The mayor says there is good communication between the administration and city council despite council objecting to the city budget. The remonstration period begins after city council approved annexation. And the mayor says it's too early to talk about re-election.
In this week’s installment of Ask The Mayor, Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton addresses these issues and more during a Facebook Live Zoom event Tuesday. Listen to the full conversation with Indiana Newsdesk anchor Joe Hren by clicking on the play button above, or read some of the questions and answers below. A portion of this segment airs 6:45 and 8:45 a.m. Wednesday on WFIU. Here are some highlights.
This conversation has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Hren: Let's begin with COVID, how are the hospitals? Two things in the news, one governor Holcomb deploying the National Guard to help, and also the flu season is approaching and Indiana just recorded its first flu death yesterday.
Hamilton: Last winter, we were very, very concerned about the flu and its double impact with the pandemic, but it turned out that generally all that we were doing to protect against COVID was extremely helpful to protect against the flu as well. There's a little concern this year that we're doing less in terms of masking and isolating, obviously than we were last winter so there's a concern about that.
Hospital case loads are down from COVID but there are flu patients now arriving and I do think it's important. It sobers me when the hospital reminds us that those who are in the hospital are tending to be sicker and stay longer with the Delta variant than those before so it's a very serious disease. Our workforce is mostly vaccinated but only about two thirds. We worry about a new variant that might come and of course around the world, the vast majority of many, many people are unvaccinated.
READ MORE: Hospitalizations for District 8 and state fall to August levels
Hren: I know Kirkwood Avenue will reopen to traffic I believe right after Halloween. What's been the reaction to a pedestrian Kirkwood Avenue?
Hamilton: I think people have really enjoyed the access. The establishments, the restaurants, the merchants there have generally been very supportive. They've invested in equipment and tables and coverings and such to help make that possible.
I think the merchants and most customers recognize when you get into November December January, that very cold weather, it's just less likely for the establishment to make that work for them. I personally think it's quite possible in the spring, we'll want to have the outdoor seating again, that's not settled.
We work with City Council and the merchants on that but I think it's been very popular over the last several months. Even some of the pickup drop off zones those are still popular, we're looking at that. This is going to keep evolving.
READ MORE: Trick-or-treating planned in Monroe County and Bloomington with CDC precautions
Hren: Since we last talked, City Council passed the annexation ordinances. Still some council members had serious concerns about being able to expand police presence and most people that talked during public comment said that they were against this. How do you move forward now with these concerns?
Hamilton: I'm pleased that city council voted six to three pretty much on most of the ordinances to move forward with the annexation, something we've obviously been working on for more than four years.
It's been long planned. We need the city to grow with the reality on the ground. The public safety concerns that were I think the motivating factor for any of the no votes on Council, we've been talking to them a lot. I'm very confident that we can provide the full public safety services that are needed.
Of course, it's not till 2024 and thereafter we have time. We have many plans in place that will help move that forward.
Hren: The remonstrance period now goes through early January and waivers have a big impact on this. From some of our reporting, about half of the number of annexed parcels have waivers. But we can keep talking about this 2019 law that nulls some of those waivers. How big an effect could that have?
Hamilton: Cities under Indiana law actually are usually required to get a waiver when we extend sewer service outside the city limits. We generally get an agreement from a person that says if we put sewers into your residence or into new development, you agree that when it comes time you will join the city. That's what a waiver is.
So there are thousands of those waivers that have been developed over the years as sewers have been extended. And shortly after the legislature illegally stopped our annexation in 2017, it came back a year or two later and said, well, that wasn't enough. Let's say if your waivers are older than 15 years, they don't count anymore. Our view is that's illegal also. But it's also kind of unfair. We did our part of that bargain. And we think the the property owner should be now part of the city.
It's a fair number. I don't have an exact number, but quite a few. I mean we didn't annex for so long. There are some waivers that have been in existence for quite some time.
