.

J

That slide, yes, can you make it larger, please? I can.

D

B

Better nope, too big sorry.

J

Apparently, no, no, I can't make this bigger.

L

Yeah, it works part of the time better. If you have presentation mode, it would.

E

Probably be full screen, but it's also fine.

J

By way of background, one of the bits of information presented said that we had.

J

Seen a 40 uh three percent increase in.

J

Staffing within the police department- and I had.

J

Some questions about that particular number. I think that number in and of.

J

Itself is very striking and to most ordinary members of.

J

The public it sounds as if we have had a 43 percent.

J

Increase in the number of police officers on the street.

J

Since 2015 and I wanted to make sure we were comparing apples to apples and we.

J

Were actually looking at that information accurately and that we were.

J

Differentiating between civilian non-sworn officers.

J

Dispatch and sworn officers, so what you see here.

J

Staffing levels for 2015 this data comes from.

J

The city of bloomington office of the mayor, I want to express my thanks to the.

J

Mayor and to deputy mayor mick frenizen for.

J

Sharing this information: this is a column I added of just.

J

Population estimates for bloomington based on opendatanetwork.com.

J

um And the exact population varies depending on who you ask, um but most of.

J

Them this is pretty representative of how the population has grown.

J

Over time between 2015 and 2021 6.8 increase right here we have civilian.

J

Non-Sworn officers, these are administrative positions, administrative.

J

Support positions: dispatch: a comment I want to offer here.

J

2017, we see this big jump that was the year that the budget lines.

J

For 10 and a half dispatch staff came over.

J

From the county to the city, those positions already.

J

Existed so it wasn't a net increase. We weren't hiring entirely new people.

J

It just folded into our budget line, okay and then sworn officers. We see the.

J

Totals here, okay you're, the total staff for that.

C

F

J

So let's look at it was helpful to me to actually look at these numbers so.

J

Rather than a 43 overall increase, what we do see in civilian officers, we.

J

See a 33 just over a 30 percent increase in that period of time, dispatch.

J

We see about an 83 percent little over 83 percent.

J

Increase in staff and the zero percent increase in sworn officers.

J

This is the data that I was looking for.

J

And I think the contrast that concerns me most these these numbers.

J

Don't concern me civilian and dispatch officers.

J

I think those are wonderful additions. I all along. I have supported the addition.

J

Of social workers to this, this is the number number comparison.

J

That concerns me is that, while our population has grown.

J

We have not made corresponding investments in sworn officers.

J

2021 is what's been proposed. We have heard a lot about.

J

Budget um taking a hit in the years to come, and I think we fully expect that.

J

My concern is that if we dial this back to 100.

J

Those positions for sworn officers are not going to return.

J

So what does this amendment do what it does not do.

J

What it does not do is change. The dollar amounts that we have available.

J

We are funding 100, 100 sworn officer positions, just as the mayor said.

J

um It doesn't change the obligation of chief chief deepcock to work within that.

J

Budget, he still has to take that budget and apply it to his staffing youth. What it does do is provide.

J

Administration and council, with some flexibility, as we think about staffing.

J

Next year, I would agree with the mayor that we have some deeper questions to dive into. We have to acknowledge that our city is.

J

Growing at the same time, we have to acknowledge that policing is changing.

J

This simply gives us the flexibility to do that. It puts the cat, it doesn't.

J

It keeps the cap at 105 instead of 100.. In all likelihood, we will not hire those.

J

Fi, those five and we've been in conversation with that.

J

But I think these numbers were very telling to me and painted a more accurate picture of where we are so council member sandberg I'll. Invite yes, and if you could stop screen sharing.

M

I think it's causing a little bit of distortion in the sound unless anybody really wants to see these figures, while we're talking.

M

um But uh council member scandal, laurie and I have had grave concerns about the.

M

Staffing levels, what we want to reassure of the public.

M

Is this absolutely has no fiscal impact with this year's budget? It does, however, allow the flexibility.

M

That I think we all need to be cognizant of that right now and for.

M

Those of us that have taken the time to get acquainted with the bpd staff.

M

To go on some ride alongs to attend some of their roll calls. It is.

M

Absolutely clear that they are dealing with staffing shortages.

M

That is a fact on the ground that we are seeing. We can observe it with our eyes.

M

When we take the time to go in and meet with them and talk to them,.

M

About what their needs are, I absolutely applaud the addition of.

M

The social work positions, the neighborhood resource and the data.

M

Analyst, this is a both end situation and this does not commit us in any kind of a fiscal sense.

M

What it does do is give us the flexibility in the future to take a look.

M

At those staffing levels and really think about doing something.

M

Significant to alleviate some of the stress and and some of the morale issues.

M

That we are clearly seeing in the bpd right now, so I wholeheartedly um support this. I urge my fellow council members to.

M

Do the same once again no impact to the budget this year it.

M

Just gives us some growing room that we are going to absolutely need to.

M

To take very seriously um in the coming year and coming years.

M

Actually, as the community grows and the need for.

M

Patrols, I've had a number of concerns about issues related to the new.

M

Switzerland park um coming week, I did a ride-along last.

M

Night, in which we I actually saw with my own eyes, what's going on after 11,.

M

O'clock and um we we, the rbpd, need relief. They.

M

Need some help, and so they need a council.

M

That's going to take. Take that fairly seriously so again,.

M

Thank you very much for hearing us out and we hope to get.

M

Some some good support.

A

All right, thank you very, very much um going to the council.

A

For questions or comments on ordinance, 20-22.

A

A

Council, member piedmont, smith.

D

um I guess I'm still confused, because the current ordinance without the.

D

Amendment does not have a limit on the number of police officers and now.

D

We're adding a limit of 1.05. Am I missing something? I don't.

D

Understand how this would give us more wiggle room than not having any limit.

D

M

Sue, do you want to take that yeah? I think.

J

The simplest way to to say this, we've all heard about the budget.

J

Difficulties that are on the horizon, what we have essentially done is taken.

J

Five sworn officer positions, repurposed them.

J

To become to to fund social work positions this year,.

J

In order to hire those five sworn officers in a future year, as it.

J

Currently stands, we would have to like let those social workers go.

J

We can't produce extra money. What we want to do.

J

Is keep that number at 105, so we have the flexibility in future years. If.

J

Funding is available to grow that we don't want to lose those.

J

Five positions and have them say: well, I'm sorry, those were just changed. We can't have any more sworn officers.

J

Because those salary lines are separate, we've already hired social workers for.

J

It this gives us the flexibility to do that if we choose to appropriate funds.

J

In the future, I'm not sure if that helps or not.

M

And also, and also to be clear, we did vet this with um our council attorney.

M

Who, in I believe, has vetted it with uh mr.

M

Ricker and perhaps philippa guthrie- I don't know if they want to add anything.

M

More that we are within our rights, um you know at with this ordinance to do this sets a maximum and it it is. um It is.

M

More just again, some insurance for the future. More than anything, it doesn't.

M

Really affect this year's budget per se.

M

Mr lucas, do you have anything else to add with respect to.

M

You do this, I I think this amendment is within the.

G

Council's authority, although uh councilmember piedmont smith, I think.

G

Is correct that the practical impact of this uh this year is is really nothing and actually.

G

This does place an upper limit on the number of officers where there wasn't.

G

One before, although the upper limit placed by this amendment.

G

Is higher than the amount budgeted for those positions.

G

So, um in effect it it won't, have a.

G

An impact one way or the other. I think I think too that one of the things we.

J

Wish to do and the part of our thinking in proposing this amendment um was to send a message of support to.

J

Our officers, the notion that we are experiencing.

J

Recruitment and retention issues is not new. It shouldn't be news to anybody on.

J

Council- and we want to, we want our sworn.

J

Officers to know that we have heard their concerns, we understand that the staffing pressures they are under.

J

Are extreme and presenting challenges, and we want to let them know that we.

J

Understand staffing should not be cut, departments don't get stronger and.

J

Better when resources are taken away, and we want to acknowledge that.

A

Okay, council member flaherty yeah, I heard the word.

E

uh Flexibility, a number of times that this somehow increases flexibility, but.

E

It seems to do the exact opposite of the reasons we just heard. uh It sets.

E

An upper limit where there isn't one now and even if ordinance, 2025 as.

E

Unamended um doesn't limit any future flexibility in any respect.

E

uh With regard to budgets or salary ordinances, so I'm just.

E

It seems to me, like it, reduces flexibility and also.

E

Doesn't have any impact, so I'm curious to.

E

Hear your thoughts about that yeah I I can tackle that.

M

um We are um this: this only impacts budget 2021. This does not go beyond.

M

uh In years, and we are well aware, given our recruitment issues, given the.

M

Fact that we're making officers to to we're making offers to to new.

M

Officers uh but we're not we're not getting anywhere near even a hundred, so um this is largely symbolic again as.

M

Council member scandalory said it's to send the message that if we have.

M

The ability to do so in future years, we want to have that flexibility and that.

M

Ability to get up to the optimum number of 105.

M

Now, in the coming years, we may have to take a look at our resources. We may not.

M

Be able to do you know um that, and of course this is.

M

Year by year that that we're talking about here we're not.

M

Setting a cap indefinitely, this will only apply to 2021's budget.

M

This amendment, and- and I think it's worth pointing out too.

J

That again, we we have seen a zero increase, a zero percent increase in.

J

Sworn officers in this city in the last five years um there is not.

J

Some huge increase in sworn officers on the streets.

J

In fact, there is none and that's why our population is growing and that concerns.

J

Me so preserving a higher number, I think, becomes very, very important.

J

Beyond that, I think this acknowledges the novak report.

J

That it's interesting as I listen to other budget pro presentations this year.

J

Many have mentioned novak reports in their own departments.

J

This actually acknowledges recommendations from the novak report, as.

J

Well, that that increases in staffing are merited.

J

So it again it preserves this number. It allows our sworn officers to know.

J

That we support them and that we understand the staffing pressures that.

J

They are under and it's it's a it's a clear statement.

J

To that effect, as opposed to simply doing nothing and.

J

And leaving the number 100 so okay. Thank you. um Any further questions.

A

Or comments from any further or any other council members all right.

A

I got you, I want to give someone else. A first buy that well before we get there.

A

I'll be with you, council, member smith, I just.

L

uh Like to say that, uh I appreciate the the gesture that it sends to our.

L

Bpd- and uh so I I just want to thank uh council member scamballuri and sandberg.

L

For doing this, um I I think it's a it's a good idea and.

L

It's it's a something that uh we need to show.

L

A little support out there um I went along and went down to.

L

Listen to the officers one day and they're really stressed and.

L

Maybe um would one of you describe what you mean by.

L

Staffing pressures, um for instance, if you went on on a.

L

Ride-Along council, member sandberg, can you share.

J

Your experience on ride-along last year- yes, I absolutely can um I've.

M

Been to several roll calls, in which you know at the start of each.

M

Shift you take a look at the chart on the wall to see how many officers are on each of the shifts.

M

And many times those positions are filled by people working.

M

Double shifts, um they have a certain amount of vacation time that they.

M

Need to schedule in advance and, of course, with.

M

Maybe people being out for light dust duty because of injury or they're on.

M

They have to do national guard duty, we're going to sometimes experience.

M

Experience shortages last night, we were short by one.

M

um And 10 o'clock it went down to two more that they were short now. It was.

M

A quiet night there wasn't a whole lot going on, and so, fortunately everybody was able to cover their patrols and.

M

With very little incident, but there might be some evenings when you have.

M

Heavily trafficked calls and and need for.

M

First responders and there's they're short staffed.

M

There we we could be into some difficulties, not to not the least to.

M

Mention they're tired when they're working double shifts in order to cover for for their fellow uh officers who, for reasons you know, cannot be.

M

On duty, and so those shortages are going to take its toll and as council members.

M

Gambler has already said: you're not going to make a department stronger.

M

Better, better trained well-rested, if they don't have the opportunity to take.

M

The much-needed time off from very stressful jobs, and so I've seen.

M

Those charts there are some nights that it's it could be very iffy as to the amount of officers that we have on patrol.

M

On any given evening any given afternoon any given morning, there are three.

M

Different shifts um and um the dedication that I've.

M

Observed too in these officers uh that, in spite of.

M

The fact that they're, tired and they're under some stress uh for a.

M

Lot of reasons that we all know um uh that they still come to work.

M

And they're dedicated and they're well trained and they're well, disciplined and.

M

They want to do the best job possible, so you know I have.

M

Great respect for them, as I get more acquainted with them,.

M

And their issues.

M

And they'll they'll be very frank and telling us um we're. You know we're going.

M

To serve we're going to serve the best of our ability, but we are dealing with staffing levels that are.

M

Should concern us.

L

Thank you very much hey. Thank you. um Councilmember flaherty.

E

Sure, thanks, uh I believe, councilmember sandberg said.

E

That um 105 was the optimal number um and of course you know talking about.

E

100 um is what we had in 2015 and that's still what we have now uh in this year's budget. um That's a.

E

Zero percent increase. I mean um that sort of presupposes that uh 100.

E

Officers per 82 813 people is the optimal amount or is.

E

The right amount or that 105 for the current population is optimal, so I'm.

E

Curious how the sponsors determined the optimal.

E

Number of officers- and I I I will not say that's optimum if.

M

You're, looking at the novak report, 105 is not nearly enough.

M

But it is, I think, you know by five, it is aspirational and if we could.

M

Possibly get up to that level, given that we've been there before.

M

In in prior budget years, um that will hold the line.

M

Is it optimal? No, but I think it does send a signal that that's what we hope.

M

To achieve if and when it's at all possible for our.

M

Recruiting ability for our um are getting you know.

M

Well-Trained people into the force not losing any more that's a huge.

M

Concern because we are training our officers to.

M

Be first class, the training people want.

M

Well-Trained bloomington police officers and they're coming after them.

M

And offers are being made and we are losing.

M

Good officers to other jurisdictions because of the fact that there are just.

M

These stresses and strains that we're not paying attention to.

M

And so I want to just make sure that we're protecting the good thing that we.

M

Have in bloomington with people who are dedicated professional um and who are doing a good job for us.

M

Does that make sense that no there's no such thing as 105 being? Oh, that's the.

M

Number we we want to get and stay at, because we.

M

Could possibly need more, but we've got to deal with the realities of our budget.

M

What we're able to do from a fiscal standpoint.

A

That's remember: scam, blurry! Thank you. um What she just said: okay and one.

J

Important point, too, that I that I think is easy to overlook.

J

Most of us on council- I think maybe all of us on council have actively supported.

J

The notion of increasing the number of social.

J

Workers who can be resources in our community, we may differ on where the.

J

Reporting lines, but most of us have been very supportive of that notion. What this amendment essentially says is.

J

That it's not necessarily okay to cannibalize foreign officer positions,.

J

To pay for social workers, it underscores that the sworn officer positions are.

J

Valuable is 105 optimal, no it's low. According to the novak.

J

Report, but what this amendment does is make the.

J

Statement that cannibalizing sworn officer positions for social work positions is not the best.

J

A

Okay, thank you um any further questions or comments.

A

From council members, okay, um I'll council member pete, my.

A

Smith, well, um I assume we'll we'll have a.

