WEBVTT 00:00:00.194 --> 00:00:14.497 - Okay, it is 630 and there are enough of us here. So we're gonna call to Order this special session of 00:00:14.497 --> 00:00:29.502 - the Bloomington City Council Will the clerk kindly call the roll Councilmember Sasberg here Piedmont Smith 00:00:30.050 --> 00:00:38.784 - Zulek here. Sorry present Rallo here rough Rosenberger here Thank you. Thank you so much. All right. 00:00:38.784 --> 00:00:47.951 - Well today's a little bit of a different meeting. This is a special session We're just going to introduce 00:00:47.951 --> 00:00:53.918 - sort of officially the budget legislation thereafter and we're gonna 00:00:54.722 --> 00:01:01.438 - assuming that this is what we all want to do. We plan to break into a committee of the whole so we can have 00:01:01.506 --> 00:01:08.875 - Sort of less structured conversation around these appropriation ordinances And so with that though just 00:01:08.875 --> 00:01:16.385 - before we we go on does anybody have any comments? statements anything of the nature Please councilmember 00:01:16.385 --> 00:01:23.470 - Stasberg and then councilmember Rosenberger. Oh do councilmember Rosenberger first. Okay. Thank you 00:01:23.470 --> 00:01:25.950 - councilmember Rosenberger first. I 00:01:26.082 --> 00:01:34.537 - Hi, thank you. I just wanted to let everybody know that This is my last meeting in person until sometime 00:01:34.537 --> 00:01:42.590 - in November I have a medical thingy that I have to do So I'm not off having any fun anywhere, but I 00:01:42.590 --> 00:01:50.884 - will not be here until then There's a chance. I'll be remote on the fifth. But after that It's nothing 00:01:50.884 --> 00:01:54.910 - until November So I'm sorry, but see you all then 00:01:56.610 --> 00:02:04.317 - Thank you so much. I wasn't anticipating being able to announce this so I needed to bring it up in my 00:02:04.317 --> 00:02:11.646 - email. I just wanted to mention something that director Tim Street forwarded to me this morning. 00:02:11.746 --> 00:02:17.908 - That on Monday September 28th, that would be this Monday coming up the park board is having a special 00:02:17.908 --> 00:02:24.130 - meeting at switch yard park to review approaches to their investment priorities in terms of long-range 00:02:24.130 --> 00:02:30.351 - planning and their capital investments And so that meeting starts at 530 and I just wanted to announce 00:02:30.351 --> 00:02:36.392 - that for my colleagues might be interesting for the public It might be interesting. I would love to 00:02:36.392 --> 00:02:41.406 - go and unfortunately, I already have a meeting at 530 that night so I will have to 00:02:42.242 --> 00:02:48.080 - Read about that conversation afterwards, but if you're at all interested in parks or use parks in any 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:53.974 - way Which is a whole lot of us that might be a meeting to go to and to be able to chime in about Where 00:02:53.974 --> 00:02:59.812 - your priorities might lay because they're of course going to talk about some of those big investments 00:02:59.812 --> 00:03:06.107 - that they have to make in terms of pool repairs and ice rink and some of those large pieces of Infrastructure 00:03:06.107 --> 00:03:10.686 - and investment that we have so thanks you so much anybody else before we get to 00:03:10.818 --> 00:03:20.097 - All right. Thank you all so much. I'm so comfortable any motions Yes, I'm sorry. I move that appropriation 00:03:20.097 --> 00:03:29.203 - ordinance twenty twenty six zero two be introduced and river The clerk by title and synopsis only second 00:03:29.203 --> 00:03:37.875 - motion a second will the clerk Oh actually can Yeah, all those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Yay Will 00:03:37.875 --> 00:03:39.870 - the clerk please read? 00:03:39.970 --> 00:03:46.752 - Appropriation ordinance twenty twenty six dash zero two an ordinance for appropriations and tax rates 00:03:46.752 --> 00:03:53.866 - establishing twenty twenty seven civil city budget for the city of Bloomington. The synopsis is as follows 00:03:53.866 --> 00:04:00.647 - an appropriation ordinance adopting the city's annual budget and establishing the necessary tax rates 00:04:00.647 --> 00:04:07.562 - tax levies and appropriations for the city's obligations for the fiscal year ending December 31st 2027. 00:04:07.562 --> 00:04:08.958 - Thank you very much. 00:04:09.762 --> 00:04:18.816 - I move that appropriation ordinance twenty twenty six zero to be Be Introduced at our Referred to refer 00:04:18.816 --> 00:04:27.782 - to I'm sorry committee the whole meeting directly following our special session second motion a second 00:04:27.782 --> 00:04:36.575 - all those in favor Thank you very much anybody opposed What what what appropriation ordinance to the 00:04:36.575 --> 00:04:38.142 - one we just read? 00:04:38.562 --> 00:04:46.556 - 060602 2602 Just referred it to the committee of the whole okay. Yes, just wasn't the same order as 00:04:46.556 --> 00:04:54.870 - I'm looking at All right. Any other motions? I move that Appropriation ordinance twenty twenty six zero 00:04:54.870 --> 00:05:02.944 - three be introduced and read by the clerk by telling synopsis only Second all those in favor say aye 00:05:02.944 --> 00:05:06.142 - Any opposed will the clerk please read? 00:05:07.618 --> 00:05:14.652 - appropriation ordinance twenty twenty six dash zero three and appropriation an ordinance for appropriation 00:05:14.652 --> 00:05:21.488 - and tax rates for the Bloomington Transit Corporation for twenty twenty seven I Move that appropriation 00:05:21.488 --> 00:05:28.391 - ordinance twenty twenty six zero three be referred to our Committee the whole meeting directly following 00:05:28.391 --> 00:05:35.096 - our special session second all those in favor say aye Any opposed? Thank you very much Mr. President, 00:05:35.096 --> 00:05:36.542 - I move that ordinance 00:05:36.706 --> 00:05:46.304 - 2026 25 be introduced and read by the clerk by title and synopsis only Second motion the second all 00:05:46.304 --> 00:05:53.598 - those in favor say aye and the opposed will the clerk please read Ordinance 00:05:53.922 --> 00:05:59.987 - 2026 dash 25 an ordinance fixing the salaries of officers of the police and fire departments for the 00:05:59.987 --> 00:06:06.352 - city of Bloomington, Indiana For the year 2027 the synopsis is as follows This ordinance sets the minimum 00:06:06.352 --> 00:06:12.477 - and maximum salary rates for all sworn fire and police personnel for the year 2027 in accordance with 00:06:12.477 --> 00:06:18.482 - council approved collective bargaining agreements Thank you very much I move that ordinance 2026 25 00:06:18.482 --> 00:06:23.646 - be referred to our committee the whole meeting directly following our special session 00:06:23.810 --> 00:06:30.649 - Second. All those in favor. Aye. Any opposed. Thank you very much. Mr. President I move that ordinance 00:06:30.649 --> 00:06:37.487 - twenty twenty six twenty six be introduced and read by the clerk by telling synopsis only. Second. All 00:06:37.487 --> 00:06:42.334 - those in favor. Aye. Any opposed. All right. Well the clerk please read. 00:06:43.234 --> 00:06:49.449 - Ordinance twenty twenty six dash twenty six an ordinance to fix the salaries of appointed officers non-union 00:06:49.449 --> 00:06:55.265 - and AFSCME employees for all the departments of the city of Bloomington Monroe County Indiana for the 00:06:55.265 --> 00:07:01.308 - year twenty twenty seven synopsis as follows ordinance twenty twenty six dash twenty six sets the maximum 00:07:01.308 --> 00:07:07.523 - twenty twenty seven salary for all appointed officers non-union and AFSCME employees for all the departments 00:07:07.523 --> 00:07:13.054 - of the city of Bloomington Indiana. Thank you so much. Mr. President I move that ordinance 2020. 00:07:13.794 --> 00:07:22.566 - 2026 26 We refer to our committee of the whole meeting directly following your special session second 00:07:22.566 --> 00:07:31.940 - all those in favor Any opposed? So so it happened Anymore I move. Yes that ordinance one more that ordinance 00:07:31.940 --> 00:07:41.142 - 2026 28 Introduced and read by the clerk by tunnels maps. It's only second all those in favor Any opposed? 00:07:41.142 --> 00:07:43.550 - Will the clerk please read? 00:07:44.386 --> 00:07:51.233 - Ordinance 2026 28 in ordinance to fix the salaries of appointed deputies and employees of the Bloomington 00:07:51.233 --> 00:07:57.886 - City Clerk for the city of Bloomington Monroe County Indiana for the year 2027 synopsis is this salary 00:07:57.886 --> 00:08:04.410 - ordinance establishes the 2027 maximum salaries for Bloomington City Clerk employees Mr. President I 00:08:04.410 --> 00:08:11.774 - move that ordinance 2026 28 be referred to our committee the whole meeting directly following our special session 00:08:12.354 --> 00:08:20.818 - Second all those in favor Any opposed Wow, we did it now anybody else have anything you'd like to say 00:08:20.818 --> 00:08:29.365 - before we hand over I mean before we stop this and then become new people in the metamorphosed version 00:08:29.365 --> 00:08:37.912 - of ourselves No, okay. Well in which case adjourned Hi everyone, this is City Council committee of the 00:08:37.912 --> 00:08:40.318 - whole today is Wednesday and 00:08:41.346 --> 00:08:51.192 - September 23rd we are people are confused but I think we all know what we're doing. We're going to do 00:08:51.192 --> 00:09:00.845 - a roll call vote. I mean a roll call just roll call. Will the clerk please do a roll call. You want 00:09:00.845 --> 00:09:09.726 - to do a roll call. OK sorry. Stossberg here. Piedmont Smith here. Zulek here. Sorry. Daily. 00:09:10.306 --> 00:09:19.411 - Oh my goodness I'm so sorry. Rollo here. Ruff here and Rosenberger here. Thank you. I naturally turn 00:09:19.411 --> 00:09:28.696 - off my mic. OK. So today I'll do a quick agenda summation. If you were here 15 minutes ago we're going 00:09:28.696 --> 00:09:36.990 - over the same ordinances. So we've got appropriation ordinance 2602 appropriation ordinance 00:09:37.442 --> 00:09:48.180 - 2603 ordinance 2625 2626 and 2628. So the plan tonight is a pretty typical committee of the whole. We 00:09:48.180 --> 00:09:59.339 - will go through these ordinances here from staff that were invited. If they have any kind of presentation 00:09:59.339 --> 00:10:03.550 - then we will move to council questions. 00:10:08.354 --> 00:10:17.351 - That wasn't the right order for the ordinances but it's okay I think okay and then we'll go to public 00:10:17.351 --> 00:10:26.260 - comment after each ordinance and then back to counsel for any follow-up questions and any discussion 00:10:26.260 --> 00:10:33.758 - I think there's a chance amendments will be brought up for discussion tonight and so 00:10:34.626 --> 00:10:45.176 - We might just bring those and discuss everything as a whole after the presentation. Okay, so we are 00:10:45.176 --> 00:10:55.198 - going to start with appropriation ordinance 2603, an ordinance for appropriation and tax rates 00:10:55.198 --> 00:10:59.102 - for Bloomington Transit Corporation. 00:10:59.554 --> 00:11:07.940 - for 2027. We did ask the general manager to attend. There is a presentation. OK. It looks like we've 00:11:07.940 --> 00:11:16.575 - got the board chair presenting. Thank you for being here. If you could just introduce yourself and take 00:11:16.575 --> 00:11:23.550 - it away. Good evening. My name is James McClary and I'm chairman of the Bloomington 00:11:23.874 --> 00:11:32.110 - Public Transportation Corporation. We had asked Mr. Connell to come and he declined. We have got the 00:11:32.110 --> 00:11:40.345 - person who knows more about the budget than anybody here tonight. Krista Browning is our comptroller 00:11:40.345 --> 00:11:48.825 - as a corporation we operate by committee. We had two committee two board members and two staff members. 00:11:48.825 --> 00:11:53.310 - John Connell and Krista Browning developed the budget. 00:11:53.858 --> 00:12:01.769 - And they brought that to the board twice and unanimous both times approval of the budget. And Krista 00:12:01.769 --> 00:12:09.602 - will go through the budget and explain the different pieces of it the changes that we have and will 00:12:09.602 --> 00:12:17.904 - be available for questions concerning the budget. And so I would ask Krista to please come up and explain 00:12:17.904 --> 00:12:20.254 - the budget to you. Thank you. 00:12:30.722 --> 00:12:37.695 - Okay as they said my name is Krista Browning. I'm the controller at Bloomington Transit and I've been 00:12:37.695 --> 00:12:44.531 - the controller for 22 years. I normally sit in the background. So this is not what I like to do but 00:12:44.531 --> 00:12:51.435 - I am here. It is an honor to present the twenty twenty seven budget to you which is included in your 00:12:51.435 --> 00:12:57.246 - packet for your review. So I will just give a brief summary of the proposed budgets. 00:13:01.986 --> 00:13:09.258 - First I want to thank the city for its partnerships with Bloomington Transit to provide safe and dependable 00:13:09.258 --> 00:13:16.192 - services to all the citizens of Bloomington. Such partnerships and agreements include city inner local 00:13:16.192 --> 00:13:22.993 - agreements where we have IT service and support. And I want to give a big shout out and thank you to 00:13:22.993 --> 00:13:29.860 - cast the heart of the IT department. She is awesome. She comes anytime we call her to help us. And we 00:13:29.860 --> 00:13:31.678 - do really appreciate that. 00:13:31.842 --> 00:13:39.761 - We get legal services and we get liability insurance and risk management. And also I want to thank Gary 00:13:39.761 --> 00:13:47.681 - Connor and his team. They are great at helping us with that. And finally I do want to thank the council 00:13:47.681 --> 00:13:55.448 - for your committing of funds to Bloomington transit. I want to highlight some of the investments that 00:13:55.448 --> 00:14:00.702 - the funds and the partnership has allowed Bloomington transit to do. 00:14:01.602 --> 00:14:10.656 - It has allowed us to do enhanced microtransit operations late night service with microtransit and transit 00:14:10.656 --> 00:14:19.197 - for everyone that gives flexibility to The public and transit options for the riders of Bloomington 00:14:19.197 --> 00:14:28.337 - transits We were also able to expand our Sunday service to eight routes we do fare capping for the writers 00:14:28.337 --> 00:14:31.070 - that ride the bus regularly and 00:14:31.746 --> 00:14:39.683 - half fair subsidy programs and that's programs to nonprofit and social agencies in the community we 00:14:39.683 --> 00:14:47.700 - give them reduced fares for their clients and Then it also allowed us to create two positions within 00:14:47.700 --> 00:14:56.193 - our organization to maximize the ability to get state and federal funding and promote Bloomington services 00:14:56.193 --> 00:14:58.654 - and increase our ridership and 00:15:02.914 --> 00:15:10.055 - Continued operational services funded by the ED lit partnership are included in our proposed 2027 budget 00:15:10.055 --> 00:15:17.060 - such as the Sunday service all the micro transit service the fare capping the staff positions and Then 00:15:17.060 --> 00:15:23.929 - we will also use some for the match for our new transit facility Once again, I'm going to give a big 00:15:23.929 --> 00:15:28.894 - thank you to the city for your partnership and investment in transit and 00:15:34.210 --> 00:15:43.016 - We will move on to the proposed 2027 budget summary. So for class one personnel, we have 9.6 00:15:43.016 --> 00:15:52.579 - million budgeted, class two materials and supplies at 1.5, class three professional services at 3.9, 00:15:52.579 --> 00:16:02.142 - and class four capital at 22.5. To give us a grand total proposed budget for next year of 37 million 00:16:02.946 --> 00:16:11.340 - five hundred eighty nine thousand six hundred and fifty eight dollars The next few slides I'm just gonna 00:16:11.340 --> 00:16:20.134 - go over some details that help develop the budget. So we will start with some expenses class one professional 00:16:20.134 --> 00:16:28.208 - or personnel that's made of wages and benefits the Union the CBA wages are 2% and then the staff and 00:16:28.208 --> 00:16:31.006 - the administration is up to 3% and 00:16:31.490 --> 00:16:38.399 - And then our health insurance is seeing an increase of twenty seven point five. Our health insurance 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:45.444 - continues to be a large cost due to the small insurance group that we have. Class two is for materials 00:16:45.444 --> 00:16:52.284 - and supplies that has seen we'll see an overall decrease net decrease of one hundred and twenty six 00:16:52.284 --> 00:16:59.124 - thousand. The driving factor there for that decrease is fuel with the battery electric buses. We're 00:16:59.124 --> 00:17:00.766 - using less diesel fuel. 00:17:01.346 --> 00:17:07.772 - So and the diesel fuel is decreasing by about hundred seventy seven thousand Class three which 00:17:07.772 --> 00:17:14.535 - is professional service is seeing an increase of four hundred and seventy seven thousand of that is 00:17:14.535 --> 00:17:21.705 - electric cost and that's an increase of three hundred and twenty five thousand that is due to 18 electric 00:17:21.705 --> 00:17:27.454 - buses full-time in our fleet, which is about forty five percent of our fleet now and 00:17:27.554 --> 00:17:37.375 - The net increase change between the diesel and the electric is about 147,000 increase for operations 00:17:37.375 --> 00:17:47.780 - there. We'll move on to the revenue side. We have budgeted property tax revenue at 1.8 and that's governed 00:17:47.780 --> 00:17:57.310 - by the maximum levy growth quotient that is 6% for next year. We have local income tax at 627,000 00:17:57.602 --> 00:18:07.484 - And then we have the ed lip funds budgeted at three point eight in our budget. Passenger fares are budgeted 00:18:07.484 --> 00:18:16.726 - at two point five and advertising revenues at around one hundred thousand. In other revenues we have 00:18:16.726 --> 00:18:26.334 - federal and state funds in twenty twenty seven. We are budgeting seventeen point eight in federal funds. 