City of Bloomington, Indiana / VIDEO UPDATES with Mayor Hamilton

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Join Mayor John Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael as they discuss the State of the City event held on February 23 at the Waldron Arts Center.

Mayor Hamilton's eighth State of the City Address featured three main sections: reflecting on the last seven years of accomplishments and thanking staff, priorities and projects still to come in 2023, and imagining Bloomington in 2030 and the opportunities/challenges ahead.

Since 2016, the Hamilton Administration, in collaboration with City Council and the community, has helped coordinate an unprecedented series of advancements in Bloomington and has been noted or awarded for various city strengths. Visit https://bton.in/8vYDQ for a list of selected accomplishments.

Access Mayor Hamilton's entire State of the City remarks, slide presentation, and a video of the complete program provided by CATS at: https://bton.in/0LY8n

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Each week, Mayor Hamilton, Deputy Mayor Carmichael, and other city employees provide video updates on recent news and key initiatives. Access all of the weekly video updates at bloomington.in.gov/videoupdates.

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Join Mayor Hamilton and Assistant Director for the Arts Holly Warren as they discuss the arts feasibility study released in October 2022 and the progress made since its publication.



Based on extensive public input and analysis, the Study Team made several key recommendations: retain the Waldron Arts Center as a core asset, increase community programming and downtown and neighborhood activation, no new performing arts center, create an arts and culture incubator, and integrate arts and culture into a proposed expanded convention center.



The City of Bloomington, in partnership with Trahan Architects, released recommendations in October 2022 to advance the arts across the city. The 2021 Waldron Recommendation Task Force recommended the study and was part of the Recover Forward initiative to help the community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.



Access the full report and background information at: https://bton.in/GFKcc



A full transcript of today's video is available at https://bton.in/q3YaN. Questions and report feedback can be directed to Holly Warren, Assistant Director for the Arts holly.warren@bloomington.in.gov.

Join Mayor John Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Mary Catherine Carmichael as they discuss new city employee benefits in 2023, including two new pilot programs.

The new pilot programs include six weeks of paid parental leave and paid Commercial Driver’s License training.

In addition to the City’s ongoing benefits program, this year will incorporate significant overall increases in employee wages, benefits, and bonuses, including a new progressive matching retirement program and a new health clinic for employees and their families.

Learn more at: https://bton.in/s1ptA
A transcript of today’s video is available at: https://bton.in/~UCBg

People interested in employment with the City of Bloomington may visit the career portal at bloomington.in.gov/jobs. Don't hesitate to get in touch with hrmail@bloomington.in.gov for more information or with questions.
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Each week, Mayor Hamilton, Deputy Mayor Carmichael, and other city employees provide video updates on recent news and key initiatives. Access all of the weekly video updates at bloomington.in.gov/videoupdates.

In this week's video update, Mayor John Hamilton and Parks and Recreation Director Paula McDevitt discuss the City's employment placement partnership with Centerstone.



First piloted in 2017, the partnership focused on the downtown area, including Seminary Park, Peoples Park, Building Trades Park, and Rev. Ernest D. Butler Park. The partnership now covers four main areas: park maintenance, Switchyard Park, landscaping, and Cascades Golf Course.



The program has been highly successful, and more than 70 Centerstone clients have participated since its beginning. Four past participants have since become City of Bloomington employees in the Parks department. Every participant earns a living wage and training and is provided the necessary tools to be successful.



Tune in next week when Mayor Hamilton and Department of Public Works Director Adam Wason discuss a similar partnership with Centerstone and the Brighten B-town initiative.



Today's video transcript is available online at https://bton.in/5ZGvB. If you have questions about the Parks and Recreation partnership with Centerstone, contact Paula McDevitt at mcdevitp@bloomington.in.gov.



Learn more about Centerstone at centerstone.org.

Join Mayor Hamilton and Bloomington Fire Department (BFD) Community Care Coordinators McKenna Terry and Shelby Wood as they discuss BFD’s new Mobile Integrated Healthcare program. The new program, first piloted in 2022, focuses on providing healthcare services directly to patients on location, continuity of care, and potentially reducing non-emergency calls to 911. In 2023, two more community care coordinator positions will be added.

BFD is the largest and only fully paid fire service provider in Monroe County and, as such, has earned an Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating of 1/1X, placing the department in the top 0.5% of rated departments in the U.S. and the top 0.2% of rated departments in Indiana.