D

Chance for comment after uh okay- yes, yes, okay,.

A

um Saying none um now we'll go to the public.

A

For comments on ordinance 20-22 as amended, um I'm pointing back.

C

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, yes go ahead. It would be comments on amendment two.

D

I'm sorry amendment two you're, absolutely right. I'm ahead of myself.

A

um And we'll go to the public, I do believe we have some.

A

Folks that have raised hands in the zoom function.

A

And we may have one more, that's indicated on the chat.

A

Madam clerk, okay, we'll go ahead and start with.

B

Nathan, if you could unmute yourself now,.

O

Yes, thank you. Yes,.

A

P

Sorry, can you hear me yes, yes, okay, sorry about that. My.

P

I just want to speak briefly about the idea of flexibility and remind the.

P

Council of the aphorism, when all you have is a hammer everything.

P

Looks like a nail, I'm sorry nathan. Could you give us your.

D

Full name please for the record. Sorry thank you.

A

Okay, I think he's having some internet or wi-fi issues. Can we move.

A

Forward, um kirk, bowden and we'll come back to him if he gets back on.

A

Screen, you're, muted, that's, okay, never get used.

B

To that next up we have mary morgan, mary morgan,.

B

If you'd like to go ahead.

Q

Thank you. This is mary morgan with the greater bloomington chamber of commerce.

Q

um We really appreciate this amendment, that's being brought forward by council.

Q

Members, uh scandalary and sandberg, especially.

Q

Appreciate the references to the novak report and to the head count chart, which seems to indicate a pretty clear.

Q

Lack of upward trajectory for our sworn office officers.

Q

The business community is very concerned about the city's ability to retain and.

Q

Recruit sworn officers- and I do think this is a step given the.

Q

Constraints that the council is under regarding the.

Q

Budget it does provide some signal of the city's.

Q

Support to the to bpd and to the public, so I.

Q

Appreciate that, thank you very much. Thank you for your comments. Who do we.

A

Have next next up we have paul post, mr post, if.

B

You'd like to unmute good evening.

K

My name is paul post. I am the president of the funeral order police here in.

K

Bloomington representing the bargaining unit at bpd, and we would also like to express our thanks to council members.

K

Camilleri and sandberg for bringing this amendment forward.

K

Tonight and giving that strong support to the the officers they have recognized.

K

The issues going on and we we wanted to say thank you, so I.

K

Think the staffing issue is not going to be solved quickly, but recognizing the novak study and.

K

Looking at those numbers going forward over the next few years is.

K

Going to be very important so again thank you for bringing it up. I.

K

Will relay it to my officers and we appreciate hearing it.

A

Thank you, mr post um who's. Next next up we have alex goodla alex if.

B

You'd like to oh unmute yourself, sorry.

R

Hello, uh um so I would like to speak in opposition of this amendment and.

R

I guess for for a few reasons, um I guess the first is um that the.

R

The um the novak report is, I I, like I guess before I get to the.

R

Novak report: I would just say that.

R

There needs to be discussions from those who.

R

um You know on the other side of the aisle, in terms of where we should go in.

R

The future of the police department- and there needs to be more concrete.

R

Proof that it's it's needed, you know the the novak.

R

Report is known to be um pro police and just want.

R

More police and- and you know I know in bloomington-.

R

It's it's, you know it's. Every situation is unique, but, like that's kind of why we.

R

Shouldn't listen to the novak report right because.

R

We we know that it doesn't work like the the novak philosophy. Does.

R

Doesn't work in these these big cities, where you know.

R

We have a police brutality there, so that's.

R

That that's kind of bad and second, I I would like to.

R

um I don't think more officers is going to help relieve.

R

Stress of the officers and that's based on hearing.

R

um Just you know recall not, too long ago we had um the the.

R

Budget forms about um the bloomington police officers and a.

R

Lot of them were just really really stressed because they feel like they're gonna, like you know, lose their lives due to policing and.

R

And and policing just statistically speaking,.

R

Isn't that dangerous so like? I think what would actually help is.

R

Training to not feel like you're, always in danger.

R

Of whatever you do, when you're, not in fact endangered.

R

I think that's going to help instead of.

R

Instead of increasing that the cap, which it's what's that really going to do.

R

And also, I have um stats which tell us that the second quarter citation.

R

Rates went went like way down, so what? What are bloomington police.

R

Even really doing that's justifying an increase.

R

There there needs to be um more focus on on you know: local data.

R

We we have citation rates, we have use of force.

R

Rates- and um you know I'm I'm personally- I.

R

Plan to look and do a lot more research into it myself.

R

I do hope and there's five more positions in the 100. That's currently.

R

There, after the 95, they do have that they impressed, and you know.

R

Look at it themselves. I I think that we need to look more.

R

Ultimately in inconclusion, we need to look more into the numbers.

R

And uh thanks for listening and I yield my time.

A

Thank you, mr goodlatte, um who do we have next kurt bowden.

B

Next up we have danielle bird. If you would like to unmute yourself, you can go.

B

Ahead, hello, thank you for allowing me to speak.

S

And I want to thank the council members who have all been.

S

Diligently on this- and I've talked to many of you and.

S

Corresponded regarding a petition that I was involved in that 158.

S

Community members have signed that don't support the current.

S

Proposal for increasing the embeddedness of social workers and.

S

Neighborhood resource specialists and the data analysts, um but.

S

I I'm listening to all of you talk and I'm I'm concerned as well about.

S

The overwhelmed officers and as a social worker.

S

Who's had more than 20 years of experience and practice.

S

I can tell you there's never enough social workers.

S

There's we always need more and we always if we keep going at this.

S

We're always going to need more police officers. We have racial.

S

And economic inequity in this country, we don't have that adequate health care and.

S

Housing and I think we need to really think about.

S

Instead of band-aids and addressing these crises.

S

That we need to really start to step back a little bit and say.

S

How can we use our resources in a way that can address those things so that we.

S

Don't burn out our officers and our social.

S

Workers, how can we make effective change in the.

S

Systems that we have- and I know you're addressing the police.

S

Budget right now, but that's exactly the kind of conversation that we can have.

S

About um you know: how do we move forward as a.

S

Community and address public safety: how can we do that in a way that we're.

S

Not constantly trying to deal with putting.

S

Out fires, how can we be proactive and our.

S

Community has the expertise and the passion.

S

Of so many community members who can work on this and do it, I understand.

S

That it's not going to happen for the 2021.

S

Budget and I appreciate the mayor's interest.

S

In looking at how we can put together task force and many other council.

S

Members, I think, have expressed this, so I just want to.

S

I want to just thank you all and just say that I.

S

You know, I think that we're scrambling around we're never going to have.

S

Enough police we're never going to have enough social workers to deal with the.

S

Root causes that are causing folks to be involved in policing.

S

And criminal justice and I think if we can analyze what are the police spending their time on.

S

Which I've seen some data and it doesn't suggest that the majority of the time is.

S

Spent on violent crime there's a lot of things happening, and I.

S

Understand they're trying to respond to all of these phone calls and.

S

9-1-1 calls, but you know, how can we better spend the time of the officers.

S

And not put all of the world's problems on our police and um you know. I appreciate the work that social workers do.

S

But honestly, I would love to see social workers out of a job.

S

I would love for us to have enough for our community members that they don't.

S

Have constant crises, so I think we can do this better. I think bloomington.

S

Is um has a lot of resources, a lot of caring people.

S

And so I just hope to have more conversations, and I appreciate your work.

S

And openness to thinking about this for the future.

S

Thank you. Thank you. Miss burke, I'd like to remind the public that.

A

This is comments on amendment number, two of ordinance.

A

20-22 um clerk bolton- if we have anyone else.

B

Yes, we do next up is jim haverstock if you'd like to unmute.

F

My name is james haverstock and I would like to speak in support of this.

F

Amendment and issue, my thanks for even having it considered this evening.

F

What no one has said- and I assume you're just all too polite and too nice to say.

F

Is that it is the mayor's intention to defund the police department.

F

By reducing the number of sworn officers from unauthorized, 105.

F

To 100., so when we talk about a question of flexibility, it is to say.

F

We will have that flexibility to stay at 105.

F

Because, if left open-ended, he has announced his intention publicly.

F

And for some time now that he will reduce the numbers down to.

F

100., this is going to protect the number of officers.

F

And again, you're all such nice people. You don't want to say that.

F

I'm trying to be nice, but that is his intention.

F

That would be defending deep funding. The police department.

F

So I ask you to approve this amendment so that that doesn't happen.

F

Thank you so much.

A

Thank you, mr haverstock, um who do we have next.

A

Clark next up, we have jim shelton, mr shelton, if you'd like to mute.

B

Okay, um since mr shelton is having some difficulty.

B

I think we'll go on next to nathan. If you'd like to finish your comment from.

B

Before you can go ahead and unmute.

O

Okay, thank you so much. I apologize um and I appreciate you letting me come.

O

Back um speaking to the idea of flexibility.

O

When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail is sort of one of.

O

Those the things that sounds trite, but has a lot of truth to it and by pre-conditioning ourselves to say.

O

No matter what the problems of bloomington next year, the year.

O

After more sworn officers than what we really need.

O

Aren't we just making everything look like a nail.

O

So I would ask you to consider: does this create flexibility or does.

O

This limit, your flexibility to solve the problems that bloomington.

O

Will face not just today not just tomorrow,.

O

But the year after that and the year after that, thank you so much and I yield.

O

My time nathan, could you give us your full name.

D

Please, oh yes, nathan! Mutchler! Thank you.

A

Okay, I am back. Thank you, pete smith. Do we have anyone else for public.

A

Comment clerk? Yes, yes, we're going to try mr shelton again.

B

If you'd like to unmute.

T

Hi counsel, jim shelton- I just want to offer some context. I was on the steering.

T

Committee for the c-jam study that the mayor commissioned in 2016.

T

To look in the issues we were having with vagrancy, etc,.

T

In the downtown area that group focused on had seven different focus.

T

Groups and interviewed 200 and some people and.

T

In january, over from august to january 2017 and issued a report which you can.

T

See online in which I've given to uh council.

T

Members, flaherty and piedmont smith in the past, and it recommended among many other things that we needed more.

T

Police, we needed more foot patrol, it even talked about.

T

Getting iu grant iu cadet students to help with that. That was.

T

Turned over to the administration, and in january they had a.

T

Safety civility and justice task force that include members from.

T

Representing things like dbi shalom, center, stone, united way, knife designs, iu.

T

And some businesses and they conducted a study and produced.

T

A report in june june 15th, that said basically the same.

T

Thing we needed more police at that time we had 100 by the way and that we needed more and.

T

Here we are all these years later and we haven't really changed that.

T

Ceiling- and I just think you need to think about that when you're talking about this issue, which I very.

T

Much appreciate uh councilman, sandberg and scandilary.

T

Bringing up uh looking going forward because the.

T

Population has increased since then the number of police we have compared to.

T

Other big ten cities of our size or other cities around here of our size.

T

Is way low, so that's just background for you to.

T

Think, as you consider these things, thank you thank.

T

You, mr sheldon,.

B

Okay, next, we have jessica oswalt. If you'd like to unmute yourself, you can go.

B

Ahead hi, can you hear me? Yes, yes,.

U

Great hi, my name is jessica oswalt. I am currently a neighborhood resource.

U

Specialist with the bloomington police department, I.

U

Want to thank you for bringing this amendment up. I think it's really.

U

Important- and I think that you touched base um sue on something very specific that we deal with of.

U

Reducing that number from 105 to 100 and it be portrayed as.

U

A replacement for those officers for a social worker position.

U

And neighborhood resource specialists, um because I think that goes directly.

U

In relation to the rep that.

U

Morale of the officers currently when they are.

U

Very over worked um understaffed and working double shifts.

U

And I think that we need, I think, it's important to remember that they are.

U

Police officers but they're also human beings, and they have families and they.

U

Have outside responsibilities to them so when they're.

U

Overworked and understaffed what that looks like I'm in.

U

Full support of officers staying at the option to be at.

U

U

and I thank you for bringing up that amendment, thank you.

A

Thank you, miss oswalt. um Do we have anyone else, kurt bolton.

B

Next up, we have jenna arthur if you'd like to go ahead.

V

Hi, um I just wanted to make a comment about the proposition.

V

To actually have 105 instead of 100., um a few comments that have been made.

V

Throughout the meeting that's taken place, one comment was made: is that.

V

Someone had taken a ride along through switch yard after 11, um and I I feel that if you were on a ride-along.

V

Anywhere after 11, you would see the same things if you were.

V

Looking so, I feel like the comments that I was not a ride-along.

V

In switzerland, after 11- and I don't remember the exact words.

V

But the gist of it was and there's some you know some.

V

Some things going on there that are unappealing. I I wager there are.

V

Unappealing things going on everywhere, all over town after 11.

V

Someone else that was speaking mentioned the sea jam commission on.

V

Vagrancy- um and I just wanted to mention that what we need in this town are not more police officers. What we need in this.

V

Town are solutions for poverty, all the places that were named that are.

V

Supposed to be helping people in this community, we have a lot of people that are falling through the cracks and if you want to take a really large.

V

Systemic view on crime, when you have a pandemic and.

V

You have unemployment and people are desperate.

V

I can assure you that fixing poverty, not fighting the poor, is the best use of any.

V

Sort of resource that our community has we do not need more police officers. The.

V

Police officers that we do have should start by building relationships with all.

V

Of the people that they are supposed to be serving, including and not limited to the protected population.

V

That is the people experiencing homelessness in our community.

V

I yield my time. Thank you. Miss arthur.

B

And we have one last commenter rm. If you could unmute yourself and go.

B

Ahead hi, can you hear me? Yes, thank you for.

W

Allowing me to speak, I appreciate it. My name is renee mahler and I will ask the.

W

Same question, I ask every time this council is the.

W

Decision you are getting ready to vote on and to make an anti-racist decision, or is it a racist decision and if you.

W

Don't know the difference, then you haven't done your homework yet and I.

W

Please please ask you to do that, make um make an effort.

W

To read all you can about that topic and um and to find solutions for poverty.

W

And make anti-racist decisions going forward before you vote.

W

Stop five seconds think about all the people we've lost just this last.

W

Year to racism and the ones we lost today.

W

Because you can bet, we've lost them today,.

W

Before you vote, ask yourself that and then vote with a clear conscience. Thank.

W

You I yield my time.

A

Thank you, miss miller. um Do we have anyone else.

A

Okay, I don't think good. Okay, thank you um now. I think.

A

Do we move on to the the uh ordinance as amended, um we need to.

D

Have council council council comment on the event on this on this amendment.

A

Thank you um all right. Do we have final comments.

A

On this amendment from council councilmember allo, thank you.

N

Can you hear me? Oh yes, I want to say I appreciate this amendment. I think that.

N

Your administration was genius. I think it is important to make.

N

This uh a statement to uh support increasing.

N

Police officers, sworn police officers to at least keep parity with.

N

Population increases um because clearly um it's difficult for them now it's.

N

Going to be increasingly difficult as population.

N

Increases over time, so so we do need to add more, and this makes.

N

Puts us on that track that direction. So I appreciate the.

