WEBVTT 00:00:04.706 --> 00:00:12.320 - Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annaliese Poorman. The Monroe County Election Board met on April 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:19.331 - 23rd and received an update on early voting numbers. According to County Clerk Nicole Brown, 00:00:19.331 --> 00:00:27.774 - 332 out of 1,129 absentee ballots have been returned and 2,095 votes have been cast at Election Central so far. 00:00:27.906 --> 00:00:34.416 - Brown also discussed Senate Bill 10, which is a recently passed legislation prohibiting students from 00:00:34.416 --> 00:00:40.798 - using school IDs for voting. The legislation was blocked by a federal judge earlier this month, but 00:00:40.798 --> 00:00:47.244 - it was reinstated after a court of appeals decision on April 20th. With respect to Senate Bill 10, I 00:00:47.244 --> 00:00:52.414 - was at an election conference last week and I got a call from one of the clerks. 00:00:53.186 --> 00:01:01.581 - because I live in Bloomington and she was the one who broke news to me about the injunction. As far 00:01:01.581 --> 00:01:09.976 - as I am aware in Monroe County, one person voted in that window using their student identification. 00:01:09.976 --> 00:01:18.623 - And then just the other day, I called the Secretary of State's office to ask for some guidance on what 00:01:18.623 --> 00:01:19.966 - we would do for 00:01:20.162 --> 00:01:27.206 - any students who voted using their ID in that window. And he said, well, we just got the stay, meaning 00:01:27.206 --> 00:01:34.182 - we are not able to use IDs at this time. But a very wise person at the election conference said, this 00:01:34.182 --> 00:01:41.021 - can change back and forth between now, literally between now and election day. Brown said that poll 00:01:41.021 --> 00:01:46.014 - workers are being kept up to date on the issue as it goes through court. 00:01:46.850 --> 00:01:53.644 - Next, election supervisor Kylie Ferris read a statement from Fleet and Building Director Richard Kreider 00:01:53.644 --> 00:02:00.567 - about the election central renovations. Currently, we have not yet placed the order for voter registration 00:02:00.567 --> 00:02:07.490 - furniture, but I anticipate completing that soon. I am also in the process of obtaining a quote to replace 00:02:07.490 --> 00:02:13.054 - the remaining used chairs in the early voting area, and he attached an image of that. 00:02:15.170 --> 00:02:22.214 - And then the pedestal and activation switches for the door to enter from the lobby space into voter 00:02:22.214 --> 00:02:29.610 - registration. That is been looked at and they are working on getting that updated as well. So then there 00:02:29.610 --> 00:02:36.795 - is also the pedestal for the ADA compliance button that is on the outside of the east entrance coming 00:02:36.795 --> 00:02:42.078 - into early voting. At this time we are using a doorstop to prop that open. 00:02:42.274 --> 00:02:48.274 - They are going to be coming and setting that up soon so that we won't have to continue propping open 00:02:48.274 --> 00:02:54.215 - that door. The board moved on to talk about parking at the early voting site. Brown said people can 00:02:54.215 --> 00:03:00.751 - park in the trades district parking garage for 50 cents per hour to avoid getting parking tickets. Republican 00:03:00.751 --> 00:03:06.692 - board member Danny Shields said he finds issues with people having to pay for parking while voting. 00:03:06.692 --> 00:03:10.078 - 50 cents an hour, yes. But it doesn't take long to vote. 00:03:10.402 --> 00:03:17.383 - I was able to do it in less than 10 minutes, so you might even be able to get away with just putting 00:03:17.383 --> 00:03:24.296 - a couple quarters in. Yeah. Something about having to pay to park just doesn't sit right with me. I 00:03:24.296 --> 00:03:31.554 - am merely trying to save. Oh, I understand. I understand. Because a ticket is $30. Something about that. 00:03:31.554 --> 00:03:34.526 - I wish there was a way to get around that. 00:03:34.722 --> 00:03:41.036 - The board moved on to discuss training. Brown said there would be de-escalation training for poll workers 00:03:41.036 --> 00:03:47.350 - before the general election. Democratic board member Penny Givens said that there should be also training 00:03:47.350 --> 00:03:52.830 - for emergency situations. Ferris detailed the training that poll workers currently receive. 