Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annaliese Poorman. The Monroe County Election Board met on April
23rd and received an update on early voting numbers. According to County Clerk Nicole Brown,
332 out of 1,129 absentee ballots have been returned and 2,095 votes have been cast at Election Central so far.
Brown also discussed Senate Bill 10, which is a recently passed legislation prohibiting students from
using school IDs for voting. The legislation was blocked by a federal judge earlier this month, but
it was reinstated after a court of appeals decision on April 20th. With respect to Senate Bill 10, I
was at an election conference last week and I got a call from one of the clerks.
because I live in Bloomington and she was the one who broke news to me about the injunction. As far
as I am aware in Monroe County, one person voted in that window using their student identification.
And then just the other day, I called the Secretary of State's office to ask for some guidance on what
we would do for
any students who voted using their ID in that window. And he said, well, we just got the stay, meaning
we are not able to use IDs at this time. But a very wise person at the election conference said, this
can change back and forth between now, literally between now and election day. Brown said that poll
workers are being kept up to date on the issue as it goes through court.
Next, election supervisor Kylie Ferris read a statement from Fleet and Building Director Richard Kreider
about the election central renovations. Currently, we have not yet placed the order for voter registration
furniture, but I anticipate completing that soon. I am also in the process of obtaining a quote to replace
the remaining used chairs in the early voting area, and he attached an image of that.
And then the pedestal and activation switches for the door to enter from the lobby space into voter
registration. That is been looked at and they are working on getting that updated as well. So then there
is also the pedestal for the ADA compliance button that is on the outside of the east entrance coming
into early voting. At this time we are using a doorstop to prop that open.
They are going to be coming and setting that up soon so that we won't have to continue propping open
that door. The board moved on to talk about parking at the early voting site. Brown said people can
park in the trades district parking garage for 50 cents per hour to avoid getting parking tickets. Republican
board member Danny Shields said he finds issues with people having to pay for parking while voting.
50 cents an hour, yes. But it doesn't take long to vote.
I was able to do it in less than 10 minutes, so you might even be able to get away with just putting
a couple quarters in. Yeah. Something about having to pay to park just doesn't sit right with me. I
am merely trying to save. Oh, I understand. I understand. Because a ticket is $30. Something about that.
I wish there was a way to get around that.
The board moved on to discuss training. Brown said there would be de-escalation training for poll workers
before the general election. Democratic board member Penny Givens said that there should be also training
for emergency situations. Ferris detailed the training that poll workers currently receive.
We have a copy of every emergency exit plan and shelter in place plan for each location that goes into
the binders. We also have, in addition, the emergency guide that is the same but goes to every location,
and that is a step-by-step of this is the solutions that you should be taking, and these are the, like,
One of the portions is for a fire, you need to be talking to all of your poll workers to know where
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
binders. Ferris said the board members are welcome to stop by her office to look at the training binders.
The next meeting of the Monroe County Election Board will be May 4th.
The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on April 20th. First, Jane Cooper-Smith, director of the
city's economic and sustainability department, delivered the business development update. CAB is collecting
public feedback for the four finalists for the Convention Center of Public Art. They circulated a press
release that had a link in it, and I will push that out on the Arts Commission socials and can share
that with commissioners, but we want the public to
complete the survey, check it out, and say what you like. The Commission then discussed opening the
College Square property to public offers. The Commission also considered a proposed land swap with the
Seminary Point block, with Secretary John West speaking in opposition. Our role is not as developers.
That may be good property for a seasoned developer to take on, but that's not what we do.
And we've kind of proven it by taking us along with Hopewell. We're struggling. We've been down several
different paths to get that accomplished. Hopefully, we're on the right one now. But taking on more
ground requiring development that we have no idea how we're going to make it productive and get it back
on the rent rolls is probably not.
in our best interest or the city's best interest. Monroe County Capital Improvement Board President
John Wyckart, represented by attorney Jim Whitlatch, spoke in support of the swap. Whitlatch argued
that values should be measured beyond just monetary terms. What we propose is that prior to your public
offering, you consider a different cost benefit analysis, one of opportunity for the public good, rather
than simply a transactional one based on cash value.
perhaps there is a different return on investment to consider. We each have parcels with lands that
may have equal public value if the cost-benefit analysis is re-envisioned around achieving stated community
goals rather than cash transactions. The commission also debated whether or not to delay the offering
for 30 days. Commissioner Sue Scambalore said that she does not think that extension will be adequate.
the notion that 30 days will make a significant difference in negotiations without all of that critical
information that we are obligated to pay attention to. I don't find that a compelling argument. I also
don't find it compelling to argue that the CIB is at an inherent disadvantage compared to deeper pocket
developers. That's my expression. We are not obligated to only look at the finances.
of this and we've said that many, many times in this meeting. So we can look at the whole of a project
and the whole of its potential and indeed are expected to do so. The commission ultimately voted unanimously
to move forward with a public offering of the property. The next Bloomington RDC meeting is scheduled
for May 20th.