The Bloomington Fire Department serves the community with more than 100 employees, located among five stations, responding to over 5,000 emergencies per year. BFD provides fire suppression, technical rescue, integrated healthcare, and emergency medical response capabilities to City residents and visitors, Indiana University, and surrounding communities through aid agreements. They also provide outreach and education, supporting children, families, and schools in the community.

If you’d like to learn more about this program, contact BFD at 812-332-9763, or email McKenna at mckenna.terry@bloomington.in.gov or Shelby at shelby.wood@bloomington.in.gov. A transcript of today’s video is available at https://bton.in/h!xgy.

In today's video update, Mayor Hamilton discusses the Bicentennial Bonds with Operations and Development Division Director Tim Street for Bloomington Parks and Recreation.

In 2018, the City commemorated its two-hundred-year anniversary with $10 million Bicentennial Bond projects. The bonds have funded projects deepening the city’s commitment to an integrated, sustainable multi-modal transportation system, extending trail connectivity, increasing the tree inventory, animating downtown alleyways, and establishing entryways to the city. Projects included $800,000 to plant trees along streets and in public rights-of-way across the city. Learn more about the tree planting project at https://bton.in/KiZb7.


If you missed a previous video update all of the weekly videos are available at bloomington.in.gov/videoupdates. The transcript of today's video is available at https://bton.in/y_ron.

Join Mayor Hamilton and GigabitNow/Isofusion CEO Stephen Milton as they discuss high-speed internet access to all of Bloomington as part of the Meridiam/Hoosier Network's $50-million-plus fiber-network project.

GigabitNow will deliver fiber-based broadband services to the first residents by the end of January 2023. GigabitNow will offer service of at least 1 Gigabit per second symmetrical speed (equal upload and download) everywhere the Hoosier Network network reaches. The cost-of-service rates with the initial ISP will be competitive locally and regionally.

Eligible low-income residents may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to get a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mbps) plan at reduced or no cost to them. The City and Hoosier Networks will together provide the “drop” connection to qualifying households. Hoosier Networks and the City continue to collaborate on a groundbreaking digital equity program, one of the most innovative broadband public-private collaborations in the country, to help low-income and digitally-disadvantaged households access top-quality internet services.

All residents can learn more and pre-register at no cost or obligation at gigabitnow.com/bloomington. Learn more about the Meridiam/Hoosier Networks project at https://bton.in/QL0n0.

Mayor Hamilton joined Lauren Clemens from the Economic and Sustainable Development Department to provide a video update on the Climate Action Plan.

Assistant Director of Sustainability Lauren Clemens provided the community and members of City Council with an update on October 19 concerning the progress toward achieving community climate and sustainability goals. The presentation covered the state of sustainability and climate action in Bloomington and the City’s ongoing efforts and investments to advance progress on the Sustainability and Climate Action Plans.

The 2022 Climate and Sustainability Progress Report and prior progress reports can be found at: bloomington.in.gov/sustainability.

Tune in as Mayor John Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Don Griffin discuss the 2023 city budget ahead of tonight's City Council meeting and provide updates since last week's meeting.

The transformative $229 million combined city budget for 2023 focuses on key investments in the city workforce and services, climate change preparedness and mitigation, housing, and public safety to improve the quality of life for all residents. Learn more at https://bton.in/u2qaK.

You can also access the full transcript of today's video online at https://bton.in/yuREp

Join Mayor John Hamilton and Meridiam North America CEO Nicolas Rubio as they discuss the upcoming transformational $50-million-plus network bringing high-speed internet access to all of Bloomington.

Hoosier Networks, the fiber network utility provider established by Meridiam, and the City continue to collaborate on a groundbreaking digital equity program, one of the most innovative broadband public-private collaborations in the country, to help low-income and digitally-disadvantaged households access top-quality internet services.

GigabitNow will deliver fiber-based broadband services when construction is completed to the first residents at the end of January 2023. GigabitNow will offer service of at least 1 gigabit per second symmetrical speed (equal upload and download) everywhere the Hoosier Network network reaches. The cost-of-service rates with the initial ISP will be competitive locally and regionally.

Eligible low-income residents may qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Plan (ACP) to get a symmetrical 250 megabits per second (Mbps) plan at reduced or no cost to them. The City and Hoosier Networks will together provide the “drop” connection to qualifying households.

All residents can learn more and pre-register at no cost or obligation at gigabitnow.com/bloomington. Learn more about this project at: https://bton.in/QL0n0

Join Mayor Hamilton and Economic & Sustainable Development Director Alex Crowley as they discuss the first Regional Climate Convening assembled to discuss and address climate change.