00:18:26.626 --> 00:18:34.002 - This is 5307 formula funds and then 5339 bus and facility funds. This will be used for capital which 00:18:34.002 --> 00:18:41.378 - we have one battery electric replacement bus support vehicles a new counting software traffic signal 00:18:41.378 --> 00:18:48.681 - prioritization and then your tires and rebuilds and then the first phase of the construction of our 00:18:48.681 --> 00:18:52.478 - new facility which will be the maintenance building 00:18:52.994 --> 00:19:02.577 - bus wash fueling station in the site work and infrastructure and then we also have formula 5307 funds 00:19:02.577 --> 00:19:12.536 - in there at 2.5 and that is for operating assistance and Then we have the state PMTF, which is the public 00:19:12.536 --> 00:19:19.582 - mass transportation fund and that we will get 2.6 million there In closing 00:19:20.002 --> 00:19:29.088 - BT will be facing challenges in 27 and beyond due to funding issues and some unknowns, such as reduced 00:19:29.088 --> 00:19:37.908 - revenues, the SEA-1 tax reform bill, lost ridership, shortage of manpower, fuel and electric costs, 00:19:37.908 --> 00:19:46.729 - just to name a few. But with the passage of this BT 2027 budget, this will position us to transform 00:19:46.729 --> 00:19:48.670 - public transportation 00:19:48.834 --> 00:19:55.347 - in our community and allows to provide improved services for all the citizens of Bloomington and also 00:19:55.347 --> 00:20:02.051 - our employees which by the way they do an awesome job are committed to serving the community and they're 00:20:02.051 --> 00:20:08.692 - continuing to achieve and strive to meet the goals that set out in our transform BT. Thank you for your 00:20:08.692 --> 00:20:15.205 - time and consideration and I'll take any questions on the budget. Thank you so much. I know you don't 00:20:15.205 --> 00:20:18.078 - like being up there but you did a great job. 00:20:18.242 --> 00:20:28.805 - Any questions from my colleagues. Council member sorry and then Rollo. Thank you so much. I am most 00:20:28.805 --> 00:20:39.897 - curious less about this year and more about positioning for the following year because we we have talked 00:20:39.897 --> 00:20:46.974 - both openly within the within council chambers and I think also in 00:20:47.170 --> 00:20:53.822 - public outlets about how this is the last year that we're doing the ED lit at least in the agreement. 00:20:53.822 --> 00:21:00.474 - And so what does happen sort of moving ahead with without the ED lit funds and what type of steps are 00:21:00.474 --> 00:21:07.191 - you taking this year for you know sort of long term stability strengthening etc. If you want to submit 00:21:07.191 --> 00:21:14.430 - your question in writing we would get you an answer for that in detail. That would probably be the best thing. 00:21:19.010 --> 00:21:29.590 - Thank you for your presentation I had a question related to the cost of fuel and well actually the the 00:21:29.590 --> 00:21:40.068 - overall the What used to be a lock-in of price so we feel used to be locked in when it was cheap made 00:21:40.068 --> 00:21:48.286 - sense because you just as you refinance a debt when interest rates are good and 00:21:48.482 --> 00:21:56.261 - You take advantage of low fuel prices and I understand right now. We're subject to fuel price variability. 00:21:56.261 --> 00:22:03.750 - Is that correct? That is correct. Okay, and It's anyone's guess where this is going. Although you must 00:22:03.750 --> 00:22:11.165 - have made an estimate What are you estimating diesel will be with this current budget? Okay, so first 00:22:11.165 --> 00:22:17.854 - IU purchases our fuel for us, so we're kind of set on what they do, but I did budget diesel 00:22:18.050 --> 00:22:25.756 - When we was doing the budget at 450 a gallon and then we did the unleaded at 350 Okay. Well, 00:22:25.756 --> 00:22:34.207 - it's 650 now. Correct. Okay Has IU always purchased our fuel the diesel yes So how was it in the past 00:22:34.207 --> 00:22:42.907 - that we were able to take advantage of locking in a price? They will lock in a contract. They were doing 00:22:42.907 --> 00:22:46.718 - it. So now we're subject to IU not doing that 00:22:47.170 --> 00:22:54.702 - Not not not locking in a price They've tried but you know, it's it's cheaper right now in the spot market. 00:22:54.702 --> 00:23:01.882 - So they're keeping us informed of that Okay, so the opportunity might present itself to to to go back 00:23:01.882 --> 00:23:09.273 - to locking a price provided it falls to a Lower they're checking on it. I mean they keep they're keeping 00:23:09.273 --> 00:23:16.312 - me posted. They're checking on it quite often Yeah, I'm just I'm kind of surprised by this I'm kind 00:23:16.312 --> 00:23:17.086 - of alarmed 00:23:17.538 --> 00:23:24.455 - Because other cities have done it continue doing it. I think that we ought to we really ought to be 00:23:24.455 --> 00:23:31.371 - doing it because Obviously, it gives you great budget Sorry, it gives you great budget stability. I 00:23:31.371 --> 00:23:38.565 - love when we do have a kind of locked in right? Yeah, it does So, okay. Um, perhaps I'll follow up with 00:23:38.565 --> 00:23:45.758 - you a bit more on this But I just wanted to go on the record to say by all means, let's go back to that 00:23:46.594 --> 00:23:56.439 - you know situation for our fiscal it's fiscally prudent to do so. So thank you. Thank you. Do you know 00:23:56.439 --> 00:24:06.188 - on that the twenty twenty seven budget including that federal revenue in the fifty three oh seven and 00:24:06.188 --> 00:24:16.510 - fifty three thirty nine. Have those been for sure awarded to PT like are those sure funds. Yes pretty much. 00:24:16.642 --> 00:24:23.117 - All of it has been OK. Great. And then the second revenue question that I had was whether there was 00:24:23.117 --> 00:24:29.592 - there's been any consideration of raising fares in any way especially to reflect increased fuel and 00:24:29.592 --> 00:24:36.068 - that sort of thing. I don't know if that's something for the board. You can submit it in writing to 00:24:36.068 --> 00:24:42.543 - us if you want. We'll address that. OK. No it's not been considered as it right now. OK. I have one 00:24:42.543 --> 00:24:43.838 - other question but. 00:24:44.354 --> 00:24:51.080 - Go ahead and do it. I guess you mentioned that the health insurance had seen a big increase partly because 00:24:51.080 --> 00:24:57.493 - you're a relatively small pool and I was wondering if there if it was possible to join with like this 00:24:57.493 --> 00:25:03.905 - the city of Bloomington's health insurance to be a larger pool or whether that was not something that 00:25:03.905 --> 00:25:09.374 - was a possibility just in terms of Trying to consolidate Don't know the answer to that 00:25:09.730 --> 00:25:18.950 - You're not sure that I don't know the answer to that. I don't know that just yeah you can write that 00:25:18.950 --> 00:25:27.532 - in writing to us and we will address that but I don't think that's ever been addressed or OK. 00:25:27.532 --> 00:25:36.661 - Thank you. Yes thank you for your presentation. I had a few different questions. Let me get back to 00:25:36.661 --> 00:25:39.582 - the right sheet here. Too many. 00:25:39.746 --> 00:25:49.413 - Windows are open on my computer. Here we go. So first of all on the very basic budget form number four 00:25:49.413 --> 00:25:58.986 - there is that's of course just for your property tax revenues and your levy the status. OK so on that 00:25:58.986 --> 00:26:07.902 - first table the status says you're over the max by forty nine thousand dollars. What does that 00:26:08.162 --> 00:26:17.434 - Mean and is that a problem? I don't think so Jeff. Do you know anything about that? Yeah Ultimately 00:26:17.434 --> 00:26:26.799 - the when the budget is is approved or reviewed by the Department of Local Government Finance It will 00:26:26.799 --> 00:26:35.422 - cut it will reduce you down to the maximum permitted levy sometimes just because of rounding 00:26:35.554 --> 00:26:43.781 - And tax rates you wind up with a little being a little bit above the the maximum levy But ultimately 00:26:43.781 --> 00:26:52.172 - it'll be it'll be cut down to what the maximum permitted is when the budget is actually approved Thank 00:26:52.172 --> 00:27:00.399 - you, so I I guess I'll check and see if the 1.8 million minus that amount is equal to what's in your 00:27:00.399 --> 00:27:04.798 - budget sheets because that Is going to be subtracted? 00:27:05.922 --> 00:27:18.552 - I have a few other ones, let me see here. The salaries. So you have, for your operators, you have a 00:27:18.552 --> 00:27:31.687 - 2% increase. For your administrative staff, okay, for salaries for other operating and for maintenance, 00:27:31.687 --> 00:27:34.718 - you have a 3% decrease. 00:27:35.138 --> 00:27:46.361 - And then for administrative staff you have a 27 percent increase. Why is the administrative staff salary 00:27:46.361 --> 00:27:57.263 - category increasing by such a large amount. If you want to just submit that in writing we'll get with 00:27:57.263 --> 00:28:04.638 - you on that. OK. And let me just see if I have another one. Yeah so. 00:28:04.866 --> 00:28:13.440 - You also have a decrease in your budget for water which and that has just been overstated. So we're 00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:22.357 - just bringing it down or what that should be. Let's just bring it to more water. OK. Water cost is yes. 00:28:22.357 --> 00:28:31.102 - OK. I was surprised because there was an increase in water rates. Let me see if I have anything else. 00:28:36.770 --> 00:28:46.154 - I think that's it. Thank you. Thank you. Go ahead. I just wanted to follow up a little bit because I 00:28:46.154 --> 00:28:55.166 - want to try to wrap my head around this. So just so I can prepare in case we look at a potential 00:28:55.166 --> 00:29:04.550 - appropriation later on in the year for fuel. Do you does Bloomington Transit have reserves that they 00:29:04.550 --> 00:29:05.758 - can draw on. 00:29:06.658 --> 00:29:15.438 - for Say fuel spikes. Okay, and what would that be? What our reserves are? Yeah, our reserves at the 00:29:15.438 --> 00:29:24.481 - end of August was 16 million 16 million Okay So pretty healthy reserves and I I don't know if you know 00:29:24.481 --> 00:29:29.310 - this but I remember asking years ago how much fuel the 00:29:29.474 --> 00:29:36.837 - Bloomington Transit uses and it was something in the order of 300,000 gallons of diesel per year We're 00:29:36.837 --> 00:29:44.415 - budgeting for 120,000 gallons 120 because that's probably a reflection of Electric buses, which is great. 00:29:44.415 --> 00:29:51.564 - Yes. Okay, so that's that was a smart investment So but even if we if we budgeting for 450 a gallon 00:29:51.564 --> 00:29:59.070 - and it goes up it's currently at 650 could get 850 that amount doubles right so we could be looking at a 00:29:59.362 --> 00:30:06.885 - And an additional half a million dollars potentially if it goes up sufficient Will you be covering that 00:30:06.885 --> 00:30:14.336 - in from your reserve total or will you be coming to? Us for a special appropriation. We would probably 00:30:14.336 --> 00:30:21.643 - cover it with our reserves. Yeah, you know we got in trouble. Okay. All right Okay, very good. Thank 00:30:21.643 --> 00:30:24.030 - you Any other questions go ahead 00:30:24.898 --> 00:30:33.141 - This might also be for controller McKim because it's about the exhibit a The formal LG DLGF paperwork, 00:30:33.141 --> 00:30:41.225 - there's these two questions at the end one of them is asking we state our intent to issue debt after 00:30:41.225 --> 00:30:49.308 - December and before January and there's a yes on that one and then in accordance we state our intent 00:30:49.308 --> 00:30:54.590 - to file a shortfall appeal and neither yes nor no are checked and 00:30:54.690 --> 00:31:03.778 - And I guess I'm just wondering about what Debt issuance is being expected and why there isn't a check 00:31:03.778 --> 00:31:12.867 - on a shortfall appeal No, it the issue is that The Department of Local Government Finance has shifted 00:31:12.867 --> 00:31:22.846 - to a new budgeting application this year that we used for the first time called budget 2.0 and it did not allow 00:31:23.074 --> 00:31:29.798 - for the creation of the Form 4 before the public hearing. That's acknowledged that that's an issue. 00:31:29.798 --> 00:31:36.792 - We've talked with our DLGF reps. And so the Form 4s were actually created by Mr. Allen, kind of cobbled 00:31:36.792 --> 00:31:43.516 - together from previous forms. And so that just, I would assume that just slipped in there, but that 00:31:43.516 --> 00:31:50.846 - there was no attention for them to issue debt. But yeah, that's just because they had to be created by hand. 00:31:51.554 --> 00:32:01.114 - Okay so basically these two questions don't necessarily mean anything for BT. No right. So we know when 00:32:01.114 --> 00:32:10.949 - the real when the real form is actually created. All right. So both of those should be knows. Okay thanks. 00:32:10.949 --> 00:32:14.718 - Okay I think let's go to public comment. 00:32:15.490 --> 00:32:23.950 - on this ordinance. So if anyone in chambers or online would like to make a comment this public comment 00:32:23.950 --> 00:32:32.163 - portion of the deliberation on this item will constitute the statutorily required public hearing on 00:32:32.163 --> 00:32:40.705 - the transit budget for twenty twenty seven. No big moves in chambers anything online nothing. OK. Let's 00:32:40.705 --> 00:32:42.430 - come back here. Any. 00:32:42.594 --> 00:32:53.407 - Any comments or additional questions from my colleagues. OK. I think we're ready to consider a do pass 00:32:53.407 --> 00:33:04.430 - recommendation on ordnance appropriation ordinance 26 0 3. I will start to my what. Why are you looking. 00:33:04.430 --> 00:33:12.094 - I just can't remember us doing this last year. So we can or cannot and I 00:33:12.258 --> 00:33:19.068 - talk to some folks who think it will be a good idea to see where people are. So we so can you explain. 00:33:19.068 --> 00:33:25.746 - Yep. Thank you. Okay. So what we're gonna do is a little vote. This is not binding on anything. It's 00:33:25.746 --> 00:33:32.622 - just to give the public and council members an idea of where people where council members stand on each 00:33:32.622 --> 00:33:39.102 - ordinance. So because we are in a committee of the whole this recommendation will then be sent up 00:33:39.202 --> 00:33:46.797 - to counsel at a regular session or a special session. And it's just a piece of information for this 00:33:46.797 --> 00:33:54.771 - point in time. Does that sound good. Everybody. OK. OK. So I will just go ahead. I'm just going to start 00:33:54.771 --> 00:34:02.365 - on my right. I do the roll call usually for. Clerk Golden would you like to. We started calling the 00:34:02.365 --> 00:34:06.846 - roll for you guys but it's really your preference whatever 00:34:07.010 --> 00:34:14.284 - Go ahead. Okay. Yes, I'm sorry. Normally in committee the whole we do it but I would happily have you 00:34:14.284 --> 00:34:21.700 - do it. Great. Okay. Clerk Holden can you please call the roll. I did that to myself didn't I. Yes. Yes. 00:34:21.700 --> 00:34:29.044 - It looks like you wanted to. Okay. Okay. So Council Member Stossberg. Yes. Piedmont Smith. Yes. Zulek. 00:34:29.044 --> 00:34:36.318 - Yes. Rosenberger. Yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Boy I just messed up my own. This is what happens. Rallo. Yes. 00:34:36.994 --> 00:34:46.921 - And ref. Yes. Thank you. OK. So that recommendation will be sent to council 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 0. All righty. 00:34:46.921 --> 00:34:56.942 - Up next we have appropriation ordinance 26 0 2 an ordinance for appropriations and tax rates establishing 00:34:56.942 --> 00:35:06.302 - 20 27 civil city budget for the city of Bloomington. We will do this the same presentation period. 00:35:07.266 --> 00:35:17.126 - questions public comment follow up questions after that. So if controller would like to come on up take 00:35:17.126 --> 00:35:20.350 - it away with whatever you'd like. 00:35:20.866 --> 00:35:27.547 - Thank you very much. Good evening council members As you know this constitutes the formal public hearing 00:35:27.547 --> 00:35:33.973 - for the 2027 budget for the civil city Your packet includes all the state prescribed forms that make 00:35:33.973 --> 00:35:40.590 - up the budget submission and just to kind of Explain what those are form for which we just talked about 00:35:40.590 --> 00:35:47.335 - is actually the budget and tax levy ordinance itself that you'll wind up voting on during budget adoption 00:35:47.335 --> 00:35:48.862 - on or after October 7th 00:35:48.994 --> 00:35:56.638 - Form 3 is the public advertisement of the proposed tax rates and levies. Form 1 is actually the line-by-line 00:35:56.638 --> 00:36:03.791 - budget. Form 2, which is the estimate of miscellaneous revenues. And miscellaneous revenues means any 00:36:03.791 --> 00:36:11.225 - revenues other than property tax. And then finally, the Form 4B, which is an 18-month cash flow statement 00:36:11.225 --> 00:36:18.238 - for each fund, starting from June 30th of this year and going all the way to December 31st of 2027. 