The Bloomington Board of Public Works met on April 21st and discussed Amendment 1 to a contract with
Crossroads Engineers for preliminary engineering of Hopewell South. Project engineer Kendall Noke explained
the contract and how it will help Hopewell's construction. So we initially entered into a contract with
Crossroads Engineers PC to do the subdivision and the design of the Hopewell South.
Neighborhood that the RDC is moving forward. There's a PUD being considered by City Council actually
tomorrow and then a lot of work to follow whatever comes out of that
But these specific items were not identified in the initial contract. This is a new water main in Wiley
and stormwater detention along Wiley. This is something that came about after further evaluation of
the site. This is something that would be required no matter what kind of development is going into
Hopewell South, so it's not dependent on the PUD. The board passed the motion unanimously.
The next item on the agenda was a contract with E&B Paving for Grimes Lane, Kirkwood Avenue, Patterson
Drive, and Rogers Street. Sarah Gomez with the city's engineering department detailed road closures
and construction during this project. The project includes resurfacing, restriping, and other work,
including replacing a traffic signal at the intersection of West Kirkwood and Rogers Street.
reconstruction of pedestrian curb ramps and crosswalks and other related maintenance work and the project
limits. The maintenance of traffic for the project will include a full road closure on West Kirkwood,
which will be a maximum of 10 days, not necessarily consecutive. For West Grimes Lane, Patterson Drive
and South Rogers, one lane road closures will be in place throughout the project. The motion passed
two to zero.
Lastly, Public Works Director Adam Wason introduced the Adopt a Roundabout policy. This is something
we've been working on for the last several months with staff from several city departments, including
Parks and Recreation, Engineering Department, and others. And so this is a program that will seek out
sponsorship monies for the support and maintenance of four of our roundabouts. This came to us after
some interested parties
asked about any programs that we had in place for such work. The motion passed unanimously. The next
meeting of the Bloomington Board of Public Works will be on May 4th. The Bloomington City Council met
on April 22nd. Multiple council members used opening reports to support a proposed land swap between
the Seminary Point and College Square properties. Council member Dave Rallo said that the land swap
would benefit multiple community stakeholders. I too
very supportive of this proposition to swap those properties because It seems to me the the outcome
could be very very good for the community Could get the CIB what they they would like in terms of a
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
in mind that the administration was proposing to
give the Bunger Robertson site away totally. So it seems that it could be feasible. Then police chief
Mike Decoff reported on the amended flock contracts and policies. Council member Isabel Piedmont Smith
asked whether all flock cameras could be turned off before the contracts expire and how access to camera
feeds would be restricted. Decoff responded.
We decide to turn them off. It would be hard for them to turn them on if we disconnect the power Okay,
and that is that your plan for the other cameras whose contract has not ended That is a conversation
that the mayor and I are going to have we've not had that conversation yet, but but yes She does not
want us to continue having any flock products. So that is that will happen
Next, the council considered a resolution reaffirming opposition to the North Park site for a new jail.
During public comment, a resident presented cost comparisons for renovation. New construction cost we
were given was the $225 million cost of the original North Park facility. I've given you two renovation
estimates from jail experts. The first is from RQAW. They estimated renovation at $62 million with the
estimated cost
of relocating inmates and services during the two-year renovation at about $16 million, so a total of
about $80 million. That same report stated the construction of just a jail and sheriff's office would
be nearly $100 million, not including land purchase, which I know what we're talking about tonight,
or construction of courts, as is the current plan if at North Park. Renovation is just simply cheaper
than new construction. The resolution passed unanimously.
Next, Kristen Weida, CEO of the Indiana Uplands Realtors Association, detailed differences between the
proposed Hopewell development options. If Hopewell is built under the proposed PUD, without any of your
amendments, the same land would support 98 homes. Those homes are smaller, they're more efficient, and
the average price of those homes, $200,000.
Nothing about the land changes. The difference is the rules. Every additional requirement that you add
to the development adds cost. The cost is passed directly to the buyer, your constituent. Where requirements
mean fewer homes and higher prices. The next Bloomington City Council meeting will be on May 6.
The Monroe County Capital Improvement Board met on April 24th and heard a resolution for a host hotel
at the Bloomington Convention Center. CIB attorney Jim Whitlatch detailed the resolution. The first
resolution, we'll take these one at a time, the first resolution is to issue a request for proposal
for development of a host hotel on the real estate that we have just acquired, which is approximately
six acres.