The event held on Tuesday, October 4, brought together about 100 critical players from Bartholomew, Brown, and Monroe Counties, from the private, nonprofit, educational, and government sectors. The goal was to address the shared challenge that is climate change and explore preparation, adaptation, and mitigation measures.



Learn more about the event at bloomington.in.gov/news/2022/10/06/5333

Tune in as Mayor John Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Don Griffin discuss the proposed 2023 city budget and provide updates since the August budget hearings. The transformative $229 million combined city budget for 2023 focuses on key investments in the city workforce and services, climate change preparedness and mitigation, housing, and public safety to improve the quality of life for all residents. Learn more about the 2023 City Budget at bloomington.in.gov/budget.

New Emergency Reproductive Health Care Grant Program–
Indiana’s new abortion law SB1 went into effect on September 15. On the same day, Mayor Hamilton called on Bloomington City Council to join in dedicating funds for grants to meet this emergency within our community. The Administration has since proposed to City Council that the City create a $100,000 Emergency Reproductive Health Care Grant Program, to be administered by CFRD to assist organizations helping to meet needs associated with pregnancy and reproductive health. This program will be available in 2022 and is also included in the 2023 proposed budget. Learn more at https://bton.in/yWd9x.

Tune in as Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Griffin discuss Hopewell (the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital site), Bloomington's newest neighborhood.

The current Hopewell Phase 1 East project is the first step towards the redevelopment of the former IU Health Bloomington Hospital site. This phase includes lots bounded by 2nd Street to the north, 1st Street to the south, B-Line to the east, and Rogers Street to the west. The project will create development-ready lots by demolishing existing structures, re-platting the property, installing utilities, constructing streets, landscaping, and bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

The demolition of the warehouse at 635 Rogers Street will be completed this week. Site restoration has been started along 2nd Street and will continue across the site. Material haul off for disposal and recycling will continue this week and in the coming weeks. The next buildings scheduled for demolition are 408 & 416 1st Street.

Learn more about Hopewell at hopewellbloomington.org.

Tune in to today's video as Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Don Griffin discuss the 2023 City Budget Proposal.

Mayor John Hamilton will present a $229 million combined operating budget to the Bloomington City Council this evening with key investments in the city workforce and services, climate change preparedness and mitigation, housing, and public safety to improve the quality of life for all residents. The $229 million budget includes funding for the City of Bloomington, Bloomington Transit, Bloomington Housing Authority, and Utilities, and represents a 29% increase over the combined 2022 budget.


The full budget proposal and this week's presentation schedule are available online at bloomington.in.gov/budget.

Tune in as Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Griffin discuss the Hidden River Pathway Project. This project is a two-year downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project to address flooding during rain events. Utilities and its contractor, Milestone Contractors, LLP have been reconstructing 1,829 feet of culverts, along with some sanitary sewers and water mains to support Bloomington’s vibrant downtown. The contractor is currently completing the new culvert under Grant St between Kirkwood and 4th and into the alley south of Grant.

The culverts that currently carry stormwater beneath Bloomington’s downtown are some of the oldest storm sewers in the city; some masonry arches date to 1900. The new culverts will have twice the capacity of those they are replacing and incorporate best practices in the stormwater industry.

This project is on track to be finished by the February 2023 deadline. For more information about the project visit bloomington.in.gov/utilities/hidden-river.

Join Deputy Mayor Don Griffin and Economic and Sustainable Development Director Alex Crowley as they discuss the launch of GO Bloomington.

The new Go Bloomington website at gobloomington.org includes a software matching program that connects people interested in carpooling or vanpooling. The website provides a layered map that allows users to access Bloomington Transit and Indiana University Campus routes with real-time bus locations. Map layers also show the shortest routes for walking, biking, or where e-bikes and e-scooters are located.

The City of Bloomington is committed to sustainable transportation alternatives such as walking, biking, public transit, carpooling, vanpooling, micro-mobility, and telecommuting. The goal is to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles (SOVs) operating in town, which will decrease carbon emissions, relieve traffic congestion, and improve parking availability.

Learn more about the launch event and GO Bloomington at bloomington.in.gov/news/2022/09/08/5295.

Tune in as Mayor Hamilton and Deputy Mayor Don Griffin as they discuss the recently released mid-year update for the 2022 City Annual City Goals.

In keeping with the Hamilton administration's commitments to transparency and accountability, this update offers the opportunity to monitor each City department's progress toward stated goals. The summary reflects fifteen city departments reporting on nineteen individual components of city functions and their corresponding goals. In total, 564 goals were identified for 2022.

The Annual City Goals Report and previous reports, including the 2021 Year End Report, are available at bloomington.in.gov/citygoals.