- the witching hour. So I called a special meeting of the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board of April
- 24th, 2026. But to order, I will ask Mr. Whitlatch to take the role. John Whitecart, present. Doug Bruce,
- here. Galen Cassidy, here. Joyce Pulling, here. Jim Silberstein, here. Jay Baer. In the flesh. Excellent.
- Item number two on the agenda is board discussion, real estate, and we have two resolutions we're going
- to be looking at this morning. So I'm going to ask Mr. Whitledge to share those resolutions with us
- for discussion. So 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 ROP. The resolution shall be effective
- upon adoption.
- and that's the requested action for the board. Okay, so we have a you have a copy of the resolution
- in front of you. Is there a motion to approve the resolution? So moved. Second. So it's been moved and
- seconded. So now the floor is open to board members for questions or discussion. Any questions or discussion
- about the issuing the request for proposals for a hotel?
- Just one question, if I may. Yes. 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, I don't. 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. A question for Deb, do we anticipate a pre-bidders conference to clarify any questions between
- now and the response date, or are we just going to say here it is and let us know what you got?
- So there's opportunities for them to ask questions in writing, but we're not planning, we are not at
- this point, much like we did in the last time, we did not have a pre-proposal meeting the last time
- either. But they will send us questions. Great, thank you. And for the public and those listening, we're
- asking for responses by June 30th to our requests for proposals. And then we were notifying them that
- our intention would then be to have interviews in early July. Yes.
- Any other questions or discussion? All right, seeing and hearing none, Mr. Whitlatch, would you take
- the roll? John Weickart? Yes. Doug Bruce? Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes. Joyce Pauling? Yes. Jim Silberstein?
- Yes. Jay Baer? Yes. Thank you. And then the second item under real estate, and again, I'll ask Mr. Whitlatch,
- but it has to do with obtaining appraisals and environmental reports.
- Yes, so 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 agreement to obtain appraisals of the real
- estate that we've just acquired, approximately six acres.
- and fair market value appraisals and we 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 Weickart to obtain proposals for appraisals and appropriate environmental reports,
- environmental reports for the real estate. The CIB authorizes President John Weickart 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.
- And I think our goal is to receive these back so that we have them to make information available to
- RFP respondents. Is that correct? Yeah, our goal is hopefully we'll get them early June and provide
- them as due diligence information to any interested developers. Yes. All right, is there a motion to
- approve the resolution? Second. Moved and seconded. So now we have open the floor for discussion or
- questions or comment.
- on the resolution to obtain appraisals and environmental reports for the newly acquired real estate.
- Just one, is there a not to exceed on this work or do we need to subsequently revote once we actually
- have bids from appraisers and environmental services or in this vote we now say because you've got statutory
- authority to actually proceed? I think the
- The way that the resolution is drafted is that we are giving JS Held and John, or basically giving John
- the authority to enter into an agreement as we receive the information from JS Held. Deb can maybe talk
- to the expected range of app that we
- have not put a not to exceed number on that. We can certainly amend and do that if we feel that's important.
- I think we feel that it's going to be within a dollar range that we're comfortable. We don't necessarily
- need that, but it's certainly not an unreasonable request. So I'll let Deb speak to what the costs may be.
- For the environmental, 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
- you know, 60 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 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.
- So are there, I guess the question I feel like is hanging. So is there some dollar figure you wanna
- put on my authority to do this? Is that what you're asking? Not necessarily, I just wasn't sure how
- we were gonna handle it. Okay, all right. Yeah, I would say I'm comfortable with those amounts there.
- If something were to come back close to that, I think that's fine. If it greatly exceeds that, then
- maybe we need to discuss it.
- I don't think it's something that needs to be in the in the motion if we're within that range. Are you
- comfortable with that? Okay, so any other questions or discussion about the resolution? The motion to
- accept the resolution? Okay, seeing and hearing none. Mr. Whitlach? John Weichart? Yes. Doug Bruce?
