WEBVTT 00:00:04.738 --> 00:00:11.202 - Hello and welcome to Cats Week. I'm Annalise Poorman. The Bloomington Redevelopment Commission met on 00:00:11.202 --> 00:00:17.857 - July 20th and received two proposals to redevelop the College Square site downtown. Each proposal paired 00:00:17.857 --> 00:00:24.195 - a new hotel with housing, but city officials say they need time to evaluate details before deciding 00:00:24.195 --> 00:00:31.166 - what comes next. The first proposal comes from Concord Hospitality, while the other is from Dora Hospitality. 00:00:31.522 --> 00:00:37.644 - The city's economic and sustainability director, Anna Killian Hanson, announced the first proposal. 00:00:37.644 --> 00:00:43.828 - Our proposal recognizes the opportunity for both a hotel that meets the functional needs outlined in 00:00:43.828 --> 00:00:50.318 - the offering sheet, including approximately 160 rooms, full service amenities, and support for convention 00:00:50.318 --> 00:00:56.563 - center activity, and a complementary mixed use residential component that supports downtown vitality, 00:00:56.563 --> 00:00:59.134 - integrates housing, including replacement 00:00:59.490 --> 00:01:06.600 - of significantly affordable below market rate units and activates the district beyond event-driven demand. 00:01:06.600 --> 00:01:12.779 - Killian Hansen described the competing proposal from Dora Hospitality. The proposal delivers 00:01:12.779 --> 00:01:19.491 - two complimentary projects on a single site, a 135-room boutique upscale hotel on a southern portion 00:01:19.491 --> 00:01:26.135 - of the project site along 3rd Street, and an approximately 100-unit market rate apartment community 00:01:26.135 --> 00:01:28.926 - on the northern portion along 4th Street. 00:01:29.570 --> 00:01:35.476 - connecting them as a landscaped promenade running through the interior of the block, a shared gathering 00:01:35.476 --> 00:01:41.211 - space that activates the heart of the site and draws pedestrians from College Avenue to the beeline. 00:01:41.211 --> 00:01:47.003 - She maintained that the commission is merely reviewing the proposals and not officially voting on any 00:01:47.003 --> 00:01:52.738 - items. We will need to do a deep dive into what these actually say. City officials will now evaluate 00:01:52.738 --> 00:01:57.054 - both proposals before bringing them back to the RDC for further discussion. 00:01:57.730 --> 00:02:04.422 - The Redevelopment Commission will meet again on August 3rd. The Bloomington City Council met on July 00:02:04.422 --> 00:02:11.114 - 22nd. The Council heard a resolution that would issue up to $100 million in bonds to purchase nearly 00:02:11.114 --> 00:02:17.939 - 1,000 affordable housing units across five apartment complexes from Hometown Group. Executive Director 00:02:17.939 --> 00:02:23.902 - for the Bloomington Housing Authority, Nathan Ferreira, detailed the properties included. 00:02:24.098 --> 00:02:31.026 - The hometown group properties consist of five apartment complexes around town. Those are highlighted 00:02:31.026 --> 00:02:38.161 - in the map. Woodland Springs, Basswood, Northcrest, Kingston Manor and Summit Point. Totally 924 units. 00:02:38.161 --> 00:02:45.226 - Ferrer says he hopes to preserve affordable housing before it's redeveloped. We are excited about this 00:02:45.226 --> 00:02:48.862 - project for a number of reasons. First and foremost, 00:02:49.378 --> 00:02:57.211 - Preservation of workforce housing, of naturally occurring affordable rents is our primary goal here. 00:02:57.211 --> 00:03:05.044 - He said that federal funding support has continued to decline, forcing the Housing Authority to find 00:03:05.044 --> 00:03:12.877 - new revenue sources. Our revenue from HUD has become less dependable. We have faced cuts in the form 00:03:12.877 --> 00:03:15.902 - of no inflationary increase this year. 00:03:16.354 --> 00:03:22.600 - And a freeze on issuing any new vouchers. So that means when a voucher gets retired somebody doesn't 00:03:22.600 --> 00:03:28.846 - need anymore We are not issuing new ones since last July. So