00:36:18.338 --> 00:36:24.543 - Line 18, the very last line on the form 4B, is the estimated remaining cash balance. If all the revenues 00:36:24.543 --> 00:36:30.690 - come in as expected, then all of the appropriations are spent. And in practice, this line usually winds 00:36:30.690 --> 00:36:36.659 - up being an underestimate of the amount of cash remaining since all of the appropriations are rarely 00:36:36.659 --> 00:36:42.687 - spent because of position vacancies, unspent capital, and that sort of thing. But it does provide the 00:36:42.687 --> 00:36:46.174 - best proxy we have for the amount of reserves in the fund. 00:36:46.274 --> 00:36:52.335 - I've also included a memo that provided a little background information. What's new about the 2027 budget 00:36:52.335 --> 00:36:58.282 - that we already talked about? During the the budget hearings earlier and then also what's changed since 00:36:58.282 --> 00:37:04.114 - the budget memos that you had received earlier And I'm here along with the deputy mayor the mayor and 00:37:04.114 --> 00:37:10.004 - some of other department heads to answer any questions You might have so thank you very much Thank you 00:37:10.004 --> 00:37:14.750 - so much questions from my colleague. Let's start with councilmember Piedmont Smith 00:37:16.546 --> 00:37:23.586 - Yes I have a very general question for controller McKim. Can you tell us more about the rainy day fund. 00:37:23.586 --> 00:37:30.423 - I mean I don't ever remember actually putting money into it and I've been on this council for almost 00:37:30.423 --> 00:37:37.395 - 15 years. So how did this start and why do we not put money in it. Is there any benefit in like moving 00:37:37.395 --> 00:37:39.358 - money into it. Tell us more. 00:37:40.002 --> 00:37:46.686 - So I would have to look up the last time that you have actually put you as a body has actually put money 00:37:46.686 --> 00:37:53.180 - into it I don't I don't know offhand the answer to that I do know you didn't put in any last year and 00:37:53.180 --> 00:37:59.864 - it sounds like that's gone for quite a while the the revenue that Does go in that fund is just basically 00:37:59.864 --> 00:38:04.830 - bank interest on the money that's already there I will say that it used to be 00:38:05.090 --> 00:38:12.378 - That there was more of a reach. So first of all, the rainy day fund is defined in statute. So it is 00:38:12.378 --> 00:38:19.958 - something that You that municipalities and counties can have In the past there was more of an advantage 00:38:19.958 --> 00:38:27.247 - to having it in the past it used to be when the Department of Local Government Finance used to take 00:38:27.247 --> 00:38:34.462 - a more active role in reviewing the levies that cities and counties requested they would basically 00:38:35.010 --> 00:38:41.569 - look to make sure that you weren't you didn't already have too much money and Nowadays that's and and 00:38:41.569 --> 00:38:48.193 - so the rainy day fund was actually created sort of as a way to have money to Save as a savings account 00:38:48.193 --> 00:38:54.752 - that did not count against you when the Department of Local Government Finance made that decision and 00:38:54.752 --> 00:39:01.118 - reviewed your levies now that whole system is gone the DLGF really doesn't have discretion anymore 00:39:01.218 --> 00:39:09.312 - over your levies. It's just applying the law. The law sets a maximum levy based on a percentage increase 00:39:09.312 --> 00:39:17.252 - each year. And so the DLGF is just ministerial. It just applies the law and cuts your levy. So you can 00:39:17.252 --> 00:39:22.494 - just think of it as another set of reserves. Now a lot of times the 00:39:22.690 --> 00:39:29.918 - requirements the local bodies will make the requirements for using rainy day more stringent than for 00:39:29.918 --> 00:39:36.717 - using other forms of reserves just to make sure that it's not so you might require for example 00:39:36.717 --> 00:39:44.017 - a Supermajority of council members and honestly, I don't know if mr. Allen knows We'd have to look up 00:39:44.017 --> 00:39:51.102 - the statute or the code to see if if you have You have specific requirements. I know in the county 00:39:51.266 --> 00:39:58.400 - We required a super majority for use of the rainy day fund But it doesn't have as much advantage as 00:39:58.400 --> 00:40:05.606 - it did back when it was used to kind of Shield money from being used in your levy decisions, but you 00:40:05.606 --> 00:40:12.883 - could just think of it as as additional reserves and it's not There's no advantage like to have money 00:40:12.883 --> 00:40:20.446 - in there because you can invest it differently and make more money off that money, right? It has the same 00:40:20.578 --> 00:40:30.185 - Investment limits that any of our funds have exactly. Yes. All right, so it's just extra. Okay. 00:40:30.185 --> 00:40:40.292 - Thank you. So I was looking at the major changes in the twenty twenty seven budget paragraph and one 00:40:40.292 --> 00:40:48.798 - of them mentioned a nine percent increase in health and life insurance that will not 00:40:48.994 --> 00:40:56.382 - that none of which will be passed on to employees in 2027. And I think that that's great. But I'm concerned, 00:40:56.382 --> 00:41:03.432 - is that setting up our employees to have a really large increase at some point after that? Because part 00:41:03.432 --> 00:41:10.210 - of us being able to cover that is maybe having the funds to cover that. And if we're kind of facing 00:41:10.210 --> 00:41:16.446 - this financially insecure future, is that setting our employees up for some sort of future? 00:41:16.578 --> 00:41:25.375 - I won't say quite disaster, but I'll say unexpected, extremely high increase. So I don't know if Director 00:41:25.375 --> 00:41:33.756 - Paycheck is on the, I know she was going to be monitoring, and so she might be able to speak to that 00:41:33.756 --> 00:41:43.134 - more generally. I will say as far as this year goes, the actual increase that we're seeing in insurance is 5.8%. 00:41:43.298 --> 00:41:52.863 - So the 9% that's in the budget means that we are able to, as the city, able to use that 9% to absorb 00:41:52.863 --> 00:42:02.334 - the employees portion as well as the employers. So we are essentially covering that and keeping our 00:42:02.434 --> 00:42:10.546 - Reserves level by keeping the the budgeted amount at nine percent, but I don't know if sure I know that 00:42:10.546 --> 00:42:18.502 - that She and and her staff have spent a lot of time thinking about this issue and about insurance So, 00:42:18.502 --> 00:42:26.536 - I don't know if she's available to make a comment Okay, if she comes back then We may want to have her 00:42:26.536 --> 00:42:30.046 - make okay. So just just for clear Okay, yeah 00:42:30.178 --> 00:42:38.746 - Okay, so that and just just for clarity though before director paycheck comes in The actual increase 00:42:38.746 --> 00:42:47.569 - is five point eight percent, but we're still budgeting nine percent in terms of what's Transferred into 00:42:47.569 --> 00:42:56.815 - the health insurance trust. It's so we can absorb that the employees portion as well Okay Director paycheck. 00:42:56.815 --> 00:42:57.918 - Do you wanna 00:42:58.146 --> 00:43:03.970 - Tell us all about your conversation about not having too big of a, were you able to hear my question? 00:43:03.970 --> 00:43:09.736 - No, sharp paycheck, HR director, if you could please repeat the question. Sure. My question was, one 00:43:09.736 --> 00:43:15.731 - of the things in here under major changes was that the city is going to be absorbing the entire increase 00:43:15.731 --> 00:43:19.614 - in health and life insurance for employees, which I think is great. 00:43:19.682 --> 00:43:26.683 - but I just am kind of raising that concern or potential future of having to have a much larger increase 00:43:26.683 --> 00:43:33.751 - in the future that employees might have to cover if we're, you know, because we're having some potential 00:43:33.751 --> 00:43:35.838 - future financially, financial, 00:43:36.322 --> 00:43:42.350 - necessarily insecurity but uncertainty in terms of revenues changing because of state law and so I I 00:43:42.350 --> 00:43:48.377 - guess you know, it's one of those things is it better to have no increase for our employees one year 00:43:48.377 --> 00:43:54.405 - and then a really big one or to have smaller increases as we go along and what kind of Consideration 00:43:54.405 --> 00:44:00.612 - you've given to those different possibilities. Mm-hmm That is a great question. It is honestly a little 00:44:00.612 --> 00:44:02.462 - difficult to answer because we 00:44:02.690 --> 00:44:09.160 - without having certainty of what is to come in the future. I wouldn't want to answer to specifically. 00:44:09.160 --> 00:44:13.918 - I will say that and I can reiterate this based on my budget presentations. 00:44:13.986 --> 00:44:21.496 - Our participation in the AIM Trust has helped us have significantly lower health care premium increases 00:44:21.496 --> 00:44:28.788 - than you would normally find in a market. And so as long as we continue to participate in the trust, 00:44:28.788 --> 00:44:36.298 - then I think we'll be in a good position financially as far as our health care costs. One of the things 00:44:36.298 --> 00:44:43.952 - that we worked very hard on the first two years in the administration is increasing especially civil city 00:44:43.952 --> 00:44:50.897 - Salaries and so I wouldn't want the perception to be and some employees have specifically said this 00:44:50.897 --> 00:44:58.188 - That they got increases in their pay and now that difference is going towards their health care Expenses 00:44:58.188 --> 00:45:05.827 - and so we didn't want to give with one hand and take away with the other hand. So we've had that conversation 00:45:05.827 --> 00:45:09.022 - it has been many years to my understanding of 00:45:09.410 --> 00:45:16.049 - I'd have to go back to check how many years several years since the city employees have experienced 00:45:16.049 --> 00:45:22.954 - any type of increase and so Sure, I do think we should give serious consideration for that, but I think 00:45:22.954 --> 00:45:29.925 - we could look back historically Averages of how much we have increased and then use that number in order 00:45:29.925 --> 00:45:36.830 - to make a modest increase but I do think that it is something that we should consider in the future and 00:45:38.754 --> 00:45:48.965 - Thank you and well, there's something I asked in BT, but I won't follow up on that right now, but Maybe 00:45:48.965 --> 00:45:59.470 - I'll CC you on that later. Thanks. Sure Any other questions Councilmember sorry If possible Just a handful 00:45:59.470 --> 00:46:05.950 - of things I can't really hear you down here this I am so sorry. I 00:46:06.882 --> 00:46:14.940 - The first one in the original proposal the two point five million dollar parking thing was noted as 00:46:14.940 --> 00:46:23.401 - a placeholder but that same figures in the in the budget. Now do we have any more clarity on what that's 00:46:23.401 --> 00:46:28.478 - going to be. I'm going to defer that to Wason here. Thank you. 00:46:29.762 --> 00:46:35.727 - Thank you for the question I don't know if you were able to see I sent a pretty lengthy response to 00:46:35.727 --> 00:46:41.693 - the entire council yesterday about This exact topic kind of outlining where we stood on this So the 00:46:41.693 --> 00:46:47.837 - two point five million dollar placeholder is a it's just that it's a placeholder at this point in time 00:46:47.837 --> 00:46:54.160 - We know we have outdated equipment. We need to replace in our garages that are going to be end-of-service 00:46:54.160 --> 00:46:56.606 - life We know our meters are beyond their 00:46:56.866 --> 00:47:02.416 - current service life lots of decisions to be made on what technologies are used going forward and all 00:47:02.416 --> 00:47:07.912 - of that would work its way through the Transportation Commission and to the council eventually if we 00:47:07.912 --> 00:47:13.680 - brought ordinance updates But we do know we have aging equipment and so that that is what the placeholder 00:47:13.680 --> 00:47:19.175 - is for at this point And and could you talk to me a little bit about? Why why why should we put that 00:47:19.175 --> 00:47:20.318 - money? Sorry, let me 00:47:20.674 --> 00:47:25.837 - Speak louder Why put that money in there now and not come back when it's time when you actually know 00:47:25.837 --> 00:47:31.102 - exactly what we're gonna do What you want to achieve with it, etc? I You know Efficiency at this point 00:47:31.102 --> 00:47:36.469 - in time, you know, we're gonna be moving to the Transportation Commission. The Transportation Commission 00:47:36.469 --> 00:47:38.974 - is going to be taking this up for discussion and 00:47:39.522 --> 00:47:44.548 - The whole Walker parking study next Monday We're not sure of the timing at which point an ordinance 00:47:44.548 --> 00:47:49.625 - update would come to the council for this So again right now, it's a placeholder. This is out of the 00:47:49.625 --> 00:47:54.751 - parking meter fund, which is you know a cash balance fund So, you know, that's really our intent here 00:47:54.751 --> 00:48:00.129 - as I stated in my email yesterday You know our intent is to be fully transparent on any operating systems. 00:48:00.129 --> 00:48:05.407 - We would be moving towards things like that Okay, thank you so much. I have a couple of other questions, 00:48:05.407 --> 00:48:07.166 - but I'll whenever you want me to I 00:48:07.458 --> 00:48:14.609 - I can continue asking I think perhaps for controller McKim the six hundred thousand dollars For the 00:48:14.609 --> 00:48:21.759 - new I know budgeting software is was that also a placeholder. Is that the exact amount? You know, I 00:48:21.759 --> 00:48:29.053 - I wish I'm not sure if director Dietz is on the on the line right now I would say that that is better 00:48:29.053 --> 00:48:35.774 - developed a better developed estimate than a placeholder and of the I think it's nine hundred 00:48:35.970 --> 00:48:44.727 - $43,000 or something like that in the ITS subscriptions and purchasing that $600,000 is just for that 00:48:44.727 --> 00:48:53.483 - software, correct? It's not for a set of other things that have to happen. The $600,000 would be both 00:48:53.483 --> 00:49:02.154 - for the new software, but also the process of upgrading. Okay, fantastic. This may be a question for 00:49:02.154 --> 00:49:05.502 - planning director, but also do we know 00:49:07.106 --> 00:49:16.503 - Actually, I'm okay skipping that question. I'll skip that one, too. Come back to me. I have a couple 00:49:16.503 --> 00:49:25.807 - others, but don't worry about them now. I think we're back. My next question actually builds off of 00:49:25.807 --> 00:49:30.366 - what Councilmember Aralo was asking around fuel. 00:49:30.530 --> 00:49:36.587 - So do we do we have some type of a set way that we made our estimations about the the increase or I 00:49:36.587 --> 00:49:42.766 - mean, yeah, how do we how do we determine? That that's sort of 2.5 million from previous years wasn't 00:49:42.766 --> 00:49:48.823 - enough. Yeah for field. That's another Adam Wayson question and I know that's something that's been 00:49:48.823 --> 00:49:50.398 - keeping them up at night. 00:49:50.626 --> 00:49:59.414 - I'm shaking my crystal ball That's the the reality of it we're simply not sure what we've seen 00:49:59.414 --> 00:50:06.814 - and councilmember all and I had a chance to talk about this a little bit at the 00:50:06.946 --> 00:50:13.855 - subcommittee We're seeing the trend go up You know, we're Really trying to work with all the departments 00:50:13.855 --> 00:50:20.566 - on fuel conservation We're looking at different fuel types that we then we've used in the past to try 00:50:20.566 --> 00:50:27.277 - to lower that cost But right now we are at the whim of the fuel markets. Mm-hmm. Excellent That's one 00:50:27.277 --> 00:50:30.238 - last question and then I'll the question for 00:50:30.818 --> 00:50:38.807 - Controller McKim. So there's quite a few spaces where historically we've overfunded and then underspent. 00:50:38.807 --> 00:50:46.873 - And then there's also, you just mentioned earlier, some elements where we underspend because of vacancies 00:50:46.873 --> 00:50:51.134 - and things like that. What would your thoughts be about 00:50:51.234 --> 00:50:59.076 - About making reductions in those spaces to free up some some cash for other things And similarly, what 00:50:59.076 --> 00:51:07.222 - would your thoughts be about adding like for example, like I don't know a 2% decrease to you know, general 00:51:07.222 --> 00:51:14.835 - fund line one items because of vacancies so just across the board well, I will say that in general, 00:51:14.835 --> 00:51:20.926 - I don't recommend that because we budget what we think we're going to use and I 00:51:21.314 --> 00:51:28.624 - Because in general for most departments if there's extra money in the ones The in the category ones 00:51:28.624 --> 00:51:36.081 - and the personnel it just reverts to the general fund it's not like it's gonna get spent or wasted or 00:51:36.081 --> 00:51:43.684 - anything like that and The worst thing to happen is to wind up being in a situation where we can't make 00:51:43.684 --> 00:51:45.950 - payroll so You know in general 00:51:46.466 --> 00:51:52.240 - We don't know if we're gonna have vacancies or not. It is true over time. There is Jenner. There are 00:51:52.240 --> 00:51:58.129 - generally some vacancies There are some departments like police that have vacancies, but they hope not 00:51:58.129 --> 00:52:03.845 - to and are working very hard not to There are a lot of departments particularly smaller departments 00:52:03.845 --> 00:52:07.390 - that might never have a vacancy at all during during the year 00:52:07.938 --> 00:52:14.336 - So so so that's what that's what the with the personnel line that makes sense with other things you 00:52:14.336 --> 00:52:21.246 - know printing budgets and things of that nature thoughts thoughts on on sort of a bit more exact accounting 00:52:21.246 --> 00:52:22.590 - there. Well, we ask. 00:52:22.978 --> 00:52:28.808 - departments every year to actually look at their usage and to Make their you know to set their their 00:52:28.808 --> 00:52:34.581 - budget request accordingly to what they're actually they actually think they're going to use So for 00:52:34.581 --> 00:52:40.411 - example in the controllers budget, you know, I don't have a long long history with this That's why I 00:52:40.411 --> 00:52:46.299 - I went back through and you know kind of actually made reductions in based on what I actually thought 00:52:46.299 --> 00:52:50.686 - we probably wouldn't spend and so the budget you have for me for example is 00:52:50.818 --> 00:52:57.797 - is pretty much what I'm pretty sure we're going to spend. OK. But you would. So would you agree that 00:52:57.797 --> 00:53:04.914 - if there's something where we traditionally have underspent and we've done that over several years and 00:53:04.914 --> 00:53:11.686 - we're continuing to over budget for it that would be a good a good candidate for reductions. Yes. 00:53:11.686 --> 00:53:17.214 - Thank you. Yes. I have a question about two specific positions so I don't know. 00:53:17.730 --> 00:53:26.141 - I think both department heads are here. But the first is they're both vacant by the way. The first is 00:53:26.141 --> 00:53:34.718 - the transportation demand manager position and that is currently vacant. And I wonder if somebody could 00:53:34.718 --> 00:53:43.294 - speak to the value of that position. What does it actually accomplish for the residents of Bloomington. 