00:03:53.090 --> 00:04:00.061 - We have a copy of every emergency exit plan and shelter in place plan for each location that goes into 00:04:00.061 --> 00:04:07.167 - the binders. We also have, in addition, the emergency guide that is the same but goes to every location, 00:04:07.167 --> 00:04:14.206 - and that is a step-by-step of this is the solutions that you should be taking, and these are the, like, 00:04:14.530 --> 00:04:19.955 - One of the portions is for a fire, you need to be talking to all of your poll workers to know where 00:04:19.955 --> 00:04:25.651 - to go to meet at if there is a fire. And that's going over those plans as well as what's inside of those 00:04:25.651 --> 00:04:31.401 - binders. Ferris said the board members are welcome to stop by her office to look at the training binders. 00:04:31.401 --> 00:04:35.198 - The next meeting of the Monroe County Election Board will be May 4th. 00:04:36.418 --> 00:04:42.574 - The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on April 20th. First, Jane Cooper-Smith, director of the 00:04:42.574 --> 00:04:49.092 - city's economic and sustainability department, delivered the business development update. CAB is collecting 00:04:49.092 --> 00:04:55.369 - public feedback for the four finalists for the Convention Center of Public Art. They circulated a press 00:04:55.369 --> 00:05:01.464 - release that had a link in it, and I will push that out on the Arts Commission socials and can share 00:05:01.464 --> 00:05:04.542 - that with commissioners, but we want the public to 00:05:04.706 --> 00:05:12.110 - complete the survey, check it out, and say what you like. The Commission then discussed opening the 00:05:12.110 --> 00:05:19.735 - College Square property to public offers. The Commission also considered a proposed land swap with the 00:05:19.735 --> 00:05:27.287 - Seminary Point block, with Secretary John West speaking in opposition. Our role is not as developers. 00:05:27.287 --> 00:05:33.950 - That may be good property for a seasoned developer to take on, but that's not what we do. 00:05:35.138 --> 00:05:43.326 - And we've kind of proven it by taking us along with Hopewell. We're struggling. We've been down several 00:05:43.326 --> 00:05:51.199 - different paths to get that accomplished. Hopefully, we're on the right one now. But taking on more 00:05:51.199 --> 00:05:59.386 - ground requiring development that we have no idea how we're going to make it productive and get it back 00:05:59.386 --> 00:06:02.142 - on the rent rolls is probably not. 00:06:02.626 --> 00:06:08.769 - in our best interest or the city's best interest. Monroe County Capital Improvement Board President 00:06:08.769 --> 00:06:14.912 - John Wyckart, represented by attorney Jim Whitlatch, spoke in support of the swap. Whitlatch argued 00:06:14.912 --> 00:06:21.300 - that values should be measured beyond just monetary terms. What we propose is that prior to your public 00:06:21.300 --> 00:06:27.750 - offering, you consider a different cost benefit analysis, one of opportunity for the public good, rather 00:06:27.750 --> 00:06:31.006 - than simply a transactional one based on cash value. 00:06:31.394 --> 00:06:37.158 - perhaps there is a different return on investment to consider. We each have parcels with lands that 00:06:37.158 --> 00:06:43.382 - may have equal public value if the cost-benefit analysis is re-envisioned around achieving stated community 00:06:43.382 --> 00:06:49.261 - goals rather than cash transactions. The commission also debated whether or not to delay the offering 00:06:49.261 --> 00:06:55.198 - for 30 days. Commissioner Sue Scambalore said that she does not think that extension will be adequate. 00:06:55.362 --> 00:07:03.168 - the notion that 30 days will make a significant difference in negotiations without all of that critical 00:07:03.168 --> 00:07:10.900 - information that we are obligated to pay attention to. I don't find that a compelling argument. I also 00:07:10.900 --> 00:07:18.706 - don't find it compelling to argue that the CIB is at an inherent disadvantage compared to deeper pocket 00:07:18.706 --> 00:07:25.086 - developers. That's my expression. We are not obligated to only look at the finances. 