we're we're stuck in a pretty difficult 00:03:28.846 --> 00:03:35.091 - financial spot We estimate that bringing on these properties post construction will generate about a 00:03:35.091 --> 00:03:40.286 - million dollars of revenue per year and in the next five to ten years, we would put 00:03:40.738 --> 00:03:46.881 - hopefully at least one of these in five years through a light tech or a rat like conversion so that 00:03:46.881 --> 00:03:53.393 - we can create deeper affordability. Bond attorney Chris Cashman from ICE Miller emphasized that taxpayers 00:03:53.393 --> 00:03:59.721 - would not be responsible if the bonds are not successful. They're payable solely from project revenues 00:03:59.721 --> 00:04:05.926 - and surplus funds of the BHA. They're not payable from taxes and they're not a general obligation of 00:04:05.926 --> 00:04:09.182 - the city and issuing these bonds will have no effect 00:04:09.890 --> 00:04:16.673 - sorry, effect on the constitutional debt limit or bank qualified limit of the city. Council member Isabel 00:04:16.673 --> 00:04:23.584 - Piedmont-Smith asked why the request authorized up to $100 million. Cashman maintained the bond is expected 00:04:23.584 --> 00:04:29.983 - to be lower than that. As it stands now, what we're modeling is assuming the existing debt and then 00:04:29.983 --> 00:04:36.510 - a smaller bond issuance amount somewhere around, it depends on what the debt service requirements can 00:04:36.510 --> 00:04:39.134 - handle, but somewhere around 32 million. 00:04:39.650 --> 00:04:45.654 - of a bond issuance if we go the route where the existing debt is assumed. Council member Matt Flaherty 00:04:45.654 --> 00:04:51.600 - asked what the biggest risk would be. Ferreira said that while he believes there is risk involved for 00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:57.662 - the BHA, he sees the effort to develop and maintain affordable housing as worthwhile. What do you think 00:04:57.662 --> 00:05:03.724 - are the most significant risks of this proposal? I mean, it's a pretty significant amount of debt. What 00:05:03.724 --> 00:05:08.446 - could go wrong? How are you anticipating that? What are the downside risks here? 00:05:09.058 --> 00:05:19.006 - Absolutely, there is risk here. To the BHA, these are general revenue pledge bonds. What that means 00:05:19.006 --> 00:05:29.053 - is anything that's already not tied up in a commitment. So anything beyond what is owed to HUD or to 00:05:29.053 --> 00:05:32.734 - our investors would be at risk here. 00:05:33.250 --> 00:05:42.293 - We feel like developing affordable housing, preserving affordable housing, addressing our housing shortage 00:05:42.293 --> 00:05:50.997 - is a statutory responsibility of the Housing Authority. So we see this risk as worthwhile. These types 00:05:50.997 --> 00:05:57.758 - of deals have been done before, mostly in larger places, so we're a little new. 00:05:57.922 --> 00:06:04.283 - in that we're a smaller housing authority, smaller community attempting this, but there's no reason 00:06:04.283 --> 00:06:11.026 - in my mind that we shouldn't, we should not try this. Ferreira says the BHA selected these five apartment 00:06:11.026 --> 00:06:17.705 - complexes because they are deteriorating and vulnerable to redevelopment. We know that at least a couple 00:06:17.705 --> 00:06:19.422 - of these properties are in 00:06:19.586 --> 00:06:27.266 - very poor condition. We actually conduct inspections because we have vouchers at several of these. And 00:06:27.266 --> 00:06:35.021 - we've had to address many issues with the current landlord at several of these properties. We know that 00:06:35.021 --> 00:06:42.850 - two, Kingston Manor and Summit Point are at locations that would be prime for redevelopment. Given their 00:06:42.850 --> 00:06:45.982 - locations, we would assume those would be 00:06:46.114 --> 00:06:52.991 - demoed and redeveloped as student housing like what you've seen around town. Our goal here in terms 00:06:52.991 --> 00:06:59.938 - of preservation would be to do the needed fixes and then do a