N

um Authors of the uh of the amendment, thank you. Thank you.

A

um Further comments from the council on this amendment.

A

Council, member smith, I just want to reiterate that.

L

uh It's a good amendment. I appreciate it I'll be supporting it tonight.

A

Thank you, councilmember piedmont, smith,.

D

um Where to start uh okay, first on the.

D

What the amendment would do it won't do anything. I'm sorry.

D

I mean it, you know it kind of maybe makes the police feel better, but.

D

There's it's not going to actually do anything.

D

The the ordinance as we have it written does not have a limit on the number of.

D

Police officers, the number of police officers is limited simply by the budget, which is appropriation ordinance.

D

uh 2004, which is coming up later this evening,.

D

So if you want more police officers, then I think the issue is with.

D

The budget, and not with the salary ordinance.

D

D

Saying you want to keep this notion of 105.

D

Open you don't want those positions to you know to go to the non-sworn staff.

D

And then not be able to have more swarms, it makes.

D

No sense: we've we've increased the sworn number.

D

Of police officers in past years at budget time and.

D

You can do that. It's not like we're stuck at 100.

D

I mean next year, we could do that, so I it just. It makes no sense to me.

D

Whatsoever now that aside.

D

I also disagree with the intention behind.

D

The amendment I do not think that we that it's healthy for our.

D

Community to continue in the vein of thinking that.

D

Sworn police officers are the answer to all of our problems.

D

I know they're overworked. Let us look at ways to reduce their workload.

D

Not by hiring, moreover, police officers, but by addressing the problems.

D

That lead people to call the police by addressing homelessness by addressing.

D

Poverty by addressing mental health and addiction issues, I know I've said.

D

This before and people are sick and tired of me uh talking about cahoots in eugene oregon, but it's a great.

D

Model- and I think we need to take a closer look at it- they.

D

um Had in 2019 17 of all eugene oregon's 9-1-1 calls.

D

Were handled by cahoots, which is a non-profit mental.

D

Health, uh social agency and.

D

They form the the kahoot staff forms relationships with people, just like ms.

D

Arthur said they get to know people and and help.

D

Them connect with social services and thus avoid crime and avoid the.

D

Criminal justice system, which, as we know, is a revolving door.

D

And doesn't really help anybody, so let's do things like that to take some.

D

Of the work off the plate of our overworked police.

D

Officers and as a matter of fact, the five non-sworn positions, at least four of them- could very likely.

D

Take some of that work off of our sworn police officers, because.

D

They are neighborhood outreach specialists that can do.

D

um The the less uh the non-violent sort of tasks of.

D

Directing traffic and you know addressing neighbor complaints and.

D

Things like that and social workers, which is.

D

What we need to help people to avoid the criminal justice system altogether.

D

And fix them up with social services and.

D

The status quo is not working, it's broken. If we've learned one thing from.

D

2020, uh it's that the police system.

D

Does not work well for our country and our community. It.

D

Especially does not work well for black americans for brown and.

D

Black uh community members and we need to fix it.

D

Just doing just just adding numbers to the same system.

D

Is not going to help anybody! It's not going to help the police, it's not going to help the long term of our community, um so no, I I'm opposed to 105 officers. I.

D

Think we need to uh to go the direction that.

D

The the mayor has gone in this budget, but even.

D

If I didn't, I don't think I would vote for this amendment because it doesn't do.

D

Anything so thank you, I'm I don't. I hope I.

D

Haven't personally insulted anybody, I appreciate what you you're trying to do.

D

You're trying to express support for the police.

D

I just don't think that this is the way to do that.

A

Thank you, councilmember flaherty,.

E

Er thanks yeah. I I share some of the same.

E

Notions that councilmember piedmont smith just did, um I believe.

E

Several council members, you know, expressed a desire to be to make a.

E

Statement um but of course that's what council.

E

Comments for we make statements all the time you can put out a press release. You.

E

Can uh say what your preferences are for policy uh when we give our comments to use an amendment that does nothing at.

E

All, except actually reduce flexibility to make a statement is an odd use of an.

E

Amendment to me- and I don't again regardless of the substance I wouldn't vote for- for that reason it doesn't do anything. um It affects the budget not at all.

E

And it actually reduces flexibility if, for some reason, we really wanted to.

E

Change things um this year: it sets a cap where there is none right now. um If you bought wholesale into the.

E

Novak report, or more specifically, um one paragraph of it that is cited.

E

Sometimes to us you would put 121 as your max here.

E

um And it's worth noting, though, um that that many folks.

E

Over the course of the last several months have pointed out some very fundamental flaws in the base level. Assumptions of.

E

The novak report, um just a few briefly.

E

First of all, one of the big takeaways is that our current shift scheduling structure is incredibly inefficient and that should change absolutely part.

E

Of the stress in the work volumes of officers is based.

E

On the fact that our shift scheduling shift schedules do not match the call.

E

Volume in bloomington, so that inefficiency alone is responsible for a lot of the problem.

E

uh There's no analysis in the uh novak report of the 45 sworn officers.

E

Who work for iupd, who also patrol in this city,.

E

Of 85 or 86 000 people, if you include those officers which patrol.

E

In this city, we are well above average for cities, our size.

E

In terms of officers per capita based on fbi, data.

E

Also, the novak report assumes that a 33, proactive policing target.

E

Is um desirable achievable and what we should be going for, but.

E

That also is completely arbitrary. Many cities brag about.

E

Active policing levels that are much lower also, the novak report didn't.

E

Consider dros neighborhood research, specialists and social workers as being a part of proactive policing, even though our.

E

Department does consider them to be part of proactive policing.

E

As shown in the written questions and answers to this budget cycle, so the.

E

Numbers that the novak report recommends that didn't consider.

E

Any of that are also flawed by their own assumptions and and.

E

Statements, even just taking them at face value, moreover, community policing has um is not a panacea and it's not.

E

Necessarily always good, there are serious scholars who work in this field.

E

They've called into question um that model, as has the movement for black.

E

Lives and the larger national conversation we're having around these things. So what we need to be doing is looking at alternatives and looking.

E

At how to address the very substantial racial disparities and socioeconomic.

E

Disparities we have in this town in bloomington, based on our data and simply replicating the status quo.

E

Is not going to do that, we have some task forces and commissions and things.

E

In the works uh to look at these things over time, but.

E

uh You know, I don't know it's disappointing to me. I guess that that.

E

Yeah that were that I feel like we're.

E

Trying to replicate the status quo here and.

E

I just really really disagree with the sentiment and.

E

Again, as noted, uh this amendment doesn't do anything so I'll be voting now on it.

E

A

Thank you, councilmember flaherty, um any more comments from our council members.

A

Councilmember rosenberger. Thank you very much. I just wanted to.

X

Make a brief comment, um I think folks have said a lot of the.

X

Things that and I agree with a lot from council member floridian council member piedmont smith, so I just wanted to say in general. That is those are also my thoughts. um I don't.

X

Want to repeat any of them, but I think right now.

X

If we are just specifically talking about flexibility,.

X

I I agree that this doesn't seem to add flexibility to me.

X

Even currently, we have 95 officers and in a way we have the flexibility of.

X

Adding another five more, so I think we have flexibility right now, a.

X

Little bit, um I also agree that our officers are.

X

Overworked right and there's a morale problem.

X

In bpb- and I think those are pretty serious issues of concern.

X

Instead of adding more officers, what I want to do and I think what the mayor.

X

Has talked about doing is digging deep into that. What's.

X

Happening, how can we, you know, help officers not.

X

Have to work overtime, and how can we take some of that work away.

X

I think I think it's true that we have to challenge the status quo here.

X

And instead of adding folks to.

X

Fight crime, we need to be looking at the root causes.

X

Of why folks get into the criminal justice system.

X

And we need to be devoting our resources towards supportive services to help.

X

Folks stay out of the system, so I think I think this first step in in decreasing.

X

Our number of sworn officers by five is the right step. I think we have a lot to.

X

Do still, but I.

X

I want to continue down that path so for for now I'll be voting no on this.

X

Amendment. Thank you um any further comments.

A

Okay, sick counsel, members gambler um I'm happy to offer comment, but I know.

J

You haven't had a turn. You haven't had a bite of the apple, yet either.

J

Councilmember since.

A

And you said you want to vote and you assume that I want one.

A

So, just just just want to make sure the opportunity is there.

J

No, I I can go if I do have something to say in.

A

And I don't have to go last so um I'll just go.

A

um And I want to thank my colleagues for all the comments that I've heard and.

A

Those from the public, um we all have a vision.

A

Of a goal that where we want to go with as far as policing.

A

um And I think we'll get there. I think.

A

Through collaboration and community work and best practices.

A

I'm looking at things like cahoots and these sorts of things, I think we'll.

A

We'll get there, the truth of the matter is: there's a lot of moving parts until we get to those goals.

A

And as we move toward that model, I don't think we can kind of forget at.

A

This point where we are between now and then.

A

um I've heard the comment that uh it's doesn't it. It doesn't do anything.

A

uh It it may kind of make the police feel better. If that's what you know.

A

And these other things I don't intend to be flippant.

A

I think it does give flexibility for the calendar year.

A

2021 when people say it doesn't do anything, the.

A

Very real matter or truth to the matter is that.

A

We probably won't have an opportunity to even hire that many in this next.

A

Calendar year um I spoke of the moving parts.

A

And before we get to the end goal, one of the things I think is critical.

A

um At least with the officers that we have is that they feel supported.

A

That there is some morale in my previous life. I.

A

Supervise multiple people, teamwork, morale feeling supported, are.

A

All very, very important to an organization.

A

And I think that's what this amendment speaks to.

A

um As we move forward, will things change as we move forward? I.

A

Think they will, but as part of the moving parts of where.

A

We are right now. I think um this is uh the right thing to.

A

Do with some of the moving parts that some folks either can't see or don't wish to acknowledge um and I'm not advocating that we hire 120 police officers. I mean I.

A

I know that will work to a different model, but.

A

This is to address part of the moving parts. I think.

A

um Within bpd, as we move forward so um council member scandalary, yes thank you.

J

um Thank you all um particularly members of the public, but also my colleagues too,.

J

These are not easy issues and we've seen that this year, so.

J

I again I learn from you every time I work with you, so I'm grateful for that.

J

um Please know how much I share the goal.

J

And I I will allow certainly invite council member sandberg to speak for herself too. um Please know how much I share the goal.

J

Of revisiting and refining our ideas about public safety and policing, this is.

J

An opportunity to do that that has not happened in my lifetime and.

J

I look forward to that conversation. um A couple of comments from the public.

J

In particular stood out for me, I think, ms miller, I don't know if.

J

She's still on the call made the comment um that we have, we need to ask.

J

A question of any ordinance or any piece of legislation.

J

Whether or not it is anti-racist whether or not we keep that issue.

J

In mind- and I think that's an incredibly important point.

J

um One of the things I I have come to conclude is that.

J

If we are to have a police force that is consistent with that operates in.

J

A way that is consistent with our community's values.

J

We need to be able to recruit and retain the best, the smartest, the best trained.

J

And those with the most integrity and recruiting and retaining them.

J

Means taking risk means having resources available at times.

J

It remains to be seen what that is, and it also remains to demonstrate it also.

J

Involves demonstrating our support and I think that's important.

J

I also appreciated the comment from mr metchler. I'm not sure I'm pronouncing.

J

That correctly, but you said when you have a hammer, all problems, look like nails, that's actually a favorite saying of mine too.

J

And one of the things one of the ways in which I am proud of bloomington is that.

J

We don't just have hammers. um I know that several council members.

J

Are involved with the stride center and that I I have incredible hopes for the resource that.

J

Has become for our for our community, we also we're among the first to add.

J

Social workers, certainly in the state but probably in the midwest as well.

J

We are very intentionally diversifying our toolkit.

J

And I think that's important, um but adding new tools to the toolkit does.

J

Not mean we can abandon other tools and that's what this amendment is.

J

Intended to speak to um so again, I appreciate your thoughtful.

J

Consideration um and together with council member.

J

Sandberg, I would appreciate your your support for my colleagues who may not support this amendment. I thank you.

J

For your consideration and what you've done so.

J

A

Thank you. um Do we have any council member.

A

Sandberg, yes, thank you. um I do appreciate all the feedback.

M

About a very difficult issue, I do want to correct a few things.

M

That were said with respect to mayor hamilton. um He has.

M

Been exceptionally good at listening to those of us that do have concerns about the staffing levels and.

M

The morale and the fact that he is considering a pilot program for take-home cars, the fact that he's considering some housing.

M

Allowances, he is very much moving in a proper direction with.

M

Respect to dealing with our loss of good officers.

M

I also want to make it clear that, in my conversations with.

M

The officers they too welcome the inclusion of neighborhood.

M

Resource officers and social workers because they do acknowledge.

M

How much that does alleviate some of the the many calls that they have to go out.

M

On that, they really should not. um There are roles for.

M

Everyone here in the law enforcement community.

M

With respect to who is most appropriate to go out for what calls and when you do.

M

Go on these ride-alongs and I hope, nobody's minimizing the.

M

Importance of that, you get a good cross-section of all the.

M

Different responses that they are called on on any given shift.

M

And it's eye-opening and it's educational and so.

M

As you're asking us to take a look at things from.

M

The poverty prevention side, the social work side- I am a social worker by.

M

By um by experience prior to um coming to my role here on the council,.

M

I'm very well aware of what social workers are equipped to do.

M

And I'm now, through my own education, very much aware of what.

M

Sworn well-trained well-disciplined officers do.

M

I think not enough credit goes to chief decoff.

M

Bloomington is extremely fortunate to have a chief.

M

Who does have such high standards for his officers with respect to training.

M

And what I am learning more and more about is the pride that many of these.

M

Officers do feel in spite of their tensions, in spite of that they're tired. They did make it clear.

M

Staffing levels are not where they need to be, but they're still dedicated to the.

M

Cause, my fear is for the ones that we are losing the good officers that we are losing to other jurisdictions, and we do.

M

Need to take that seriously. I would disagree with my colleagues who.

M

Say this does nothing. I know from my conversations that it.

M

Will do something, and is there more for us to do absolutely in.

M

The coming year, that's going to be one of my focuses.

M

To work with the bpd, along with many of the other task forces that are already.

M

In play, how can we be more efficient? How can we be more effective? Those are all conversations we need to have in the future right now we're dealing with the budget we're dealing with staffing levels, and I hope that I can get.

M

Some solid support from my colleagues does do something. Thank you.

A

Thank you. um Do we have any other final comments from.

A

Council on amendment number, two for ordinance, 20-22.

A

Council member rallo.

A

Go ahead, councilman rollo.

A

I think he's stuck oh he's frozen.

A

Okay, go ahead council member.

N

I'm sorry um I'll be brief. I just wanted to say.

N

I think councilmember sandberg really articulated.

N

This as well- and I think that this is not a.

N

In an action that is, it has import it's important to.

N

Address uh the fact that we we do need to keep parity.

N

uh With population, we need to send a signal.

N

N

In our under stress- and I also wanted to acknowledging this.

N

uh And in their uh proposition to have take-home cars.

N

Then housing allowances, so um I hope that continues to.

N

uh Communicate to officers that.

