Bloomington will implement a new standardized incentive plan designed to bring more housing developers to the city, after the city council unanimously approved the plan at its meeting Monday night.
City Manager Jeff Jurgens gave a brief summary of the policy, which the council reviewed more thoroughly the week before. As the name suggests, the new policy creates a standardized application process to make it easier for developers to plan around the incentives they can receive.
The incentives will waive some city fees — 50% as a baseline and up to 100% for projects utilizing tax credits. Projects with affordable housing will be allowed extra density, and some may receive a five-year waiver of property taxes. Jurgens said the program will help attract the many types of housing the city needs.
“We need housing at all levels. Not necessarily the luxury housing,” Jurgens said.
“But we need senior housing, we need affordable housing, we need low-income housing, we need market-rate housing. We need apartments and single-family homes. So, this policy is really designed to attract all of those.”
Because the plan may include lost revenue in the form of uncollected fees and taxes, it appears some revenue for the city may be lost in the short term. Deputy City Manager Billy Tyus argued last week that revenue may largely be recouped by the many people who work in Bloomington finally being able to live there, too.
That could bring significantly more economic activity to the area.
Tyus also said that fees bring in little money as a project has to come to the community first. He said they make up well under 1% of the city’s budget, and fees collected fell by about a third from 2023 to 2024.
Council recognizes outgoing members
Also, Monday, three council members — Nick Becker, Donna Boelen, and Tom Crumpler — attended their last meeting, along with Mayor Mboka Mwilambwe.
Mwilambwe reflected with pride on his tenure of 10 years as a council member and four as mayor, and joked with his fellow council members. He presented the outgoing three council members with plaques recognizing their service.
After that, it was Jurgens’ turn to give a farewell, thanking the outgoing officials for their respect in working with city staff and lauding recent accomplishments.
“Your fingerprints will be on this city for years to come,” Jurgens said.
The swearing-in ceremony for incoming Mayor Dan Brady and council members is May 1 at the Bloomington Center for Performing Arts. New council members are Abby Scott and Mike Straza.
In other business, the council:
— Approved a $250,000 contract with Stewart Spreading, Inc to harvest and distribute lime sludge from the city’s lagoons. It will be distributed over many local farm fields to help maintain soil quality.
— Approved a $500,000 bid from R.B. Crowther Co. to replace a roof at the city’s Fire Station No. 1, just west of downtown.
— Reminded the public that residents’ input is being sought for the Miller Park Zoo Master Plan. The survey can be found at https://www.bloomingtonparks.org.
