Hamilton Administration Accomplishments

Since 2016, the Hamilton Administration, in collaboration with City Council and the community, has helped coordinate an unprecedented series of advancements in Bloomington and has been noted or awarded for various city strengths:

 

• New revenue and programs brought Bloomington a nationally accredited police department (CALEA) and a top-rated fire department (ISO 1/1x) – the only city in Indiana with both distinctions – with declining crime rates and a 90% reduction in annual fire fatalities.

 

• Since 2016, Bloomington has added, approved, or preserved nearly 1,400 units of permanently affordable housing (2,200 bedrooms), a twenty-fold increase from the previous similar period. These units serve people experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental illness, or disability and our growing workforce. 5,609 housing units (11,000 bedrooms) have been added since 2016. 

 

• Wages in Bloomington have been rising faster than those of comparable Indiana cities and in line with national wage growth trends, with thousands of new jobs following more than $3.5 billion in new investments over the past five years and the state’s fastest-growing co-work space.

 

• The city’s first Climate Action Plan aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2018 levels by 2030 and reach carbon neutrality by 2050. The City commits actively to mitigate climate change and increase our resilience through more efficient infrastructure and sustainable development, including solar power, trails as transportation corridors, innovative waste and wastewater systems, and $1.6 million in new annual funding directly to implement the Climate Action Plan.

 

• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion with a Racial Equity plan, DEI training for all department heads and Cabinet-level staff, and two new resident-led task forces to evaluate, report, and propose recommendations to address racism and discrimination in Bloomington, including the Future of Policing Task Force.

 

• As part of Recover Forward, more than $15 million has been committed to critical investments in Bloomington’s housing security, affordable homeownership, job creation and training, climate action, city infrastructure, social services, digital equity, local arts, local food, and public safety. 

 

• Since 2016, the Department of Public Works Street Division has paved 106 miles of city streets, filled 40,844 potholes, repaired more than 13.65 miles of sidewalks, and installed 547 ADA sidewalk ramps.

 

• After decades of planning, the City opened the largest and newest city park in 2019, Switchyard Park, a 65-acre park born from an abandoned railroad switchyard. The Parks and Recreation Department manages 2,342 acres of property, including 33 parks, 27 playgrounds, a golf course, ice arena, two pools, three community centers, three natural resources properties, 13 ballfields, 22 tennis courts, 19 basketball courts and just over 38 miles of trails.

 

• The City has installed solar PV systems at 31 City facilities–since 2018, more than 12.5 GWh has been generated (equivalent to 3.7 million lbs of coal).

 

• Since 2020, the City’s Digital Equity Grant Program has awarded more than $135,000 to support Bloomington-based nonprofit organization efforts to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents. In 2021, the City announced a partnership with Meridiam to bring open-access high-speed internet access to nearly every Bloomington resident. Simultaneously, launched a digital equity program, one of the most innovative broadband public-private collaborations in the country, to help low-income and digitally-disadvantaged households access top-quality internet services.  

 

 

Other major projects of the Hamilton administration include: 

 

• The Trades District: A 65-acre certified technology park in downtown Bloomington, home to technology companies and professional offices, adjacent to City Hall, the B-Line trail, and downtown attractions.

 

• The purchase of 24 acres of former hospital land to be redeveloped into the Hopewell neighborhood.

 

• Increasing opportunities for non-motorized vehicle forms of transportation, community connections, and outdoor recreation by extending, improving, or constructing trails, multi-use paths, and greenways.

 

• Launching Sibling Cities relationship with Palo Alto, CA, which is the first domestic relationship of its kind between U.S. cities.

 

• To celebrate the City’s bicentennial in 2018, Mayor Hamilton led a $10 million bond campaign to build four major new trails, activate downtown alleys, and plant hundreds of new trees. 

 

• Since 2020, Bloomington and Monroe County navigated the global pandemic with exceptional collaboration among government and the civic and private sectors, including weekly news conferences to update the public and inform about the actions that helped the community experience some of the lower rates of infection and mortality in the state.

 

• The Bloomington Human Rights Commission has earned a perfect Human Rights Campaign Index score for eight consecutive years.  

 

 

Under the Hamilton Administration, Bloomington has been noted or awarded for a variety of city strengths: 

 

• The City was Recognized by TechPoint with the prestigious Rising Tech City Award that celebrates the City’s “thriving tech culture.” 

 

• The National Digital Inclusion Alliance recognized Bloomington as a 2021 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer for efforts to bridge the digital divide. 

 

• The City's efforts at climate change mitigation brought recognition as a global leader in environmental action by achieving placement on the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Cities A List in 2020. 

 

• Bloomington achieved LEED City certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for implementing strategies aimed at improving sustainability and standard of living for residents. 

 

• Bloomington’s long commitment to planting and maintaining trees garnered the honor of being named Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to growing and maintaining the City’s urban forest. 

