- So welcome to the Redevelopment Commission meeting for the City of Bloomington for April 7th, 2025.
- We'll begin the meeting with a roll call please.
- Laura McGrady present.
- Seuss Campbell-Lurie here.
- Randy Cassidy present.
- John West here.
- Deborah Meyerson here.
- May we have a list of staff present please.
- Ann Achillean-Thompson, Housing and Neighborhood Development.
- Christina Thunley, Hand Department.
- Kamie Casbo, the Hand Department.
- Jane Cushman, Economic and Sustainable Development.
- Anna Draganridge, Capital Projects Manager.
- Hollywood, Economic and Sustainable Development.
- Thank you.
- I'm just going to ask if we can close those doors, it gets too noisy while we're doing our meeting.
- Due to open door law, we have one door.
- Okay, I guess only one instead of two, is that okay?
- It just helps with hearing what's going on, at least from my aging ears.
- Thank you very much.
- The Council doesn't have theirs.
- Okay, proceeding.
- We have next on the agenda, the minutes from March 17th, 2025.
- Do we have any questions or comments from commissioners on these minutes, if not, entertain a
- motion?
- Move for approval.
- I'll second.
- We've got a first and a second, all in favor say aye.
- Aye.
- Any opposed, passes unanimously.
- Next on our agenda is the pit claim register for March 28th, 2025.
- Any comments or questions from commissioners, if not, I will entertain a motion.
- I've got a question, it's not about a specific payable really, but it's on page 505.
- We are paying, let's see, it's number 18844.
- I'm not questioning the amount, but in the description it talks about the tech center.
- Is that the trades district?
- Sorry, what page of the packet is it on?
- Page 505 of the claims.
- It's page 11 of the packet.
- Page 10, I think.
- Oh, I apologize, page 7 of the packet.
- It says mechanical work, tech center.
- I just want, what's the tech center?
- It's the forge.
- Alright.
- I'm okay with the number, I just didn't know what, I didn't know the forge.
- Did we buy something new?
- Yeah, is there a tech center I didn't know about?
- Thank you.
- That's good because it means the name, the forge, has stuck because it used to be called the tech
- center for two years.
- Oh, oh really?
- Yeah.
- That's great.
- We have that clarification, thank you.
- If there are no other questions or comments from commissioners, I'll entertain a motion.
- I'd like to move approval of the claims register for March 28th.
- Second.
- Got a first and a second, all in favor say aye.
- Aye.
- Any opposed?
- Passes unanimously.
- Our next item on the agenda is the payroll register for March 21st, 2025.
- If you have any questions or comments on this item from commissioners, if not, I will entertain a
- motion.
- I'll make a motion to approve this for that.
- Second.
- We've got a first and a second, all in favor say aye.
- Aye.
- Any opposed?
- Motion passes unanimously.
- Thank you all.
- Next on our agenda is reports of officers and committees.
- Do we have a director's report?
- We do.
- I would like to just touch on two things that are developing situations that are absent from the
- packet at the moment.
- So you may have heard about the destruction or the vandalism that happened at the mill and the
- forge.
- Emergency measures are being taken right now to stabilize the damage.
- I assume we'll have some additional resolutions coming before you sometime in the near future.
- I also want to note that we've discovered a structural issue with the mill's south wall.
- Areas of the brick wall adjacent to the vent space are as much as four and a half inches out of plumb.
- With no evidence of remaining bond in the mortar joint between the brick units.
- So it is not stable.
- Emergency and temporary measures are being taken.
- But despite these measures, no person can be within 20 feet of the wall on all sides.
- That may change with the shoring that's being installed at this moment.
- It may reduce the amount of space that persons can be within the actual wall.
- But this is a developing situation.
- I assume that it's going to be a significant one as well.
- So as numbers are available, we will be coming back to you.
- Thank you.
- Do we have a legal report?
- No.
- Okay.
- A treasurer's report?
- No significant changes in our project status, so no report today.