N

Are supported by.

A

Okay, thank you. I think you were finished. um Okay, dude. We have.

A

Were you finished councilmember album? Yes, okay,.

N

Yes, I don't know how much of that came through, but.

N

Thumbs up to sums up to the sponsor all right. Thank you for the uh it's.

N

Important. Thank you um any further comments from.

A

Council: okay, seeing none um clark bolden, can we call the role on.

A

Ordinance number two: I'm sorry, amendment number two for ordinance, 20-22.

B

Yes, councilmember smith, yes, sandberg. Yes,.

B

Rollo, yes, scandalory. Yes,.

B

B

um Councilmember rosenbarker, we actually could not hear you on that.

B

Hey no thank you. Okay, councilmember sims,.

A

Yes, councilmember piedmont, smith, no and council member flaherty.

B

A

Okay and that amendment passes five three.

A

Zero, thank you. Okay. Now we move on to the.

A

Ordinance as amended um and miss parliamentarian, to keep me.

A

Straight, we do go back for council comments and then.

A

Public comment on the full ordinance as amended.

D

Counsel, questions and public comments. Yes, yes, okay,.

A

Thank you. Thank you. Okay, um council comments or questions. I'm sorry.

A

Council questions for the entire ordinance as amended.

A

Ordinance 20-22 um before we go to the public, so do we.

A

Have any comments on this ordinance as amended.

A

Or questions okay, seeing none.

A

Kirk bolden: do we have any public waiting.

A

For this to comment on the four ordinance as amended.

B

Not that I can see yet okay, I will remind the public if you'd like.

A

To speak, you can use the raised hand function in zoom.

A

Or send us a message during chat, so we'll give that just a few more.

A

A

Okay, see none we'll return. That counsel for final comments.

A

Okay, seeing none uh bolton, could you please call the roll.

B

Yes, councilmember sandberg, yes,.

N

Yes, scandalory, yes, rosenberger.

B

Yeah sims, yes, greenman smith,.

D

Yes, clarity, yes, smith,.

A

Yes, thank you and that passes eight zero.

A

Okay, um next ordinance. Yes, mr chair, I move ordinance 2023.

D

uh Be introduced and read by clerk by the title and synopsis only.

M

Now, second, thank you spit moved in a second.

A

Clerk, would you call the roll please? Yes, councilmember rallo.

N

B

Scandalory, yes, rosenbarker. Yes,.

B

Sims, yes, piedmont, smith! Yes,.

B

Clarity, yes, smith. Yes, sandberg! Yes,.

A

Thank you. Could the clerk please read.

B

Ordinance 2023 an ordinance fixing the salaries of appointed.

B

Officers, non-union and afscme employees for all the departments of the city of.

B

Bloomington monroe county indiana for the year 2021 the synopsis.

B

Is as follows, this ordinance sets the maximum 2021.

B

Salary for all appointed officers non-union and.

B

Absent employees for all the departments of the city of.

B

Bloomington indiana, you do pass recommendation for ordinance.

B

2023 was three six.

B

Zero thank you um and who do we have presenting tonight.

A

Is miss shaw speaking on this there? She is I'm sorry.

A

Go ahead first, I'd like to say I move that.

D

Ordinance 2023 be adopted. Thank you. If you have a motion, a second.

A

uh Miss shaw, could you please present? Yes, thank you. Can everyone hear.

I

Me: okay, I'm having technical difficulty from my city hall office, so.

I

Hopefully, we'll get through this without any more problems.

I

Ordnance 2023 sets 2021 pay grade, pay grades and salary just for appointed.

I

Officers non-union askme employees consistent with prior years.

I

Administration recommends a 2 increase in civil city salaries and.

I

Salary ranges associated with civil city pay. Grades have been ingested by the 2.

I

Percent to reflect the increase for 2021. labor.

I

Trades and craft pay rates will increase to 2.5. According to the.

I

2019-2022 collective bargaining agreement between the city and.

I

Afscme and in 2017 the administration of cooperation with the city council.

I

Determined to increase the increase, the common law, mental pay rates over the.

I

Following years over uh to at least the the um living.

I

Wage which will be 1329 in 2021. uh new position, requests for.

I

For um this upcoming year um are in the economic and sustainable.

I

Development department, the transportation demand manager position of a grade, seven with a fiscal impact around seventy nine.

I

Thousand dollars and then public works, uh the request of.

I

Parking garage, ship supervisor grade four and a parking.

I

Garage assistant manager grade five on these positions are due to the.

I

Necessary, it's the increase in parking facilities and additional staff.

I

Necessary to service these facilities and these positions will not be.

I

Hired until those uh resources and those facilities become.

I

Online, the community and family resources department, they're, changing.

I

Their volunteer network assistant coordinator, currently at grade six to special projects coordinator grade.

I

Six, that position has been vacant for some time.

I

um This position will be liaison to non-profit and other social service.

I

Agencies and the 2021 ordinance also adds an.

I

Engineering department, which we've discussed and the.

I

Transportation and traffic engineer currently at grade 11 will be the.

I

Director of this newly created department and that title will change the city engineer with.

I

And it'll be a grade 12., there's no fiscal impact to that.

I

In hr, we will change our office manager position to a special projects, manager.

I

Which will be a great eight and was forming a grade five as an office.

I

Manager- and there are several title changes in its which I won't go over those in great.

I

Detail unless anyone wants me to, but uh there is one great change in that.

I

Department and that's the office manager.

I

Changing my grade four to a grade five with a fiscal impact of about 4 800.

I

In parks and recreation department, the urban forester's pay grade.

I

Was reviewed and um the grade was increased from a six to a seven with a.

I

Fiscal impact of about twenty eight hundred dollars, and then there are three part-time customer service reps that are currently.

I

Grade two will become customer service reps grade three.

I

In planning and transportation the grade five zoning planner will become.

I

A grade six zoning, planner and gis analyst.

I

With a fiscal impact of around twenty six hundred dollars,.

I

And then, as we've discussed many times, the per the police will repurpose five.

I

Of their officer first class positions into one data, analyst grade six and two.

I

Social workers grade eight and two neighborhood resource specialists grade five, and uh these changes result in a cost.

I

Savings around thirty eight hundred thirty thousand eight hundred dollars.

I

And then the evidence room clerk has been full time since the beginning of the year and we removed the 0.5 fte from that.

I

That was an oversight on our part and then finally, in the police department, the crime analyst position will now be caught. A data analyst.

I

And in public works they're creating a new division called parking services.

I

The parking enforcement division will move from police to this division in.

I

Public works and all the parking garage employees will move into the public works operations and facilities, division.

I

And parking services, the parking services director will also have a grade.

I

Change from a grade eight to a grade nine and then through the three parking enforcement officers.

I

Who are grade? Three will become three meteor technicians grade three focusing.

I

On maintaining repairing parking meters and.

I

I'm getting closer to the end. Utilities will have two meteor readers grade 103 and those are afscme grades, they're becoming meter service persons.

I

And their grade will change to a 105, and this will accommodate the.

I

Progression of the smart to the smart metering system that they've been working on over in the utilities department.

I

I

Ordinance also moves the communications operations from the transmission and.

I

Distribution. Division in the cbu over to in a labor and.

I

Alignment, the transmission and distribution division to the environmental division. These are just changes in the.

I

Appointment structure: in addition, there are six utilities, customer service or.

I

Customer relations reps and cashiers we're currently agreed to.

I

And they're all becoming customer service. Customer relations.

I

Representatives and they're all grade three, the public information specialist grade seven received a.

I

Grade increase and a title change to communications manager grade eight.

I

And then uh all city positions that were entitled secretary will become.

I

Administrative assistants and finally in hr, we are adding an.

I

Additional part-time administrative assistant grade three at a point: six fte and then police. They are adding.

I

Three and a half telecommunicators grade six to the central emergency.

I

Dispatch- and that is a part of the ps lit budget.

I

Public works will add four additional customer service security specialists.

I

To support the new parking facilities and, like I said earlier, that.

I

Will not be until they're actually needed when those facilities come online.

I

I'm happy to take any questions at this time. That's a lot for that. One.

A

Thank you michelle. um We have any questions from council members.

A

Okay, seeing none um we'll go to the public for public comment.

A

I'll remind the public to use the raised hand function in zoom.

A

Or send us a note on chat.

A

And this is comments on ordinance, 20-23.

A

Do we have any takers, clark, bolton.

B

It does not looks like it right now, I'm just going to run through and double.

B

Check, okay, give it a second. I.

G

Just received a message in the chat that uh renee miller would like to comment.

G

Again and she should be ready to do so,.

W

I'm not sure, actually, I'm not sure if this is actually.

W

The right place to make this comment, but I hope it is. It has to do with the smart.

W

Metering- um I I am assuming that it's already a.

W

Done deal uh sadler, I'm sorry, did you say smart.

A

Metering, the the meters that are are.

W

Going to go online, the parking meters that are going to be online parking.

W

Meters, um I don't believe this ordinance.

A

Addresses that I I heard something about that in there.

W

Maybe I didn't um so my apologies for that. I just think.

W

That that particular thing disenfranchises the poor.

W

And and I'm sorry that that wasn't the right time to.

W

To speak on that subject, I would like to end my comment there. Sorry, okay, thank.

W

A

Do we have anyone else.

A

Okay, seeing none from the public um we'll go back to council for final.

A

A

Council, member flaherty- uh yes, I just wanted to.

E

um I'm gonna vote no on this ordinance and I wanted to just briefly note that I.

E

Won't um I'll be doing the same for appropriation, ordinance, 2004, but because the reason is the same I'll reserve. My comments and.

E

Explanation until um that ordinance, thank you.

A

Councilmember piedmont, smith. Yes, thank you. um I wanted to talk about.

D

Two things uh related to this ordinance: the first.

D

Is um something that was brought to my.

D

Attention just today- and I know that many of you received an email from.

D

Reverend forrest gilmore from the beacon uh shalom center uh they're training in.

D

The process of changing their names, so I'm not sure what to call that group, but he he pointed out something that I really should have.

D

Noticed earlier and that's the very small increase in.

D

The living wage, um as indicated by the city.

D

The city of bloomington uh has a living wage that it's it must.

D

Follow itself as a minimum, and also any.

D

Organization that has a significant contract or receives a significant grant.

D

From the city also has to commit to paying that living wage.

D

For um 2020 it's uh 13.21 and for 2021.

D

It's only 13.29, that's only 8 cents, more, that's 0.6,.

D

Increase, that's a very small increase and I think.

D

um This year, uh the consumer price index has just been going up and down because.

D

Of the pandemic and the reading that we normally base.

D

The living wage increase on is at the end of.

D

June, but since then the consumer price index.

D

Has gone up quite a lot so um I'll.

D

I don't propose a change to this salary ordinance, but I do.

D

Intend to uh pursue a change to the living wage um in the.

D

Coming months, um I need to, of course, find out what.

D

The economic impact would be for the city, I don't think we have a lot of.

D

Employees that are at that level, I think most of them make more than the living wage, um but I'm hoping that we can.

D

Work to to increase our our living wage minimum because I think it's really.

D

um The just the way it fell this year, the increase, is.

D

Is totally insufficient to make up for increased cost of living.

D

The other thing I wanted to address was the transportation demand management.

D

Position which has been placed in the economic.

D

And sustainability department, I disagree with that.

D

Placement, I think it should be placed in the planning and transportation department, as our tdm consultant.

D

Recommended to us.

D

At the beginning of this evening, mayor hamilton.

D

You know mentioned this as one of the sticking points of the budget this year.

D

And he said um reasonable people may disagree. What.

D

The best place is for this position.

D

And I just like to point out that um four elected officials, four council.

D

Members have reached out to the mayor and have stated publicly that.

D

They disagree with placing this position in the department of economic and.

D

Sustainable development, whereas he is one elected individual and he.

D

Has decided that it is best placed in that department, so I know that the.

D

Mayor is the executive and that he is basically in charge of managing.

D

The city's affairs, um but I do think that, if reasonable.

D

People disagree and four of council members.

D

Have come to him with this uh with this complaint about the proposal.

D

I think it would have been reasonable for him to change it.

D

That said, I don't want to hold up the whole salary ordinance.

D

So I will be supporting it. Thank you. Thank you, council member pete von smith,.

A

um Any more comments from council members.

A

Councilmember rosenberg, I have one thank you. I don't know if you can see me or.

X

Not okay down in the bottom on the screen.

A

Yes, I got you okay. At committee of the whole, I.

X

Said I was leaning toward a no vote on this ordinance tonight.

X

I share a lot of the same sentiment as council member pete.

X

Smith on this part of me doesn't want to hold up the process.

X

And you know, I think there there is a lot of good.

X

In this budget I I definitely have some concerns.

X

On how how the budget process happened with the.

X

Administration and with council, I think it's telling that the four new council.

X

Members at committee of the whole said they.

X

They were thinking of voting no on this and that.

X

One, I think most of them said, like one reason, is.

X

It didn't feel like a collaboration, and so you know this is our first.

X

Budget process in this as these roles, and I think that.

X

Is a major takeaway and I hope you know I hope the administration hears that and.

X

We can work to make changes for next year. I think a.

X

Lot of us on council want to be really involved in this budget process and, have you know big ideas and.

X

Priorities that we want in the budget- and I think.

X

We can have a different process to get there.

X

The mayor talked a lot about collaboration. He also talked about listening, I think, there's a major difference between listening and collaboration with the transportation demand.

X

Management plan, I agree with councilmember piedmont.

X

That's four of us felt very strongly that this should be somewhere else.

X

And I also made a note that reasonable people may disagree.

X

We also hired a consultant, an expert in transportation demand management.

X

Who said this position should be placed in transportation and planning or public.

X

Works that consultant did not say to put this in the economic and sustainability department, so.

X

I also trust our experts on that.

X

So so for me, I have voted no on ordinances in the past because I.

X

Disagreed with the process- and I think that is important- that I.

X

Think there are times that, because we start in the wrong place and.

X

We might not necessarily have a good process in place. We arrive at the wrong.

X

Decision and so what I want to do as a council.

X

Member is work to get some of our processes in the city.

X

Change so that we're thinking about a comprehensive plan from the beginning, so.

X

That we're thinking about our transportation policy and our.

X

Sustainability action plan and you know we're selecting projects.

X

We're selecting how we spend our money with very sincere.

X

Purpose and so for this one tonight, I plan to vote yes, because I.

X

Think this budget has a lot of good pieces in it.

X

And I want to support those pieces but moving forward. I will continue to.

X

Vote, no, if I think we have arrived at the wrong decision based on where we started. Thank you. Thank you. Councilmember.

A

Rosenberger, do we have any other comments from.

A

Council, okay I'll, take a bite. um I agree with some of the comments my.

A

Colleagues have made there are many good things in this budget.

A

I am one of the folks, I'm not so sure that, where the tdm.

A

Is landed at um where it's currently at is where it's going to remain.

A

And I know there's some disagreement on placement, um but I also think that.

A

There's, um as we say, reasonable people will be.

A

Able to discuss and and determine where it best fits one.

A

Thing that I do know that us as council members, no matter where that.

A

Position is, and particularly those that are.