00:53:46.946 --> 00:53:54.329 - Everyone Jane Cooper Smith director of economic and sustainable development The transportation demand 00:53:54.329 --> 00:54:01.856 - management position is has been housed in our department since I think 2021 Your question councilmember 00:54:01.856 --> 00:54:09.239 - Piedmont Smith was about the value of that position I think that the potential for value is different 00:54:09.239 --> 00:54:13.726 - than the actual value that was derived from that position and 00:54:14.242 --> 00:54:24.905 - based on the way that TDM was approached. It was approached by lifting up a third party app to try to 00:54:24.905 --> 00:54:35.567 - drive communication and track route making and to provide solutions really for alternative methods of 00:54:35.567 --> 00:54:41.630 - transportation. Did it actually contribute to mode shift? 00:54:42.050 --> 00:54:49.230 - Not clear. We were never able to get the data that we needed out of that program. So that's where it 00:54:49.230 --> 00:54:56.410 - has been. But you know in terms of what it would be capable of doing I think would depend on whoever 00:54:56.410 --> 00:55:03.661 - were occupying occupying that role. But like everything else in this conversation tonight it can't be 00:55:03.661 --> 00:55:07.358 - divorced from the funding context that we're in and 00:55:08.898 --> 00:55:15.076 - I don't know. I feel like I need a line from my bosses, but I'm just reluctant to come out and swing 00:55:15.076 --> 00:55:21.254 - really hard to advocate filling this position when I think we have really talented staff members and 00:55:21.254 --> 00:55:27.738 - planning and transportation with our alternative transportation coordinator and then now our safe streets 00:55:27.738 --> 00:55:33.855 - for all coordinator or manager. They're doing really great work. I think like many things and areas 00:55:33.855 --> 00:55:37.342 - that we work in there's possibility to make improvements 00:55:37.954 --> 00:55:44.892 - without dedicating a complete FTE to the work. So if we were still in the twenty twenty one funding 00:55:44.892 --> 00:55:52.038 - environment I would probably come out very excitedly and say yes let's keep it and reinvent and tackle 00:55:52.038 --> 00:55:59.253 - it. But in this funding climate I just don't think it's the most essential work that the city is doing. 00:55:59.253 --> 00:56:05.566 - Not to say that mode shift is not critically important mode shift is critically important. 00:56:07.106 --> 00:56:14.513 - Just for the benefit of the public. Can you describe what mode shift is and why we want it? Sorry to 00:56:14.513 --> 00:56:21.333 - back the frame up for the public the transportation demand manager position was created from 00:56:21.333 --> 00:56:28.886 - The transportation demand management plan which came out in 2019 and it wanted to reduce Reduce single 00:56:28.886 --> 00:56:35.486 - occupancy vehicle travel and the purpose for doing that according to the 2019 plan was to 00:56:35.746 --> 00:56:42.044 - Reduced parking congestion at that time Bloomington had a pretty different Or leading up to that time 00:56:42.044 --> 00:56:48.712 - Bloomington had a different parking climate. I think and so the goal was Really purely economic development 00:56:48.712 --> 00:56:54.887 - and it actually was less It wasn't related to greenhouse gas reduction, which is really interesting 00:56:54.887 --> 00:57:01.617 - if you go back and read that plan But it does show up of course in the cap as being important for greenhouse 00:57:01.617 --> 00:57:05.630 - gas reduction as well Thank you, yeah, may I ask about the other 00:57:05.890 --> 00:57:18.416 - So the other position is the director of community engagement in the office of the mayor Which has been 00:57:18.416 --> 00:57:30.822 - vacant for a year I believe and I'm wondering what value that position brings to our community So this 00:57:30.822 --> 00:57:35.038 - position was originally created to 00:57:35.170 --> 00:57:50.383 - fill a need really to engage especially marginalized voices and people who don't usually either feel 00:57:50.383 --> 00:57:58.366 - welcomed or get to engage and find some equality in, 00:57:59.202 --> 00:58:11.215 - city life and so we we hired a really talented person into that position and Unfortunately, we're not 00:58:11.215 --> 00:58:23.582 - able to keep her and We would like to fill that position we have been Working on that and we really just 00:58:24.130 --> 00:58:33.806 - We need the right person in that position that can really engage and I think in this time in this moment 00:58:33.806 --> 00:58:43.297 - in our country that position is critically important to our city to get the right person in and ensure 00:58:43.297 --> 00:58:53.342 - that we get those voices to the table. Could the could the position or the duties of the position be done by 00:58:53.474 --> 00:59:03.160 - Anybody else in the office of the mayor you have for example, you have two communications professionals 00:59:03.160 --> 00:59:12.753 - This is part of communication engaging the public communicating with people bringing them to the table 00:59:12.753 --> 00:59:22.718 - Would that be a solution to this? That position has other job duties then then Public communications so no 00:59:23.138 --> 00:59:31.643 - obviously we all try our best to engage with the public and and Get the word out there about what's 00:59:31.643 --> 00:59:40.317 - happening in the city and be responsive to media, etc But this is a different position that is really 00:59:40.317 --> 00:59:49.162 - externally facing as well as engaged with internal departments to ensure that that this work is getting 00:59:49.162 --> 00:59:52.734 - done really well, so All right. Thank you 00:59:56.482 --> 01:00:07.293 - Any other questions You go now or you could go later if you're not ready You can get in there, let's 01:00:07.293 --> 01:00:18.103 - just go ahead and do public comment and is that oh, what do we got? Okay councilmember Rallo I had a 01:00:18.103 --> 01:00:26.238 - question about since Council president's sorry brought the subject up again 01:00:26.530 --> 01:00:34.702 - What I I'd like to know why what what effect do we have we're sort of beholden to Indiana University's 01:00:34.702 --> 01:00:43.032 - Purchasing of fuel it seems to me. It's what's been communicated to me. Is that correct? Well, I believe 01:00:43.032 --> 01:00:51.046 - that was just Bloomington Transit Okay, so we buy fuel separate than then Public works for instance. 01:00:51.046 --> 01:00:55.806 - Yeah has in the street department everything have their own 01:00:55.938 --> 01:01:04.199 - So they are responsible for what I asked before, which is anticipating volatility in the energy markets 01:01:04.199 --> 01:01:12.300 - and then locking in a price. Is that correct? I mean, Public Works purchases their own fuel. They are 01:01:12.300 --> 01:01:19.528 - not the same as Bloomington Transit purchased through Indiana University. So I don't know. 01:01:19.528 --> 01:01:25.406 - Director Wason, do you want to? So we don't derive fuel from that source. 01:01:28.482 --> 01:01:38.875 - Yes, I thought we all shared fuel for some reason. I thought that that was the case. So we buy it separately 01:01:38.875 --> 01:01:49.077 - and both, it seems to me, are now exposed to higher fuel prices because of not anticipating the volatility 01:01:49.077 --> 01:01:57.182 - that other cities anticipated in late February when we had the beginning of the war. 01:01:58.210 --> 01:02:06.769 - So I just want to impart that that's I I think that this is an important thing that just as a preventative 01:02:06.769 --> 01:02:14.768 - that we should be aware of And I will just tell you we do do that for natural gas. So the city does 01:02:14.768 --> 01:02:22.847 - hedge have a natural gas hedge contract and we work with a BP to you know, try to make sure that our 01:02:22.847 --> 01:02:27.166 - natural gas purchases are are stable so I mean that's 01:02:27.618 --> 01:02:34.269 - I understand what you're saying. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Adam Weissman again public works. So, 01:02:34.269 --> 01:02:41.391 - you know, after our last subcommittee meeting you I think had sent an article about Fort Wayne had locked 01:02:41.391 --> 01:02:43.742 - in some pricing earlier this year. 01:02:44.322 --> 01:02:50.260 - That's an anomaly in the market in Indiana and we did we're reaching out to them to see what they had 01:02:50.260 --> 01:02:56.140 - done There is no lock-in pricing obviously available right now But even BT in the last several years 01:02:56.140 --> 01:03:02.252 - hasn't had that lock-in type pricing like we had thought We talked with Krista or not last couple years, 01:03:02.252 --> 01:03:08.365 - but they have not been able to find lock-in pricing either of late so it's it's just something we hadn't 01:03:08.365 --> 01:03:13.022 - been able to find or we hadn't found and the other point here to you know, it's 01:03:13.794 --> 01:03:20.356 - I think we all recognize that fuel prices were going to be volatile this year as soon as the thing the 01:03:20.356 --> 01:03:27.046 - international situation was occurring We we through the Board of Public Works and through our purchasing 01:03:27.046 --> 01:03:33.672 - processes bid out through to all the bulk purchaser or bulk suppliers in the area We only have one that 01:03:33.672 --> 01:03:40.043 - is supplying right now on a regular and consistent basis So it's as much as a market force issue as 01:03:40.043 --> 01:03:42.974 - anything. It's just what I'd like to add Okay 01:03:44.674 --> 01:03:52.866 - Director Wason before you sit sorry you already sat down This came up my colleague Councilmember Piedmont 01:03:52.866 --> 01:04:00.672 - Smith brought it up. Well, we were both talking about it. I assume we have contingency plans in case 01:04:00.672 --> 01:04:07.550 - of Very high fuel spiking or tip or potentially interruption. Is that is that correct? I 01:04:07.714 --> 01:04:14.823 - As we discussed, you know, we would look at what services would be reduced, you know right now we offer 01:04:14.823 --> 01:04:21.658 - sanitation service both trash and recycle every week to every resident in the community contingency 01:04:21.658 --> 01:04:28.493 - plans for true Emergencies here would result in service interruptions or service reductions. Yeah I 01:04:28.493 --> 01:04:35.396 - mean I guess what I'm thinking of is you know either very high prices or even shortages we have some 01:04:35.396 --> 01:04:37.310 - sort of triage that we have 01:04:37.826 --> 01:04:43.348 - Shelf where you know, where does the field go? I assume some of it would go to Absolutely. Yes. Yes, 01:04:43.348 --> 01:04:48.869 - absolutely in terms of emergency management emergency purposes We would be looking at public safety. 01:04:48.869 --> 01:04:54.883 - We would be looking at our utility We would be looking at absolute core basic public services. You prioritize 01:04:54.883 --> 01:05:00.568 - everything else. Do we have additional storage opportunities? No, we are limited by the storage we have 01:05:00.568 --> 01:05:06.910 - underground those utilities by their own they work with through the fleet maintenance division and public works and 01:05:07.330 --> 01:05:20.132 - Okay, so they're united with you. Okay. All right. Thank you Or would you like to go after public comment 01:05:20.132 --> 01:05:30.398 - Yeah, I'll just ask another question about the parking meter fund and I guess so The 01:05:31.650 --> 01:05:39.568 - What I'm looking at is this budget form for be for the parking meter fund that has I believe if I'm 01:05:39.568 --> 01:05:47.485 - understanding this correctly It has line 18 Just under eight hundred thousand dollars and I believe 01:05:47.485 --> 01:05:55.561 - that that's like the December 31st 2027 estimated balance, right? Yes, and so we're going from a 2026 01:05:55.561 --> 01:05:59.678 - estimated balance of almost four and a half million 01:05:59.810 --> 01:06:08.180 - to a 2027 one of less than 800,000 and I guess I'm just I mean part of that has got to be those that 01:06:08.180 --> 01:06:16.799 - that two and a half million dollar capital expense But then I think that there must be some other large 01:06:16.799 --> 01:06:25.500 - expenditures in there, too and I guess I'm I Guess I'm just wondering whether it's a good time to really 01:06:25.500 --> 01:06:28.318 - reduce that fund by that much and 01:06:28.738 --> 01:06:35.828 - or whether we really have any options for that because of part of what we have to do is is You know 01:06:35.828 --> 01:06:42.919 - invest in these capital improvements, but that's just a really big difference to you know It's it's 01:06:42.919 --> 01:06:50.080 - spending a whole lot of savings in some way on this one thing And so I guess I'm wondering if we can 01:06:50.080 --> 01:06:57.950 - hear a little bit more about that Well, let me let me just pull up the actual budget there in the form one and 01:07:01.346 --> 01:07:09.455 - And then like because this the parking meter fund isn't just going to that either like there's some 01:07:09.455 --> 01:07:17.726 - other pieces of things that the parking meter fund is being used for and If we could make sure to lay 01:07:17.726 --> 01:07:24.862 - all those out there too if if you can Yeah, so parking the parking meter fund does have 01:07:25.826 --> 01:07:33.670 - Several different departments that have budgets in it. So yes, of course the parking department does 01:07:33.670 --> 01:07:41.436 - have a Substantial budget in that and that 2.5 million dollars is in there for their capital outlay 01:07:41.436 --> 01:07:49.435 - for the tech refresh, but the street department also has Substantial You know has substantial expenses 01:07:49.435 --> 01:07:51.454 - being paid out of that at 01:07:51.586 --> 01:07:59.969 - of that department or out of that fund I think as you know We struggle to keep up with Street Department 01:07:59.969 --> 01:08:08.511 - expenses. I mean fuel but also just rising labor costs everything it just the the costs of running Streets 01:08:08.511 --> 01:08:16.574 - Department outstrips the gas tax and the excise tax that are kind of the traditional ways of funding 01:08:16.866 --> 01:08:23.544 - Functions so, you know, I think as you know, we're now putting property tax into funding Street department 01:08:23.544 --> 01:08:29.973 - through MVH now I think you started you did that for the first time last year and we've continued that 01:08:29.973 --> 01:08:36.464 - this year and the parking meter fund Provides another simply another funding source for providing these 01:08:36.464 --> 01:08:42.705 - kind of necessary expenses So is there just more of that going into streets than this year? I guess 01:08:42.705 --> 01:08:43.454 - I'm just it 01:08:44.386 --> 01:08:52.868 - It's hard to tell from this data alone. For example, like and and since we don't necessarily do budgets 01:08:52.868 --> 01:09:01.023 - by fund in that way when we see the presentation, it just kind of feels like more is expected to be 01:09:01.023 --> 01:09:09.342 - spent out of the parking meter fund in 2027 than 2026. And I'm wondering where those differences are. 01:09:11.714 --> 01:09:18.292 - Besides just I guess the two and a half million because I feel like it's more than just the two and 01:09:18.292 --> 01:09:25.133 - a half million Yeah, I mean clearly the streets The street department clearly does have a higher budget 01:09:25.133 --> 01:09:31.843 - in the parking meter fund It'll take me a few minutes to kind of calculate exactly what that is Okay, 01:09:31.843 --> 01:09:38.421 - if you want to email that to me too, like that's fine. I'm just kind of curious I guess in terms of 01:09:38.421 --> 01:09:39.934 - Just understanding and 01:09:41.090 --> 01:09:47.546 - wanting to kind of cautiously move forward when we think about you know what we use that fund for and 01:09:47.546 --> 01:09:53.939 - Suddenly not having the kind of cushion in that fund that we often have it is a substantial drop You 01:09:53.939 --> 01:10:00.395 - know on the other hand one might say that it had been allowed to build up maybe higher than it should 01:10:00.395 --> 01:10:07.294 - have been when that money should be used to actually fix the streets and and upgrade the parking meters, but 01:10:08.546 --> 01:10:15.703 - I would agree with that in theory but without actually knowing what it's being spent on for sure. You 01:10:15.703 --> 01:10:22.790 - know since it's a difference in past years I think it's important to know what exactly is happening. 01:10:22.790 --> 01:10:30.087 - Thank you. Any questions up here. Let's council member sorry and after this we will do a public comment 01:10:30.087 --> 01:10:32.894 - and then come back. Go ahead. Go ahead. 01:10:34.466 --> 01:10:43.523 - Good question for director Cooper Smith if you're still here Just a quick question about the the three 01:10:43.523 --> 01:10:52.316 - hundred and seventy thousand two hundred and eight For the arts program. Is that is that the 1% for 01:10:52.316 --> 01:10:59.966 - the arts or is that some other art grant? Could you say the fun? I think it's fun 9513 01:11:01.250 --> 01:11:08.003 - Can you state the dollar amount is like three hundred and seventy thousand two hundred and eight. Thanks. 01:11:08.003 --> 01:11:14.628 - That's our full city funded arts budget. It is separate from the one percent for the arts. And actually 01:11:14.628 --> 01:11:16.030 - we hope to be coming. 01:11:16.674 --> 01:11:23.327 - Back to you all to talk about creating a 1% fund But to date the 1% program has been immediately activated 01:11:23.327 --> 01:11:29.669 - with each capital project So it's not a fund that has been paid and got it. Okay, so so so so when so 01:11:29.669 --> 01:11:35.949 - for example with the Convention Center They put 1% towards arts at the Convention Center rather than 01:11:35.949 --> 01:11:41.918 - enough fund for got it exactly excellent that was that was but so the 370 is just money that we 01:11:42.178 --> 01:11:48.576 - What is that? It does a range of things and our assistant director for the arts page sharp is here who 01:11:48.576 --> 01:11:55.348 - can help answer questions, too But it supports grant making that goes to local artists Within the ecosystem. 