The Bloomington City Council plans to declare homelessness as a public health emergency during its regular meeting on Monday.
The council will also vote on directing all of its grocery tax revenue to roads and a new labor contract that adds a fourth shift for the Bloomington Fire Department.
In a memo to the council, city staff says Bloomington will still lack sufficient shelter capacity this winter even with the addition of the village of tiny homes under construction near Home Sweet Home Ministries. That’s expected to open in December.
“Homelessness continues in Bloomington, with residents at risk during extreme weather, and temporary flexibility remains necessary to ensure adequate indoor shelter capacity,” the memo said.
If approved, the emergency ordinance would enable the city manager to issue executive orders intended to increase housing options for unhoused residents. That could include increasing shelter capacity and relaxing safety code rules in the short-term.
The city plans to add safety precautions, including monthly inspections, installation of temporary smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, providing plans that outline floor layouts and ensuring 24-hour safety monitoring.
The order would remain in effect until March 16, 2026.
Grocery tax for roads
Mayor Dan Brady wants the city to put money from its newly-approved grocery tax toward improving roads. The city council last month approved the 1% tax starting next January. That's when the state tax on groceries expires.
In a memo to the city council, city staff says setting up a dedicated use for the revenue will help address critical infrastructure needs. The city expects the tax will generate about $3 million annually for the city, adding that the city’s general fund would have faced a projected $1.5 million shortfall without replacing the revenue from the state tax.
Normal voted earlier this year to adopt the grocery tax starting in 2026.
New fire shift
The Bloomington Fire Department plans to add a fourth shift that's intended to reduce firefighters' workload.
The city council will consider a new labor agreement that would have firefighters gets 74 hours off for each 24-hour shift worked. Currently, firefighters work 24 hours and get 48 hours off.
The fire department says it expects to save money by reducing sick leave, absenteeism, workers compensation and turnover costs. In a memo to the council, the additional shift would reduce the average workload from 52.2 hours per week to 46.7 hours per week.
The fire department has two full-time firefighter positions added in its 2026 fiscal year budget and would seek to keep that in the 2027 budget. The department could seek up to four additional firefighter positions for 2029 or additional funding for overtime costs.
The department also expects it will be able to hire more experienced paramedics thereby saving on training costs.
The contract also calls for a 5% pay equity increase, retroactive to May and a 4% across-the-board pay raise in May 2026, along with a 3.5% equity increase in May 2027.