 

• Bloomington’s beloved parks received fifth accreditation in 2021 for the Parks and Recreation Department through the National Recreation and Park Association and the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies and 64-acre Switchyard Park brought the City the 2021 Aim Community Placemaking Award. 

 

Breakdown of Accomplishments by Year

2022 Accomplishments

• Department of Public Works Street Division paved 13 miles of city streets, filled 7,844 potholes, repaired 3.2 miles of sidewalks, and installed 98 ADA ramps.

 

• Local-Motion Grant Program awarded $2,400 to advance pedestrian and bicycle mobility in Bloomington.

 

• Utilities was awarded a $1.9 million READI grant for sewer expansions in support of the Catalent facility growth.

 

• Launched new pilot programs for employees, six weeks paid parental leave and paid Commercial Driver’s License training. This is in addition to extensive new and ongoing benefits in 2023. 

 

• Mary Catherine Carmichael appointed Deputy Mayor, and Kaisa Goodman appointed Public Engagement Director.

 

• The City and Local 2487 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) (AFL-CIO Council 962) reached agreement on terms of salaries and benefits for union members for the next four years.

 

• Information & Technology Services Department launched Wi-Fi in two City parks, Peoples Park; and the Waldron, Hill & Buskirk Park, with work underway in three additional parks, Butler Park, Crestmont Park, and Seminary Park, expected to be completed in 2023.* 

 

• Introduced new ParkMobile parking features to enhance accessible, efficient, and flexible parking.

 

• Distributed $250,000 through Downtown Outreach Grants program to local non-profit agencies serving those unhoused or in jeopardy of becoming homeless.

 

• Received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for the eighth year, the only such city in Indiana.

 

• Utilities awarded $68,000 to 10 projects through the Residential Stormwater Grants Program. Projects included rain gardens, dry creek beds, and other drainage stabilization projects.

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded $872,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program to Bloomington-based social service agencies.

 

• Recommended and passed a transformative $229 million combined 2023 operating budget with key investments in the city workforce and services, climate change preparedness and mitigation, housing, and public safety to improve the quality of life for all residents. The 2023 budget represents a 29% increase over the combined 2022 budget and includes new annual investments: $1.6 million for the Climate Action Plan, $3.8 million to Bloomington Transit for major enhancements of public transportation, $1 million dedicated to housing (rental, ownership, and housing security), and a $1 million economic equity fund to support low-income residents.

 

• Utilities completed over $23 million in modernization and capacity enhancements at the Dillman Wastewater Treatment Plan. Electrical and aeration improvements are estimated to reduce electrical usage by 15%.

 

• Completed Hopewell Phase 1 East demolition and site restoration.

 

• Recommended and launched a $100,000 Emergency Reproductive Health Care Grant program to support emergency services needed to help persons able to give birth to maintain some more personal control and bodily autonomy over their reproductive health and processes.

 

• Completed the $12M Hidden River Pathway downtown stormwater infrastructure project ahead of schedule. The downtown stormwater infrastructure reconstruction project from 2nd & Washington upstream/northeast to 4th & Grant involved 1,875 feet of tunnel. 

 

• City was awarded the 2022 Best of Indiana Award for Best Application Serving the Public at the local government level for its updated data portal and new dashboards.

 

• Mayor John Hamilton and Columbus Mayor Jim Lienhoop hosted the first Regional Climate Convening with 100 critical players from Bartholomew, Brown, and Monroe Counties, from the private, nonprofit\educational, and government sectors.

 

• Received a Gold designation from the national SolSmart program (solsmart.org/) for advancing the growth of solar energy across Bloomington.

 

• Celebrated Bloomington Transit’s 40 Years of Service to the community.

 

• Bloomington Police Department achieved full Tier 1 accreditation status for the second time through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).

 

• Launched the “Zero In Bloomington” initiative to help individuals and groups track progress towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions in support of Bloomington’s communitywide climate goal to reach net zero by 2050.

 

• Information & Technology Services Department recognized as a 2022 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.

 

• Launched the new Go Bloomington website at gobloomington.org, a matching program that connects people interested in carpooling or vanpooling. The new website is part of the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Plan to reduce the number of single-occupant vehicles (SOVs) operating in town, which will decrease carbon emissions, relieve traffic congestion, and improve parking availability.

 

• Released the Annual City Goals Mid-Year Update reflecting fifteen city departments reporting on nineteen individual components of city functions and their corresponding goals. In total, 564 goals were identified for 2022.

 

• Bloomington Transit was awarded $7 million from the federal government to add eight zero-emission Battery Electric Buses (BEB) needed for transit service expansion and emissions reduction goals.

 

• Launched a new housing incentives pilot program within Bloomington Fire Department, including rental and downpayment assistance.