- Thank you.
- Do we have a business development update?
- I'll let Holly Warren give that today.
- Do you want to update us on that?
- Oh, sure.
- Hi.
- I'm Holly Warren.
- I'm the assistant director.
- I am in the Department of Economic and Sustainable Development with Jane and Anne.
- And I'm happy to report that after six years, the trades district one person for the art sculpture
- is installed.
- You can see it very prominently if you are driving down 10th Street, really from either direction.
- It is 13 beautiful beams painted in 24 colors that light up at night.
- We are very excited about this.
- We're going to launch the celebration for it this Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m.
- We'll be on site first where the mayor and the artist who is visiting from Germany for the install
- will be making some remarks.
- And then we'll have a party with the community and the party will kind of be between the sculpture
- site itself and the patio of the porch, depending on the weather.
- So yeah, hope to see you all there.
- And thank you so much for all of your support.
- This is a 1% for the arts project, which means that there's a 1% for the arts ordinance within the
- city of Bloomington that says anytime the city undertakes a public capital project,
- 1% of that public budget will go to the arts and OT 987 this installation, the trades district was
- the 1% for the arts project for the trades district.
- So very happy to finally see it.
- What time is it?
- It's from 6 to 9pm. Remarks will be at 615 and the party will go until about 9pm.
- One other quick business item. I did want to let you know we moved the tenants in the trades
- district commercial space in on April 1 so they're up and running. That's really exciting and we
- have some interest in the fourth street garage commercial as well so.
- Excellent.
- It's an activity.
- Last on this part of the agenda a hopeful update is that.
- May or okay.
- The Jackson and Rogers Street construction project that's going out to bid at the end of the month.
- Hope well east bits of course are being open. That's the first new business item you have. Our plan
- is to have our consultant use three evaluate those bits, and then come back to proposals and
- recommended next steps.
- Also the core building is coming along. They're planning on being moved in by August and then we'll
- be moving to the inside for construction.
- And then of course I've mentioned this before.
- Point of clarification, we're getting ready to receive the hopefully spits in this meeting today.
- Yes, thank you. That is the conclusion of the report that is the next thing on our agenda. So we
- have a bid opening for hope well east, who will be.
- Yeah, my great pleasure to receive these formally so what I'm going to do is open the emails that
- were sent and acknowledge timely filing by
- mentioning the name of the respondent and the time that it was submitted. So, the first respondent
- is Rubicon investment group LLC. They've submitted a response to blocks one two and three and they
- timely filed at 1159am on February 7.
- That's timely I thought it was by noon.
- I think that's timely.
- 1159am Yeah, okay.
- The second respondent.
- Real America.
- Real America LLC submitted a response on block to have hope well east, they timely filed at
- February 7 1131am.
- The third respondent is the annex group.
- Let me just double check, they responded to blocks one and three, and they timely filed on Thursday,
- February 6 at 603pm.
- The fourth respondent
- is holiday properties.
- They responded to blocks one two and three, and they timely filed at 1205am on February 7.
- I'm sorry, which one, one, two and three.
- Sorry, I'm just want to make sure I mean it's an opening is in the right order.
- And then the final respondent was Flaherty and Collins.
- I apologize that's the wrong hang on a second here with me.
- Okay, Flaherty and Collins filed a response for blocks one two and three.
- And they filed timely on February 7 at 1002am.
- And that's it.
- Can you repeat just the blocks that each of those groups submitted for takes me just a minute so Flaherty
- and Collins was one two and three.
- Sorry, my computer is being weird.
- Okay.
- And then Rubicon was one two and three.
- Real America was block two.
- Annex group was one and three.
- Holiday properties was one two and three.
- I think I said, I said Flaherty and Collins already right. Yes. Okay. I think that's it.
- Thank you for the procedure at this point would be to have staff to have those different bits
- evaluated very complex so it's not like, hey, here's a number, like we can do if it was for, you
- know, paying for a piece of pipe.