01:11:55.348 --> 01:12:01.808 - We have three primary grant making programs arts projects. So arts that is happening in the communities 01:12:01.808 --> 01:12:08.020 - people are making stuff artistic advancement, which is sort of professional development for artists 01:12:08.020 --> 01:12:09.822 - and then arts operations and 01:12:09.954 --> 01:12:16.421 - Which I believe just go to nonprofits Nonprofit arts organization, so there are three different calls 01:12:16.421 --> 01:12:23.078 - throughout so that represents a large part of it We have a small amount and frankly not enough earmarked 01:12:23.078 --> 01:12:29.735 - for public art repair and maintenance. We've kind of realized over the last year that We've done a great 01:12:29.735 --> 01:12:36.075 - job of installing new public art and now we have to make sure that our repair and maintenance keeps 01:12:36.075 --> 01:12:37.470 - up with that and then 01:12:37.602 --> 01:12:44.093 - Other funding is directly to Constellation stage and screen there's a line in there for that. Yes, and 01:12:44.093 --> 01:12:50.521 - then some funding so there's arts funding that's triaged in a couple different ways but Constellation 01:12:50.521 --> 01:12:56.949 - gets funding from the city budget and from the BVA the buzz Kirk Chambly gets funding from the RDC so 01:12:56.949 --> 01:13:03.377 - it doesn't come from the general fund it comes from the RDC instead I believe in parks and then Paige 01:13:03.377 --> 01:13:06.654 - could you tell me what are the other major buckets? 01:13:08.546 --> 01:13:17.657 - Missing we have a small public Yeah, we have a small public art fund directly also, thank you I had 01:13:17.657 --> 01:13:26.951 - thought but I can do the math Okay Okay, let's move to public comment. So if anyone in chambers would 01:13:26.951 --> 01:13:34.878 - like to comment on Appropriation ordinance 2602 feel free to come up to the podium and 01:13:34.978 --> 01:13:44.751 - Anyone online. We do. OK. Well let's go online now. Oh I did want to also do my note. The public comment 01:13:44.751 --> 01:13:54.059 - portion of the deliberation on this item will constitute the statutorily required public hearing on 01:13:54.059 --> 01:14:02.622 - the civil city budget for 2027. You hear me. Yes. Is the clock starting. Anyway Kevin Keel. 01:14:02.754 --> 01:14:08.832 - I started reviewing this budget with a very simple question. How do I know whether the money taxpayers 01:14:08.832 --> 01:14:14.850 - are being asked to provide matches what the city actually needs to accomplish these critical services 01:14:14.850 --> 01:14:20.810 - the taxpayers expect? That question took me somewhere I didn't expect. I started following one fund, 01:14:20.810 --> 01:14:26.770 - the Public Safety LIT, which I knew nothing about at the start. But it was pointed out by the budget 01:14:26.770 --> 01:14:30.782 - materials as a high-risk area with canceled meetings and red flags. 01:14:31.298 --> 01:14:37.410 - Part of the tax supports the central dispatch center. The people who answer our 911 calls and connect 01:14:37.410 --> 01:14:43.521 - us to someone who help us in emergencies, police, fire, or medical help. This is a crucial service to 01:14:43.521 --> 01:14:49.573 - the community. So I asked an even simpler question. So how much money does the dispatch have at $12, 01:14:49.573 --> 01:14:55.565 - $31, $25? What is the fund balance? I thought that answer would be easy. It wasn't. I was forced to 01:14:55.565 --> 01:14:57.662 - follow one number, $2.481 million. 01:14:58.434 --> 01:15:06.551 - This itself was essentially an historical net cash calculation at 1231.24 that needed to be transferred 01:15:06.551 --> 01:15:14.667 - by ordinance to a new fund, the PSAP lit that should have been established in 2017. Then I learned only 01:15:14.667 --> 01:15:22.706 - 1 million was transferred to the new PSAP fund in 2025. Another 1.481 million wasn't transferred until 01:15:22.706 --> 01:15:26.686 - April of 2026. Why the split? I really don't know. 01:15:27.138 --> 01:15:34.535 - I also found out the Monroe County auditor is holding city PSAP funds, estimated to be around 3.2 million. 01:15:34.535 --> 01:15:41.793 - Maybe, well, all we have to do is ask. It seems the city has a right to it. So what is the fund balance? 01:15:41.793 --> 01:15:48.845 - What do we actually need? I found out that the central dispatch has a long, long tradition of unspent 01:15:48.845 --> 01:15:53.822 - payroll, which is a separate issue. What did we actually spend in 2025? 01:15:54.050 --> 01:16:00.439 - No, we still don't have audited financials for 2025. They're just not available. And that is where my 01:16:00.439 --> 01:16:07.078 - concern became bigger than PSAP. Tonight's council is considering the entire city budget. A budget should 01:16:07.078 --> 01:16:13.404 - be more than the collection of appropriations. It should tell a story. Here is where we are. Here is 01:16:13.404 --> 01:16:19.792 - where we want to go. Here is what it will cost. And here is how we will measure whether we got there. 01:16:19.792 --> 01:16:23.550 - Right now, I'm struggling to see and understand that story. 01:16:23.874 --> 01:16:29.902 - If it takes this much work, I really cut out a lot of what I found out about PSAP. I did not mention 01:16:29.902 --> 01:16:35.990 - the interlocal agreement. Boy, all the work that went in to understand this one special revenue fund, 01:16:35.990 --> 01:16:42.018 - this restricted fund, a very crucial service, how is an ordinary taxpayer supposed to understand the 01:16:42.018 --> 01:16:48.046 - financial position and priorities of the entire city? First, I'm not asking the council to accept my 01:16:48.046 --> 01:16:51.806 - conclusions about PSAP. Not all the evidence is available yet. 01:16:51.970 --> 01:16:58.030 - The increase in the rate is still to come. I'm asking for something larger. Give the public the financial 01:16:58.030 --> 01:17:03.861 - story we can follow. What do we have? What do we owe? What are we trying to accomplish? How much will 01:17:03.861 --> 01:17:09.920 - it cost? Thank you so much. And how will we know whether it worked? This bridge of accounting, budgeting, 01:17:09.920 --> 01:17:15.808 - strategy, and public trust. Thank you, Mr. Keyoff. That's the end for now. But we can come back to you 01:17:15.808 --> 01:17:21.182 - during the next ordinance. Thank you so much for that comment. Do we have anyone else online? 01:17:21.922 --> 01:17:36.002 - Okay, let's do it. Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes. My name is Eric OST and I want to echo Mr. Kiyo's 01:17:36.002 --> 01:17:46.462 - request. I've been attempting to follow the fund balances using the financial 01:17:47.522 --> 01:17:55.835 - transparency portal for the city of Bloomington and what I discovered is that the expenditures actually 01:17:55.835 --> 01:18:04.309 - are published in a split warrant form. So you might have a payment that is spread across different funds, 01:18:04.309 --> 01:18:12.542 - but there's no fractional accounting for how those funds are debited. So it makes it nearly impossible 01:18:12.674 --> 01:18:21.295 - to track fund balances throughout the year. So I would request that additional information be put into 01:18:21.295 --> 01:18:29.664 - the transparency portal to allow that. I also would request that that individual council members, I 01:18:29.664 --> 01:18:38.787 - know this is an enormous task. It's difficult for members of the public to follow, especially when documents 01:18:38.787 --> 01:18:42.302 - are provided the same day of the meeting. 01:18:42.818 --> 01:18:50.224 - But to understand themselves, look into some of the questions that Mr. Keough asked so that you don't 01:18:50.224 --> 01:18:57.558 - simply trust, although I do consider the staff of the city to be trustworthy and to be doing as good 01:18:57.558 --> 01:19:04.819 - a job as they possibly can. But I think that there needs to be much like independent members of the 01:19:04.819 --> 01:19:12.734 - public. I think that the members of the council need to have a firm grasp and verify what you're being told. 01:19:12.866 --> 01:19:23.407 - And I appreciate all the questions that have been asked in regards to budgeting and durability. So thank 01:19:23.407 --> 01:19:33.948 - you and good luck. Thank you. Anyone else online. No one here in chambers. So let's come back to council 01:19:33.948 --> 01:19:40.574 - here. We can ask more a ask more questions be make some comments. 01:19:41.154 --> 01:19:49.522 - Talk about any amendments any intent to introduce amendments if you would like this is our casual with 01:19:49.522 --> 01:19:58.052 - the sea committee of the whole so if anyone wants to Nothing okay, that's okay. Oh here we go. I'm sorry 01:19:58.052 --> 01:20:06.257 - I feel like I look away and then someone raises their hand Councilmember Stossberg, I wasn't sure if 01:20:06.257 --> 01:20:09.182 - you were done talking. Um, I have a 01:20:09.506 --> 01:20:16.781 - three things that I'm interested in pursuing in some way. One has to do with the housing development 01:20:16.781 --> 01:20:24.200 - fund which I didn't ask about in this venue but I did ask in the original budget hearings and followed 01:20:24.200 --> 01:20:30.755 - up with some written questions. I'm really uncomfortable with allocating two thirds of our 01:20:30.755 --> 01:20:36.734 - housing development fund in a single budget year and somewhere and I can't I can't 01:20:37.314 --> 01:20:42.206 - Find it when I look for it this afternoon. I saw the list of of 01:20:42.338 --> 01:20:47.415 - grant requests that had been made and several of them are very large projects. And I'm also 01:20:47.415 --> 01:20:53.320 - very uncomfortable with city funds being awarded to really large projects without additional transparency. 01:20:53.320 --> 01:20:59.115 - So it makes me really uncomfortable to just kind of hand over that $3 million with no future expectation 01:20:59.115 --> 01:21:04.688 - of any kind of public hearing about how that's allocated. And one of the things a few years ago when 01:21:04.688 --> 01:21:10.262 - I first joined and I was looking into that fund, I discovered that housing development fund had been 01:21:10.262 --> 01:21:12.304 - used to supplement some of our large 01:21:12.304 --> 01:21:19.138 - Multi-family dwelling units and maybe that's okay, but it did not feel Transparent and it took some 01:21:19.138 --> 01:21:26.313 - hunting even by the current staff figure out how that had been spent. So I'm I'm not necessarily opposed 01:21:26.313 --> 01:21:33.421 - to spending that that fund money on the projects that need to be done But I think that there just needs 01:21:33.421 --> 01:21:40.255 - to be a much more transparent process with that And so I'm not interested in allocating that entire 01:21:40.255 --> 01:21:41.758 - amount upfront second 01:21:41.858 --> 01:21:49.344 - Similarly, maybe with the parking meter fund and that that capital investment, especially after like 01:21:49.344 --> 01:21:54.014 - I appreciate director Wason's messaging that he sent about the 01:21:54.114 --> 01:22:00.576 - license plate readers and that technology But there's a lot of community concern about that and similarly 01:22:00.576 --> 01:22:06.916 - since it is such a large Dollar amount and a large project. I think that it would benefit the community 01:22:06.916 --> 01:22:13.317 - to have greater transparency Over that in terms of an individual allocation next year instead of putting 01:22:13.317 --> 01:22:16.670 - that all up front and then the last the last thing I I 01:22:16.866 --> 01:22:24.799 - Think of right the second has to do with sanitation fund transfer at the fiscal committee meeting last 01:22:24.799 --> 01:22:32.577 - Week, I think it really was just a few days ago last Friday Sanitation gave us a wonderful memo with 01:22:32.577 --> 01:22:40.355 - some projections and the four of us who were there thought that it was a really good plan and it did 01:22:40.355 --> 01:22:42.974 - include decreasing the sanitation 01:22:43.330 --> 01:22:50.440 - Subsidy for next year and I would be in favor of doing that and then if we don't as a body end up Increasing 01:22:50.440 --> 01:22:57.354 - those funds or the the fees associated with sanitation Then we could always have an additional allocation 01:22:57.354 --> 01:23:04.072 - request next year to make up for that But those are the three things that are kind of on my mind right 01:23:04.072 --> 01:23:10.725 - now with things that have to change in this budget Thank you Comments on that comment Comments on the 01:23:10.725 --> 01:23:12.030 - comment sure agreed 01:23:12.962 --> 01:23:20.721 - OK. And any other comments you want to add? Mine's maybe a little bit longer. So I'll do it as quickly 01:23:20.721 --> 01:23:28.405 - as possible. Happy then to dive into these things more. I've been working on a bunch of amendments to 01:23:28.405 --> 01:23:36.164 - both this and then with the salary ordinance as well. But the salary ordinance ones are not ready. But 01:23:36.164 --> 01:23:39.102 - that I'll share around hopefully soon. 01:23:39.234 --> 01:23:45.297 - Just making sure that they're appropriate with our legal counsel But I'd love at this time to talk just 01:23:45.297 --> 01:23:51.651 - a little bit it's sort of high levels the way that Councilman Stasberg just did the first one very similarly 01:23:51.651 --> 01:23:57.538 - to what Councilmember Stasberg just said I agree with the view on the on the 2.5 million for parking 01:23:57.538 --> 01:23:58.238 - capital and 01:23:58.306 --> 01:24:03.483 - I think that we should when we're ready to do it identify the clear project cost estimates procurement 01:24:03.483 --> 01:24:08.810 - plan all those type of things and that we shouldn't appropriate an indefinite sort of capital placeholder 01:24:08.810 --> 01:24:13.937 - especially that large I've shared with you with you all because I said it at the council meeting when 01:24:13.937 --> 01:24:14.590 - we heard it. 01:24:14.658 --> 01:24:21.055 - the Second Amendment deals with that ERP technology, sorry, that Second Amendment deals with the ERP 01:24:21.055 --> 01:24:26.944 - technology that's, throughout the budget proposal, suggested as some magic way for us to get 01:24:26.944 --> 01:24:33.468 - to outcomes-based budgeting, but I think fairly clearly we're not, we don't have a genuine commitment, 01:24:33.468 --> 01:24:39.801 - or like, we're gonna need more than just buying some technology to do that, and so, and that's also 01:24:39.801 --> 01:24:42.334 - a very large purchase, $600,000 that I, 01:24:42.402 --> 01:24:48.680 - I'm gonna propose that we that we cut from the budget One of the other thing that you mentioned I think 01:24:48.680 --> 01:24:54.476 - the the hand housing, you know, it's three million dollars I'm putting there I would be I would 01:24:54.476 --> 01:25:00.573 - be comfortable holding holding that back so that we have a discussion I think that there's a broader 01:25:00.573 --> 01:25:06.730 - discussion that should be had again not not to You know make things difficult or anything of the sort 01:25:06.730 --> 01:25:07.998 - just rather about us 01:25:08.130 --> 01:25:15.604 - Co-creating what the strategy is for doing this so that we all sort of agree on how we want to deploy 01:25:15.604 --> 01:25:23.151 - those funds moving forward I Have I also think this is something that came up multiple times both last 01:25:23.151 --> 01:25:30.479 - year and now about Doing studies that we then aren't going to implement I think that we are doing a 01:25:30.479 --> 01:25:36.414 - lot of studies that then we have done historically a lot of studies that then we 01:25:36.706 --> 01:25:42.324 - You know, they sit on the shelf and by the time we're ready to implement them, they're not relevant 01:25:42.324 --> 01:25:48.222 - anymore. Planning had $490,000 of studies without identifying the decision that each will support, who's 01:25:48.222 --> 01:25:54.289 - gonna implement the recommendations, how those implementations will be funded, and so I don't particularly, 01:25:54.289 --> 01:25:59.907 - I'm not very interested in funding things that, you know, that we're just gonna plan to do and then 01:25:59.907 --> 01:26:00.862 - not actually do. 01:26:01.474 --> 01:26:07.318 - I have some thoughts as well, and thank you, Director Coopersmith, on the point about the 1% for the 01:26:07.318 --> 01:26:13.508 - arts. I really think that I love the idea of bringing that into a broader fund, and I think that similarly 01:26:13.508 --> 01:26:19.410 - to the conversations about parking, hand, all those things, I think that we should withhold the money 01:26:19.410 --> 01:26:25.369 - for arts programming until we actually can think about that holistically. So we stop doing things sort 01:26:25.369 --> 01:26:30.750 - of little here and little there, but can we think about a broader, bolder way of doing that? 01:26:30.946 --> 01:26:38.577 - I have an amendment on historical unsupported spending, or historical overspending, which the controller 01:26:38.577 --> 01:26:46.209 - confirmed would be a good thing to do if we indeed found it, so that I think could be up for discussion. 01:26:46.209 --> 01:26:53.549 - I also am proposing that instead of doing three parks guides that we do two, we spend a lot of money 01:26:53.549 --> 01:26:58.782 - printing guides for parks, and so I'm suggesting that we decrease that. 01:26:58.978 --> 01:27:05.674 - I also am suggesting, because there are austere times where we're supposed to be doing less with less, 01:27:05.674 --> 01:27:11.134 - I'm suggesting that we cut back on city travel that's not required. So I put a 25%. 