00:07:25.218 --> 00:07:32.934 - of this and we've said that many, many times in this meeting. So we can look at the whole of a project 00:07:32.934 --> 00:07:41.100 - and the whole of its potential and indeed are expected to do so. The commission ultimately voted unanimously 00:07:41.100 --> 00:07:48.741 - to move forward with a public offering of the property. The next Bloomington RDC meeting is scheduled 00:07:48.741 --> 00:07:49.790 - for May 20th. 00:07:51.010 --> 00:07:57.937 - The Bloomington Board of Public Works met on April 21st and discussed Amendment 1 to a contract with 00:07:57.937 --> 00:08:05.344 - Crossroads Engineers for preliminary engineering of Hopewell South. Project engineer Kendall Noke explained 00:08:05.344 --> 00:08:12.477 - the contract and how it will help Hopewell's construction. So we initially entered into a contract with 00:08:12.477 --> 00:08:18.238 - Crossroads Engineers PC to do the subdivision and the design of the Hopewell South. 00:08:18.466 --> 00:08:25.783 - Neighborhood that the RDC is moving forward. There's a PUD being considered by City Council actually 00:08:25.783 --> 00:08:30.782 - tomorrow and then a lot of work to follow whatever comes out of that 00:08:30.882 --> 00:08:37.116 - But these specific items were not identified in the initial contract. This is a new water main in Wiley 00:08:37.116 --> 00:08:43.110 - and stormwater detention along Wiley. This is something that came about after further evaluation of 00:08:43.110 --> 00:08:49.104 - the site. This is something that would be required no matter what kind of development is going into 00:08:49.104 --> 00:08:54.558 - Hopewell South, so it's not dependent on the PUD. The board passed the motion unanimously. 00:08:55.330 --> 00:09:02.529 - The next item on the agenda was a contract with E&B Paving for Grimes Lane, Kirkwood Avenue, Patterson 00:09:02.529 --> 00:09:09.517 - Drive, and Rogers Street. Sarah Gomez with the city's engineering department detailed road closures 00:09:09.517 --> 00:09:16.506 - and construction during this project. The project includes resurfacing, restriping, and other work, 00:09:16.506 --> 00:09:23.006 - including replacing a traffic signal at the intersection of West Kirkwood and Rogers Street. 00:09:23.394 --> 00:09:30.169 - reconstruction of pedestrian curb ramps and crosswalks and other related maintenance work and the project 00:09:30.169 --> 00:09:36.688 - limits. The maintenance of traffic for the project will include a full road closure on West Kirkwood, 00:09:36.688 --> 00:09:43.272 - which will be a maximum of 10 days, not necessarily consecutive. For West Grimes Lane, Patterson Drive 00:09:43.272 --> 00:09:49.663 - and South Rogers, one lane road closures will be in place throughout the project. The motion passed 00:09:49.663 --> 00:09:50.494 - two to zero. 00:09:51.170 --> 00:09:57.783 - Lastly, Public Works Director Adam Wason introduced the Adopt a Roundabout policy. This is something 00:09:57.783 --> 00:10:04.462 - we've been working on for the last several months with staff from several city departments, including 00:10:04.462 --> 00:10:11.141 - Parks and Recreation, Engineering Department, and others. And so this is a program that will seek out 00:10:11.141 --> 00:10:17.755 - sponsorship monies for the support and maintenance of four of our roundabouts. This came to us after 00:10:17.755 --> 00:10:19.326 - some interested parties 00:10:19.714 --> 00:10:26.043 - asked about any programs that we had in place for such work. The motion passed unanimously. The next 00:10:26.043 --> 00:10:32.434 - meeting of the Bloomington Board of Public Works will be on May 4th. The Bloomington City Council met 00:10:32.434 --> 00:10:38.763 - on April 22nd. Multiple council members used opening reports to support a proposed land swap between 00:10:38.763 --> 00:10:45.029 - the Seminary Point and College Square properties. Council member Dave Rallo said that the land swap 00:10:45.029 --> 00:10:48.350 - would benefit multiple community stakeholders. I too 00:10:48.450 --> 00:10:56.485 - very supportive of this proposition to swap those properties