A

Very very strong advocates on what their duties will be, we'll make sure that.

A

That position is held accountable, so I'm a little bit less concerned on where.

A

It's placed as to what its effectiveness is going to.

A

Be in responding to what we need for the.

A

Community, secondly, I agree with council member p.

A

My smith on the living wage for 2021 and I look forward to.

A

Working with her any way that I can, or with the rest of my colleagues as well.

A

On addressing that, as we move forward.

A

She made us comment that she was surprised that she missed it well, so.

A

um So was I um surprised that she missed it.

A

um And I can't believe that I did as well, but I look forward to working as we.

A

Address that um moving forward point zero, six percent.

A

Is well, I just won't speak on that on that amount of increase.

A

I won't speak on that right now. um Okay, do we have any other.

A

Final comments.

A

Okay, kurt um will you please call the road.

A

Coordinates 20-23.

B

Yes, councilmember scandalory.

B

Yes, councilmember rosenberger, yes, sims.

B

Yes, female smith, yes, clarity.

C

B

Smith, yes, samberg, yes and rolo.

N

Yes, thank you. Everyone that ordinance passes.

A

A

Okay, um thank you. Moving to the next.

A

Ordinance, uh mr chair, I move ordinance.

D

2024 be introduced and read by the clerk by title and synopsis. Only.

A

Second, okay, thank you. It's been moved in second.

A

Kirk, would you please call the roll.

B

Ordinance 2024 to fix the salary of all elected city officials for the city of.

B

Bloomington for the year 2021., the synopsis is as follows:.

B

Excuse me, this ordinance sets the maximum 2021 salary rate.

B

For all elected city officials for the city of bloomington.

B

Your due past recommendation was nine zero, zero.

A

Okay, thank you very very much. um I move that ordinance, 20 24 be adopted.

A

Second, thank you. um Do we call the roll roller move into comments.

A

Miss clark- I'm sorry, miss shaw you're here to address that.

A

Thank you very much. Would you like me to present the ordinance?

A

I would I would okay, thank you, got screens and trying to keep things.

A

Straight so I do appreciate you yeah. I know it's a lot. I do. um Thank you.

I

Are you doing a great job ordinance 2024 sets the maximum 2021.

I

Salary rates for city of bloomington elected officials- this includes the.

I

Mayor you, city, council, members and the city clerk and his maximum salaries represent a two percent.

I

Increase in addition, the mayor's salary um he's getting is a second of three.

I

Recommended adjustments from the salary studies he had put those off.

I

And consistent with this current ordinance, ordinance, 2024.

I

Also assigns an additional 1 000 per year for city council president.

I

And 800 year, pre-year pursuit lots of voice of these positions. I'm.

I

Happy to take any questions at this time. Thank you.

A

Any council members have any questions for miss shaw.

D

How much does the cat get as her salary.

B

um Just uh just a procedural note, I think that we actually skipped the vote.

B

On the introduction of this ordinance: well, that's what I was trying to do and.

A

Then miss shaw on that. It's my mistake, so I think it.

A

Was mine? Oh that's! Okay! um I apologize.

A

That's okay, can we call the roll? No, it's not your fault.

B

It's all of us: okay, um councilmember, rosenberger,.

B

Yes, councilmember sims, yes, peter smith. Yes, clarity,.

F

Yes, smith, yes, sandberg, yes, rollo.

N

Yes and scandaloury: yes, okay and again, my apologies for missing.

B

That beer that passes 8-0.

A

And now do any council members have any questions for.

A

Ms shaw on ordinance, 20-24.

A

Okay, seeing none we'll go to the public for public comments.

A

On ordnance 20-24 remember to use the raised hand function in.

A

Zoom or send us a message on chat.

F

Okay, I'm not going to say going once going to. I don't.

A

Like that, um we'll give them just a few more seconds.

A

Okay, seeing none um we'll go back to counsel for final.

A

Comments on this ordinance.

A

Okay, seeing none um could you please call rome.

B

Yes- and we will start with you, council, member sims.

A

Yes, piedmont, smith; yes, clarity! Yes,.

B

Smith, yes, sandberg, yes, rallo.

N

Yes, scandalory, yes, rosenberger.

Q

Yeah. Thank you all.

A

Thank you. Matt passes 8-0 um now moving to appropriation, ordinance.

A

D

Oh, I'm. Sorry, that's! Okay! That's! Okay! I thought I was the only one tonight go.

A

Ahead, I'm sorry.

D

Mr chair, I move uh that appropriation ordinance 2005.

D

Be introduced and read by the clerk by title and synopsis only.

D

Second, thank you. Spin moved in second.

A

Well, the clerk please read, call the roll okay I'll get one or two.

A

Of them, it can't be wrong both times clerk. Would you please call the roll? Yes.

B

um Councilmember piedmont, smith, yes, flaherty.

F

Yes, smith, yes, sandberg. Yes,.

B

Rallo, yes, scandaloury. Yes,.

B

Rosenberger yeah and sims: yes,.

C

B

Okay and with your permission, go ahead and read.

A

Yes, please clerk. Thank you. I'm trying to read your lips, I'm not very good with.

A

That on soon so, thank you please read.

B

Appropriation ordinance 2005 an ordinance adopting a budget for the.

B

Operation, maintenance, debt service and capital improvements.

B

For the water and wastewater utility departments of the city of bloomington,.

B

Indiana for the year 2021, the synopsis is as follows. This.

B

Ordinance approved by the utility services board utilities service board in august of 2020.

B

Sets the water and wastewater budgets for 2021.. You do.

B

The do pass recommendation for appropriation ordinance 2005 is 900.

A

Thank you. I move that appropriation ordinance 2005.

D

Be adopted, second, okay, been moved and seconded.

A

Thank you, uh mr kelson. How are you would you like.

A

To present this evening very well, I hope my microphone is.

Y

Working perfect excellent um good evening, I'm vic kelson.

Y

Director of utilities for the city, uh I'm happy to be here.

Y

Tonight, to uh to bring up our budget for 2021.

Y

As uh I just quickly go over just a few numbers for.

Y

You our budget for 2021 on water is 17.7 million dollars. That's a.

Y

Reduction of about 1.5 million dollars compared to 2020.

Y

That's almost 8 percent for sewer it's 22.8 million dollars.

Y

Also, a reduction of about 1.5 million, which is about 6 percent.

Y

And for the stormwater utility, the total budget is 3.1 million dollars.

Y

Which is a reduction of 0.1 million dollars for about 3 percent.

Y

Altogether, our budget is 43.6 million dollars.

Y

That's a reduction of 3.6 million, uh which is seven percent overall.

Y

uh What's important about the way our budget works is.

Y

That uh we're able to sustain all of our operations.

Y

uh In their normal fashion, uh in the coming year,.

Y

But only if we reduce the amount of money that's set aside for.

Y

Extensions and replacements so the way our budget works is we budget.

Y

uh All of the personnel services we budget.

Y

Supplies and contract services and all of our debt service and what's left over.

Y

Is called extensions and replacements and that's used to pay for.

Y

uh Ongoing capital repairs and things like that.

Y

uh For 2020 from 2020 to 2021 uh we're going to see a reduction of.

Y

About 0.4 million dollars uh for sorry of about 1.3 million.

Y

Dollars in enr for water, about 0.4 million for sewer.

Y

And about 0.1 million for storm, I'm happy to take any questions.

Y

uh Than any members I have for our budget.

Y

Thank you. Thank you. Do we have any questions for mr kelson from council.

A

Okay, seeing none we'll go to the public for public comment on ordinance.

A

I'm sorry appropriation, ordinance 20-0-5, please use the raised hand function in.

A

Chat or send us a note in in zoom raised hand function in.

A

Zoom or send us a note in checked.

A

Do we have any takers, kirk bowden? No sorry about that delay! That's okay! I'm.

B

Looking for any takers, it is possible that there.

B

Could be one that was sent in the chat that was not sent to me directly.

B

So um if you sent one in the chat to the host, if you could send one to me.

B

That'd be great, if you just want to give it another.

B

Second or two well, aren't we all hosts? I don't see.

A

Anything either um yeah, sometimes with the chats they'll.

B

Send it directly to mr lucas as the primary host.

B

And they won't send it to me so and he stepped away for just a moment. So.

B

I just wanted to make sure it's okay, give it just another second or.

A

Two: okay: I don't see any.

A

We'll go back to council members for final comments.

A

Council, member piedmont smith: well, I just wanted to.

D

um Thank mr kelson for his very succinct summation of the cbu budget.

D

And the about extensions and replacements, I appreciate that.

C

Thank you. Thank you. Any further comments.

A

Okay, um I would like to just say that I am the ex-officio member on the utility.

A

Service board- and I am very impressed with not only mr.

A

Kelson but his staff um and how we take care of things and how. We are a.

A

Very good steward of our ratepayers funds.

A

I ask a lot of questions about ratepayer funds.

A

And I know some things aren't possible for an example.

A

I was wondering you know if we had a budget reduction of seven percent. Why.

A

Couldn't we just drop water rates for our customers by.

A

Seven percent, um but I know that's not the process and.

A

That's kind of the way we think, um but I also again will say I know that.

A

We are a very good steward of those funds.

A

um I also want to say that I really really appreciate what we've set up as.

A

Far as helping our customers that may have difficulty.

A

Meeting um some of their their their bills and and.

A

Some of the things that we've got set up to help our our customers. I think that's very, very important, and I really appreciate you.

A

And the staff in particular customer service people, so um thank you. Okay did I say a hand up.

A

A

Okay, um I think we're about ready for roll call.

A

On appropriation, ordinance, 20-05 or correct me, if I'm wrong.

B

Okay, all right, thank you um with that. We'll start with councilmember piedmont,.

B

B

Yes, clarity, yes smith. Yes,.

B

Sandberg, yes, rallo.

N

Yes, scandaloury, yes, rosenbarker yeah,.

B

Femmes, yes, okay, thank you and that passes 8-0.

A

Thank you, everyone. Thank you, mr tilson. Thank you. Okay. We can move to.

A

Appropriation ordinance 20-06, mr chair. I move that appropriation.

D

Ordinance 2006 be introduced and read by the chair by.

D

Title and synopsis only and by the clerk by title and synopsis. Only second.

A

I think it's been moved in second, um madam clerk, will you please.

A

Read I got really excited because I thought I didn't have to do it.

B

So we will start with council member flaherty.

E

Yes, smith, yes, sandberg. Yes,.

B

N

Yes, scandaloury, yes, rosenberger yep,.

Q

Sims yes and people smith, yes, okay,.

A

Okay, thank you. Would you please read yes, appropriation ordinance, 2006.

B

Appropriations and tax rates for bloomington transportation corporation.

B

For 2021., there is not a synopsis and your do pass.

B

Recommendation was nine zero, zero.

D

Mr chair, I move that appropriation ordinance 2006, be adopted.

A

Second, wait: a second okay! Thank you um hi, mr may. Can you.

A

Please present for us good evening. Lou may.

Z

General manager, bloomington public transportation, corporation.

Z

uh Again, thank you for the opportunity to talk about our.

Z

Proposed 2021 budget again tonight for the third time.

Z

There have been no changes to the proposed 2021 budget from what I.

Z

Originally presented in august, we are proposing a.

Z

Budget of 14 505 793 dollars in 2021.

Z

And that's a 3.8 percent increase over 2020.. So with that, I'm glad to.

Z

Entertain any comments or questions that you may have at this time.

A

Thank you very much. um We've heard a lot of your presentations and I'm always.

A

Impressed with them- um and I think my colleagues has as well.

A

Now do I have any questions of mr may from our colleagues.

A

Or from my council members.

A

Okay, thank you. Seeing none will go to the public um for public comment.

A

Please utilize the raised hand functions in.

A

Zoom and or send us a note in the chat, so we can recognize you and allow you to.

A

Get your comments in.

A

A

Going once no, I won't do that. Okay, we'll go back to my council.

A

Colleagues, for any final comments on appropriation, ordinance.

A

A

Okay, seeing none.

A

uh Adam clark, would you please call the roll.

B

Absolutely council, member smith, yes sandberg, yes,.

B

Rallo, yes, scandalory. Yes,.

B

Rosenberger, yes, sims, yes, piedmont, smith,.

B

Yes and flaherty, yes, okay, thank you.

A

And that appropriation ordinance passes eight zero.

A

Thank you again, mr may always impress your presentation.

Z

Support. Thank you. Okay. Moving to the next appropriation.

A

Ordinance, mr chair, I.

D

Move that appropriation, ordinance, 2004 be introduced and read.

D

By the clerk by title and synopsis, only second.

A

Okay, been moving a second uh miss clark. Could you please.

A

B

Yes, councilmember sandberg, yes,.

B

Rolla, yes, scandaloury, yes, rosenberger.

B

Yeah sims, yes,.

B

Piedmont: smith, yes, flaherty, yes and smith. Yes,.

B

Thank you. Thank you, madam clerk, would you please read.

B

Appropriation ordinance 2004 an ordinance for appropriations and tax.

B

Rates establishing 2021 civil city budget for the city of.

B

Bloomington, there's no synopsis and you do pass.

B

You do pass recommendation appropriation, ordinance, 2004.

B

Was four three two. Thank you very very much. uh I see mr.

A

Underwood, would you um I'm sorry, I'm sorry go ahead. I move that.

D

Appropriation ordinance 2004 be adopted. Second, okay. Now it's been moved in a.

A

Second, mr underwood, if you're prepared please good evening, I will be.

AA

Trying to be just as succinct as well, um we are looking at appropriations 2004.

AA

And, as I explained two weeks ago at the duly noted and advertised public hearing on the budget,.

AA

uh We moved from program budgets which uh have a different flavor.

AA

uh In august now to the state's required forms.

AA

uh You'll be voting on appropriation, orders 2004.

AA

The first half of that is what we call the statutory funds.

AA

You have an adopted budget adopted levy and adopted tax rate.

AA

And the second half of the ordinance is those home rule, funds which.

AA

You have to vote on, we have to submit to the dlgf.

AA

uh They will look at the statutory ones and do a deep dive and then they'll give.

AA

Us a thumbs up uh with any changes uh when they submit.

AA

Our budget order uh prior to the end of the year, there's.

AA

Three actions that you all can take on this ordinance. You can pass it, as is.

AA

You can cut it or you can vote to not approve it. The.

AA

Question was asked last week. What would happen if that ladder would.

AA

Happen is the incense. We go back to the last appropriated budget uh and we go back uh to the last.

AA

Levy that was approved uh for those funds, so the parks department.

AA

uh And the the general fund would move back, we would lose approximately about a.

AA

Million dollars a year in revenues and that would be lost each.

AA

Succeeding year, the only opportunity would go for an excess levy, and I can tell you that those are almost next to impossible to get those approved. As long as you have sufficient cash.

AA

Balances on hand, so on the one hand, that you're applauded.

AA

For doing well, on the other hand, you're penalized for doing well that.

AA

Said uh tonight we're looking at 31 different.

AA

Funds for a total of 95 million dollars, this.

AA

Is a decrease of about 3.567 million dollars or 3.6 percent.

AA

That's primarily due to a decrease of five million dollars in the food.