01:27:11.266 --> 01:27:17.455 - Decrease in travel across Across the city. I had a amendment but based on the answers here today exactly 01:27:17.455 --> 01:27:23.349 - thought that was just a mistake with the health insurance thing But I think it makes a lot of sense 01:27:23.349 --> 01:27:29.420 - to do that But I think that then if we're going to cover the health insurance we may think about maybe 01:27:29.420 --> 01:27:31.070 - reducing cola from 2.7 to 2 01:27:31.138 --> 01:27:38.150 - Minor thing saves about similar increase from we see in the health insurance on the cola things Then 01:27:38.150 --> 01:27:45.162 - I have a bunch of amendments that are related to reduction in in positions I think the vast majority 01:27:45.162 --> 01:27:52.104 - of open positions many of those that I'm counselor Piedmont Smith brought up I think that we should 01:27:52.104 --> 01:27:59.116 - be discussing those and so I don't think that in in the times that were that we're in that we should 01:27:59.116 --> 01:28:00.574 - be Sort of, you know 01:28:00.898 --> 01:28:07.666 - Having positions that when I asked about them I don't think that the answers gave any type of real outcomes 01:28:07.666 --> 01:28:13.118 - associated with those positions and then I have another amendment associated with just 01:28:13.218 --> 01:28:20.550 - other general reorganizations of staffing and positions as well that I think are more so for discussion 01:28:20.550 --> 01:28:27.742 - than necessarily sort of targeting any particular position, but just thinking very clearly about what 01:28:27.742 --> 01:28:32.254 - are the outcomes that we're trying to achieve with these roles. 01:28:32.386 --> 01:28:38.080 - All of the things that I'm going to be suggesting is about seven million dollars and cuts across across 01:28:38.080 --> 01:28:43.774 - the budget About four or three million of that from the general fund So I'm happy to actually introduce 01:28:43.774 --> 01:28:49.414 - the amendments at some point We'll send them around in writing after this meeting hopefully in a denda 01:28:49.414 --> 01:28:55.710 - But yeah, I think there's I think there's a lot of things that we can that we can reduce in this budget. Thank you 01:28:56.674 --> 01:29:04.177 - Thank you. Does anyone have comments on council member Asari's or questions just because we're here 01:29:04.177 --> 01:29:12.056 - in this space and we can all talk together. I think it is good to ask questions if we have them. Council 01:29:12.056 --> 01:29:19.559 - member Piedmont Smith. I really am interested in hearing more about the rationale for these cuts. I 01:29:19.559 --> 01:29:26.462 - think council member Asari you know only had five minutes so he was kind of rushing through 01:29:26.562 --> 01:29:34.198 - So I'd appreciate you know having more information whether that's in our packet for the next meeting 01:29:34.198 --> 01:29:42.287 - or We have a work session or something, but that was a lot to absorb and I think it's It's a new approach. 01:29:42.287 --> 01:29:50.376 - It's kind of stepping back if I'm interpreting this correctly Stepping back for making funding commitments 01:29:50.376 --> 01:29:53.022 - until we've had more conversations 01:29:53.186 --> 01:29:59.720 - Which is fine, but I want to be understand how those conversations are going to happen Who's going to 01:29:59.720 --> 01:30:06.318 - do the work who's going to be at the table and that kind of stuff? Do I is this my five minutes should 01:30:06.318 --> 01:30:12.853 - I give my own so the rules for committee of the whole typically are you have five minutes per council 01:30:12.853 --> 01:30:19.259 - member after Public comment and we can keep that or we could not keep that. I mean, I'm fine I have 01:30:19.259 --> 01:30:22.846 - like one or two minutes of my own. Okay stuff. Okay, so 01:30:23.010 --> 01:30:32.585 - And some of it was already I already indicated in my questions. I think the transportation demand management 01:30:32.585 --> 01:30:41.546 - position Should be cut Frankly, I would encourage the administration and this may result from some of 01:30:41.546 --> 01:30:50.418 - the the conversations that we can have in the coming months to repurpose the money for that position 01:30:50.418 --> 01:30:52.702 - to Add a position instead 01:30:52.834 --> 01:31:01.115 - more directly tied to the goals in our climate action plan especially focusing on food security and 01:31:01.115 --> 01:31:09.479 - trying to get more consumers and purchasers of food to use local and regional sourcing. I think that 01:31:09.479 --> 01:31:18.257 - you know Councilmember Rallo has brought that up and we had an extensive memo from a member of the public 01:31:18.257 --> 01:31:22.398 - about it. I think that and just seeing I'm on the 01:31:22.562 --> 01:31:29.915 - the city's internal climate action team and just seeing how many points in the climate action plan we 01:31:29.915 --> 01:31:37.484 - just can't get to because we don't have enough bandwidth for it. I know the climate action plan is being 01:31:37.484 --> 01:31:44.982 - reviewed and that that will help us to really focus on the biggest bang for the buck. But I think we'll 01:31:44.982 --> 01:31:51.902 - definitely need another staff member in that arena. And it is an existentially important arena. 01:31:52.098 --> 01:31:59.181 - to have staff again. So I would encourage I can't you know I can't say change this position to this 01:31:59.181 --> 01:32:06.476 - position. We don't have the power to do that. So I would cut the position now but encourage the SD and 01:32:06.476 --> 01:32:13.912 - the major administration to bring forward a new position instead with the tax rates that we're approving 01:32:13.912 --> 01:32:21.278 - that would that money would be there. The director of public engagement. I guess I'm not convinced that 01:32:21.986 --> 01:32:31.267 - I am I agree with the the goals of that position But I'm not convinced that it couldn't be done with 01:32:31.267 --> 01:32:40.731 - existing staff or at least not it Aside from the individuals who are in those staff positions, I think 01:32:40.731 --> 01:32:51.390 - the number of staff in the mayor's office could take that on and the Ten thousand dollars for implementing branding 01:32:51.554 --> 01:32:58.482 - You all know from my comments when the branding the civic brand folks gave their presentation I just 01:32:58.482 --> 01:33:05.617 - think it's a big waste of time and I don't want to send good money after bad And so I want to cut that. 01:33:05.617 --> 01:33:12.545 - Thank you. Thank you Comments on that or other comments councilmember Stossberg. Well, I just have a 01:33:12.545 --> 01:33:15.838 - comment in response to councilmember. Sorry I'm 01:33:16.546 --> 01:33:25.894 - At the outset, I'm not a big fan of reducing the cola from 2.7 to 2. I think that we're in really tough 01:33:25.894 --> 01:33:35.151 - times for our residents as well. And our staff are also our residents. And I don't want to shortchange 01:33:35.151 --> 01:33:37.758 - them. They work really hard. 01:33:37.890 --> 01:33:46.819 - I similarly would want a lot more information about the two part guides instead of three. Just wondering 01:33:46.819 --> 01:33:55.749 - if that might backfire if you're having to have two big things instead of three small things and whether 01:33:55.749 --> 01:34:04.423 - that would actually really meaningfully change the bottom line. And I think that was all things. Well 01:34:04.423 --> 01:34:06.974 - I wanted to weigh in and just 01:34:07.202 --> 01:34:17.273 - I agree with my colleague Councilmember Piedmont Smith. She articulated it. Well, that is that it seems 01:34:17.273 --> 01:34:27.053 - as though there may be two potential positions The director of public engagement and the TDM manager 01:34:27.053 --> 01:34:36.446 - that could be Repurposed and we're both interested in food systems coordinator potential of that 01:34:36.930 --> 01:34:45.783 - both for food security for the community, but it's also related to climate. Um, and it's referred to 01:34:45.783 --> 01:34:54.636 - in our sustainability plan and our climate action plan or comprehensive plan point toward expanding, 01:34:54.636 --> 01:35:03.664 - uh, food security, uh, local producer support, um, food equity, um, and, um, generally food resilience 01:35:03.664 --> 01:35:06.206 - planning, which we think is, 01:35:06.978 --> 01:35:14.426 - ever more important we we met with director Cooper Smith yesterday and she was very helpful in Discussing 01:35:14.426 --> 01:35:21.523 - this and kind of fleshing it out. I'm not saying that she is necessarily taking a position here Just 01:35:21.523 --> 01:35:28.761 - saying that she was very helpful in our discussion, but I think Councilmember Piedmont Smith and I are 01:35:28.761 --> 01:35:35.998 - of one mind and we would like to propose that to the council's if if you would like to join us in that 01:35:36.226 --> 01:35:48.712 - request And Regarding Council President Osiris proposal, I would like to Consider that and in in detail 01:35:48.712 --> 01:36:01.438 - It's it's pretty ambitious Proposition put it that way But I'm always open to discussion about it. Thanks 01:36:08.514 --> 01:36:14.453 - Thank you for everyone for being here. I appreciate so many department heads and the mayor and deputy 01:36:14.453 --> 01:36:20.333 - mayor spending their Wednesday night with us From what I've heard tonight from many of my colleagues 01:36:20.333 --> 01:36:26.214 - several substantial amendments will be brought forward and that being the case I don't think that it 01:36:26.214 --> 01:36:32.560 - would be responsible to vote. Yes tonight on the budget without addressing the issues discussed additionally 01:36:32.560 --> 01:36:36.286 - the money spent on out-of-town consultants this year has been a 01:36:36.482 --> 01:36:43.210 - bit ridiculous, so I'll be reviewing the budget lines for consultants and workshops to identify some 01:36:43.210 --> 01:36:49.938 - opportunities for the City Council to establish higher levels of transparency in the bidding process 01:36:49.938 --> 01:36:56.666 - for the city. To echo my colleague, President Asare's words earlier, this is not about us saying no. 01:36:56.666 --> 01:37:03.528 - Many of these cuts are intended to bring us to a point where we make decisions more publicly about how 01:37:03.528 --> 01:37:05.726 - our tax dollars are being spent. 01:37:06.082 --> 01:37:12.185 - and what the return is on that money. We need real public opportunity for engagement before decisions 01:37:12.185 --> 01:37:18.348 - have been made behind closed doors. And finally, just a quick comment on the raises. I would have been 01:37:18.348 --> 01:37:24.451 - more enthusiastic about supporting a more equitable pay increase policy that didn't expand the wealth 01:37:24.451 --> 01:37:30.555 - gap. Cost of living increases as a percentage only serves so that the folks making the most make even 01:37:30.555 --> 01:37:33.726 - more proportionally than the folks making the least. 01:37:34.082 --> 01:37:41.968 - I look forward to working with my colleagues on amendments and the administration on how that would 01:37:41.968 --> 01:37:50.249 - best serve our community. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else. Yes. Yes. I just wanted to say that overall 01:37:50.249 --> 01:37:58.215 - I find aspects of the budget highly supportive but of it and but I will be passing but I didn't want 01:37:58.215 --> 01:38:03.262 - to extend my special thanks to Comptroller McCann for his work. 01:38:03.618 --> 01:38:13.183 - I think he's tireless in sorting this out and his presentations to the fiscal committee have been outstanding 01:38:13.183 --> 01:38:22.052 - and I appreciate Deputy Mayor Gretchen Knapp for her attention to the fiscal committee as well during 01:38:22.052 --> 01:38:31.095 - the process of understanding exactly the implications of the state Taxation changes and I I have I have 01:38:31.095 --> 01:38:33.182 - very high confidence of 01:38:33.666 --> 01:38:42.188 - Director controller McKim's ability to navigate these matters in challenging times. Thanks. Thank you. 01:38:42.188 --> 01:38:50.626 - I think too I just wanted to say because we're kind of up here talking about postponing appropriation 01:38:50.626 --> 01:38:59.065 - I think I do want to clear up to just for the public that it's not something we tend to talk about in 01:38:59.065 --> 01:39:01.630 - the budget cycle that we might 01:39:02.178 --> 01:39:10.096 - hold back funding and then appropriate it later. But that is definitely an option for city council to 01:39:10.096 --> 01:39:17.859 - do. And I think it is it is good in the areas where my colleagues have mentioned it tonight that it 01:39:17.859 --> 01:39:25.699 - makes sense to wait for projects to be more fully developed before we appropriate that money. And so 01:39:25.699 --> 01:39:30.590 - cutting I guess the phrase is cutting the budget but it's also 01:39:30.722 --> 01:39:37.953 - could be seen as holding money until there's a more specific plan for its use. So I just wanted to put 01:39:37.953 --> 01:39:45.534 - that out there too. Anybody else have anything on this one anything one. OK. Yes. Council member Stossberg. 01:39:46.210 --> 01:39:51.663 - Also comment on council members who looks mention about equitable wage increases that don't increase 01:39:51.663 --> 01:39:57.169 - the wage gap and that is something I've talked about for a couple of years and I was actually looking 01:39:57.169 --> 01:40:02.676 - at that this afternoon to see if I could figure out a way to To do that specifically with the elected 01:40:02.676 --> 01:40:08.182 - official salaries because that's something the Fiscal Committee is talking about and I'm just I guess 01:40:08.182 --> 01:40:13.689 - I just want to Express support at that concept of trying to figure out a way to do that so that it is 01:40:13.689 --> 01:40:15.902 - more equitable especially for our lowest 01:40:16.098 --> 01:40:23.520 - wage workers in terms of the grades. Thanks. Thank you. And council member sorry I was just going to 01:40:23.520 --> 01:40:31.456 - echo that as well. And if you if you remember during the last budget hearing I had asked a similar question 01:40:31.456 --> 01:40:36.894 - about like is there a way that we can just appropriate some you know some 01:40:37.250 --> 01:40:44.116 - amount of money that you sort of say and then and then let department heads distribute that you know 01:40:44.116 --> 01:40:50.914 - and with sort of the guidance of we want this to go to you know the lowest thing so I would be very 01:40:50.914 --> 01:40:57.780 - interested in having a conversation about you know how do you distribute increases you know to folks 01:40:57.780 --> 01:41:04.510 - making the least in the city that would be I think a really cool approach. Thank you. Anyone else. 01:41:06.626 --> 01:41:12.948 - Okay I think Councilmember Piedmont Smith mentioned maybe a work session could be a good idea and I 01:41:12.948 --> 01:41:19.712 - think that is a great idea and I mean we don't have to plan it tonight or we could plan it tonight because 01:41:19.712 --> 01:41:26.160 - we're not going to be together. So we can talk about that later at the end. But I do think that might 01:41:26.160 --> 01:41:31.913 - be nice. Otherwise we're in our one on one meetings or two on one with the department head 01:41:31.913 --> 01:41:35.390 - or the administration as we work out these amendments. 01:41:36.642 --> 01:41:47.150 - Okay. Okay. Great. Okay. So let's let's I think we can consider a do pass recommendation on this ordinance 01:41:47.150 --> 01:41:56.970 - appropriation ordinance 2602. Good. Well the clerk clerk please call the roll. Okay. Do pass if we. 01:41:56.970 --> 01:42:06.398 - Yes. So you vote yes if you want to recommend appropriation ordinance 2602 to our next session. 01:42:09.442 --> 01:42:22.431 - That's correct. It's just there's nothing. Nothing is in stone. It's just more like in water. OK. Where's 01:42:22.431 --> 01:42:34.685 - that. You ready. Yes. OK. Piedmont Smith. No. Zulek. No. Rosenberger. No. Rollo. Pass. I think it's 01:42:34.685 --> 01:42:38.974 - abstain. Ruff. Abstain. Asari. No. 01:42:40.738 --> 01:42:51.101 - And Stasberg no OK that so the recommendation is 0 5 2 math is hard and so that will be discussed of 01:42:51.101 --> 01:43:01.566 - course more on October 7th at our special session and then most likely before that in a work session. 01:43:02.850 --> 01:43:14.594 - Thank you. Up next we have ordinance 26 25 an ordinance fixing the salaries of officers of the police 01:43:14.594 --> 01:43:26.107 - and fire departments for the city of Bloomington Indiana for the year 20 27. It looks like director 01:43:26.107 --> 01:43:31.518 - paycheck is here to present or you're all set. 01:43:35.042 --> 01:43:41.970 - Everyone sharp paycheck human resources director. I am here to present the 2027 public safety salary 01:43:41.970 --> 01:43:48.830 - ordinance as Council will recall the police and fire contracts have been voted on by the unions and 01:43:48.830 --> 01:43:55.826 - Council previously approved related resolutions most of the changes reflected in the salary ordinance 01:43:55.826 --> 01:44:03.166 - have been presented and considered either through those agreements or as a part of the 2027 budget process 01:44:03.266 --> 01:44:13.321 - The salary ordinance that you have does reflect 2027 changes that includes some title updates and some 01:44:13.321 --> 01:44:18.398 - language updates This staff memo also provides some 01:44:18.626 --> 01:44:25.968 - estimated fiscal impacts Those estimates are associated with personnel cost again They've already been 01:44:25.968 --> 01:44:33.310 - reflected in the budget process and some other conversations through department presentations but with 01:44:33.310 --> 01:44:40.794 - that I can take any questions that you have and If any additional information is needed, then I am happy 01:44:40.794 --> 01:44:46.782 - to follow up with counsel Thank you very much any questions Council members on spur 01:44:47.138 --> 01:44:53.242 - Thank you, I just have a couple of little questions. One is, it says in the non-contract changes, I 01:44:53.242 --> 01:44:59.345 - think for both fire and police, that the sworn administrative employees, their cost of living tends 01:44:59.345 --> 01:45:05.449 - to track with the collective bargaining agreement as opposed to the rest of the civil city. And I'm 01:45:05.449 --> 01:45:11.736 - just wondering why. Did you say why? Yeah, like I just wanna know why that tends to track with the CBA 01:45:11.736 --> 01:45:14.910 - as opposed to tracking with the rest of civil city. 01:45:15.426 --> 01:45:23.939 - So one of the primary reasons is for compression, for example. So if the contractual positions receive 01:45:23.939 --> 01:45:32.699 - increases, some of those non-contractual ones, for example, may be manager subordinate type of structure. 