 

• The Digital Equity Grants program awarded eleven area nonprofits $50,000 in 2022 to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents.*

 

• Joined mayors across the nation in highlighting and addressing the increase in gun violence across the nation. Announced new programs designed further to reduce the negative impact of guns in our community while emphasizing the need for gun laws to change in Indiana.

 

• Signed a contract with Constellation Stage & Screen, allowing the new theater and film company to manage the John Waldron Arts Center for five years.

 

• Following the lead of The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, Visit Bloomington, and Downtown Bloomington, Inc., City of Bloomington submitted a proposal to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners and County Council for activating the Convention Center expansion.

 

• Utilities recommended and began an analysis of relocating the CBU Service Center to the former Winston Thomas Wastewater Treatment Plant site. If the Service Center relocates, 600 E Miller Dr would be available to the City for other departments, including the Department of Public Works (DPW), to streamline operations.

 

• Commissioned and installed Urban Fabric by artist Adam Buente at the new 4th Street Parking Garage.

 

• Made an accepted offer to purchase 320 W. 8th Street, a 64,000-square-foot section of the Showers Building, to house the Police Department and the Fire Department administration offices.

 

• Utilities launched an infrastructure project to identify all active lead (Pb) water service lines in its distribution system. The project is ahead of the EPA’s deadline to leverage state and federal funding resources and accelerate the opportunity to complete a city-wide lead service line replacement.

 

• Held groundbreaking for Retreat @ the Switchyard located next to Switchyard Park. The new mixed-income and mixed-use rental project will include at least 48 units dedicated to residents earning 30 to 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), 10 of which will be reserved for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, supported by Stone Belt.

 

• Partnered with Google.org Fellows to deploy CiviForm, a tool to simplify and centralize online applications for government assistance programs. Bloomington is the second city after Seattle to deploy the CiviForm system.

 

• Street Division launched a citywide assessment to determine the current condition of streets, sidepaths, sidewalks, and accessible curb ramps within the city. The city currently has 237 miles of public-use streets, 29 miles of sidepaths, and a 236-mile-long sidewalk network.

 

• Bloomington Fire Department recognized 55 firefighters for exceptional service to the community in 2021.

 

• Bloomington Police Department launched neighborhood mobile roll calls throughout the City to improve communication with residents.

 

• Launched new incentives within the Bloomington Police Department, including signing bonuses, retention bonuses, monthly rental assistance, one-time down payment assistance, and take-home vehicles.

 

• Partnered with Meridiam to build a citywide open-access-model fiber network, embodying net neutrality, with a strong emphasis on digital equity. Meridiam will invest $50 million to bring high-speed internet access to virtually every neighborhood and resident in the City. GigabitNow will deliver fiber-based broadband services when construction is completed to the first residents by the end of January 2023.

 

• Completed the Cascades Phase 5 Trail and Streambank Stabilization project that added .25 miles of paved trail, 700+ feet of accessible boardwalk, 400+ feet of reconstructed streambank, and a new pedestrian bridge to Lower Cascades Park.

 

• Commissioned and installed Aurora Almanac art installation by Esteban Garcia Bravo for the Trades District Garage.*

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development hosted a tenant resource fair for Bloomington renters.

 

• New energy-efficient LED fixtures replaced outdoor lighting in the Showers employee parking lot.

 

• The new Griffy Lake Loop Trail & Accessible Fishing Pier project created a quarter-mile multiuse path and an accessible fishing pier.

 

• Recommended and passed the Economic Development Local Income Tax (ED-LIT) increase that will generate approximately $14.5 million to fund a range of critical measures across public safety, essential city services, climate change preparedness and mitigation, including major public transit enhancements, and equity and quality of life for all.

 

• Be More Awards recognized seven local volunteers, organizations, and community-minded businesses.

 

• Bloomington Transit replaced late evening service on most routes with partnerships with Uber and Lyft.

 

• Selected as one of 13 international cities for a training grant from the Centre for Public Impact, the Office of Innovation trained eight employees spanning six departments and one employee from Bloomington Transit in human-centered design focused on keeping our sidewalks clean and clear.

 

• Issued two five-year $5 million general obligation (G.O.) bonds to invest in important Bloomington infrastructure projects spread across the community.

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded more than $21,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Grants.

 

• Utilities received the 2022 Education and Outreach Award from the Indiana Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management.

 

• Conducted an Arts Feasibility Study to evaluate arts facilities and activities in the city and recommend strategies for successfully advancing the arts across Bloomington. The key recommendations include: Retaining the Waldron Arts Center as a core asset, increasing community programming and downtown and neighborhood activation, no new performing arts center, creating an arts and culture incubator and integrating arts and culture into a proposed expanded convention center.*

 

• Launched Compost Up Downtown program, in partnership with EarthKeepers, to support restaurants and retail food establishments to reduce and divert food waste from landfills.*

 

• The City of Bloomington and the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) reached a historic agreement on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement that included unprecedented public safety investments.