AA

Beverage fund in the general fund we're looking at forty eight uh five. Five two, uh this increase uh is a. It is a total.

AA

Increase of one point: eight million dollars or three point: eight percent.

AA

uh And the majority of that is uh reflected in the two million dollars of.

AA

Recover forward expenditures and 193 194 000 decrease in.

AA

Property tax rates, if we adjust for those, then basically.

AA

uh We have a zero percent increase in the proposed general fund.

AA

City general fund budget uh in the parks department, uh the budget request is 8.5.

AA

Million dollars, this is an increase, a decrease of about.

AA

105 000 or one point two percent, uh as I noted.

AA

Last time there was a confluence of getting the.

AA

Revised local income tax um estimates.

AA

uh They came in uh uh too late for us to incorporate.

AA

uh But we will see um that come in at about a million dollars plus uh so.

AA

Essentially, that will go into the general fund and supplement those reserves um that we we had planned to use out of.

AA

The general fund for the total budget, uh with that I will stop and then be.

AA

Happy to answer any questions you all might have.

A

Thank you very much um questions from my council.

A

A

Council member scandal larry, um yes, thank you, I'm gonna do something. I very.

J

Rarely do and that's ask you to repeat what you just said, um because it's important could you comment.

J

Again on what the implications are of not.

J

Approving a budget or not approving the budget, as it's.

J

Proposed to us what that means for 2021 going forward, um because I think that's.

J

An important thing so, yes, uh as you know, the levy gets adjusted every year with a.

AA

Maximum of five percent uh this year, the estimates about one.

AA

Million dollars in additional revenues that we receive for the increase in that levy, if you would vote.

AA

To if your vote did not pass the budget as as shown.

AA

We would forfeit that million dollars in 2021.

AA

And going forward, so we would always that million dollars will be lost.

AA

And and we would have to make cuts in services and.

AA

And other budgets to account for that, uh the other thing is, you have passed.

AA

Salary ordinances this evening uh we have statutory requirements for.

AA

Police and fire and askme, where we have union contracts that have.

AA

Been approved by all the bodies that we would have to pay those.

AA

Increases we wouldn't necessarily have to pass pay the two percent for non-union. uh However, that would mean that we would.

AA

Also have to find uh cuts in those budgets to.

AA

Pay for those increases, so it's very dire consequences.

AA

uh Both short term and long term should you choose not to approve.

AA

uh This ordinance as presented, thank you. Thank you. Any.

A

Further questions, councilmember, piedmont, smith,.

D

Yes, thank you and um if I asked this last time I apologize I had it.

D

Highlighted in my packet- and I did not put an answer next to it so.

D

This is a question about the change, uh the changes.

D

Between august and september, 30th, yes- and you said.

D

There are some changes um most of the changes in category three are related to.

D

A rate increase for duke energy energy, yes,.

D

So there was a almost fifty thousand dollar.

D

um Increase in category three for the local roads and streets funds.

D

And I think now it's it's really sounding familiar, so I think you did.

D

Answer this and I apologize.

D

That comes out of that fund. Yes, so that's.

AA

A significant increase for those thank you so much and again, I'm sorry. I didn't.

D

Write that down all right. Okay, thank you.

A

Any further questions.

A

Okay, seeing none we'll go to public for any public comment on.

A

Appropriation ordinance 28-04, please utilize the raised hand function.

A

In zoom looks like two have been used and and or send us a note unchecked.

A

uh Clerk bowden so first up we have nathan.

B

If you'd like to go ahead and unmute yourself, please.

O

Oh, thank you so much. I would like to speak.

O

Clearly and directly in opposition to the line items for rubber bullets and.

O

Gas masks these so-called.

O

Non-Lethal or less lethal weapons and tools to brutalize our.

O

Community give the police an option.

O

To do harm to members of our community, that's what they're there for.

O

Without these options, we create a situation where.

O

That is taken away.

O

Earlier I again, I spoke, and I agreed with the council, the council member.

O

Agreed to me about when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

O

Well, if you don't have a hammer, you can't pitch yourself on the thumb.

O

We've seen from across the country that consistently these weapons are misused.

O

In fashions that they are not intended for, a rubber bullet is supposed to be.

O

Bounced off the ground into someone's leg consistently, they have been shot directly into people's faces.

O

Directly into people's skulls, leading to permanent blindness.

O

Disability and death, so I would urge this council.

O

To make our community safer by not allowing these weapons.

O

um To come into our community, thank you. I yield my time.

A

Thank you who do we have next misspoke.

A

B

Sorry next up alex goodlab alex if you'd like to go ahead.

R

Ready all right so, oh, um I would like to join nathan.

R

In opposition to uh the gas masks and rubber bullets.

R

And um I would like to also mention that um I um have uh emailed um each and.

R

Every one of you um about my opposition and.

R

Really trying to figure out what to do to.

R

Keep um the uses on the protesters um and.

R

And other other, such people like like um keep keeping keeping crowd, control out.

R

Of our community, it's not helpful to our community doesn't.

R

Keep us safe, um and uh I I would wish that I would.

R

Get more response, I I thank uh piedmont.

R

Smith for responding, and um at least.

R

You know at least offering alternatives, though I I don't entirely agree with the.

R

Alternatives that I I would like to hear more response, because, because this is a serious issue, this is why we're you know this is why.

R

What why we were out in the streets in in the summer because of uh police brutality and because of unnecessary use.

R

An unnecessary purchase of crowd control so as far as I'm concerned, if, if we're.

R

Not taking um rubber bullets and uh gas masks out of.

R

The budget, then, um then we haven't accomplished the the.

R

Protests haven't like they haven't accomplished much at all. I mean they've changed the discussion. I don't want to downplay that it's good that we we now have the discussion, but but there needs.

R

To be policy, there needs to be concrete change, and this is a big one. It's it's not a huge amount and.

R

In in the grand scheme of things in the budget, they.

R

Literally, don't need it um and uh decoff has.

R

He's talked about why he needs gas masks and fifteen thousand dollars worth.

R

It's it's not because bpd are the poison control center.

R

Like I've been suggested, they're they're, not the poison control center.

R

um And if they did, if they were for that purpose, they don't need fifteen thousand.

R

Dollars worth of it, so um I would strongly suggest uh that.

R

And chief decoff said he needed it because of.

R

Training purposes of the plum tear gas, so so, let's take that very seriously and.

R

uh Let's, let's, uh let's do something meaningful in in this year. It it just you know, get getting rid of.

R

That small amount of money makes a huge difference in our community um and same.

R

With rubber bullets and and if you're not going to do that at least ban the use on uh the the crowd like like has been.

R

Suggested do that too, but if we're gonna ban it, then why not just.

R

Take it out of the budget so do that um and thanks for.

R

Listening and and sorry for rambling all you of my time.

A

Thank you, mr goodlatte. um Who else do we have corporal.

B

Next up we have um molly stewart molly. If you will.

B

Unmute yourself, you can go ahead. Yes, thank you.

AB

My name is molly stewart for the record and I have to express my disappointment.

AB

With how the council has addressed this year's budget, especially the police budget for several months now,.

AB

A large number of community members have expressed.

AB

The public comments during meetings and directly to council members.

AB

Specifically regarding the issues of equipment and staffing.

AB

And policing philosophies many community members regularly attended meetings to.

AB

Express their disagreement with adding to police stockpiles of gas masks and.

AB

Other items which, by chief decoup's own admission, have not.

AB

Been used for over 10 years since rioting as a result of iu sports.

AB

Which is its own issue? These items are on the budget.

AB

Almost every year, which means that unless the department does not end up.

AB

Using the funds to buy this equipment, which also might be its own issue,.

AB

There must be a stockpile of them since they're not being used.

AB

I have asked council members to request an inventory of these items into my.

AB

Knowledge that was not asked for or received the public have clearly asked for a reduction of items that are unnecessary.

AB

For our police force to have- and we have been ignored in this- the.

AB

Requests of over police, black brown and impoverished citizens and their allies.

AB

Have been ignored and instead of coming to a compromise.

AB

Earlier tonight we saw that only the requests of police officers and civilian.

AB

Staff and their families have been met. A compromise has not been reached, no defunding is occurring. Instead, there.

AB

Are more resources being promised to the police department.

AB

In the form of housing, stipends or allowances,.

AB

And take-home vehicles, it is not clear to me.

AB

What the sway of the department is over this government, considering how many.

AB

People in this community spoke out against unnecessary financial resources.

AB

Going to the police department instead of the many many other worthy.

AB

Services that can prevent crime in this city.

AB

As a reminder to the council members who spoke very clearly in favor of the.

AB

Police department earlier tonight we hear your lack of.

AB

Concern for the people in the community who do not feel safe around police officers. The message is.

AB

Loud and clear that some people in this community matter more to you than others, there's so much evidence both nationwide.

AB

And from our own community that police departments are not the best way to.

AB

Provide justice, especially for residents that are not privileged by their race, socioeconomic status or other aspect of.

AB

Life, let me remind everyone here that our police department, arrests and incarcerates black citizens at a rate of over 20 percent, whereas these citizens only make.

AB

Up five percent of the city's population: this is incredibly disproportionate and.

AB

Should not be acceptable. We've also seen several white.

AB

Right-Wing blue lives matter events that have demonstrated an incredibly.

AB

Suspicious amount of allyship among law enforcement.

AB

And people who truly believe that black lives do not matter.

AB

Police simply do not police political protesters equally, and they do not.

AB

Police citizens equally implicit bias, trainings do not address.

AB

Explicit bias they just take more tax dollars away from other needed resource.

AB

Recipients, the community has asked to be heard, and it appears that we were not. But that just means that we will be.

AB

Louder next time- and we will remember the events of this budget cycle at the.

AB

Next, council election, thank you.

X

You got my vote. Thank you. Miss stewart. Do we have anyone else? You've got my.

B

Vote yes, um next up, we've got gregory.

B

May, mr may, if you'd like to unmute yourself.

AC

Thank you, uh my name is greg. May I work at.

AC

Centerstone, I'm the director of administration for the adult and family.

AC

Services division. I've spoken at a number of these meetings in support of.

AC

Bloomington police department, specifically the dro program, police, social workers and the efforts of chief dkoff to bring the.

AC

Stride center to fruition, as I've mentioned in my previous.

AC

Correspondence my staff work regularly with the.

AC

Bloomington police department, especially the downtown resource officer.

AC

Program and police, social worker, it needs to be known that there's a high.

AC

Level of collaboration and cooperation making sure that vulnerable citizens in.

AC

This community have care and resources provided to them that meet their needs.

AC

Services are often delivered in parks, homeless camps in any other place where.

AC

A person may be in need, as previously stated, people call the.

AC

Police for all kinds of things, people will continue to call the police.

AC

For all kinds of things, in order to keep the city safe, the.

AC

Council should approve the positions that have been requested.

AC

By the bloomington police department, I would ask that before you make.

AC

Decisions about defunding the police that you take time to learn what the.

AC

People and positions do to keep this community safe, while.

AC

Connecting people and to services and service providers, I.

AC

Would encourage you to visit a homeless camp visit seminary park? Visit switzhart park find out what is going on in this.

AC

Community, before you make decisions about defunding police.

AC

In addition, getting to know the staff and the programs offered.

AC

Take time to listen to someone's story in one of those parks.

AC

Ask them how these services have changed their life.

AC

Saved their life and how these are the only service providers that reach out to.

AC

The vulnerable members of our community bpd is innovative in.

AC

Many ways chief decoff is a leader who is, in my.

AC

Opinion working to make this city safe, as you heard this evening, the city is.

AC

Growing bpd needs to be funded defunding. The police is irresponsible.

AC

And you have evidence that the city is growing.

AC

Thank you for your time.

A

Thank you, mr may, do we have any more? Yes, you mute it.

B

It's gonna make me crazy. Next up is jana arthur if you'd like to go ahead.

V

Hi, um so I want to quickly state that we don't need any rubber bullets or.

V

Gas masks being spent fifteen thousand dollars on and I was originally gonna.

V

Read a statement of a protester that lost her eye from being shot in the face.

V

However, mr may's comments um have got me: gonna talk about something.

V

Else um so he stated a few different agencies and.

V

Noted that centerstone was one of those agencies in cooperation with the police.

V

That is tasked with providing vulnerable people. His words.

V

Having their needs met, he also stated to visit a homeless camp before defunding.

V

The police- and I just want the community to realize how preposterous that statement is. He also mentioned. uh Have the people.

V

That are in the homeless camps, talk about the services they are receiving, and let me tell you that those people are my.

V

Family and I know the stories about the services that they are receiving in this.

V

Community, because I hear them every single day,.

V

About how people are falling through the cracks and not receiving the benefits that they need and the police giving.

V

More money to the police and buying gas masks and rubber bullets is not going to.

V

Change the fact that we have 300 people experiencing.

V

Homelessness in this community and the agencies that are supposed to be helping them are not doing that um yeah and I'm going to yield the rest.

V

Of my time, because I'm grossly off topic but mr may was also grossly off topic.

V

Thank you. Thank you. Miss arthur.

A

We have okay, yes, next up, we have h, l.

B

If you would like to unmute yourself.

AD

Hello, my name is heather lake. um I I have a statement I have lived here.

AD

In bloomington for 21 years, bloomington is a good town. I am not sure.

AD

What bpd thinks is going to happen here that will necessitate the use of over.

AD

Fifteen thousand dollars for gas masks and the use of rubber bullets. This has.

AD

Come up during a time where there is racial unrest and.

AD

Peaceful protests about police violence, the violence that has been done at these.

AD

Protests has been done or ramped up by groups that are coming.

AD

Into our town just to cause trouble, it is suspicious.

AD

As to timing of wanting all these weapons,.

AD

And spending money on these things instead of social services.

AD

That will help the community be a better community.

AD

Where everyone is served and everyone is taken care of.

AD

Is a much better use of the funds? Thank you. I yield my time.

A

Thank you for your comments.

B

Next, we have linda grove paul who would like to speak.

B

And if you'll give me a second, I will get down to.

B

A mute, her name is grove paul if you'd like to go ahead.

AE

Yes, thank you very much. As she said, my name is linda grove, paul.

AE

I too work for center stone, although that's not the reason I'm here. um I've.

AE

Been a social worker in this community for about 25 years and a couple of.

AE

Points I want to make, I think one and I really appreciated uh council.

AE

Member sims talking about the fact that um making change uh is.

AE

Not easy, uh it takes time and I think you know I. I very much appreciate the.

AE

Fact that there are a lot of people who have very good intentions in terms.

AE

Of thinking about what are some of the things that we need to do differently,.

AE

But a lot of that just doesn't happen overnight and.

AE

In particular, I I feel, like um you know, bloomington is a community like.

AE

So many of you, I moved to bloomington and you know I loved it. I loved the.

AE

Progressive ideals, uh the innovation all of the work that.

AE

Was happening but anymore, it really feels like there's so.

AE

Much divisiveness when we talk amongst ourselves, even you.

AE

Know people who are approaching a lot of the the same issues in the same.

AE

Way have a lot of uh political. um You know similarities.

AE

That we, we start conversations where we just.

AE

Put the other person on the defensive um and I.

AE

Understand, there's a national narrative. I absolutely get trust me. I mean I've spent. You know my life's work.