because It seems to me the the outcome 00:10:56.485 --> 00:11:04.520 - could be very very good for the community Could get the CIB what they they would like in terms of a 00:11:04.520 --> 00:11:12.797 - site for a hotel It isn't a one-to-one in terms of market value of the land but I think we should keep 00:11:12.797 --> 00:11:16.734 - in mind that the administration was proposing to 00:11:16.898 --> 00:11:24.657 - give the Bunger Robertson site away totally. So it seems that it could be feasible. Then police chief 00:11:24.657 --> 00:11:32.492 - Mike Decoff reported on the amended flock contracts and policies. Council member Isabel Piedmont Smith 00:11:32.492 --> 00:11:40.479 - asked whether all flock cameras could be turned off before the contracts expire and how access to camera 00:11:40.479 --> 00:11:43.902 - feeds would be restricted. Decoff responded. 00:11:44.290 --> 00:11:50.066 - We decide to turn them off. It would be hard for them to turn them on if we disconnect the power Okay, 00:11:50.066 --> 00:11:55.729 - and that is that your plan for the other cameras whose contract has not ended That is a conversation 00:11:55.729 --> 00:12:01.392 - that the mayor and I are going to have we've not had that conversation yet, but but yes She does not 00:12:01.392 --> 00:12:05.598 - want us to continue having any flock products. So that is that will happen 00:12:05.890 --> 00:12:12.498 - Next, the council considered a resolution reaffirming opposition to the North Park site for a new jail. 00:12:12.498 --> 00:12:18.980 - During public comment, a resident presented cost comparisons for renovation. New construction cost we 00:12:18.980 --> 00:12:25.588 - were given was the $225 million cost of the original North Park facility. I've given you two renovation 00:12:25.588 --> 00:12:32.133 - estimates from jail experts. The first is from RQAW. They estimated renovation at $62 million with the 00:12:32.133 --> 00:12:33.086 - estimated cost 00:12:33.410 --> 00:12:38.798 - of relocating inmates and services during the two-year renovation at about $16 million, so a total of 00:12:38.798 --> 00:12:44.185 - about $80 million. That same report stated the construction of just a jail and sheriff's office would 00:12:44.185 --> 00:12:49.467 - be nearly $100 million, not including land purchase, which I know what we're talking about tonight, 00:12:49.467 --> 00:12:54.854 - or construction of courts, as is the current plan if at North Park. Renovation is just simply cheaper 00:12:54.854 --> 00:12:57.918 - than new construction. The resolution passed unanimously. 00:12:58.818 --> 00:13:06.815 - Next, Kristen Weida, CEO of the Indiana Uplands Realtors Association, detailed differences between the 00:13:06.815 --> 00:13:14.889 - proposed Hopewell development options. If Hopewell is built under the proposed PUD, without any of your 00:13:14.889 --> 00:13:22.886 - amendments, the same land would support 98 homes. Those homes are smaller, they're more efficient, and 00:13:22.886 --> 00:13:26.302 - the average price of those homes, $200,000. 00:13:28.034 --> 00:13:37.000 - Nothing about the land changes. The difference is the rules. Every additional requirement that you add 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:46.489 - to the development adds cost. The cost is passed directly to the buyer, your constituent. Where requirements 00:13:46.489 --> 00:13:54.846 - mean fewer homes and higher prices. The next Bloomington City Council meeting will be on May 6. 00:13:55.970 --> 00:14:02.764 - The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board met on April 24th and heard a resolution for a host hotel 00:14:02.764 --> 00:14:09.426 - at the Bloomington Convention Center. CIB attorney Jim Whitlatch detailed the resolution. The first 00:14:09.426 --> 00:14:16.087 - resolution, we'll take these one at a time, the first resolution is to issue a request for proposal 00:14:16.087 --> 00:14:22.881 - for development of a host hotel on the real estate that we have just acquired, which is approximately 00:14:22.881 --> 00:14:23.614 - six acres. 