And we are asking approval of this board to issue a request for proposal that has been prepared by JS
held. And I think we're just waiting for a copy of that that would be attached to that resolution. But
the resolution would be to authorize the issuance of an RFP for a host hotel for the convention center
project subject to the terms.
in a form substantially similar to the RFP that's been attached, and I think that's coming right now.
The CIB authorizes its president, John Weichart, to execute any and all documents and take such other
actions as may be necessary or desirable to issue the RFP. The resolution shall be effective upon adoption.
A board member asked whether the CIB wants to clarify the incentives for hotel developers. Board President
John Weichart responded,
When we did this initially and we had a number of respondents, then we got into this whole question
about other incentives, et cetera, and you have said both in this meeting and also publicly that we
are not an organization that has a bunch of incentives in our quiver other than the land, which is of
course in this RFP. Do we want to say in this RFP explicitly, we do not have other incentives to give
you, so please don't ask for any because you're just wasting everybody's time?
Yeah, in my opinion, what we're putting out to hotel developers is telling them what we have to offer
them. I think when we get responses from the RFP, we'll know if they're asking something else of us,
and then that will help us determine whether we accept or reject their responses to us. So I think we're
better simply making the statement, here's what we have, and then awaiting responses and then judging
those responses.
Weichart said that the board set a June 30th deadline regarding requests for proposals or RFP. The board
approved the resolution unanimously. Then the CIB heard a second proposal for obtaining appraisals and
environmental reports for newly acquired real estate. This request for action from this board is to
put out a request for
information or actually what we're asking is that we be authorized to enter into an agreements to obtain
appraisals of the real estate that we've just acquired approximately six acres.
and fair market value appraisals and we're asking for two of those to be at a minimum of two of those
to be prepared and we're also asking for appropriate environmental reports which would encompass a phase
one report. So the actual action item is that the request is that the CIB authorize JSL to work with
CIB President John Weichart to obtain proposals for appraisals and appropriate environmental reports,
environmental reports for the real estate. The CIB authorizes President John Weichart to execute any
and all documents and take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable to accept any proposals
and to move forward with appraisals and appropriate environmental reports.
Senior Vice President at JS Held, Deb Kunz, provided a timeline for the project and further expounded
on the details of the contract. The first step is a phase one environmental site assessment and those
are not going to exceed $10,000 in terms of the fee for the amount of properties that we have here.
So I would expect that that one in particular to be 10,000 or less. And I think it actually might be
several thousand dollars less. So I think 10 would be
a max to expect. As far as the appraisals go, we will need two independent appraisals. And those, if
you look at both of them together, it could be anywhere from $60,000 to $70,000 maybe total is what
we're talking about when we think about the appraisals. When they appraise those, they'll do it by parcel?
They will appraise by parcel. The environmental reports will be done as a whole because
and the environment doesn't know parcel lines. So we'll look at those holistically, but individually
will be the parcels. And it's how they came to you is how they will be. So it'll be by parcel number.
The board approved the resolution unanimously. During public comment, a representative for the group
Bloomington Homes for All urged the board to consider a land swap to save Seminary Point Apartments
from demolition. We're asking that the Capital Improvement Board
to continue negotiations with the Redevelopment Commission to preserve the affordable housing at Seminary
Point through a land swap. Seminary Point is a home to 29 units of existing affordable housing, beloved
local non-for-profit My Sister's Closet, and a community gathering place, Friendly Beast Cider Company.
In a housing crisis, these are homes and community spaces we cannot afford to
lose. We understand that the CIB sees North College Square as the ideal site for the Convention Center
Hotel, and many in the Bloomington community feel the same. At Monday's RDC meeting, Mr. Whitecart suggested
that if the RDC proceeds with the public offering, the CIB may
pivot to the South and West properties. We ask that you not pivot away from the land swap negotiations
and continue to pursue the best outcomes for the community as a whole. Wednesday night, there were several
council members that were in favor of the swap. And we want to encourage that you look through those comments.
A few action items which you just spoke about is getting the appraisal and the environmental study done.
We also would like you to extend the tenant leases past the July deadline and stop raising rent on tenants
paying month to month, and provide us with the opportunity to present our vision for seminary points
future. In a housing crisis, preserving affordable housing isn't just a priority, it's an obligation.
Local activist Bryce Green with Bloomington Democratic Socialists of America also advocated for preserving
affordable housing in the city. This is a housing crisis. And I think every step ought to be made. Every
meeting ought to be had. Every call ought to be made to do our best to preserve this. And like, I know
it's on the RDC side, but again, time is of the essence. These leases expire in July.
Again, like to ask that these leases be extended at least a little bit while this thing gets settled.
I think we all want the same thing here. You guys want that property and we wanna keep Seminary Point
affordable housing. And I think there's a way forward with that. The next meeting of the Monroe County
CIB will take place on May 20th. And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats and
WFHB, I'm Annaliese Boorman.