AE

In uh working with people who are oppressed certainly understand.

AE

Institutionalized racism, criminalization of individuals.

AE

With mental health and substance issues as.

AE

Well as racial disparities, those are real and.

AE

There are problems within our systems. We.

AE

Definitely know that and I applaud bloomington for trying to.

AE

Look at innovative ways for us to be able to.

AE

Address that and I feel like chief decough, you know I.

AE

Work in in 20 different counties is by far the.

AE

Most progressive uh police chief of you know certainly.

AE

The um the the cities that that I work in.

AE

And as several people have denoted has taken, you know things like downtown.

AE

Resource officers- and I think when greg was talking, greg may was talking.

AE

About going to those camps, is you know a lot of those folks.

AE

Have mental health substance issues a lot of our staff are going they're.

AE

Helping to try to find them housing dros maybe show up because.

AE

Somebody's made a call to the police and they're not arresting them. They're.

AE

Trying to see what they can do to try to get them the services that they need, and I think that the move to add.

AE

More social workers and get more resource officers.

AE

Is a really good intention, not only on the part of the mayor, but the chief of.

AE

Police to say, we need to make sure that you know we're.

AE

Kind of changing our organization from the inside out- and I guess one.

AE

Final comment: I really want to make that I think is so important.

AE

Is you know, how can we do this together and not be.

AE

Divisive, but also, how are we ensuring um that we're we're able to get.

AE

The the work that that we need done and then I.

AE

Guess the last piece was just that uh the this idea of the.

AE

Ethics of a social worker, um it not being ethical for uh police.

AE

uh To have a social worker embedded is just absolutely not true.

AE

And I know um dr pat sullivan submitted a letter to the city council.

AE

Members, he is the assistant or the associate.

AE

Dean for the iu school of social work, um you know he very unequivocally said.

AE

That you know it is his belief not as a faculty member but as a person.

AE

Any social worker that unequivocally you can work, you must- and I guess that's.

AE

Part of it is the code of ethics. You know kind of one of the number one.

AE

Principles are building relationships and I feel like.

AE

The way this is being approached is not going to.

AE

Help anybody get anything done so I hear sort.

AE

Of the threats about like, if we don't do what we need to do this time, you know next year we're gonna really.

AE

Wreak havoc, and I would just suggest, let's do what we can to try to come.

AE

Together to say, what do we need to do to to make our community a better, uh better, informed, better educated.

AE

Better trained whether it's police force and then it.

AE

Shouldn't be an and or it shouldn't be well either. You.

AE

Have the social workers here or you have them there? We need both.

AE

We need social workers within the police, department and social service agencies.

AE

Need more services and I'd say if you take three positions.

AE

And you give that out to social service agencies that is not going to.

AE

Even make a dent in the problems we have in this community. Thank you.

A

Thank you for your comments. Do we have any more clerk modern.

A

No, don't say anymore, okay, and I don't see any more.

A

Good, I will just give it a few more seconds.

A

Okay, seeing none um we'll go to our accounts, my council.

A

Colleagues for final comments on appropriation.

A

A

20-04, council, member piedmont, smith, yes,.

D

Mr chair, I would like to make a motion. um I move that the council adopt the.

D

Following finding concerning the recommendations in the documents submitted on september, 21st 2020 by danielle byrd,.

D

The council finds that it has received the document titled letter opposing 2021.

D

Proposed police budget and accompanying signature page and has.

D

Dually considered the recommendations contained therein.

D

As well as public comments provided at meetings related to the 2021 budget,.

D

While considering the 2021 budget, tax rates and tax.

D

Levy- and I think our council attorney might be.

D

Able to explain why it's good for us to recognize the.

D

Petition formally, yes, thank you.

G

And uh this is a bit odd because danielle bird, I believe, is still.

G

uh Here in the meeting, so um there's a provision under state law that.

G

Allows taxpayers to file a petition objecting to a budget or.

G

A tax rate or levy and which obligates the council to.

G

Adopt a finding in response, the petition or the document submitted by.

G

uh Danielle that contains signatures from well over 10 people. In fact,.

G

Over 100 folks, uh it wasn't clear whether that was a petition meant to.

G

Fall under that provision of uh state code, but I think it doesn't.

G

Hurt for the council to recognize and acknowledge that it received those.

G

Documents and uh and make the finding as as councilmember piedmont smith expressed. Second, thank you.

A

Okay, thank you. It's been moved in second.

A

How do we go about this? Mr lucas, do we so this is a uh a motion to adopt a.

G

Finding by the council, it just requires a majority vote.

G

uh It's debatable. um I can also answer any clarifying questions of council.

G

Members have any.

A

Do we have any questions.

A

Yes, councilmember scandillary. Thank you, mr lucas. Thank you for for assembling.

J

And explaining this just, could you clarify um the difference.

J

Between a petition and our choice to acknowledge.

J

It and other letters or correspondence.

J

That we receive from our residents or from constituents.

G

The difference here is um and again danielle may be able to clarify if they.

G

Intended this petition to uh to fall under the relevant portion of state code. But.

G

This petition was signed by ten or more taxpayers, uh seemed to.

G

Object to a budget uh and was was timely, filed. uh You correctly point.

G

Out that the council receives numerous comments from.

G

Lots of individuals voicing all sorts of opinions.

G

But because this particular petition seemed to potentially fall under the.

G

Provision of state code that requires a council response, that's the.

G

Reason for the suggested motion. That's not to say that the council.

G

Doesn't take into consideration all of the comments it receives uh from.

G

From the public, but because of the way this was submitted, it.

G

Raised a question of whether it fell under that provision of state law. Great. Thank you. That's very helpful.

A

Okay, do we have any more questions.

A

Okay, um I do have one question and I guess I'm just not clear on.

A

What this is this first time I've heard of it.

A

And I'd be happy to recognize it, but I don't know quite what that means.

G

Is the first time I've I haven't seen a past.

G

Example, where the council's had to do this so.

G

The state code provision that applies here says that 10 or more.

G

Taxpayers can object to a budget tax rate or tax levy by filing an objection.

G

Petition with the proper officers of the political subdivision.

G

um And if a petition is filed under that subsection, the fiscal body of of the.

G

Political subdivision, so that's the council shall adopt with its budget of finding concerning the objections in the.

G

Petition and any testimony presented at the adoption hearing, so I think what the motion from council.

G

Member piedmont smith does, is it acknowledges that we've received.

G

The petition uh submitted by uh danielle, byrd and other members of the public.

G

That the council has uh considered that as part of its.

G

uh Deliberation on the budget legislation.

G

um And is formally recognizing that we've received that document.

A

Okay, that clarifies it thank you. um Councilmember sandberg,.

M

Yes, I I don't have a question because I too just saw this just before we were.

M

Convening for this meeting, and I think what it does, is it just.

M

Accepts that we've received the information we've considered, it.

M

um uh You know, given it due respect, does not mean when we vote that we've.

M

Acknowledged it that we necessarily agree with it and that's the case with any number of feedback that we get from either.

M

People in the community, taxpayers or not um people are.

M

Free to voice their opinions, and this council has a responsibility to.

M

Either accept what they're, sharing with us or not. This is just a matter of.

M

We've received it, we've considered it and.

M

There's here's how we're going to proceed with our budget.

A

Okay, thank you very much um any further comments or clarifications.

A

Okay, it has been moved in second. um Is it now time for.

A

Councilmember piedmont, smith. Well, I just noticed that danielle bird raised her.

D

Hand, I wonder if we might hear from her.

A

Can you unmute her um clerk bowden, yes, hello? Thank you.

S

I was not speaking up on this um petition because I mentioned it earlier.

S

And I didn't want to take a lot more time and I.

S

Did submit this, uh it does currently have 158 signatures.

S

And the letter was submitted via email to every um council member.

S

And the mayor as well so uh quite a long time ago, so I've I've.

S

Already heard back from several council members and had.

S

Some correspondence with them that were asking some further questions.

S

And and that so many of the signatures and and I.

S

Submitted the names of the individuals and several.

S

Individuals have commented on that petition and made.

S

Additional comments and other than just signing it and.

S

Several of them indicate that they are social workers.

S

And service providers- and there are some folks that have.

S

Signed that petition, who are service receivers as well, so I just.

S

Wanted to highlight that I don't know how the public might obtain.

S

Those comments um I mean it's a it's a long letter.

S

There's a lot of research linked in that letter, um so.

S

I just don't think it's um uh timely right now to read that, but I don't know.

S

How how that information um is obtained by.

S

The public so I'd be happy to help in any way. I can.

S

But thank you so much for acknowledging that there are, as I said,.

S

158 people signed this, and this is regarding.

S

Specifically, the structure of the police budget with the.

S

Social workers, the neighborhood resource specialist,.

S

And the data analyst so, okay, yeah. Thank you. Thank you.

A

uh Counts, remember: scan blurry. um Yes, I don't know if this is.

J

Directed to our parliamentarian or to mr lucas, but.

J

Is a copy of the letter attached to this finding.

J

By definition and well, the the uh finding at the moment is simply a.

G

Motion, but uh I can certainly work with the clerk's office to make both this uh finding and the uh the petition and all.

G

The associated documents that danielle has submitted to the council.

G

Office uh available uh publicly right, I mean I, I know that.

J

It's public information anyway, since it was sent to us as council members, but.

J

It seems to make sense to just formally attach it to this.

J

Finding time being, if you remember that.

A

Okay, do we have any other comments? Okay,.

A

This motion has been made, and second is the time to call the roll on this.

A

A

Clerk, would you please call the roll.

B

B

That's memoralla, yes, scandalory, yes, rosenberger.

B

Yeah sims, yes, piedmont, smith; yes, clarity!.

F

Yes, smith, yes, sandberg. Yes,.

C

Okay: okay, thank you and that motion passes eight zero. Thank you.

A

Councilmember, member piedmont, smith and miss bird.

A

um Now we are back to final comments from and we don't have.

A

Any more public comments right now: okay, final comments from council members.

A

On appropriation, ordinance, 20-04.

A

Council member sandberg.

M

Briefly, it is our responsibility as a council to make sure we have a.

M

Reasonable budget going forward that our department heads have the.

M

Dollars that they need to do the work that the salaries are in line with.

M

uh Best practices and so on the whole. I wholeheartedly support this budget.

M

um I think we've all acknowledged there are things in it that we.

M

We support very confidently. There were other things that.

M

Several of us didn't, and we weren't always in agreement with what those.

M

Things were whether it was respect to the tdm.

M

Whether it was respect to the um police budget, that said, we always.

M

Must keep the big picture in mind, so, in spite of my differences with what had been proposed, I will make it.

M

My responsibility to continue to work on those things throughout the year and.

M

Throughout the next budget cycles, uh but I'm certainly not going to vote.

M

No on the budget of a whole, um based on some of the differences that.

M

I may have that's that's for another day for us to work through.

M

As many people have already stated, some of these issues.

M

Are going to take a lot of time, we are dealing with hardships that were.

M

Unforeseen when the budget process got started, and we are looking at some.

M

Tough years ahead, but we must work with collegiality, we.

M

Must work with respect to um the challenges that we all face, and I.

M

Certainly appreciated miss linda grove, paul's comment about.

M

How much more important it's going to be for us to work together.

M

Than to try to us versus them so on the whole.

M

I'm happy to support this budget. In spite of some of my differences.

M

On some of the details, thank you. Thank you. Councilmember piedmont, smith,.

D

Yes, um I wanted to address uh the comments about.

D

The rubber bullets and the gas masks um these items also jumped out at me.

D

From the capital budget of the bloomington police department.

D

um The uh and I talked to chief decoff about it and to.

D

The mayor's the deputy mayor and the.

D

First of all, the the bloomington police department doesn't use.

D

Rubber bullets: this is the less lethal ammunition that is.

D

In the budget for three thousand dollars is.

D

Bean bag rounds and sponge rounds.

D

Which can hurt, but they uh according to chiefty cough. They are used primarily.

D

To disarm individuals that have weapons that you know a police.

D

Officer has been called in there's somebody with a weapon who will not drop.

D

The weapon- and so they use these uh kind of.

D

Less lethal um means to you know, shoot the person in.

D

The arm, for example, um and and get them to drop the knife or.

D

The the gun, uh so that is um the explanation I.

D

Received for that purchase and then the um the gas.

D

Masks really bothered me, because I know that um the cs gas that they use is actually.

D

Banned as a weapon of war- and it's very disturbing to me that any.

D

Civilian law enforcement would use the gas.

D

Anywhere in this country, um the, as we have seen it has been.

D

Copiously used.

D

On protesters this summer, even peaceful protesters in other cities.

D

So that was very disturbing to me.

D

I asked chief decoff about the gas masks and he.

D

Said you know they are not only for the rare occasions when the.

D

Bpd might use the cs gas, but also for incidents where.

D

There might be a chemical spill or an accident either.

D

At an iu research lab or in an industrial setting.

D

In in the city where the police department would be called upon to help.

D

And so the gas masks are there to protect.

D

Our police officers, um so uh I guess.

D

What I have taken from this is that what I really.

D

Want is to ban the use of tear gas not to ban.

D

The use of gas masks so I am pursuing.

D

uh Such an ordinance in the future to bring to the council, I believe it is.

D

Within our purview to ban the use of certain.

D

Weapons by our police department, the our council attorney, is still looking.

D

Into the details, but just like we curbed specific uses of.

D

The cert vehicle, I believe we can also curb the use of tear gas.

D

So that is a route that I'm going to pursue.

D

uh The other thing I want to talk about was the process for this budget.

D

Council member rosenberger has already brought this up with a salary ordinance.

D

um I am indeed disappointed with the process of this budget and all the budgets that I.

D

Have already been a part of as part of this administration and the previous mayoral administration, um it's always the same thing. uh We have.

D

A budget advance, then we hear nothing from the mayor.

D

And his administration for months, then we have.

D

The budget hearings in august- and we you know, give various opinions.

D

And uh none of them are really acted upon unless we go behind the scenes and.

D

And lobby the mayor's administration and uh and kind of.

D

Go out of our way to to emphasize certain points and bring.

D

All of our arguments together and bring together five votes.

D

It's just not a good way of of deciding how to use.

D

The taxpayer money- I I know some of it- is dictated by.

D

uh State law and the way that the mayoral system is set up. But I think.

D

There needs to be more transparency. I think it would be first of all.

D

I would appreciate hearing from the mayor between the budget advance in august, following up on the things that we said at the budget advance, um and secondly, I think that we need some.

D

Kind of mechanism to uh to do a straw poll vote to say.

D

This you know, five of us want this change and to do that in a public.

D

Setting, rather than having closed meetings and saying you know, if I've convinced this person to do this,.

D

And if you do that, etc, etc. um So I uh I do intend to follow through.

D

And uh work with my council colleagues and.

D

With the mayor to improve this process for the future.

D

um I am frankly disappointed that there was not more communication from the.

D

Mayor's office, especially in such a turbulent year,.

D

Where we had some grave concerns, which is systemic systemic concerns,.

D

About law, enforcement and other things, but anyway, uh overall, I think this.

D

uh I will be voting in favor of the budget.

D

um I think that um it's smart to use some of our reserve funds and rainy day.