 

• Mayor Hamilton presented his seventh annual State of the City address, Forward Together, to the community at the Buskirk Chumley Theater.

 

• Sibling Cities USA and the cities of Palo Alto, California, and Bloomington, Indiana, hosted a virtual kickoff for the first-ever Sibling Cities relationship, including the signing of the first-ever agreement.

 

• Catalent Pharma Solutions signed an agreement to bring a $350 million expansion to Bloomington, including at least 1,000 new high-quality jobs paying an average of $32 per hour.

 

• 304 locations in four different project areas were selected to plant more than 300 trees to provide a more equitable urban canopy for all residents.**

 

• Presented the Sixth Annual Public Safety Report–overall crime decreased by nine percent and reported zero fire fatalities for the sixth year in a row.

 

• Hopewell was selected as the new neighborhood name of the former IU Health Bloomington Legacy Hospital Site.

 

• Solar and Energy Efficiency Loan (SEEL) Program provided $80,000 in matching funds for seven nonprofits and community institutions to improve building efficiency and performance.*

 

• Dedicated Eagleson Avenue as the official replacement for Jordan Avenue, honoring a prominent Black family in Bloomington for four generations whose members have made significant contributions to the city, university, state, and nation.

 

• Reopened the Waldron Arts Center after a $515,000 investment for capital improvements to address deferred maintenance on the facility.*

 

• Deployed Tyler EPL (formerly Energov) Enterprise Permitting and Licensing, barrier-free customer service for permits and licenses that removes the need to visit City Hall in person or exchange physical papers to conduct business with the City.

 

• Utilities launched an expanded wastewater virus surveillance program in collaboration with IU and IU Health. The program is sampling for SARS CoV-2, Monkeypox, and Influenza viruses at six locations, four in Bloomington and one in Bedford and Paoli. This expands the long-running sampling program that was established in July, 2020.

 

• Utilities deployed the CityWorks asset management software package for all of CBU’s buried infrastructure. CityWorks facilitates more-efficient work orders, asset tracking, and maintenance of over 430 miles of water pipe, 330 miles of sewer pipe, and all the city’s culverts and storm drains. CityWorks deployment is also complete at the Blucher Poole wastewater treatment plant, with the other plants coming online in early 2023.

 

 

2021 Accomplishments

• Department of Public Works Street Division paved 12 miles of city streets, filled 7,200 potholes, repaired 25,138 linear feet of sidewalks, and installed 100 ADA ramps.

 

• Recommended and passed $179 combined 2022 operating budget.

 

• Distributed $224,000 through Downtown Outreach Grants program to local non-profit agencies serving those who are unhoused or who are in jeopardy of becoming homeless.

 

• Andrew Krebbs was appointed Communications Director.

 

• Updated City website with improvements in the homepage user interface, search, events/calendars changes, and other impactful updates.

 

• Received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for the seventh year, the only such city in Indiana.

 

• Commissioned and installed North Star/Hoosier Line art installations at Switchyard Park.

 

• Beth Cate was appointed as Corporation Counsel.

 

• Signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Meridiam for the firm to build and operate a fiber network to bring high-speed internet to Bloomington residences.

 

• Completed the 7-Line project along 7th Street, providing a protected east-west bicycle lane, improved bus stops, and improved pedestrian features. The multimodal corridor connects the B-Line, downtown, the Indiana University campus, and neighborhoods on the city’s east and west sides while improving comfort, safety, and efficiency for all road users.**

 

• Palo Alto Mayor Tom DuBois and Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton proposed a Sibling Cities relationship, the first domestic relationship of its kind between United States cities.

 

• Utilities awarded $70,000 to 12 projects through the Residential Stormwater Grants Program.  Projects included rain gardens, dry creek beds, and other drainage stabilization projects.

 

• Launched Local Food Mini-Grant program to fund organizations that are already working in food insecurity and may support a range of activities in service of food access.*

 

• Parks and Recreation unveiled final plans for additions and upgrades to Goat Farm amenities that will enhance the visitor experience while maintaining the park's natural feel and important contributions to the local ecosystem. 

 

• The Digital Equity Grants program awarded nine area nonprofits a total of $50,000 in 2021 to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents.*

 

• Received the Accelerate Indiana Municipalities (AIMAim) Community Placemaking Award for the development of Switchyard Park.

 

• Parks and Recreation Department earned its fifth accreditation through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).

 

• Hosted the 2021 National Conference on Police Social Work in downtown Bloomington providing an unprecedented opportunity for national leaders from the law enforcement and social work fields to explore and share successful methods and best practices for embedded social workers in police departments.

 

• Bloomington Fire Department received the highest Public Protection Classification (PPC) from Insurance Service Office, Inc. (ISO). The department has been awarded an ISO Class 1/1x rating and is one of four cities out of 1593 communities in the state with a class one (1) rating, placing Bloomington among the top 0.2% of communities in the state and the top 0.5% in the nation.