- But, so it's a complex process there's a rubric that they have that they will use to evaluate these.
- And then. So, what you would do is you have received the bits, so that's the part that is the legal
- process for tonight.
- So, what you could do is, again, take it have staff take it back and come back to you at a later
- time with a thorough explanation of the bids and what they cover and how they are rated.
- And all you had to do tonight was receive the bits. There's no further action that you need to take,
- other than allowing staff to proceed with evaluating those bits.
- So you take it under consideration.
- I'm sorry. Does that evaluation include using your three.
- Yes it does.
- There's no other business to a motion. Well, yes, I guess you can do it just to make it easy on the
- record that you are that you are authorizing staff to proceed with that evaluation.
- And you're going to take that under advisement, and it'll be at a later date that you'll consider
- these bits.
- Okay, so, as presented may I have a motion for to approve staff evaluating the bits, and getting
- back to the RDC.
- After that evaluation.
- We have a person a second all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed motion passes unanimously. Thank
- you. Just quickly before we get too far into our agenda. I want to let you know that item D is to
- be removed.
- It's 20 resolution 20 or 2551 41 41 good work.
- Okay, thank you.
- Okay, well thank you for the bid opening we'll move on to the resolutions part of our agenda. First
- on our agenda is resolution 25 dash 39 approval of Community Development Block funding agreement to
- install bicycle stores this is also the beginning
- of the, oh sorry that's the next one, public hearing is 40. So, so who's going to speak to 25 dash
- 39.
- I will match 20 with hand.
- This is a agreement with some ill community development corporation, and BHA put in by pods and
- sidewalks, and any other things associated with those like going in.
- This was a 23 agreement but the environmental review took quite a while to get done.
- We have all that squared away now so we can now approve the big.
- Okay, thank you. Any questions or comments from commissioners on resolution 25 dash 39, how many by
- pods are putting in.
- That is a good question I believe it was five or six.
- More than that I thought five or six different locations. Yeah.
- And these will be maintained by the Blooming Housing Authority once it's yes accomplished.
- And then this is a pass through grant that we forward the money to and then reimbursement current
- occur as part of our local code code, the Redevelopment Commission is the authorizing body for
- our CDBG and home grants and also you guys kind of have oversight to the hand department, which is
- why I'm the ED.
- And the only reason I asked that is we will approve the money it will come out of the either the
- tip or out of the CBDG funds, and then it will be reimbursed after.
- It never comes out of the tip. No, no, I apologize. No, I wasn't going I was it comes out of CBDG
- money.
- But it comes out of that and then it'll be reimbursed. They all CDBG and home funding is reimbursement
- basis.
- Okay. And then, as I read through your complete agreement Matt. Yes, that is a heavy lift for you
- to do all the paperwork on I appreciate you checking everything because I had no idea
- until I started looking through the Davis bacon, the environmental and all the rest of the
- requirements that go. I get a lot of help on the environmental from Anna and some other staff, but
- yeah the rest of it is handled.
- So, I appreciate that very much. Yes, you know it's $87,000 for bikes, you want to make sure that
- they're taken care of.
- Appreciate it. Can I ask a really dumb question if we don't know how many sites, or what a bike
- cost where did the $87,000 come from.
- We, I have a breakdown of all that is not included in the agreement and it's not something we have
- to be concerned with. Okay.
- But that that was developed out of knowing exactly what those. Yeah, all of that. Yeah. So that's
- all been reviewed. All right. And you agree with all of it.
- Yeah, yeah. Yeah, there's a lot of work that goes into, into this.
- There aren't any other questions or comments from commissioners. Is there any comment from the
- public on resolution 25-39. Not seeing any I will entertain a motion.
- Approval resolution 25-39 community development block grant funding to install bicycle storage pods.
- Second. We've got a first and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes
- unanimously.
- We are now moving to resolution 25-40, which is the allocation of community development block grant
- funds for the program year 2025. This is also the beginning of the public hearing on the CDBG funds.