- Yes. Galen Cassidy? Yes. Joyce Pauling? Yes. Jim Silberstein? Yes. Jay Baer? Yes. Thank you.
- That concludes item number two. Item number three is comments from board members. Any comments from
- board members? Seeing none. Item number four, comments from public. And we have an opportunity at the
- end of each meeting for 10 minutes of public comments with individual commenters having two minutes.
- And I assume we have some public comments this morning.
- So if so, if you please go to the microphone, identify yourself and the clock will start ticking. Homes
- for all. 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 CIBC's North College Square
- as the ideal site for the Convention Center Hotel, and many in 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 Point's future. In a housing
- crisis, preserving affordable housing isn't just a priority, it's an obligation. Thank you. Thank you.
- I'm Bryce Green. I represent DSA and also Homes for All. I'd like to echo everything Amber just said.
- Um, and I'll also just expand on that. The city councilors who are in favor of the, the land swap, uh,
- I, I, as of now, it represents a majority of the city council. And I know that's up to the RDC as to
- whether or not they want to accept your offer for the swap. Um, but, uh, one of the council has brought
- up the, uh, the, the problem of having the, uh, the reciprocal value, uh, for the, for the properties
- be maintained. Um, something that,
- might be easier to do after the appraisal. I mean, the last the cost was 3 million in 2010, you know,
- during Obama's first term. So I mean, the costs have definitely gone up since then. But also, I don't
- know if the CIB is interested in half the parcel as part of the swap. If the
- the land is split in half and half of that was swapped for the South property. I guess my question would
- be if the CIB is open to that and if it has the resources or wherewithal or if you know any hotel developers
- who would be interested in developing a hotel on half the site or if the CIB had resources to purchase
- the other half using either other land or other funds because I mean this
- This is essential. 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 I know it's on the
- RDC side, but again, time is of the essence. These leases expire in July. Again, I'd like to ask that
- these leases be extended at least a little bit while this thing gets settled. But I think we all want
- the same thing here. You guys want that property.
- We want to keep Seminary Point affordable housing. And I think there's a way forward with that.
- Thank you. No, it's not dialogue. We just wanted to hear what you had to say. Anybody else want to make
- comment from the public? Anybody online? I can't, there are no hands up online. All right, thank you.
- All right, next board meeting is May 20th, 2026.
- Oh, I'm sorry, is there a question? Is there a hand up? I'm sorry, is it Matthew? Yes. Hi, so I put
- my hand up at the last minute. Is it okay if I still speak for public comment? Yeah, sure, go ahead.
- Thank you. Yes, I also represent Homes for All and just want to emphasize what all of my colleagues
- have mentioned while also adding the additional factor that the RDC mentioned that the pieces of which
- they weren't interested in the land swap was that they don't know what to do with the south property
- with so many point if they get it. And I just want to emphasize that we feel like we are creating an
- incredible plan for what that could be.
- one that pulls on evidence-based models from other cities that have had very similar situations of affordable
- housing and turning it into something that was a hotspot in their town. We're partnering with organizations
- that have built some of the most successful and largest affordable housing initiatives and projects
- in Bloomington.
- So we want to work with you in this, in that we think that we can really give the RDC a great plan and
- kind of cover those points of their concerns while also letting you all do the work of negotiating with
- them. So just know that the community is here to support the initiative for the swap, not just on the
- negotiation end of the money, but also what to do with the land if the RDC did own it.
- afterwards. So I just want to put that in there. And there's top leaders in Bloomington for affordable
- housing that are thinking about this and are looking at you all as the facilitators of a land swap so
- that we can build something really beautiful, continue to build on top of what already exists at Seminary
- Point, something that can be historical and beautiful for our city. Thank you, Matthew. Any other
- comments online? Any other hands up? Okay. All right. Item five, I'll repeat again, the next board meeting
- May 20th, 2026 3pm. Item number six, you don't have to go home and stand can't stay here. We are adjourned.
- Thank you.