00:14:23.714 --> 00:14:32.433 - And we are asking approval of this board to issue a request for proposal that has been prepared by JS 00:14:32.433 --> 00:14:41.237 - held. And I think we're just waiting for a copy of that that would be attached to that resolution. But 00:14:41.237 --> 00:14:50.042 - the resolution would be to authorize the issuance of an RFP for a host hotel for the convention center 00:14:50.042 --> 00:14:52.606 - project subject to the terms. 00:14:52.706 --> 00:14:59.454 - in a form substantially similar to the RFP that's been attached, and I think that's coming right now. 00:14:59.454 --> 00:15:06.201 - The CIB authorizes its president, John Weichart, to execute any and all documents and take such other 00:15:06.201 --> 00:15:13.346 - actions as may be necessary or desirable to issue the RFP. The resolution shall be effective upon adoption. 00:15:13.346 --> 00:15:20.424 - A board member asked whether the CIB wants to clarify the incentives for hotel developers. Board President 00:15:20.424 --> 00:15:22.078 - John Weichart responded, 00:15:22.434 --> 00:15:28.469 - When we did this initially and we had a number of respondents, then we got into this whole question 00:15:28.469 --> 00:15:34.504 - about other incentives, et cetera, and you have said both in this meeting and also publicly that we 00:15:34.504 --> 00:15:40.659 - are not an organization that has a bunch of incentives in our quiver other than the land, which is of 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:46.815 - course in this RFP. Do we want to say in this RFP explicitly, we do not have other incentives to give 00:15:46.815 --> 00:15:51.582 - you, so please don't ask for any because you're just wasting everybody's time? 00:15:53.570 --> 00:16:00.548 - Yeah, in my opinion, what we're putting out to hotel developers is telling them what we have to offer 00:16:00.548 --> 00:16:07.458 - them. I think when we get responses from the RFP, we'll know if they're asking something else of us, 00:16:07.458 --> 00:16:14.641 - and then that will help us determine whether we accept or reject their responses to us. So I think we're 00:16:14.641 --> 00:16:21.619 - better simply making the statement, here's what we have, and then awaiting responses and then judging 00:16:21.619 --> 00:16:22.782 - those responses. 00:16:22.946 --> 00:16:31.925 - Weichart said that the board set a June 30th deadline regarding requests for proposals or RFP. The board 00:16:31.925 --> 00:16:40.733 - approved the resolution unanimously. Then the CIB heard a second proposal for obtaining appraisals and 00:16:40.733 --> 00:16:49.285 - environmental reports for newly acquired real estate. This request for action from this board is to 00:16:49.285 --> 00:16:51.166 - put out a request for 00:16:51.682 --> 00:16:59.163 - information or actually what we're asking is that we be authorized to enter into an agreements to obtain 00:16:59.163 --> 00:17:04.862 - appraisals of the real estate that we've just acquired approximately six acres. 00:17:04.994 --> 00:17:13.343 - and fair market value appraisals and we're asking for two of those to be at a minimum of two of those 00:17:13.343 --> 00:17:21.938 - to be prepared and we're also asking for appropriate environmental reports which would encompass a phase 00:17:21.938 --> 00:17:30.206 - one report. So the actual action item is that the request is that the CIB authorize JSL to work with 00:17:30.402 --> 00:17:36.689 - CIB President John Weichart to obtain proposals for appraisals and appropriate environmental reports, 00:17:36.689 --> 00:17:42.914 - environmental reports for the real estate. The CIB authorizes President John Weichart to execute any 00:17:42.914 --> 00:17:49.263 - and all documents and take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable to accept any proposals 00:17:49.263 --> 00:17:53.886 - and to move forward with appraisals and appropriate environmental reports. 