- Who would like to present on that? Is that Mr. Swinney? Yeah. So this is our annual allocation
- recommendations from the CAC that we do every year. So this year it's totaling our estimate is
- totaling $795,743, which breaks out into 65% for physical improvements of $517,232.95.
- Social services of $119,361.45, and then 20% would be administrative, which is $159,148.60.
- We have listed in the packet all the various organizations that receive money both for physical
- improvements and social services. Happy to answer any questions.
- Thank you. Any questions or comments from commissioners on these recommendations for CDBA funds?
- Not hearing any any comment from the public, either online or in person.
- Not seeing any I will entertain a motion.
- I'll move approval resolution 25-40.
- We've got a first and a second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously
- and that is the close of the public hearing for this part of the meeting.
- Next on our agenda we are resolution 25-41 has been removed from the agenda so we're going right to
- resolution 25-42 which is the revocable right of entry for access to the 4th Street garage for the
- city of Bloomington's economic and sustainable development department.
- I would like to speak to this. Ms. Warren.
- Once again, Holly Warren, Assistant Director for the Arts, Department of Economic and Sustainable
- Development. So I'm here to request the extension of our use of the 4th Street garage vacant storefront
- to be used for artist studios and arts events.
- So we have continued to experience in the arts community here just a paucity of spaces where
- artists can make an exhibit their work and activating this space for artists to be able to come in
- and use would just really start to meet that need for us.
- We have done events successfully in this space in the past. We hosted part of the 2023 Blackie
- Brown Festival there to much success.
- We also hosted an exhibition of local and regional artists work there with a group up in Indianapolis
- called One Drop in 2022.
- That was just again an excellent showcase of work of both our local artists but also gave our
- artists the opportunity to network with other folks in this region.
- So it was very cool and it just felt good to have that otherwise empty storefront activated
- downtown.
- And we have since then just allowed artists to use it as studio space and we would just like
- artists to be able to continue to do that.
- We've also had multiple requests from folks throughout the city, including professors at Indiana
- University and folks who organize large scale events like the Grand Faloon Festival to be able to
- use that space for some of those events.
- And again we just think this would be a great activation of a space downtown to get more people
- experiencing the arts and everything that comes along with that.
- And so again we would just like to continue the trend of being able to use this space until a
- viable tenant for this space comes up and I believe the resolution as it's written now would take
- us through the end of 2026 again with the understanding that if a serious tenant came into the
- space our artist would vacate so that could happen.
- And I'm happy to answer any questions you have.
- Yeah, the revocation on just to cover, just look as Jane indicated there's been some interest in us
- and fully support the art in all manners possible in our community.
- Would the artist 30 days, 60 days just in order to not. Sure, sure. Yeah, we can. I would say 30
- days is fine with the artists like generally when we do this this is not the first space we've done
- this with artists we kind of have a rotating series of spaces where we allow them in and part of
- the understanding when we negotiate this is that, you know, if another serious tenant comes in,
- they're going to be expected to vacate pretty quickly.
- And again, so we generally say 30 days and they're pretty flexible with that I think again artists
- are just grateful to have any space right now.
- In the agreement was that the owner may revoke this agreement in the event another need arises and
- owner will endeavor to give the city and artists as much notice as is practical under the given
- circumstances at the time. Great, great paragraph and that's what I was reading in in in as far as
- why I was asking the question for the timeframe, so that if an artist is from Germany.
- Right, and we have a. He has a art display there that we give him give him or her or them the
- adequate time to vacate that without impacting the art installation.
- Maybe to commercialize these signs of these for that space. There's going to be lead time right
- before they're ready to move in anyway which is probably going to be at least 30 days if not longer.
- So it's good, I would think to keep it flexible.
- I do the artist carry any kind of insurance. Yes. Yes, so we asked them all to carry their own
- liability insurance just so we are basically exonerated if there is any damage that occurs if there's
- anything done to their personal property,
- so we would not be viable and in the past when we've done this we've worked with legal to make sure
- that they're carrying the correct insurance.
