The Bloomington City Council voted Monday to create a commission focused on gun violence, but the 5-4 vote shows it’s not a universally-backed idea.
While there was clear consensus the city should work to reduce gun violence, the core difference in opinion was whether existing city and county boards and commissions already are tackling the issue.
"The purpose of this commission is to pull together the information that's floating around out there, to bring it together, and to bring recommendations so that we can act," said Ward 7's Mollie Ward, who brought the initiative forward.
Formally known as the Safe Communities Commission, the data-driven group gets a two-year window to prove its worth. At that point, the council will reconsider whether it will continue.
Also Monday, the council OK’d a $2 million contract with Hoerr Construction for annual sewer rehab work; temporarily expanded the city manager’s authority for approving vehicle purchases; and approved an updated intergovernmental agreement with Connect Transit.
Opponents: Other groups already focused on problem
Supporters of creating the study group said an increase in gun violence, at local levels and beyond, requires more action. Opponents argued forming yet another government commission isn’t the way to address the violence, and only brings bureaucratic redundancy.
They pointed to work on the Criminal Justice Committee, and the Public Safety and Community Relations Board (PSCRB), as examples of ongoing work to reduce crime.
Monday’s vote followed a June 19 committee meeting, when the council agreed to bring the initiative forwardfor a vote. City leaders extensively discussed their opposing views on the topic that night, and again Monday.
Ward first publicly pitched the commission in February 2022. But it had been on the back burner since then.
On Monday, Ward found support from fellow council members Jenna Kearns, Ward 1; John Danenberger, Ward 4; Ward 6’s Cody Hendricks; and 9’s Tom Crumpler.
Opposing were Ward 2’s Donna Boelen, Ward 3’s Sheila Montney, along with Nick Becker, Ward 5, and Kent Lee, Ward 8.
Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe doesn't vote, unless in cases of breaking a tie. He told WGLT after the meeting that he would have preferred the council vote reflected a larger consensus.
“I tend to like votes where you have a stronger majority… that means quite a few people back it,” he said, adding such support of the commission's formation would “certainly make it easier, for the community as a whole, to accept the recommendations down the line.”
But Mwilambwe added the time for arguing about its merits are over. With the ordinance passing, he’d like to see both sides now focus on recruiting applicants to make the venture successful.
It wasn’t just the council that was split Monday on whether to form a gun violence commission. A crowd filled the council chambers, with both sides represented. Most of the evening's 10 public commenters focused on the commission vote — with several urging the council to reject the idea, and others supporting its formation.
Resident Gary Lambert was among those commenters skeptical of such a commission. He pushed for a requirement that some of the commission members be gun owners. That wasn’t formally adopted. But after the meeting, Mwilambwe said he’s not planning on excluding or including applicants solely on that factor.
Commenters Surena Fish, who sits on the city’s police review board, also known as PSCRB — and De Urban, a former city council member, argued the PSCRB is best suited to address reducing gun violence.
“There is no reason to have another commission. Use what you already have,” said Fish.
Commenter Sarah Breeden, speaking as a local member of the Moms Demand Action organization, said she was disheartened the entire council didn’t back the commission when it was proposed.
Breeden said views that the commission wasn't needed because other local organizations had data and might use it seemed to ignore the growing problem.
"We need to start somewhere," she said.
$2M going toward annual sewer rehab work
The council OK’d a $2 million contract with Hoerr Construction for sewer rehabilitation and inspection work.
The Goodfield-based contractor submitted the lowest of five bids.
The scope of the work includes replacing more than 30,000 feet of sanitary sewer pipe lining, and continuing televised inspections of city sewer pipes.
“In order to maintain the sewer system, this is a critical piece” of the city’s annual work, Kevin Koethe, public works director, told the council.
Connect Transit operations agreement updated
The council also approved a new operations document for Connect Transit. It’s part of a comprehensive update to the intergovernmental agreement between the agency, Bloomington and Normal.
The partnership’s been in place for half a century.
These changes “are designed to increase transparency and ensure adequate notice of material changes to the system as well as better detail the funding and budgeting requirements” of the system, according to council materials.
One update clarifies both municipalities must approve any changes to the service area — which currently is the combined corporate boundaries of Bloomington and Normal, including an adjacent three miles.
Another change puts in writing that route or rate changes will require a two-thirds vote of the transit board.
City manager gets more authority to buy vehicles
For the next year, the mayor and city manager won’t need council approval for vehicle and equipment purchases of more than $50,000, as long as the budget allows.
The council OK’d a temporary ordinance to speed up the process of procurement. This is intended to avoid the red tape that slows down the process, as the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in supply chain issues with such purchases.
In other business, the council approved:
- Making the 1300 block of West Taylor Street the honorary Bennett Family Boulevard. The honor recognizes the multi-generational family of pastors that has operated the City of Refuge Ministries for decades in Bloomington.
- Minor changes to its amusement tax, on the heels of the Tailgate ‘N Tallboys festival.
- The demolition of the building at 831-833 W. Jackson Street, destroyed by a December fire. Dave Capodice Excavating will handle the project for about $100,000. Council materials indicated the building’s owner couldn’t cover demo costs.
- A special-use permit to allow multi-family housing in a business district for property in the 1200 block of East Empire Street. The apartments are expected to be marketed as high-end rentals.
- The final plat of the Empire Business Park’s 14th addition. The property is on Magory Drive, north of Empire Street.
- Two contracts with Key Equipment — $240,000 on a new street sweeper, and $190,000 for three professional leaf vacuums.
- Spending about $180,000 to construct a dais in the downtown Government Center’s board chambers. Among groups using the room are the city council and the McLean County Board. Spencer Construction will handle the project.
- Spending about $157,000 with the National Auto Fleet Group to buy seven compact sport utility vehicles.
- The city’s first FM class (farmer’s market) liquor license since creating the category last month. It goes to Keg Grove Brewing Co., of Bloomington.