01:45:32.699 --> 01:45:41.460 - And so just making sure that there is no compression between like a management position and a subordinate 01:45:41.460 --> 01:45:44.766 - position, that's why they tend to track 01:45:44.898 --> 01:45:54.294 - in that way historically Okay, so it's kind of about the rank because the non-contractual are in there 01:45:54.294 --> 01:46:03.416 - with everybody else correct. Okay. Thank you I have another one too. If that's okay. I Think I have 01:46:03.416 --> 01:46:10.622 - another one. Anyway, let's make sure it's in this Yet as there's a footnote of 01:46:11.234 --> 01:46:20.521 - the individual in this position will earn 102, 330 in 2027. I don't see where that footnote tracks back 01:46:20.521 --> 01:46:29.450 - in the ordinance. Like I was looking for it and I was like, I don't know where that footnote is. So 01:46:29.450 --> 01:46:36.862 - where is it? A footnote? Yes. In our packet, it's on page 144 of our packet. Okay. 01:46:37.218 --> 01:46:45.722 - That is a good question. It is very specific So I may have to go back and look to find exactly What 01:46:45.722 --> 01:46:54.395 - it is you're referring to and then I can follow up with you. Okay? That's not Smith said that she saw 01:46:54.395 --> 01:47:03.069 - it for sure So maybe between the two of us I can okay I can find where it is Okay, and then the other 01:47:03.069 --> 01:47:05.790 - thing was under training For Oh 01:47:06.530 --> 01:47:14.115 - I think it's under police training. It says training for every 20 hours per year in training equals 01:47:14.115 --> 01:47:21.775 - $100. And I wasn't sure what that meant. And I don't know if that is like exact language copied over 01:47:21.775 --> 01:47:29.360 - from the collective bargaining agreement, but it seems sort of confusing to me. And so I don't know 01:47:29.360 --> 01:47:36.414 - if that's a little more specific than you can respond to right now too, but I guess it just, 01:47:38.754 --> 01:47:44.209 - That just like so if you do 20 hours of training then you get like a flat one hundred dollars you get 01:47:44.209 --> 01:47:49.879 - one hundred dollars added somewhere you get like yeah that is very specific. I would like the opportunity 01:47:49.879 --> 01:47:55.495 - to go back and look at it more closely and then maybe follow up with the department as needed and follow 01:47:55.495 --> 01:47:56.190 - up with you. 01:47:56.450 --> 01:48:02.877 - Okay. Yeah. Cause if that is the language that's like exactly in the CBA, then we probably have to leave 01:48:02.877 --> 01:48:09.120 - it that way. But if it's not, I feel like it would benefit because it is like in the ordinance itself 01:48:09.120 --> 01:48:15.363 - to have that kind of clarity in the same way that like, um, uh, like the actually, similarly, I think 01:48:15.363 --> 01:48:21.790 - this is also in there. Um, sworn officers receive a clothing allotment of $500. I think that's per year. 01:48:21.922 --> 01:48:31.626 - And it said somewhere else that there was some clarity of a per year added. And so that's another place. 01:48:31.626 --> 01:48:40.868 - I just feel like a little bit more clarity would be helpful. Sure. I will get that clarity so I can 01:48:40.868 --> 01:48:50.203 - respond and be more accurate. OK. Thank you. You're welcome. Yes. Thank you Dr. paycheck. The I have 01:48:50.203 --> 01:48:51.774 - an equally picky 01:48:51.874 --> 01:49:01.002 - question. So in the section for the job grades I it's it's on page 148 of the packet. Well let me back 01:49:01.002 --> 01:49:09.865 - up a minute. So it says at the beginning of the ordinance that if there's more than one person in a 01:49:09.865 --> 01:49:18.816 - particular position the number of people or the number of positions will be in parentheses after the 01:49:18.816 --> 01:49:20.766 - name of the position. 01:49:20.866 --> 01:49:26.833 - Okay. Right. And that's true throughout the ordinance like telecommunicators as we have 32. Yes. But 01:49:26.833 --> 01:49:32.801 - it's not given for the officer first class or officer second class. So I wonder if we could just add 01:49:32.801 --> 01:49:38.887 - that like how many positions are there. Right. I can go back and look at the details. It may be listed 01:49:38.887 --> 01:49:44.913 - elsewhere detailed elsewhere. But if your question is about the formatting and how you feel like that 01:49:44.913 --> 01:49:50.526 - would be easier to be able to read and interpret then yes I can take that recommendation back. 01:49:50.722 --> 01:50:07.414 - for that edit. OK. Thank you. Any questions from the side. They're they're winning more over here. OK. 01:50:07.414 --> 01:50:20.702 - Let's go to public comment. Anyone here online. Should I say my. I don't have to. 01:50:21.410 --> 01:50:30.920 - Okay, no public comment look Back here follow-up questions after those public comments anybody Councilmember 01:50:30.920 --> 01:50:39.731 - Stossberg director paycheck, would you prefer that I email you those follow-up questions so that you 01:50:39.731 --> 01:50:48.804 - have them in print? Yes, that'd be great. Thanks Okay, if no other questions, let us consider a do-pass 01:50:48.804 --> 01:50:50.462 - recommendation for 01:50:52.162 --> 01:51:03.288 - I did. I did. Nobody was there. Nobody. Nobody answered. I called them. Okay. Let's let's consider a 01:51:03.288 --> 01:51:14.523 - do pass recommendation for ordinance twenty six twenty five. Well the clerk please call the roll. Yes 01:51:14.523 --> 01:51:22.014 - Rosenberger. Yes. Rollo. Yes. Ruff. Yes. Sorry. Yes. Stasberg. Yes. 01:51:22.306 --> 01:51:31.612 - Piedmont Smith. Yes. Great. That is seven in favor. Moving right along the ordinance 26 26. This is 01:51:31.612 --> 01:51:41.849 - an ordinance to fix the salaries of appointed officers non union and AFSCME employees for all the departments 01:51:41.849 --> 01:51:51.806 - of the city of Bloomington Monroe County Indiana for the year 20 27. We have again director paycheck. Yes. 01:51:51.970 --> 01:51:59.792 - Sharp paycheck again human resources director and similar to the public safety salary ordinance Most 01:51:59.792 --> 01:52:08.156 - of the changes in this ordinance have already been considered through the AFSCME agreement that Contractual 01:52:08.156 --> 01:52:15.900 - agreement and the 2027 budget process this ordinance reflects those changes including a 3% cola for 01:52:15.900 --> 01:52:20.702 - AFSCME and 2.7 percent for non-union cola non-union employees 01:52:21.058 --> 01:52:30.484 - Again 2.7 COLA the salary ordinance also reflects an updated living wage and some administrative updates 01:52:30.484 --> 01:52:39.550 - along with some estimated fiscal impacts. And with that I am happy to answer any questions or follow 01:52:39.550 --> 01:52:46.462 - up with you as needed. Any detailed questions from my right. None today. OK. 01:52:48.770 --> 01:53:02.665 - Okay let us go to the public. Anyone here. Anyone online. Okay so let us consider a do pass recommendation 01:53:02.665 --> 01:53:16.041 - for ordinance twenty six twenty six. Clerk what do you please call the roll. Yes. Rallo yes. Ruff yes. 01:53:16.041 --> 01:53:17.470 - Sorry yes. 01:53:18.274 --> 01:53:28.482 - Stasberg yes Piedmont Smith no And Zulek yes Thank you with a vote on the do pass recommendation is 01:53:28.482 --> 01:53:38.893 - six in favor one against Can I oh I'm sorry did I did I miss the opportunity to for comment before we 01:53:38.893 --> 01:53:47.774 - voted Okay, I'm sorry things are moving very fast tonight Can I explain my vote yes so 01:53:48.226 --> 01:53:56.574 - There there's at least one position in here that I want to cut so that's why I voted no Just okay Thank 01:53:56.574 --> 01:54:04.681 - you Now we have ordinance 26 28 an ordinance to fix the salaries of appointed deputies and employees 01:54:04.681 --> 01:54:13.109 - of the Bloomington City Clerk for the city of Bloomington Monroe County, Indiana for the year 2027 asked 01:54:13.109 --> 01:54:15.838 - to attend clerk Nicole Bolden and 01:54:18.146 --> 01:54:25.013 - Thank you. You're welcome. Good evening. I agree with councilmember Piedmont Smith. He suddenly sped 01:54:25.013 --> 01:54:32.220 - up quite a bit. It wasn't there aren't comments or that many questions. I'm just I have the same cadence. 01:54:32.220 --> 01:54:39.019 - No I didn't mean you in particular. Councilmember Rosenberger I just meant as a whole. So so twenty 01:54:39.019 --> 01:54:44.254 - twenty seven salary ordinance for the clerk's office. There are not a lot of 01:54:44.386 --> 01:54:51.091 - Changes overall there were two from when I presented I did try and give you all a fair warning that 01:54:51.091 --> 01:54:57.930 - I had not accounted for the longevity increases for a couple of staff members. So you'll see a change 01:54:57.930 --> 01:55:04.836 - particularly with the deputy clerk of communications and outreach position and one of the deputy clerk 01:55:04.836 --> 01:55:11.608 - positions which also had an increase in addition to the cola increase. But other than that there are 01:55:11.608 --> 01:55:13.150 - no position changes or 01:55:13.570 --> 01:55:22.926 - title changes or anything else. So I'm here to answer questions about salaries and anything. We'll go 01:55:22.926 --> 01:55:32.191 - from there. Thank you so much. Questions from the left. Anything. Councilmember Piedmont Smith. Yes. 01:55:32.191 --> 01:55:40.446 - Could you tell us the job grades of these positions please. They're not graded or rather. 01:55:42.914 --> 01:55:50.814 - I have them aligned with the city grades but I did not grade them rather intentionally because the grading 01:55:50.814 --> 01:55:58.346 - is something the administration does for their positions. So I chose not to do so. So I guess I would 01:55:58.346 --> 01:56:05.803 - then ask what the rationale is for these salaries and the increases from last year. They are aligned 01:56:05.803 --> 01:56:11.710 - with the city's grades so you could look at them and assume similar grading for 01:56:13.122 --> 01:56:20.091 - For the chief deputy clerk I think is in alignment with job grade 8 as is the communications and outreach 01:56:20.091 --> 01:56:26.666 - position and I think the chief the deputy clerk positions are in alignment with job grade 6 and I'm 01:56:26.666 --> 01:56:33.373 - definitely pulling that off the top of my head but you can look at them and see in terms of longevity 01:56:33.373 --> 01:56:40.211 - and everything else so that's where the rationale comes for the jobs as they were written over the last 01:56:40.211 --> 01:56:43.038 - few years they do need to be rewritten and 01:56:43.362 --> 01:56:52.616 - and re-evaluated for their salaries but I chose not to do that this year because at the start of the 01:56:52.616 --> 01:57:01.869 - year we had some additional duties that we were taking care of and time definitely got away from all 01:57:01.869 --> 01:57:12.222 - of us. Thank you. Other questions. Let's move to public comment. Anyone in chambers like to speak anyone online. 01:57:14.882 --> 01:57:23.517 - So we are I'd just like to say out loud we're closing public comment at this time and now we are moving 01:57:23.517 --> 01:57:31.819 - to final comments 26 28 councilmember Asari Say something that will not surprise any of you because 01:57:31.819 --> 01:57:40.620 - it's a position I've held. I don't know. I feel like forever. I don't know councilmember Pumas correctly, 01:57:40.620 --> 01:57:44.190 - but Again like I think we have a necessity 01:57:44.802 --> 01:57:57.758 - opportunity responsibility even to really think about the role of and the structure of the clerk's office. 01:57:58.306 --> 01:58:05.595 - Vis-a-vis the needs of the administrative needs of the council office as well and thinking very clearly 01:58:05.595 --> 01:58:12.815 - about what that might mean for compensation what that means for structure what that means for the open 01:58:12.815 --> 01:58:15.198 - rules that we have in our office. 01:58:15.266 --> 01:58:21.359 - And I say it again in hopes that eventually we will all warm to this idea. I know that Councilmember 01:58:21.359 --> 01:58:27.392 - Piemont-Smith and I have been saying it a lot. But again, I do think that this is another chance to 01:58:27.392 --> 01:58:33.486 - have that conversation. And so I am generally supportive of the sort of small increases. But I mean, 01:58:33.486 --> 01:58:39.519 - again, I just feel like we're missing a chance to do this. And it's going to be another year before 01:58:39.519 --> 01:58:43.742 - we're able to structurally have that conversation. And so I just love 01:58:44.194 --> 01:58:52.453 - while the books are open, I feel like we should read them. Yes, go. I second a lot of those feelings. 01:58:52.453 --> 01:59:00.630 - But I also just wanted to say that the clerk's office really helped out the council office this year 01:59:00.630 --> 01:59:09.132 - when we lost our legal team. And so I just want to publicly say thank you for that. And we all recognize 01:59:09.132 --> 01:59:13.342 - that that was a very large extra burden to take on. 01:59:13.506 --> 01:59:22.928 - and we appreciate it. Other comments? Clerk Bolden. It's unusual, but I do want to clarify, this is 01:59:22.928 --> 01:59:32.350 - not the first time in the last several years that the clerk's office has been stepping in to assist 01:59:32.350 --> 01:59:42.526 - with the council office in terms of additional work that needed to be done or training your incoming staff. 01:59:42.850 --> 01:59:49.898 - So if I may take this opportunity to say thank you to the clerk staff specifically, Susan Stoll, Sophia 01:59:49.898 --> 01:59:56.676 - McDowell, Jennifer Crossley, and Colleen Williamson for their work over the last few years in doing 01:59:56.676 --> 02:00:03.589 - things that when I hired them, I didn't expect them to have to do. And they've done so with grace and 02:00:03.589 --> 02:00:10.434 - cheerfulness and a twisted sense of humor that I enjoy on a regular basis. So thank you for allowing 02:00:10.434 --> 02:00:11.518 - me to say that. 02:00:12.994 --> 02:00:20.712 - You're welcome. It is committee of the whole so we can make our own rules a little bit just a little 02:00:20.712 --> 02:00:28.354 - bit. OK. So that was our final comment. I would like to say to on council member sorry his comment. 02:00:28.354 --> 02:00:36.149 - When is the time to have this discussion. Is it our upcoming work session for that. If you if there's 02:00:36.149 --> 02:00:40.734 - two people. OK. I think if we're considering amendments and 02:00:41.186 --> 02:00:50.474 - The like we could look at that or if it's more of a council processes question I'm happy to support 02:00:50.474 --> 02:01:00.041 - or hear you know I'm interested in changing some things around a bit too. I would say OK. Other we are 02:01:00.041 --> 02:01:09.886 - done with those comments. OK. Let us vote on a recommend a do pass recommendation on 26 28 will the clerk 02:01:10.338 --> 02:01:24.176 - Please call the roll. Yes. I hope so. Okay. Councilmember Rallo. Yes. Ruff. Yes. Sorry. Yes. Stasberg. 02:01:24.176 --> 02:01:37.880 - Yes. Piedmont Smith. Yes. Zulek. Yes. And Rosenberger. Yes. The vote on the do pass recommendation is 02:01:37.880 --> 02:01:40.030 - seven in favor. 02:01:42.210 --> 02:01:54.775 - Can we would anyone like to make a general comment. Council member sorry said yes. Yes I'll just say 02:01:54.775 --> 02:02:07.838 - just maybe just one summarizing thought. Well maybe a logistical thought and then a summarizing thought. 02:02:07.970 --> 02:02:19.573 - First the logistical thing. I really like the proposal that we have a working session further one among 02:02:19.573 --> 02:02:29.726 - council members You know I Think a well a potential critique that somebody could make of a 02:02:30.274 --> 02:02:38.129 - Of our approach and you know across the board saying that we want to cut down things in the budget May 02:02:38.129 --> 02:02:46.136 - lack some context. It might be useful to give namely that and and and and let me also say that us making 02:02:46.136 --> 02:02:53.915 - any proposal for cutting anything in the budget is first off the only thing that we are able to do to 02:02:53.915 --> 02:02:57.118 - the budget we cannot raise the budget and 02:02:57.282 --> 02:03:05.455 - but we can make cuts to the budget. I don't think in any way that that is a reflection on some, I think 02:03:05.455 --> 02:03:13.472 - it could be framed as though this was animosity or that it was some type of targeted, you could think 02:03:13.472 --> 02:03:21.566 - of a lot of different ways of characterizing it that would make it seem as though we're trying to pick 02:03:21.566 --> 02:03:26.046 - fights or something like that. But to me, fundamentally, 02:03:26.242 --> 02:03:33.118 - This is a question about surfacing choices. And you all know that my number one priority sort 02:03:33.118 --> 02:03:40.725 - of legislatively because when I got to office was influencing and indeed changing the way that we think 02:03:40.725 --> 02:03:48.039 - about our budget and the way that we do our budget. And I've been very clear and open about my sort 02:03:48.039 --> 02:03:48.990 - of, I think, 02:03:49.250 --> 02:03:55.158 - Disappointment displeasure at whatever word is best suitable for this moment about our lack of progress 02:03:55.158 --> 02:04:01.009 - in that direction And I think we've pointed in all types of directions about well It's because council 02:04:01.009 --> 02:04:06.973 - doesn't come up with good enough outcomes or because we don't have good technology or because we haven't 02:04:06.973 --> 02:04:12.711 - had enough time or and and and to me There's just a simple part of all of this that we're that we've 02:04:12.711 --> 02:04:16.062 - missed in the last three years which is that our budget is 02:04:16.418 --> 02:04:23.391 - is a values document, and I really appreciate what Mr. Keough said. There's also story there. There's 02:04:23.391 --> 02:04:30.569 - choices that we're making, and we recognize that it's like we can't do all things, but I think too often 02:04:30.569 --> 02:04:37.406 - the answer to no matter what it is that we propose, no matter what policy we put in, no matter what 02:04:37.406 --> 02:04:41.918 - ideas we bring forth, the answer and refrain has continually been 02:04:42.018 --> 02:04:49.077 - We cannot afford it. We cannot afford to make investments. We can't afford to try to do the new things. 