- And how do they gain access to they are they, they applied to get a key. Yes, correct. Yes. All
- right, so you can control the number as well. Oh yes, exactly. Yeah, it's it's it's understood it's
- not a free for all and, and we are also we're quite selective and who we allow to use the space we
- there's an expectation that if they're given the space that they are there to work and really be
- head down in their studios and we evaluate artists to make sure that they are demonstrating with
- their artists CV that they're going to be able to use the space.
- And we believe that they're going to take this very seriously not take advantage of it.
- Thank you.
- This may be for Jane.
- What are our current efforts to get that least to a permanent tenant.
- I think in earnest on my agenda with the legal department to sketch out some baseline terms so we
- have a live one, they're committed long term, and when if there's a time when the.
- This new tenant is interested in taking over that space too. And so it's a great opportunity I just
- hesitate to talk.
- Well, I'm not asking for a name.
- That speaks to one individual or company that you've come across, but is the is that space being
- marketed are we making any efforts to get it.
- No, it's not. I'll say it's just not being actively marketed right now beyond this. I mean, I'm
- when I'm talking to commercial agents I mentioned it.
- But FC Tucker is not representing it. We've had a discussion or we were having a discussion on a
- staff level about whether we should retain a new commercial agent, and then this potential tenant
- became available and we haven't felt like it's necessary.
- Seems like it will go through, but I think for some reason this doesn't go through then we would
- need to talk about that.
- But at the end of the day we really need to get a permanent tenant there.
- I'm happy to help the arts but it's not sustainable. Yeah.
- I'll make a motion for your promotion. Well we just had an invitation for public comment. If there's
- any public comment either online or in person.
- I want to hear the motion please. I'll make the motion to approve 2542 S percent. Second. First and
- a second.
- All in favor say aye. Aye. None opposed. Motion passes unanimously. When will the artist be?
- We've got one ready to go. And a few others right behind them. Thanks everyone. I appreciate it.
- Thank you for making use of this space well.
- Next on our agenda is resolution 25-43 approval to undertake investigation of the utilization of
- Redevelopment Commission real estate for the Bloomington Police Department headquarters and other
- uses.
- Who would like to speak to that? I would speak to it. So the mayor and staff had a meeting early in
- January to talk about a new possible location for the Bloomington Police Department.
- An idea that has been suggested is 714 Roger Street, which is owned by the Redevelopment Commission.
- It's a large concrete structure that might work perfectly for the Bloomington Police Department.
- This resolution authorizes staff to pursue the exploration of that building for use by the police
- department and provides up to $50,000 for costs, things like surveying or other consultant costs.
- Not exactly sure what would be needed at this point, but just kind of a large round number. Bloomington
- Police are excited about this location. There have been other locations in the past suggested for
- them that they didn't like as much.
- This one is ideal because it is on some major roads. They have easy access in and out of a parking
- lot there. It would obviously require quite a bit of money to rehab that building.
- Ultimately, we don't think that the redevelopment, if this idea would go forward, if the idea that
- this looks like it would work for BPD, the expectation is that the redevelopment commission would
- not hold on to this building long term, but would transfer it.
- And there would be conversations about what that transfer would look like and whether that's a sale
- or how that would work. That's way down in the future.
- But ultimately, it would be redeveloped with other dollars, not redeveloped commission dollars.
- Typically, you know, paying for a police department is not a redevelopment expense. It's just a
- typical city expense. And so we want to ask you tonight to authorize the exploration of that just
- to acknowledge because it's been talked about by the mayor, but we want to bring it to you.
- Make sure that you're okay with this idea since you guys are the owners, and then allows delegates
- to staff and staff and legal other project managers and ESD to and DPD obviously work together to
- do some due diligence and come back to you with some recommendations.
- So if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them.
- Thank you. Do we have questions or comments from commissioners on resolution of 25 days 43.