 

• Holly Warren was named the new Assistant Director for the Arts in the Economic and Sustainable Development Department.

 

• Received a $3.5 million CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to support the construction of the Trades District Technology Center, which will facilitate the growth and commercialization of second-stage, tech-based businesses. The RDC matched the federal investment with a $1.6 million pledge to the project. The EDA projects that the grant will create 530 jobs and generate $51 million in private investment in the region.

 

• Opened the 500-space, environmentally certified replacement Fourth Street Parking Garage. Includes a covered bicycle depot; commercial/retail space, public bathrooms, City Parking Management offices; and pedestrian plazas on its southern and western sides. The Fourth Street Garage and the Trades District Garage are the first two Parksmart-certified garages in Indiana.

 

• Completed the School Zone Enhancement Project to increase driver compliance within the city’s 16 school zones.

 

• Launched Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program providing qualified homeowners with $1,000 rebates and low-interest loans for solar, geothermal, and energy efficiency projects, which also provide federal tax credits.*

 

• Held employability skills training and workshops as part of the Recover Forward Direct New Jobs initiative.*

 

• Information & Technology Services Department recognized as a 2021 Digital Inclusion Trailblazer by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance.
• Recommended and adopted Juneteenth as an official City holiday.

 

• The Office of Innovation launched  “1,000 Households Who Mulch”, a partnership with 493 households to pilot a new system for leaf management in the City projected to save approximately $260k/year.  

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded $920,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program to Bloomington-based social service agencies.

 

• Launched resident-led Future of Policing Task Force to review and make recommendations about law enforcement in Bloomington and Monroe County.

 

• Selected Center for Equity and Inclusion to lead anti-racism training for City of Bloomington department heads and elected officials.

 

• Waldron Recommendation Task Force issued a report summarizing its activities, findings, and recommendations for future uses for the circa-1915 building at 122 South Walnut Street.

 

• Resumed and passed Annexation after the illegal termination in 2017 by Indiana Legislature.

 

• Conducted a third community-wide survey of Bloomington residents to gauge residents’ perceptions of the quality and value of City services and current conditions in the community.

 

• Be More Awards recognized six local volunteers, organizations, and community-minded businesses.

 

• Mayor Hamilton convened a task force to Rename Jordan Avenue comprised of city residents and IU faculty and administrators.

 

• Installed the second Black Lives Matter street mural on the north side of the downtown square.

 

• Held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to open the new 350-space Trades District Garage to support the city’s newest employment hub and cultural destination. The Fourth Street Garage and the Trades District Garage are the first two Parksmart-certified garages in Indiana.

 

• Held push-in ceremony for new 100-foot aerial ladder fire truck purchased through Public Safety Local Income Tax (PS-LIT) revenues for $1.19 million.

 

• Awarded TechPoint’s Rising Tech City Award. The Rising Tech City Award “honors a city, town, region, or community within the state of Indiana, celebrating the projects and the people behind them who have championed the location’s advancement.

 

• Bloomington was named a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation.

 

• Launched a pilot incentive program to attract and retain police officers. Incentives include rental and downpayment assistance.

 

• Donald C. Griffin, Jr. was appointed as Deputy Mayor.

 

• Awarded LEED for Cities and Communities Certification for actions to improve sustainability. Bloomington joined a global network of approximately 100 LEED-certified cities and communities.

 

• Mayor Hamilton presented his sixth annual State of the City address virtually to the community.

 

• Bloomington Fire Department recognized 29 firefighters for exceptional service to the community in 2020.

 

• Awarded more than $42,000 to 25 organizations as part of the second round of grant funding to cultural organizations and artists that foster the arts and nurture communities.*

 

• Utilities launched the $13 million Hidden River Pathway Project to address flooding during rain events. The project includes 1,829 feet of culverts under downtown Bloomington.

 

• Presented the Fifth Annual Public Safety Report–overall crime decreased by more than 6 percent and reported zero fire fatalities for the fifth year in a row.

 

• John Zody was appointed Director of the City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department.

 

• Solar and Energy Efficiency Loan (SEEL) Program provided $104,000 in matching funds for eight nonprofits and community institutions to improve building efficiency and performance.*

 

• Parks and Recreation Department awarded the Indiana Arborist Association Gold Leaf Award for Switchyard Park.

 

• Established the Racial Equity Task Force dedicated to addressing broad issues of racism in the community and developing recommendations to address them.

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded more than $26,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Grants.

 

• Published the Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital site master plan report for redevelopment. The plan for the 24-acre site focuses on strengthening the downtown, affordable housing, sustainability, equity, and inclusion.

 

• Sanitation launched a new tool for accessing information about and scheduling sanitation services.

 

• Held multiple public forums and information sessions for IU Health Bloomington Hospital Redevelopment and 7-Line Project.

