Bloomington has officially declared a local emergency and adopted emergency measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We are still at the beginning of this situation, this crisis. But we have acted tonight to help ease the burden on our citizens and many of our businesses,” said Mayor Tari Renner. “The question going forward isn’t whether or not we’re going to do more; of course we’re going to be doing more.”
The City Council unanimously approved the actions during a special Thursday session after technical issues led to a cancellation of Monday’s regular meeting. Eight of the nine council members participated remotely in adherence to the state’s social distancing directives.
The declaration is aimed at providing relief to residents and business owners, and provides flexibility in payment of bills such as food and beverage taxes, parking and ordinance fines, and utility payments.
The order does not allow Bloomington to enact curfews, prohibit liquor, ration gas, or stop the sale of firearms and ammunition. The emergency declaration reaffirms the city manager's authority to act and ensures the continuity of city government.
“We’re still fully operational (and) the continuity of government is a critical function that we want our residents to rest assured is continuing,” said City Manager Tim Gleason. “We’ve got 80,000 residents that look to us for calm and at the very least direction, communicating exactly what the city is doing.”
The ordinance puts a hold on late fees, interest and fines for nonpayment as long as the balance is paid within 30 days after the end of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's emergency declaration. Additionally, a moratorium has been placed on utility shutoffs.
The declaration will be in effect for 28 days unless the council revokes or amends it before then, and will renew for 28-day periods if necessary.
The council also approved amendments to the emergency management section of the City Code to remove and revise outdated language. Additionally, the city passed a resolution calling on the state and federal government to pass economic relief programs.
Consent Agenda
Half of the 24 items on the consent agenda were pulled for discussion – three by Jamie Mathy and the rest by Jenn Carrillo, who voiced concerns about nonessential city spending. The items included the purchase of eight Ford police patrol vehicles ($393,000), five specialized dump trucks/snow plows ($910,000), and a Ford Escape Hybrid for the Public Works Department ($29,600).
“Any constituents I’m talking to right now aren’t talking about buying new cars. They are talking about how they can set money aside to make sure they can make rent this month,” said Carrillo. “I think that the city has a responsibility – whether these were accounted for in our current budget or not – to think about all the possible ways that we can preserve any money that’s not being spent on the core essential services like public safety.”
But other council members stressed that the city cannot put all its other obligations on hold.
“We’re charged with the roles and responsibilities of running the city government. It is our responsibility to carry on, keep calm and act in a professional manner,” said council member Kim Bray. “Abdicating that responsibility is not something we should do.”
After Carrillo’s motions to table the pulled items failed, the Council voted 7-2 in approval with Jeff Crabill joining Carrillo in opposition.
Other consent items approved include:
- a professional services contract with Clark Dietz Inc., for engineering services related to the ongoing Locus Colton combined sewer overflow project;
- two agreements with Farnsworth Group Inc., for Pipeline Road and Jersey Avenue Bridge projects;
- adopting an official 2019 zoning map;
- establishing streets to be resurfaced over the next two fiscal years;
- three water treatment-related contracts with CDM Smith Inc.;
- funding for stabilization installation work for the Evergreen Lake tributary;
- demolition of the Police Training Facility Lodge;
- purchasing software and services for the city's Camera Inspection Equipment;
- two Lake Bloomington lease transfers;
- and a special-use sports and fitness establishment permit for The Backyard Social at 1707 E. Hamilton Road.
Renner also read a proclamation designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Finance Report
In his monthly presentation, Finance Director Scott Rathbun noted his department has not yet made any adjustments to projected revenue tied to the economic impact of the pandemic. He noted February was consistent with previous months, and revenue is currently about $1.3 million ahead of budget.
“That gives us a little breathing room to take some time and assess this current situation, check with our advisers, check with the Department of Revenue … and take a moment to make a solid plan before we move on,” said Rathbun.
Rathbun said the first 10 months of the 2020 fiscal year were very positive, and the city’s projected end-of-year fund balance stands at $23 million.
“We know that revenues are going to take a bit of a hit,” he cautioned. “But some of our expenses are going to go down too, because unfortunately we’re going to have to put some programs on hold.”
Gleason said the staff’s current recommendation is to stay the course with fiscal year 2021 revenue projections, but noted that could change in a couple weeks.
“Looking at a sustained event is something we’re trying to prepare for, absent a crystal ball, as best we can,” said Gleason, adding the city has sufficient cash reserves.
Partial Text Of Emergency Declaration
In addition to providing a moratorium on certain penalties and interest, as well as a moratorium on city utility shutoffs, the emergency declaration ordinance also:
- Provides authority to the Mayor to cancel meetings as necessary;
- Reiterates the authority of the City Council and its subsidiary bodies to meet electronically in accordance with Governor Pritzker’s COVID-19 Executive Order No. 5;
- Provides authority to the City Manager, upon approval of the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem, to address any contracting, permitting or licensing issues that may arise, including the suspension of licenses and permits;
- Provides emergency purchases may be made in accordance with the City’s emergency purchasing authority in Chapter 16 of the City Code;
- Reiterates the City Manager’s authority regarding personnel and allows the City Manager to enter into temporary agreements with collective bargaining units;
- Reaffirms the City Manager’s authority to close City facilities as is reasonably required to protect the health of the public and employees of the City;
- Authorizes the Corporation Counsel to suspend the City’s Administrative Court and extend related deadlines;
- Authorizes the City Manager to pay City bills if the City Council is unable to meet on its regularly scheduled meeting date;
- Authorizes the City to accept applications for all City licenses and permits electronically, as well as supportive documentation for same, to assist with the continuation of various business operations within the City;
- Allows the City Manager to implement procedures to encourage the electronic submission of written comments for public meetings beyond those already set forth in the City Code;
- Allows the City Manager and director of Community Development to approve certain site plans, grant applications and approve the award of historic preservation grants;
- Allows the Liquor Commissioner to grant the authority for restaurants and taverns to temporarily permit the delivery, carryout and curbside pickup of alcoholic liquor;
- Permits the City Manager to enter into intergovernmental agreements to address the response and needs associated with the pandemic;
- Establishes succession planning for the City, including providing that if the Mayor is unable to serve, the Mayor Pro Tem will have all power and authority of the Mayor. In such a case, the City Council would select a new temporary Mayor Pro Tem. In terms of succession planning for City operations, the ordinance provides the Deputy City Manager shall serve as the Manager if the City Manager is incapacitated or unable to serve. If both the City Manager and Deputy City Manager are unable to serve, the ordinance provides the Corporation Counsel shall serve as Manager.
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