02:04:49.077 --> 02:04:56.407 - We can't afford to be the city that we were elected to try to move towards because we're too busy affording 02:04:56.407 --> 02:05:03.601 - to be the city that we are or something like that. And I think that we need to start having conversations 02:05:03.601 --> 02:05:09.438 - about these choices. They're not the path dependency of we fund things because that's 02:05:09.794 --> 02:05:16.675 - just keeping things going as they are, I think it's something that has to be challenged, right? And 02:05:16.675 --> 02:05:23.899 - so even all of the amendments that I'm going to be putting forth, I think they too should be challenged, 02:05:23.899 --> 02:05:30.986 - but in hopes of surfacing the tension and choices that we're making. And then the last thing that I'll 02:05:30.986 --> 02:05:36.766 - say in this is that when we started off in this process of outcome-based budgeting, 02:05:37.474 --> 02:05:43.804 - We said and I wrote this down and said it publicly various times and said it in the speech representing 02:05:43.804 --> 02:05:50.013 - outcome based budgeting and then in our many meetings that I don't think it's appropriate for council 02:05:50.013 --> 02:05:56.343 - necessarily to be setting, you know, specific outcomes. Like it's not for us to say we want to see five 02:05:56.343 --> 02:05:59.326 - more yards of road paved or something like that. 02:05:59.394 --> 02:06:06.640 - But we decided as a body that what we would do is set outcome areas. And this wasn't something we made 02:06:06.640 --> 02:06:13.816 - up. This is what the literature says. This is what other cities who have done this say and do. But in 02:06:13.816 --> 02:06:20.921 - the lack of being presented with evidence about what we're being asked to spend on, the best that we 02:06:20.921 --> 02:06:23.454 - can do is make our own assumptions. 02:06:23.554 --> 02:06:29.690 - And I also think that that shows one of the reasons why we as a body, nine zero, said that this is the 02:06:29.690 --> 02:06:35.290 - way that we want to do budgeting, this is the direction that we want to go in. And so I just, 02:06:35.290 --> 02:06:41.307 - in all of this, I'm just reiterating the fact that it's like, look, if we're not gonna make progress 02:06:41.307 --> 02:06:47.324 - toward that, then we need to, things need to be shaken up in some way, shape, or form so that we can 02:06:47.324 --> 02:06:53.520 - start having a better institutional grammar or a better way of speaking, if you will, about this motion 02:06:53.520 --> 02:06:59.274 - important thing because everything that happens or does not happen in our city flows from the decision 02:06:59.274 --> 02:07:04.917 - that we make about our budget and so I think we can make some minor changes again in hopes that that 02:07:04.917 --> 02:07:10.503 - sort of dislodges some of our thinking around some sort of larger structural thing so I hope that's 02:07:10.503 --> 02:07:14.302 - somewhat setting the tone of where I'm coming from with all of this 02:07:16.610 --> 02:07:25.265 - Anyone else. Okay. I what I was going to say I'm going to go really quickly. I love what you're saying 02:07:25.265 --> 02:07:33.667 - and I do like putting context toward it which none of us really did tonight and that is okay that I 02:07:33.667 --> 02:07:42.322 - think this council has tried a lot over the last two and a half almost three years to also be involved 02:07:42.322 --> 02:07:43.582 - and engage and 02:07:44.322 --> 02:07:51.791 - work on pushing projects and programs and funding that align with our comp plan and all of our goals. 02:07:51.791 --> 02:07:59.261 - And I guess for me, I don't see that happening often. And so I really like the idea of saying, OK, we 02:07:59.261 --> 02:08:06.657 - asked if we could collaborate. That's not happening. And now we are, I guess, again, trying to force 02:08:06.657 --> 02:08:11.710 - collaboration. I think we've tried to force collaboration by saying, 02:08:11.906 --> 02:08:19.648 - Ordinances need a council sponsor. I don't know how that's going. We haven't really checked in on it, 02:08:19.648 --> 02:08:27.313 - right? But I think the idea of holding back some funds until a better plan is created makes a lot of 02:08:27.313 --> 02:08:35.283 - sense. And then if outcome-based budgeting is not what the administration is focused on at a high level, 02:08:35.283 --> 02:08:38.622 - there is some degree that we can work on it 02:08:38.722 --> 02:08:46.340 - our level in terms of appropriation. I think even though I agree that we're not the best to lead that 02:08:46.340 --> 02:08:54.182 - charge, all we can do is input our priorities and hope that they are taken up, which we did, and I think 02:08:54.182 --> 02:09:02.174 - this year seven of the 11 are in the budget. So I think cutting anything is almost more of a collaboration 02:09:02.946 --> 02:09:10.009 - And I will say it's not that our only thing is to cut at this point. Our only thing is to cut. But we've 02:09:10.009 --> 02:09:17.005 - had a year of working as a council to create priorities and I would say working with the administration 02:09:17.005 --> 02:09:24.068 - on tweaking some aspects of the budget. And then now we have arrived at a time where we cannot no longer 02:09:24.068 --> 02:09:31.198 - add anything like we could months ago. But now we can only cut. So I think as a council we are working on 02:09:31.842 --> 02:09:38.742 - I don't want to say collaborating again, but getting more ahead of our priorities and sending them to 02:09:38.742 --> 02:09:45.777 - the administration with ample time to consider them for the budget. And so I think that's always a work 02:09:45.777 --> 02:09:53.083 - in progress. And as a council, I think we're getting better at that. Council member Stossberg and Piedmont. 02:09:53.083 --> 02:10:00.254 - Thank you. I guess to the chair, I appreciate having kind of a last wrap up comment. That's nice. I also. 02:10:00.450 --> 02:10:06.008 - I just wanted to say a little bit more about where my majority kind of coming from with the three things 02:10:06.008 --> 02:10:11.355 - that I listed, which maybe I mentioned a little bit when I said them, but maybe I wasn't as clear as 02:10:11.355 --> 02:10:17.072 - I could have been or as direct as I could have been. I think that my prime motivation comes from government 02:10:17.072 --> 02:10:22.577 - transparency, which we did cite as something that was really important to us. And I think when it comes 02:10:22.577 --> 02:10:28.083 - to especially, you know what I mean? Our budget is massive, right? There is a lot of money that's going 02:10:28.083 --> 02:10:29.406 - through, but a lot of it 02:10:29.858 --> 02:10:36.532 - Like you could break it down and say well, they're pretty small pieces in a lot of ways I mean like 02:10:36.532 --> 02:10:43.273 - salaries. This is be huge thing. But when you think about the individual Positions, they're smaller, 02:10:43.273 --> 02:10:50.080 - right? But when we think about three million dollars in the Housing Development Fund, which may go to 02:10:50.080 --> 02:10:56.888 - two or three projects That's a lot of money going to each project and I think that that kind of thing 02:10:56.888 --> 02:10:57.822 - deserves more 02:10:58.146 --> 02:11:06.078 - certainty of transparent process and due diligence. And, you know, I really appreciate that, you know, we 02:11:06.178 --> 02:11:12.074 - a lot some of that money in large amounts to say, planning and transportation. And the planning and 02:11:12.074 --> 02:11:17.969 - transportation department, I think, has done a pretty good job doing those charrettes, having a lot 02:11:17.969 --> 02:11:24.042 - of public process and engagement around those different plans and design elements. And now there's the 02:11:24.042 --> 02:11:30.232 - transportation commission that they have to run things through. And so I think that in those ways, those 02:11:30.232 --> 02:11:34.654 - particular expenses right now have a level of government transparency that 02:11:35.074 --> 02:11:37.470 - That $3 million in the Housing Development Fund doesn't. 02:11:37.570 --> 02:11:43.612 - And then similarly the parking meter fund like doesn't have the guaranteed transparency and I think 02:11:43.612 --> 02:11:49.834 - our staff do a good job and I'm not accusing our staff of trying to like do things behind closed doors 02:11:49.834 --> 02:11:55.876 - But sometimes it really feels that way I think to the community. There's so many things that happen 02:11:55.876 --> 02:12:02.219 - in this community It is 100% Impossible to keep track of it all and so the more we can guarantee certain 02:12:02.219 --> 02:12:07.536 - things happening in certain places I think the better and so in the way that we've like 02:12:07.536 --> 02:12:13.713 - Guaranteed transportation projects have to go through the Transportation Commission we can guarantee, 02:12:13.713 --> 02:12:20.253 - you know a couple big expenses planned for next year Have to go through council in terms of that additional 02:12:20.253 --> 02:12:26.309 - allocation and appropriation of money I think that that is just a service that that we're giving to 02:12:26.309 --> 02:12:32.364 - our community You know regardless of how many people actually tune in in person at the time because 02:12:32.364 --> 02:12:34.302 - these meetings are easily found 02:12:34.434 --> 02:12:43.838 - On cats and they're they're kept and the minutes are kept very well. And so there's that documentation 02:12:44.354 --> 02:12:50.865 - At a certain level which it does not always happen in all of the other places And so for me that's where 02:12:50.865 --> 02:12:57.376 - I'm coming from right now in terms of what I'm thinking about is that transparency of process and making 02:12:57.376 --> 02:13:03.577 - sure that our community knows what to expect especially in some of these areas where there's been a 02:13:03.577 --> 02:13:07.422 - lot of discussion and a lot of concern affordable housing the 02:13:07.554 --> 02:13:17.330 - license plate reader technology and that kind of stuff like those are huge areas of concern and I think 02:13:17.330 --> 02:13:26.824 - that our community deserves as much transparency as we can give them. Thanks. Yeah just to respond a 02:13:26.824 --> 02:13:36.318 - little bit about the outcome based budgeting. I think we haven't gotten further partially because of 02:13:36.930 --> 02:13:45.150 - What we have failed to do, it's not just because of what the administration has failed to do. I mean, 02:13:45.150 --> 02:13:53.933 - the memo we sent to the administration with our priorities was not outcome based. I mean, we had maintenance 02:13:53.933 --> 02:14:02.072 - and enhancement of city assets. What is the actual outcome? Do we want, you know, it's so vague. And 02:14:02.072 --> 02:14:05.054 - then there were things on here that, 02:14:05.858 --> 02:14:13.328 - didn't really have budget implications at all, like, or very tenuous, create vibrant third 02:14:13.328 --> 02:14:21.619 - places, neighborhood hubs. Yeah, sure, that'd be great, but how does the city actually do that? What 02:14:21.619 --> 02:14:30.156 - are the actual expenditures that we wanna see in order to have that outcome? I think it was very vague, 02:14:30.156 --> 02:14:32.126 - I think there are some, 02:14:32.258 --> 02:14:40.100 - council members who prefer to keep things vague because it's easier. Or maybe they just don't understand 02:14:40.100 --> 02:14:47.718 - that this is not an outcome. Strengthen food security networks. What does that actually mean? What do 02:14:47.718 --> 02:14:55.186 - we actually want the city of Bloomington to do? Some of these things are outside of the city. There 02:14:55.186 --> 02:15:01.310 - was air quality is maintained at a high level. Air isn't just within city limits. 02:15:01.506 --> 02:15:09.557 - I mean, how can the city government actually enact these things? So I think there was a little bit of 02:15:09.557 --> 02:15:17.687 - pie in the sky here with the list that we created. And it was so vague. It was vague. And so there was 02:15:17.687 --> 02:15:25.976 - never the actual work done to sit down with the people who actually crunch the numbers and do the public 02:15:25.976 --> 02:15:30.238 - service and drive the sanitation trucks and whatever. 02:15:30.690 --> 02:15:38.112 - to actually hammer out measurable outcomes, not to mention the whole point that they can't be measured 02:15:38.112 --> 02:15:45.750 - given our current fiscal system, which I don't think is a made-up excuse. I think that's an actual thing. 02:15:45.750 --> 02:15:53.316 - So, I mean, I think we need to take some responsibility here ourselves and not just say, hey, you didn't 02:15:53.316 --> 02:15:56.126 - do outcome-based budgeting, and so now 02:15:57.122 --> 02:16:03.920 - we're going to do something completely different. I mean, I'm not averse to doing something different. 02:16:03.920 --> 02:16:10.783 - I mean, I think there are other good reasons to pursue some of the big changes that Council Member Sari 02:16:10.783 --> 02:16:17.647 - mentioned. But I really caution all of us against blaming that outcome-based budgeting is not a reality 02:16:17.647 --> 02:16:23.784 - yet, because it's a hell of a lot of work. And some of it we should have been doing. Some of 02:16:23.784 --> 02:16:26.622 - the administration should have been doing. 02:16:26.882 --> 02:16:36.527 - Most of it we should have been doing together but it takes two to tango. So it's sometimes I think we 02:16:36.527 --> 02:16:46.077 - have these lofty ideals and we don't actually have time or energy to put in the work required. And I 02:16:46.077 --> 02:16:56.478 - think some of that happened with outcome based budgeting. Sorry. So anybody other comments sparked from that. 02:16:57.762 --> 02:17:07.319 - I just want to very quickly thank Comptroller McKim. That's all. Thank you. Thanks. And that is the 02:17:07.319 --> 02:17:17.163 - end of no no sir I we have moved on. Go ahead. I just wanted to say that this is part of budgeting and 02:17:17.163 --> 02:17:27.294 - that is we've heard of a lot of capital projects that are probably going to be needed in the coming year. 02:17:27.426 --> 02:17:36.904 - and that has me concerned. I can't help but note that it's a reflection of the fact that costs are generally 02:17:36.904 --> 02:17:45.600 - pushed to the future in terms of development costs and that's why I'm not the only one, but why I'm 02:17:45.600 --> 02:17:54.470 - judicious about this idea that growth can only be good because it comes with a cost and eventually it 02:17:54.470 --> 02:17:55.774 - has to be paid 02:17:55.938 --> 02:18:04.458 - in the form of a new service center, for instance, for utilities. So I'm just putting that out there 02:18:04.458 --> 02:18:12.894 - to say I'm very trepidatious about the extent of debt just in our society. Total credit market debt 02:18:12.894 --> 02:18:21.499 - is something like $120 trillion. I don't see that as sustainable, and I want to limit the exposure of 02:18:21.499 --> 02:18:25.886 - Bloomington to eventuality of the day of reckoning. 02:18:26.082 --> 02:18:34.348 - Whenever it comes but in any case Being judicious about what sort of capital projects that take on through 02:18:34.348 --> 02:18:42.846 - accumulating more debt. I think Is going to be part of my focus and whether that direction is the appropriate 02:18:42.846 --> 02:18:50.725 - direction I mean I hear from a former utility service board member that the new service center really 02:18:50.725 --> 02:18:54.974 - isn't needed in to the scale that it it's proposed and 02:18:55.362 --> 02:19:03.169 - There are already some some costs with that. Unfortunately, it's been approved by Utility Service Board, 02:19:03.169 --> 02:19:10.679 - but we're still proceeding with a yearly water quality crisis. Maybe it's not a crisis, but at least 02:19:10.679 --> 02:19:18.189 - a water quality problem. And is this new service center attending to that problem or is it something 02:19:18.189 --> 02:19:21.758 - that we need capital investment for things like 02:19:22.018 --> 02:19:28.233 - Settling ponds or something like that to improve water quality so that people aren't affected every 02:19:28.233 --> 02:19:34.696 - summer because we're drawing out of a eutrophied lake and Maybe we need may seems to me that there must 02:19:34.696 --> 02:19:40.911 - be some sort of technological answer to this I haven't I haven't seen a presentation about that nor 02:19:40.911 --> 02:19:47.188 - have I seen a presentation about the needs of the new service center So I'm going to be asking a lot 02:19:47.188 --> 02:19:51.166 - of tough questions and not necessarily approving of those bonds 02:19:51.394 --> 02:20:00.635 - I'll have to rank them in terms of priority. So just to say heads up that's where I'm going to be landing 02:20:00.635 --> 02:20:09.703 - this coming year. Thanks. Thank you for the heads up. Now we can talk about a work session and we don't 02:20:09.703 --> 02:20:18.770 - have a session next week. Let's talk look at the clerk see what kind of availability the clerk's office 02:20:18.770 --> 02:20:20.862 - has for a work session. 02:20:22.434 --> 02:20:34.881 - Give me a second. I'm going to pull up my calendar and check. OK, yes. Everyone up here. I would have 02:20:34.881 --> 02:20:44.766 - to double check with staff to see if somebody is available next Wednesday night. 02:20:45.730 --> 02:20:53.671 - Also is the next Wednesday the board training board commissioner training in here. Is that or do you 02:20:53.671 --> 02:21:02.005 - look at that calendar too. I guess I can look. Go ahead. I would love a work session to be in a different 02:21:02.005 --> 02:21:09.947 - room. Yeah like Allison or McCloskey or let's do something else. Like you know OK so we have figured 02:21:09.947 --> 02:21:13.406 - out we would like to do McCloskey one week. 02:21:13.730 --> 02:21:23.875 - from today is the 30th pending clerk availability. Can we go with that. I think we can. Yes I think 02:21:23.875 --> 02:21:34.324 - we can do the 30th for staff and then you wanted to know about McCloskey and it is available. OK let's 02:21:34.324 --> 02:21:42.846 - do that. And do we just keep our 6 30 6 30 to midnight. Council members can invite. 02:21:43.330 --> 02:21:51.558 - Well yes it's the Wednesday we don't have a meeting so 630 not know the midnight is a joke. It's just 02:21:51.558 --> 02:21:59.947 - that we only have a start time. We just have a start time. OK. And anyone you can invite staff or maybe 02:21:59.947 --> 02:22:08.175 - do work if you there are cuts or negotiations you want to do in between then. Good good good good. OK 02:22:08.175 --> 02:22:09.950 - we're adjourned. Yes.