D

Funds, because um I do agree with the mayor.

D

In that, uh oh I've forgotten the turn of phrase now, but.

D

When the economy is down, that's when the government really has to step in.

D

um And uh we're really our business community is.

D

Really struggling our um our residents are really struggling.

D

Just to pay the rent, and so some of these initiatives on housing.

D

On social service funding, um on improvements to pedestrian.

D

Corridors, um I think these are good investments, so.

D

With that, I I will, uh I will be voting yes tonight.

A

Thank you further comments from council members.

A

Councilmemberallo.

N

Thank you well, my perspective is first of all, this is a.

N

Fiscally sound budget, it's our fiduciary responsibility to.

N

Oversee uh this administration still keeps to its.

N

Commitments of infrastructure, social service funding and and its.

N

Commitment to climate- and yes, is it a perfect budget? Is it.

N

Does it address any every one of our particular requests? I think the.

N

Administration's done a very good job in balancing which is.

N

You know these commitments, various commitments.

N

um Hearing from all nine of us, while still.

N

Attending to a pandemic crisis, which I found, they.

N

They turned on a dime and addressed immediately.

N

And in a very effective way, working the community working with.

N

Iu, health and so forth. um I hope you can still hear me um well.

N

Also, freeing up funds for local businesses for their support.

N

So you know my perspective is sort of the.

N

You know the record over time has been really.

N

Quite extraordinary- and you know some examples.

N

I would just like to know, is you know we all are aware of the.

N

Millions of dollars spent on solarizing the city.

N

On public buildings, uh their commitment to tree planting of.

N

Increasing public tree cover by 50 uh in accord with the urban forest.

N

Report, um jack hopkins social service funding.

N

With the recover forward expenditures adding an additional two hundred.

N

Thousand dollars as this year and next year, with a total.

N

Total of 2.2 million dollars over the a period of five years, including next.

N

Year's budget um sidewalk improvement enhancements.

N

Increasing uh expending four hundred thousand dollars in the.

N

Next budget, continuing commitments to alternative.

N

Transportation um uh bloomington transit has.

N

Increased its uh electric buses, I think they've.

N

Acquired two with four more on the way we have four million dollars of.

N

A green infrastructure uh program, enhancement underway since this.

N

Administration has begun, it's added over 900.

N

Affordable uh housing units um and all the while doubling.

N

Basic infrastructure uh over the next uh over the past three.

N

Years, those are just a few things that I wanted to note because we get lost, I think, in the weeds.

N

When we talk about specific things like.

N

Fifteen thousand dollars for gas masks for the police department.

N

And we end up speaking about that. A lot while losing.

N

The context this council member sandberg said.

N

Of really the accomplishments that have been made.

N

So I think I think this is a very good budget. I think it deserves.

N

Support um and I look forward to working with.

N

The administration uh to work on climate action.

N

The recover forward plan to work toward greater uh social service funding and.

N

Just to say I I think that, yes, I'm very much aware.

N

Of the problems with various police forces around the country.

N

Ours is a model police force, I'm really proud of the officers.

N

The sworn officers and what they have to do, I I think they deserve the support of.

N

The community and the support of the council, they have.

N

My support uh they're expertly trained they're well.

N

Disciplined and I think that they're a model for.

N

Other communities, and so um I will commit to.

N

Adding more officers foreign officers in the future.

N

um Because I think that they, you know when you have a strained police force.

N

That's when the mistakes get made, and so they deserve.

N

That support and the administrations recognize that too.

N

Moving forward with housing allowances, moving forward with.

N

Allowing them to use squad cars and so forth.

N

So uh all in all, I think this is a very good budget. I.

N

I support it. Thank you.

A

Thank you uh further final comments from council.

A

Members, council, member flaherty sure thanks uh first, yes, thank you to.

E

Mayor hamilton and comptroller underwood, and the shaw and all the department.

E

Heads and city staff for all their hard work on this year's budget, um I'm confident that it reflects what they believe is best for the city.

E

And I really do appreciate their efforts on that.

E

I also appreciate mayor hamilton's overview at the beginning of the meeting tonight, highlighting many of the good things in this budget and many of the good things the city has invested in in recent years.

E

We do have a lot of common values, even if we sometimes disagree.

E

About execution or the pace of change or the urgency.

E

Of various challenges we face, I already spoke two weeks ago.

E

When we considered these ordinances about some of the structural and substantive um challenges I have with this budget and the budgeting process, so I won't go into great length on that.

E

um But I think this is a big picture thing.

E

Actually, and and when I ran for office when I ran for council, I ran to try to effect change change in line with the values that I.

E

Campaigned on uh to shift away meaningfully from the.

E

Status quo and to really start to tackle some of these challenges.

E

In our adopted plans and goals more aggressively than we have been.

E

And for the council, as the city's fiscal body appropriations like the city budget,.

E

Are one of the ways that we can effect change in line with our policy.

E

Priorities as elected officials- and I guess my disappointment is that I.

E

Don't feel like I've impacted this budget at all in part because of the procedural shortcomings and how we approach.

E

Budgeting and the fact that we don't have a defined structure for collaboration and compromise.

E

Of the six or seven specific items or changes that I've asked for.

E

None were incorporated or really meaningfully discussed.

E

um I've spoken with mayor hamilton about this, and he feels that the budget.

E

Generally reflects some of the broader priorities that I spoke of at the budget.

E

Advance in april um and I've reviewed those you know my.

E

Previous statements and comments, and I'll just respectfully disagree with that. You know perspective of his um so for me.

E

To feel good about and support the annual budget, I think it's important to have seen compromises that include council member priorities, and I personally just don't feel like that has been the case.

E

This year, so again, I certainly respect that the mayor has a different view and.

E

That some of my colleagues may weigh and make decisions differently in the.

E

Budgetary context, but regardless I do look forward to.

E

Working with the administration on future budgets and working with my colleagues and council staff on process reforms to how we approach budgeting and appropriations going forward. So thanks.

A

Thank you, council members, ken blurry, thank you, uh as I was kind of organizing.

J

My notes for this, my comments fall into two big categories.

J

um One is thank yous and the others opportunities that I see going forward.

J

um First, thank you to my colleagues on council and.

J

Particularly to community members who have been part of this discussion.

J

Who have been part of a thoughtful discussion at every step of this budget process? I believe that.

J

Your comments and your deliberation help make this a better budget and that's.

J

What can make us a better city uh to the.

J

Mayor and to the department heads thank you for crafting a budget that speaks to.

J

Many of our most deeply held values in a tight year.

J

You presented us with a budget that invests in a transportation demand management position, one of one of the very few.

J

Additions as part of our larger response to climate change, you added additional jack hopkins.

J

Funding so that we can respond to the needs of those who are most vulnerable.

J

In our communities- and I also want to applaud the investment in additional tools that will help us- expand our definition.

J

Of public safety and policing, I look forward to meeting our new social.

J

Workers and data analysts and seeing the ways in which they make.

J

Us better and more responsive to our communities needs.

J

I also want to applaud the mayor's willingness to implement some policies.

J

And practices most notably take-home cards and housing.

J

Assistance that, I think, will help us recruit and retain the best officers that will serve our community in a way that is.

J

Most consistent with our values, I also want to thank the city staff all.

J

700 plus of you for the work you've done during an.

J

Extraordinary year, you are the foundation of everything we.

J

Do I see four, there are any number of.

J

Opportunities going forward, but there are four in particular I want to underscore. I think we have an opportunity to pay.

J

Very close attention to the new tdm position.

J

Ensure that it is supported properly and identify the best.

J

Strategies for evaluating its effectiveness, including its placement,.

J

Within the city's organizational chart, I think we need to continue to respond.

J

To the needs of individuals and organizations that are hit hardest by.

J

The economic downturn, but doesn't seem to be going away as quickly as we all.

J

Hoped- and I think that need is going to continue to be there- I think we need to revisit and refine.

J

The budgeting process for the city to ensure that we have a sense of.

J

Collaboration, even when we don't have a sense of agreement.

J

And finally, it's one thing I haven't heard mentioned yet. I would really.

J

Particularly with difficult budget years ahead, when revenue.

J

Is going to be key, I think we have an opportunity to work closely with our.

J

County colleagues and with legislators to identify some alternative policies.

J

And practices for assessing local income taxes.

J

As a means of generating additional revenue.

J

I think these are things we can focus on together with that I'll be supporting.

J

A

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. um More final comment from council members.

A

Council, member smith,.

L

Thank you, mr sims. I'd like to thank mayor, hamilton.

L

City, comptroller, underwood everybody at the city that.

L

Worked on the budgets, I know it was lots and lots of work. I want to thank the.

L

Council members for all their agreements, disagreements.

L

Comments uh I want to thank all the community members that weighed in on it.

L

This really is a good budget, keeping the big picture.

L

It is a good budget, it it does address a lot of the things we think are important.

L

And reflecting the values uh that we have in bloomington.

L

And it's okay: to do that! We disagree. It's.

L

It's fine, I think, that's part of what democracy is all about.

L

So I thought that it was. We would all like something a little.

L

Different members of the public, everybody would.

L

Like something a little different, but we disagreed in public, we disagreed.

L

Transparently, we tried to do the best job we could and.

L

Let's just work together going forward and we will make it better every year.

L

That we work on this and uh I appreciate that and so.

L

Thank you to everybody that was involved in this.

L

And I will be supporting the budget as well.

L

Thank you. Thank you.

A

uh Any further council member rosenberger.

X

Thanks for asking, I I feel like when I commented earlier, it was.

X

More so my overarching thoughts on that thing. Okay, that's fine just want to make.

A

Sure um uh I guess I am the final one here.

A

um My comments are, I will support this budget.

A

um Is it perfect no, but it has a lot of good things. um I.

A

Think for this community um I think it's building on some of the.

A

Things that we've have been working on over the years.

A

And particularly with infrastructure, and some of the other things that don't really get talked about.

A

At least over the course of this budget year.

A

A

I don't quite understand the lack of communication or what appears to be a.

A

Lack of communication between administration and some of my.

A

Colleagues, and even with myself on occasion, so I am looking.

A

For more intentional and direct communications, as we move.

A

Forward, I think that's the best thing um collegial intentional.

A

Communications and I think that's the key.

A

We all submitted a bunch of questions to the administrations.

A

um I don't know what we got them in written form, some of them in bold red.

A

I will be the first to admit that I wasn't terribly happy with some of the.

A

Responses I got to some of my questions, but I was happy with the.

A

The explanation as to why I made I may not have gotten exactly what I.

A

Want, um and in particular uh one example, was the.

A

Deer population and some other things which I know we haven't talked about at.

A

All but but that's another thing, so I'm in the same boat with everyone else.

A

I am not happy, but I think it'll get better as we move forward.

A

I want to thank miss linda grove, paul for some of her comments. um I think.

A

They're very, very supportive and and all of our public um for that.

A

Matter um specifically, I want to talk about mr.

A

Goodlad miss stewart and we have a lot of talks. I I talk with.

A

Them not so sure we agree all the time, but I appreciate those.

A

Those comments.

A

There's a lot of talk about bloomington police department.

A

I even heard something about us being a model police department.

A

And I could appreciate that assessment. I do not feel that that it is a model.

A

Police department, um there are some things that we need to work on. I think we have been working on, but what I think bpd is is a very good.

A

Police department that can be improved and will be improved and there's some.

A

Things we need to work on. I think chief decoff and I understand.

A

Some of the things that's been said and all some of the other.

A

Comments has been made, I think, under his leadership, this department.

A

Has come a long way and I think some of those.

A

Things should be highlighted as we move forward. I think a lot of those things.

A

Are unknown to the community at large? Okay, I mean I sat on the board of public.

A

Safety years ago, so we were part of the.

A

Diversity push some of the training changes that I'm.

A

Not so sure everyone really knows about now, is it perfect? No, are we going to get.

A

Better, I think we will, I think we have to with.

A

All of our social needs- um I will say this.

A

A lot of the talk was with bpd and those costs.

A

One in particular, was the disparate arrest percentages of black.

A

People um here in bloomington- and I think the incarceration was.

A

Something like 17 with the four percent population or somewhere in that.

A

Neighborhood- and I must simply say that is true and.

A

That is not acceptable. I will also say that through community.

A

Work and involvement, I think those numbers have been improved.

A

Over the years, so it is not acceptable. Now.

A

I know we're talking about the budget in life, but let's, let's look at a broader picture there. You know what else is not acceptable.

A

It's not acceptable for me to be called a dumbass inward.

A

While I'm getting gas this afternoon because.

A

I chose to wear a mask that is not acceptable. It is not.

A

Acceptable for the disparate numbers and expulsions.

A

And suspensions that we have in our school system right here in monroe county, don't make them a bad school system, but those.

A

Numbers are disparate, so we we talk about a lot of things.

A

Let's look at this uh broader and more holistically. Let's.

A

Look about employment where, as we came out of the pandemic, the employment rate, unemployment rate.

A

For blacks nationwide was around 16 when non-blacks were somewhere around.

A

Six percent yeah, you know those numbers are. I didn't.

A

Quite get them quite down, but I know it's close enough.

A

um Look at the disparate numbers, how it affects.

A

uh uh The black population and people of color would covet 19.

A

That's not acceptable. It is also not acceptable that.

A

Less than one percent of blacks in this town.

A

Own their home, see these are the things that we've all been working on. Many of.

A

Us have been working on for years and there.

A

Has been improvement so, yes, we got to speed some things up.

A

But I tend to work more with long-term solutions with other community members and we are improving these. We can.

A

Take care of tear gas, we can take care of all those things.

A

If there are community concerns, that's not part of the budget, I don't think.

A

But there's ways that we can handle that if that is a community priority.

A

So I'm glad to hear those things, but I don't want us to focus.

A

So much on the little few things that we disagree with that we.

A

Just missed the big picture so with that, I will support this budget.

A

I look that we can improve as we move forward working through budgets and communications, but tonight I will support that so with that.

A

I think clerk bolden, I think, we're time to call the role.

B

B

We'll start with council member scandalory, yes,.

B

B

Yes, sims, yes, piedmont, smith,.

B

Yes, clarity, no smith! Yes,.

B

B

I'm sorry I didn't hear that. Yes, thank you.

B

B

I'm sorry, I didn't hear that.

N

Yes, thank you.

A

Okay is that it it looks like a preparation, ordinance, 20, dash.

A

Before passes, 7-1, okay, thank you all my colleagues for.

A

Your diligence this evening, um mr lucas, we're now down to council.

A

G

uh No council scheduled to announce tonight.

G

I I just saw jeff underwood, sign off and say thank you uh just to note that the.

G

Clerk's office may be getting in touch with you all about obtaining signatures on the uh items that just passed tonight. So just.

G

Keep a lookout for that and thank you all for your for your work.

A

Thank you. I think the clerk has already reached out and asked us all to take.

A

Care of that on tomorrow, if I'm not mistaken, um so get that.

A

Started and it can go to other places and get other signatures, so it's.

A

Done? um Okay, um I will accept a motion to adjourn.

A

All right, it's been moved in. Second, thank you all for your.

A

Work look forward to continuing to work with you and have a great night.

L

C