 

• Youth Participatory Budgeting cohort installed three new water fountains in Bryan, RCA and Waldron, Hill & Buskirk Parks.

 

• Utilities completed deployment of the Hack WIMS laboratory information management system. WIMS facilitates management and analysis of the hundreds of daily laboratory and operational parameters from our plants and water distribution system and laboratory results from outside labs.

 

 

2020 Accomplishments

• Department of Public Works Street Division paved 14 miles of city streets, filled 8,400 potholes, repaired 44,660 linear feet of sidewalks, and installed 55 ADA ramps.

 

• Utilities launched the COVID-19 wastewater sampling program in July. From October-December, CBU participated in a large-scale wastewater sampling program that was organized by the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA).

 

• Published the City’s first Digital Equity Strategic Plan in service of the goal of improving internet accessibility and affordability for Bloomington residents.

 

• Completed and opened Southern Knoll Apartments, an affordable apartment community in downtown Bloomington serving residents experiencing homelessness and those with intellectual disabilities. Includes 42 bedrooms in 31 units serving residents at 30 to 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). A portion of the units will be reserved as permanent supportive housing for clients of Beacon and/or Stone Belt.

 

• The Digital Equity Grants program awarded six area nonprofits a total of $35,000 in 2020 to bridge the digital divide and increase digital resources for residents.*

 

• Received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for the sixth year, the only such city in Indiana. Bloomington was one of only 94 cities in the U.S. to earn a perfect score in 2020.

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded $1.9 million from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program to Bloomington-based social service agencies.

 

• CDFI Friendly Bloomington and Bloomington Cooperative Living teamed up to construct 18 new affordable units on the near west side.

 

• Andrew Cibor was appointed as City Engineer and director for Engineering Department.

 

• Community and Family Resources hosted the second annual Young Women’s Leadership Summit.

 

• Dedicated City’s first Black Lives Matter street mural project in front of the Banneker Community Center.

 

• Draft Master Plan for 24-acre Hospital Site presented to Hospital Reuse Committee after input from 400 public forum participants and over 500 survey respondents.

 

• Partnered with Monroe County to support a new Winter Contingency Shelter for Women to house up to 40 women currently experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

• Miah Michaelsen and Valerie Peña named as co-chairs of the Waldron Recommendation Committee, an advisory group that evaluated and provided recommendations for the future use of the Ivy Tech John Waldron Arts Center.

 

• Released City’s first Plan to Advance Racial Equity derived from the engagement of The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and its Divided Community Project (DCP)/Bridge Initiative in the summer of 2019.

 

• Held multiple public forums and information sessions for IU Health Bloomington Hospital Redevelopment.

 

• Mayor John Hamilton participated in a national panel discussion about the CDFI Friendly Strategy he pioneered in Bloomington that is being adapted and adopted by other communities around the country.

 

• Scott Robinson was appointed director of the Department of Planning and Transportation.

 

• $48,000 granted to 21 nonprofit organizations that foster the arts and cultivate community in Bloomington.*

 

• Department of Public Works allocated an additional $400,000 for sidewalk and path enhancements.*

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development launched a $100,000 Down Payment Assistance program and a $350,000 Shared Appreciation Home Ownership/2nd Mortgage Assistance program for income-eligible residents.*

 

• Funded $50,000 for Ivy Tech’s Biomanufacturing Apprenticeship Program, a free three-week training in skills needed to gain employment in the region’s robust biomanufacturing sector.*

 

• Funded $100,000 for The Mill Code School, a 10-week pilot program that provided an opportunity for Bloomington residents to improve their digital skills, specifically in software development, to access better employment options.*

 

• Awarded $80,800 in grant funding to 26 nonprofit arts organizations whose programming was interrupted or otherwise impacted by the pandemic.*

 

• Local-Motion Grant Program awarded $2,400 to advance pedestrian and bicycle mobility in Bloomington.

 

• Opened Bloomington’s newest dog park at Switchyard Park.

 

• Launched Phase One and Phase Two of Recover Forward to help Bloomington recover from the pandemic and economic collapse and advance racial, economic, and climate justice–reallocating $2 million of reversion funds and $4 million from city reserves.*

 

• Upgraded the online financial transparency portal to provide greater access to the City’s financial information. Updated daily, the interactive website provides user-friendly visualizations of the City’s expenditure, revenue, and payroll information for the current fiscal year and a historical view of previous years.

 

• Contracted and released organizational assessment reports for Bloomington Fire Department and the Bloomington Police Department by Novak Consulting Group.

 

• Parks and Recreation Department launched a new five-year master planning process with a community-wide survey.

 

• Released a study assessing the city’s housing needs and recommending strategies to provide safe, affordable housing for all residents.

 

• Parks and Recreation received a Bloomington Health Foundation grant to be used for tripling supplemental nutrition programs at the Farmers' Market over two years.