- The primary purpose of this is exploration to identify a better place for our public safety police
- officers, so they can expand themselves for significant amounts of time rather than having the
- issues that they've had at their present location.
- Yeah, what's been proposed exactly right they've outgrown their location, where it is now.
- And whatever happens to that building is yet to be determined.
- It's, it's, you know, the families of the people who originally donated that building feel very
- strongly that should be maintained for public use and I know that the mayor has met with them and
- is also interested and willing to maintain that building for
- quasi public use in order to satisfy the owners of, or the family members of the people who donated
- that land so I don't expect that current building to be reused for private use.
- It would, but they do need to get out of there they are, they are really eager to get new space and
- Showers West just was not an ideal location for them.
- And the mayor's been pretty vocal about that so she's been looking for a new place and this, you
- know, giant concrete structure looks like it could be the perfect location.
- And, and the money you're looking to allocate for this evening is just for the exploration to
- identify and we've got, we'll put a fence around that timeframe.
- Right, and then and those obviously any of those invoices that are incurred they'll come back to
- you through claims so there'll be continued conversation about what this exploration.
- Thank you. Any other questions or comments from commissioners.
- If not, I will see if there's any comment from the public either in person or online.
- Seeing none I will entertain a motion on resolution 25 dash 43.
- Go ahead, move approval resolution 25 dash 43 to undertake investigations due diligence is 714
- South Rogers.
- Second.
- First and the second all in favor say aye.
- Aye.
- Any opposed.
- Motion passes unanimously.
- Next in our agenda is resolution 25 dash 44 agreement with that for environmental services at Hopewell
- would like to speak to that.
- I'm more than happy to give you a quick synopsis. Essentially, when we came to you previously for
- environmental services at the whole site they were performing a perfect the environmental review
- for us for blocks four through seven.
- Unfortunately, there was some contamination that was found. And as part of our negotiations with
- item item is going to require some additional soil gas sampling, some additional sampling in
- general.
- So this will just cover that additional sampling as required by item. It's not something that we
- can necessarily get out of.
- Wow. Thank you. Any questions or comments from commissioners on resolution 25 to 44.
- When will this end.
- I would like to know that myself.
- As a standing question.
- Hopefully the end is near.
- Any comment from the public, either online or in person. Seeing none I will entertain a motion.
- I'll move approval of resolution 25 dash 44.
- The first and the second all in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed motion passes unanimously. We are
- now to 20 resolution 25 dash 45 and approval of a second addendum to contract with and Chris LLC to
- secure 714 South Roger Street would like to speak to that.
- I'm more than happy to in a drag a bitch to you. Okay. So as you know, previously we have had some
- agenda items that authorized boarding up of the 714 South Roger Street building.
- Initially we started with the main level we found out that we were still having break ins on the
- second level, the backside of the building on the second level was boarded up.
- Unfortunately, the contractor and our point of contract contact here in Bloomington overspent the
- amount when they went back to board up the remaining amount of the second level.
- So I think the difference at this time is about $1,600 and $1,667 that needs to be authorized to
- complete this.
- This is additional work that resulted because of vandalism is not the previous work went over. It's
- additional work had to be done.
- So basically, this resolution authorizes the payment for those services that are currently in place.
- Yes.
- With that clarification, any further comments or questions from commissioners?
- We had a police station there, that wouldn't happen.
- That's right.
- As soon as we get moving on, we have exploration.
- That's already been approved.
- Okay. No more questions or comments from commissioners. Anything from the public, either online or
- in person?
- Seeing none, I will entertain a motion, please.
- Move approval of resolution 2545, second agenda with Anne Chris for security.
- Second.
- First and a second. All in favor say aye.
- Aye.
- Any opposed? Motion passes unanimously.
- Thank you for those current items of business.
- We are now to any other business or general discussion for this evening.
- If not, I will take a motion to adjourn, please.
- So moved.
- Okay. Meeting adjourned. Thank you, everybody.
- Thank you.