Bloomington City Council continued the third night of budget hearings Wednesday with a recharged discussion on electric scooters.
In total, council made recommendations on four departmental budgets.
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Economic and Sustainable Development
The economic and sustainable development (ESD) department is requesting $7.3 million for 2023, up $4.6 million from 2022. Most of this jump is due to the local income tax increase, and a large portion of it being transferred to Bloomington Transit.
Most of council’s discussion highlighted illegally parked electric scooters. Several members said it’s time to fine scooter companies for user violations.
Bloomington currently has contracts with three scooter companies, each paying the city $10,000 per year and $0.15 per ride. ESD director Alex Crowley said there have been about 1.1 million rides since late 2018, generating a total of about $200,000 for the city.
“We are making quite a bit of money from the licensing from these companies,” councilmember Susan Sandberg said. “But I think we also have an obligation to make sure that our sidewalks, particularly in our more congested areas downtown, are policed and properly enforced.”
Crowley said there is a learning curve now that IU students are back. He said the university typically impounds 60-80 illegally parked scooters each month, but IU already collected more than 200 scooters in August.
Council made a due-pass recommendation of 2-1-6. Council is expected to discuss scooters again Thursday during the department of public works' budget hearing.
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Parks and Recreation
The parks department is requesting $12 million, up $1.2 million from 2022. The department plans to add five new positions.
During public comment, Greg Alexander said the department used bond money in 2021 to fund the Griffy Lake causeway project, despite council specifically appropriating funds for a project near the lake’s dam. He also criticized the department’s ability to make engineering decisions on park-owned property that functions as transportation, such as the B-Line Trail.
“It’s bizarre enough that parks are managing transportation infrastructure, but it’s literally criminal that they are doing so without recognizing the absolute necessity of engineers to supervise,” Alexander said.
Parks director Paula McDevitt said the department collaborated with both the engineering and the planning and transportation departments when planning the latest B-Line detour around the Johnson's Creamery smokestack.
Additionally, city controller Jeff Underwood said all funds for Griffy Lake were properly used, and any changes were vetted with a third-party, bond counsel.
“To say that there was any maleficence or any other thing going on is completely incorrect,” Underwood said.
Councilmembers Volan and Flaherty recognized Alexander’s comments still had merit in discussion about oversight.
Council made a due-pass recommendation of 4-1-2. Councilmembers Kate Rosenbarger and Isabel Piedmont-Smith left the meeting before voting on the recommendation.
Housing and Neighborhood Development
Housing and neighborhood development (HAND) is requesting $4.8 million, up $3.2 million from 2022.
Council made a due-pass recommendation of 3-1-5.
Community and Family Resources
The community and family resources department is requesting $2.2 million, up almost $1 million from 2022.
Council made a due-pass recommendation of 5-1-3.
The final night of department budget hearings starts Thursday at 6 p.m.