 

• Launched pilot closure of Kirkwood Avenue between Indiana and Grant Streets to vehicular traffic allowing restaurants to expand their seating during COVID-19 to sidewalks and to provide patrons with a safe distance during their meals.*

 

• Completed Kirkwood Avenue Maintenance Project–reconstructed the crosswalks and repaved East Kirkwood Avenue from Walnut Street to Indiana Avenue.

 

• Utilities demolished the decommissioned Griffy Water Treatment Plant, restoring it to a natural meadow that can be enjoyed by visitors to the Cascades Park Trail.

 

• Utilities completed deployment of a new GIS system for all buried infrastructure. The new system provides staff with ready access to maps and infrastructure data, accessible from a computer, tablet, or cell phone. The new GIS is a fundamental component of the Utilities Department’s infrastructure and asset management programs.

 

• Conducted a Digital Equity Community Survey to identify broadband service needs and gaps in the community.

 

• Participated in the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day on April 22.

 

• Opened Phase One Switchyard Apartments–eight 1-bedroom and two 2-bedroom apartments for households earning 50 to 80 percent of the area median income or below. Two of the units are reserved for clients of LifeDesigns, a local nonprofit serving people with disabilities. Phase Two will include eight additional units.

 

• Partnered with Bloomington Fabric Mask Drive to provide masks for city staff and residents.

 

• Mayor Hamilton increased regular media appearances during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide updates on City services, highlight resources, and answer questions–including weekly video updates and a weekly press conference.

 

• Created a $2 million Rapid Response Fund to provide immediate working capital for 62 small businesses and cultural organizations as they waited for other funding relief.

 

• Convened Continuity of City Government (COCG) team to implement contingency staffing plans and protocols to maintain City services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

• Worked closely with the Monroe County Health Department, Indiana University, IU Health, school systems, and local emergency personnel to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic, protect public health and safety, and coordinate preventive and mitigating actions.

 

• Partnered with Solar Indiana Renewable Energy Network (SIREN) to make it easier and more affordable for residents and organizations to go solar.

 

• Fire Department was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of State to travel to Freetown, Sierra Leone, to improve fire safety in the West African country.

 

• Mayor Hamilton proposes Sustainability Investment Fund and LIT increase.

 

• Recognized as one of 105 cities leading climate and sustainability action worldwide, according to CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project).

 

• Mayor Hamilton presented his fifth annual State of the City address to the community at the Buskirk Chumley Theater.

 

• Bloomington was selected to participate in a National Academy hosted by Divided Community Project’s (DCP) Bridge Initiative in partnership with the American Bar Association’s Section of Dispute Resolution.

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded more than $14,000 in Neighborhood Improvement Grants.

 

• Held push-in ceremony at University Station for a new fire truck purchased through Public Safety Local Income Tax (PS-LIT) revenues for $530,000.

 

• Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Monroe County Health Department, launched a syringe disposal pilot program in three City parks.

 

• Launched HelpingBloomingtonMonroe, in partnership with Bloomington Health Foundation, an online social services database listing over 1,700 free and reduced-cost programs serving area residents.

 

• Dedicated 1,300-square-foot mural drawing on Graduate Hotel’s western facade created by nationally renowned artist Nina Chanel Abney.

 

• Utilities awarded $70,000 to 16 projects through the Residential Stormwater Grants Program. Projects included rain gardens, dry creek beds, and other drainage stabilization projects.

 

• Updated myBloomington Digital Service to include interface and accessibility improvements and additional data sources that make it easier for residents to connect with government services and elected officials.

 

• Completed the 17th Street Reconstruction Project to add pedestrian infrastructure and roadway improvements along the busy corridor. 

 

• Dedicated the Allison Conference Room on Inauguration Day for former Mayor Tomi Allison.

 

• Selected as one of 15 US cities for a grant from the Centre for Public Impact, the Office of Innovation trained 11 employees spanning nine departments in human-centered design focused on transforming the City’s leaf management system.

 

• The Office of Innovation partnered with BMG Hack - the local Code for America Brigade - to conduct “Let’s Get Visual”, a half-day City-centered data visualization challenge to explore and reveal information contained within the City of Bloomington’s 200-plus data sets.

 

• The Office of Innovation represented four departments at the Indiana Bond Bank’s Flipping Finance Challenge innovation summit that crowdsourced solutions to challenges presented by the City.

 

 

2019 Accomplishments

• Department of Public Works Street Division paved 14 miles of city streets, filled 17,300 potholes, repaired 8,000 linear feet of sidewalks, and installed 102 ADA ramps.

 

• Utilities awarded $35,000 to 11 projects through the Residential Stormwater Grants Program. Projects included rain gardens, dry creek beds, and other drainage stabilization projects.  

 

• Divided Community Project, based at The Ohio State University’s Moritz School of Law, issued a report recommending a collaborative community process to address long-standing social issues in Bloomington. The report recommended the establishment of an independent community task force and continued training from the Divided Community Project in 2020 to develop long-term plans and implementation strategies. 