00:17:54.082 --> 00:18:00.012 - Senior Vice President at JS Held, Deb Kunz, provided a timeline for the project and further expounded 00:18:00.012 --> 00:18:05.942 - on the details of the contract. The first step is a phase one environmental site assessment and those 00:18:05.942 --> 00:18:11.755 - are not going to exceed $10,000 in terms of the fee for the amount of properties that we have here. 00:18:11.755 --> 00:18:17.627 - So I would expect that that one in particular to be 10,000 or less. And I think it actually might be 00:18:17.627 --> 00:18:20.766 - several thousand dollars less. So I think 10 would be 00:18:20.930 --> 00:18:27.834 - a max to expect. As far as the appraisals go, we will need two independent appraisals. And those, if 00:18:27.834 --> 00:18:34.669 - you look at both of them together, it could be anywhere from $60,000 to $70,000 maybe total is what 00:18:34.669 --> 00:18:41.983 - we're talking about when we think about the appraisals. When they appraise those, they'll do it by parcel? 00:18:41.983 --> 00:18:47.998 - They will appraise by parcel. The environmental reports will be done as a whole because 00:18:48.642 --> 00:18:54.719 - and the environment doesn't know parcel lines. So we'll look at those holistically, but individually 00:18:54.719 --> 00:19:00.857 - will be the parcels. And it's how they came to you is how they will be. So it'll be by parcel number. 00:19:00.857 --> 00:19:06.934 - The board approved the resolution unanimously. During public comment, a representative for the group 00:19:06.934 --> 00:19:12.951 - Bloomington Homes for All urged the board to consider a land swap to save Seminary Point Apartments 00:19:12.951 --> 00:19:16.862 - from demolition. We're asking that the Capital Improvement Board 00:19:17.090 --> 00:19:25.171 - to continue negotiations with the Redevelopment Commission to preserve the affordable housing at Seminary 00:19:25.171 --> 00:19:33.099 - Point through a land swap. Seminary Point is a home to 29 units of existing affordable housing, beloved 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:41.028 - local non-for-profit My Sister's Closet, and a community gathering place, Friendly Beast Cider Company. 00:19:41.028 --> 00:19:46.974 - In a housing crisis, these are homes and community spaces we cannot afford to 00:19:47.106 --> 00:19:54.488 - lose. We understand that the CIB sees North College Square as the ideal site for the Convention Center 00:19:54.488 --> 00:20:02.299 - Hotel, and many in the Bloomington community feel the same. At Monday's RDC meeting, Mr. Whitecart suggested 00:20:02.299 --> 00:20:06.814 - that if the RDC proceeds with the public offering, the CIB may 00:20:07.138 --> 00:20:15.864 - pivot to the South and West properties. We ask that you not pivot away from the land swap negotiations 00:20:15.864 --> 00:20:24.930 - and continue to pursue the best outcomes for the community as a whole. Wednesday night, there were several 00:20:24.930 --> 00:20:34.334 - council members that were in favor of the swap. And we want to encourage that you look through those comments. 00:20:34.466 --> 00:20:42.051 - A few action items which you just spoke about is getting the appraisal and the environmental study done. 00:20:42.051 --> 00:20:49.781 - We also would like you to extend the tenant leases past the July deadline and stop raising rent on tenants 00:20:49.781 --> 00:20:57.077 - paying month to month, and provide us with the opportunity to present our vision for seminary points 00:20:57.077 --> 00:21:04.446 - future. In a housing crisis, preserving affordable housing isn't just a priority, it's an obligation. 00:21:04.674 --> 00:21:11.572 - Local activist Bryce Green with Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America also advocated for preserving 00:21:11.572 --> 00:21:18.341 - affordable housing in the city. This is a housing crisis. And I think every step ought to be made. Every 00:21:18.341 --> 00:21:24.982 - meeting ought to be had. Every call ought to be made to do our best to preserve this. And like, I know 00:21:24.982 --> 00:21:30.526 - it's on the RDC side, but again, time is of the essence. These leases expire in July. 00:21:30.818 --> 00:21:37.516 - Again, like to ask that these leases be extended at least a little bit while this thing gets settled. 00:21:37.516 --> 00:21:44.214 - I think we all want the same thing here. You guys want that property and we wanna keep Seminary Point 00:21:44.214 --> 00:21:50.978 - affordable housing. And I think there's a way forward with that. The next meeting of the Monroe County 00:21:50.978 --> 00:21:57.742 - CIB will take place on May 20th. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats and 00:21:57.742 --> 00:21:59.646 - WFHB, I'm Annaliese Boorman.