READ MORE: Annexation Petitioners Going Door To Door; Mayor Says Remonstration Could End Up In Court
Hren: Let's move to budget proceedings. Bottom line, city council wants an increase in police salaries, police benefits, they want a climate plan coordinator. Are you addressing council member concerns for that October 27 meeting?
Hamilton: It is quite a formal process. We actually do a lot more than most cities, we started in April, over six months ago to work with council.
It's not a surprise that there are some council members who have different views of what ought to be in the budget. I've told them I don't love everything in the budget. There are some who've urged that there be more compensation for sworn officers in particular, we've actually increased that a lot in the budget.
There are some who want that in the base of the salary as opposed to a retention bonus. And a lot of that's kind of inside baseball. I think, ultimately, we're talking about are we protecting public safety, crime rates are continuing to go down overall, that's an encouraging thing to see.
There's also kind of, in my perspective, an inside baseball question of exactly how do we fund sustainability focused positions in city government. We have accelerated our investment in that dramatically over the last several years, we take the climate emergency extremely seriously. There's some different views about whether this position ought to be there or in that department, or what level and that's fine.
I'm presenting a budget that I think moves our city forward. The doors open, I'm continuing to talk with council members, and ultimately they have a vote that they have to pick either the new budget or if they don't pass a budget, we actually get the same exact budget in 2021 carries forward into 2022, which would be a very negative thing. So I'm pretty confident we're going to get there with a new budget.
Hren: You say the doors open, but it seems like there is a big divide or conflict between the budget that you prepared and the council. What's the relationship like between you and the City Council?
Hamilton: I don't think it actually is a big divide. If you look at the $170 million of the budget and all the issues that are presented, what typically happens is it comes down to out of 300 things that are in there, there may be one or two or three that people are less happy about, and of course there are nine council members and there are different views on the council about different approaches.
And as mayor, I need to try to balance all that and of course, listen to the public. So the relations are good. Stress levels can go up, people can pound the table a little bit. But in the end, the areas of agreement are vast, and in our areas of direction of where we want to go are commonly shared in deep ways. So these are, I've view them as kind of last minute, maybe some posturing, maybe a little political maneuvering, but I'm confident we'll move forward for the city as a whole.
Hren: The budget suggests $5,000 in retention bonuses for police officers, rather than reopening the collective bargaining agreement, why?
Hamilton: I don't feel it's responsible for me to to put in place salaries and positions if we don't have a long term way to pay for those. And that's what I've expressed to the to the council is that's why a retention bonus, which is contemplated in the American Rescue Plan Act - that one time money is very appropriate for that.
And we'll be actually beginning bargaining with the police union next week to start the bargaining for the 2023 budget. And I'm sure all this was is gonna be on the table.
Hren: The convention center expansion project stopped as the pandemic took over. What would it take for Bloomington, Monroe County to get this process going again?
Hamilton: Obviously the pandemic was an issue. But these are very long term projects. And I think Bloomington is inherently and naturally a destination place and having more destination during the week that which is what a convention center could really help accelerate is very important. I just think there's not a meeting of the minds on moving forward with that.
The city is very committed. We've been very clear about the importance and value of that. I think some of our partners are not as sure about it and it takes two to tango and we're kind of waiting to see what comes of that and I hope it will move forward soon. I think it'd be really good for the city and important for the city. We have the land we have the revenue source to do this. It's going to take some will from all parties involved.
READ MORE: Convention Expansion Project On Hold As Leaders Gather Public Input
Hren: Might be early, but any thoughts to running for reelection in a couple years?
Hamilton: I'll just say this, it is early - we got a bunch of elections between now and then. But I love the job. I've always enjoyed being in Bloomington and helping the community get better. It's a great privilege to get to serve. I love what I do every day and we got a lot of work still to do. So nothing to announce about that. But I relish the chance to continue to let this incredible community keep getting better and better and more and more people thrive here.
For the latest news and resources about COVID-19, bookmark our Coronavirus In Indiana page here.