much larger rehab. Council member Kate 00:06:59.938 --> 00:07:06.884 - Rosenberger asked whether Seminary Point could someday be part of a similar effort. Can you speak to 00:07:06.884 --> 00:07:14.174 - why the Seminary Point properties most likely could not be considered for part of this purchase and bond? 00:07:15.522 --> 00:07:24.371 - I don't know if I can speak to that, but on a side note, we have been part of the conversation about 00:07:24.371 --> 00:07:33.133 - Seminary Point throughout, and that conversation is continuing. We have not contemplated attempting 00:07:33.133 --> 00:07:42.421 - to sell bonds to purchase any other properties beyond this deal, which this deal we've been contemplating 00:07:42.421 --> 00:07:43.998 - for about a year. 00:07:44.322 --> 00:07:51.359 - There have been a couple other potential deals that have come up, but those both sold quickly. And this 00:07:51.359 --> 00:07:58.532 - is the only one that's moving slowly enough that we could actually go through this process to potentially 00:07:58.532 --> 00:08:05.704 - use bonds to purchase it. I absolutely think we would consider selling bonds to purchase other properties 00:08:05.704 --> 00:08:12.606 - for the purpose of preserving or creating affordable housing. The timing of this is such that it just 00:08:13.026 --> 00:08:19.556 - This has been on our focus with the bond sale. So it's not something we wouldn't rule out. During public 00:08:19.556 --> 00:08:26.085 - comment, Mary Morgan, executive director of Heading Home, said she supports the project, saying it would 00:08:26.085 --> 00:08:32.490 - fulfill a need for affordable housing in the community. You know, it's a gutsy move. It's an area that 00:08:32.490 --> 00:08:35.102 - we have not explored before. It's a need. 00:08:35.522 --> 00:08:43.122 - And even though initially these will be workforce housing units, that's gonna benefit our entire community. 00:08:43.122 --> 00:08:50.228 - I look forward to the longer term plan to turn these through RAD process into more affordable units, 00:08:50.228 --> 00:08:57.054 - but I think nonetheless it's needed. It's keeping these properties locally owned, which is huge. 00:08:57.186 --> 00:09:03.672 - And I think we're just grateful that we have someone with Nate's experience leading this effort. I feel 00:09:03.672 --> 00:09:10.221 - like it's a great opportunity for our community. Meanwhile, local resident Randy Cassidy raised concerns 00:09:10.221 --> 00:09:16.707 - about the lack of financial due diligence and the need for risk assessment with the project. Understand 00:09:16.707 --> 00:09:23.069 - the aspect of the work for housing and the fact of what BHA has done with the RAD and the thing. It's 00:09:23.069 --> 00:09:26.686 - an admirable thing to do. The one only question I have on 00:09:26.818 --> 00:09:33.984 - this particular thing because it is a pass through situation that BHA would be responsible is, is this 00:09:33.984 --> 00:09:41.220 - going to end up being a tax exempt properties when this is done? Because my quick calculation and while 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:48.177 - trying to workforce housing, tax revenues and such, those five properties at the present moment are 00:09:48.177 --> 00:09:51.934 - churning out about $830,943 a year in property taxes. 00:09:52.930 --> 00:09:58.705 - So that's the only question that I would have in regards to it is how the replacement of that income 00:09:58.705 --> 00:10:04.708 - might impact overall for the next few years in regards to it. The workforce housing is extremely needed. 00:10:04.708 --> 00:10:10.654 - BHA is extremely good at managing accordingly. And under Nathan's leadership, they've done a great job. 00:10:11.362 --> 00:10:17.323 - the revenue replacement is my only question. The council voted unanimously to approve the 100 million 00:10:17.323 --> 00:10:23.226 - dollar bonding authority paving the way for the Bloomington Housing Authority to move ahead with the 00:10:23.226 --> 00:10:27.902 - project. The City Council will meet for its next regular session on August 5th. 00:10:29.090 --> 00:10:35.976 - The Monroe County Commissioners met on July 23rd. During department updates, County Attorney Jeff Cockerill 00:10:35.976 --> 00:10:42.480 - informed the commissioners of deteriorating conditions at the Thompson homeless encampment and rising 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:48.920 - public safety concerns. It's becoming more dangerous and more of a cause of a public safety concern. 00:10:48.920 --> 00:10:56.062 - We had some meetings and I think it would be important for you guys to know and if you agree to to go ahead and 00:10:57.346 --> 00:11:03.178 - I bless this is that we think we're going to have to do something with that property. And we're working 00:11:03.178 --> 00:11:08.953 - with, you know, the sheriff and all the providers that we can. We don't have a plan yet. We don't have 00:11:08.953 --> 00:11:14.561 - a plan in place. But I think given the fact that you're not having a meeting the next two weeks, we 00:11:14.561 --> 00:11:20.336 - may need to act and begin the process formally prior to your next meeting. So I make sure you're aware 00:11:20.336 --> 00:11:24.766 - of that and that you're all right with us proceeding along those if necessary. 00:11:25.058 --> 00:11:33.257 - Next, commissioners approved early cancellation of the county's contract with Flock, the automatic license 00:11:33.257 --> 00:11:40.997 - plate reader vendor. Commissioner Jody Medeira explained that accepting the cost for removal was the 00:11:40.997 --> 00:11:48.736 - correct choice. I think it is $3,000 well spent. I appreciate the advocacy of the citizens who spoke 00:11:48.736 --> 00:11:52.414 - before the city on this issue. And I think that 00:11:52.706 --> 00:11:59.812 - it would be worth paying that $3,000 as a county. And I'm concerned about the implications for this 00:11:59.812 --> 00:12:06.918 - contract as a county. And so I would support terminating this contract. The commissioners ended the 00:12:06.918 --> 00:12:14.237 - meeting by outlining their recent presentation to Bloomington city council, recommending a new justice 00:12:14.237 --> 00:12:18.430 - center site on city owned property at the former hospital. 00:12:18.530 --> 00:12:29.185 - Commissioner Julie Thomas described the trade-offs and said time and available space are driving the 00:12:29.185 --> 00:12:39.101 - new proposal. Our priorities right now are time and space. In terms of space, it's not ideal, 00:12:39.101 --> 00:12:47.646 - but it works. And there is some room to expand the facility if needed. So that's 00:12:47.842 --> 00:12:56.913 - That's excellent. But we really can't go through a nine to 12 month plan commissioned city council approval 00:12:56.913 --> 00:13:05.731 - process. That's just how long it takes. I mean, ours takes time too, because you have to put out notice. 00:13:05.731 --> 00:13:14.298 - You have to have to have hearings. It's part of democracy. It takes time. So we gave them that caveat 00:13:14.298 --> 00:13:16.062 - that we need to find 00:13:16.610 --> 00:13:23.260 - If they're willing to do this, we need to find a quicker way to act. The next Monroe County Commissioner's 00:13:23.260 --> 00:13:29.599 - regular meeting will be held on August 13th. The Richland Bean Blossom School Board met on July 21st. 00:13:29.599 --> 00:13:36.001 - Board members reconsidered whether students should be allowed to use cell phones on school buses after 00:13:36.001 --> 00:13:42.588 - hearing concerns from parents. The new state law requires students to keep personal communication devices 00:13:42.588 --> 00:13:45.758 - turned off and inaccessible during the school day. 00:13:46.018 --> 00:13:55.580 - Superintendent Dr. Jerry Sanders explained why he wants phones off of buses. I did take our policy a 00:13:55.580 --> 00:14:05.426 - step further and my rationale for that, well, the step I took beyond the state law was to say that they 00:14:05.426 --> 00:14:13.662 - should, that the keeping the cell phones inaccessible and turned off should also apply 00:14:13.826 --> 00:14:25.522 - on the school bus to and from school. And the reason I wanted to add that is a bus driver's number one 00:14:25.522 --> 00:14:36.990 - priority is keeping their eyes on the road and safety. But there's also a kind of a, to me, a hidden 00:14:37.474 --> 00:14:47.550 - safety issue in terms of students having access to their cell phone while on the bus. There's nobody 00:14:47.550 --> 00:14:57.726 - to monitor what they're looking at, who they're talking to, what they're sharing with other students. 00:14:57.922 --> 00:15:07.237 - Dr. Sanders acknowledged the negative feedback that he received from parents about the law itself and 00:15:07.237 --> 00:15:16.734 - RBB's stricter policies. We did get some pushback from some parents on that. As I look at announcements 00:15:16.734 --> 00:15:24.222 - from school corporations, there's a lot of people who aren't happy with that law. 00:15:24.834 --> 00:15:36.064 - And when I look at the comments of other communities, they often blame the school for that law. And 00:15:36.064 --> 00:15:47.294 - quite frankly, my personal opinion is I like it. I think it'll help students to be more focused and 00:15:47.294 --> 00:15:53.470 - engaged. We also know that social media often leads to 00:15:53.602 --> 00:16:01.542 - some behavior issues. School board president Dana Kerr said the policy could prove difficult to enforce. 00:16:01.542 --> 00:16:09.557 - In his view, it's a matter of fairness. Was this where only the students that would obey the rules anyway 00:16:09.557 --> 00:16:17.119 - are the ones who won't have their cell phones out and the ones who always push the envelope are the 00:16:17.119 --> 00:16:22.110 - ones that are, you know, gonna get by with it because they can't, 00:16:22.210 --> 00:16:31.578 - You know, it's going to be hard to monitor. I mean, the seats are purposely high on buses for safety. 00:16:31.578 --> 00:16:40.945 - And so it's very difficult to see and monitor. So, you know, it's kind of to me a perfect opportunity 00:16:40.945 --> 00:16:50.313 - for good kids to be penalized for being good and allowing kids to push the envelope to get by with it 00:16:50.313 --> 00:16:51.966 - with no recourse. 00:16:52.162 --> 00:16:59.453 - And then I just worry about the equity in that. So that's something that bothers me. Another board member 00:16:59.453 --> 00:17:06.675 - said while he wants to abide by the state law, he questioned whether the board should implement a policy 00:17:06.675 --> 00:17:13.622 - that takes it a step further. I'm fine with going by the letter of the law, bell to bell. And as far 00:17:13.622 --> 00:17:19.262 - as the buses are concerned, I'd be curious if you looked at the numbers, how many 00:17:19.394 --> 00:17:25.261 - What percentage of our kids ride the bus to and from school every day? And those kids that aren't riding 00:17:25.261 --> 00:17:31.015 - the bus with parents, they're on their cell phones just the same way. So you're concerned about having 00:17:31.015 --> 00:17:36.826 - social drama can have from some kid riding the back of his mom and dad's station wagon to school, takes 00:17:36.826 --> 00:17:42.581 - the subway and the station wagon behind him. We got enough problems to do with the school corporations 00:17:42.581 --> 00:17:48.336 - for teachers to take on more headaches that's not governed by law. That's my thought process. I'm cool 00:17:48.336 --> 00:17:49.118 - with waiting. 00:17:49.986 --> 00:17:56.852 - and revisiting this in nine weeks, whatever. After the first nine weeks, that's fine. But I have a hard 00:17:56.852 --> 00:18:03.653 - time going above and beyond that because there's so much gray area on the school bus travel from point 00:18:03.653 --> 00:18:10.651 - A to point B. Sanders said the district will monitor the policy and revisit it during an upcoming meeting 00:18:10.651 --> 00:18:18.046 - in the fall. For now, the cell phone ban on buses remains. The RBB School Board will meet again on August 18th. 00:18:18.914 --> 00:18:25.246 - And that is all for Cats Week. Thank you for joining us. For Cats and WFHB, I'm Annalise Poorman.