 

• Housing and Neighborhood Development awarded $845,000 from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Entitlement Program to Bloomington-based social service agencies.

 

• Construction preparation work started for the new Trades District Parking Garage.

 

• Announced continued funding of $20,000 for the Endwright East Active Living Community Center in 2020.

 

• Preliminary designs unveiled for three new City gateways as part of the Bicentennial Bonds.+

 

• Parks and Recreation's Kid City Summer Camps received re-accreditation camp status from American Camp Association®.

 

• Bloomington Fire Department Launched “Heroes Helping Hoosiers” with Holiday Food Drive as part of new series of community-serving events.

 

• Convened panel to consider options for Bloomington Community Farmers' Market–participants reviewed challenges regarding free speech, inclusion, and safety during the 2019 market season and considered future options for the market.

 

• Parks and Recreation received a $199,600 grant from Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) to create a community cultural hub at the Banneker Community Center to foster and celebrate diversity and inclusion within Bloomington and Monroe County.

 

• Received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign for the fifth year, the only such city in Indiana. 

 

• Opened the new $34 million Switchyard Park, the largest and newest city park, a 65-acre park born from an abandoned railroad switchyard. The new park features a pavilion, a performance stage and amphitheater, skatepark, community gardens, fitness stations, basketball, pickleball, and bocce ball courts, splash pad, accessible playground, bosque (formal forest), and picnic shelter; and will have the capacity to host large-scale events and festivals. 

 

• Demolished the old Fourth Street Parking Garage and finished removing construction debris from the site to be recycled–a requirement for Parksmart certification of the new garage.

 

• Issued a Request for Information (RFI) for the development of affordable and workforce housing at a City-owned site adjacent to the 65-acre Switchyard Park.

 

• Parks and Recreation received a $9,937 grant to provide free swimming lessons at Mills Pool to all kindergarten through third-grade participants in the Banneker Community Center's summer camp program.

 

• Community and Family Resources held the inaugural Young Women’s Leadership Summit.

 

• Bloomington Volunteer Network celebrates 40th anniversary.

 

• Launched the student-led Youth Participatory Budget program designed to increase youth engagement in the community and with city government.

 

• Grant received by Bloomington Parks Foundation and Walmart Community Foundation to expand Banneker Community Center's after-school, evening, and summer camp snacks and meals program and launch an on-site cooking skills program.

 

• Engaged The Bridge Initiative, part of the Divided Community Project (DCP), an organization housed at The Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law, to help lead new community engagement on racism, anti-Semitism, and other forms of discrimination.

 

• Published the city’s first Greenhouse Gas Inventory report to establish Bloomington’s actual trajectory of emissions using a consistent, globally accepted method for cities to calculate and report emissions. 

 

• Held groundbreaking ceremony with Centerstone for the new Kinser Flats apartment complex–a 50-unit complex that will provide 38 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units of affordable permanent housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness and with substance use disorder or co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

 

• Awarded the statewide 2019 Indiana Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence in the Greening the Government category.

 

• Utilities opened the bulk water station improving ease of use and efficiency and reducing risk of backflow contamination to the water supply.

 

• Presented State of the Urban Forest report showcasing results of a comprehensive count and evaluation of the city’s 19,000 public trees. In 2018, the City issued a Bicentennial Bond to plant an additional 1,400 public trees.

 

• Recommended the Unified Development Ordinance to better align with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Sustainability Plan, and Transportation Plan. The updated UDO prioritizes health and safety, environmental sustainability, affordable housing, aesthetics, sense of place, and quality of life.   

 

• Innovation hosted a community Dronepalooza event showcasing drones’ potential for science, government, art, business, and recreation.

 

• Bloomington Transit awarded a federal grant for a second electric bus purchase.

 

• Mayor Hamilton joined a bipartisan group of more than 250 U.S. municipal leaders from all 50 U.S. states and one territory resolved “to make solar energy a key element of our communities' energy plans.”

 

• Bloomington Fire Department recognized five firefighters with the Civilian Lifesaving Award in 2019.

 

• Hired the city’s first After Hours Ambassador to help maintain a safe and welcoming environment for downtown residents, visitors, shoppers, businesses, cultural organizations, and others.

 

• Utilities began the installation of smart water meters for all residences and businesses, allowing for better leak detection and improved customer service.

 

• Held push-in ceremony at Station 1 for new 100-foot aerial ladder fire truck purchased through Public Safety Local Income Tax (PS-LIT) revenues for $1.1 million.

 

• Awarded over $40,000 to 16 organizations to cultural organizations and artists that foster the arts and nurture communities.

 

• Completed the five-year Consolidated Plan to identify the affordable housing and community development needs in the city.

 

• Mayor Hamilton participated in “Investing in Our Future: Expanding South Bend’s Commitment to Inclusive Economic Growth” to promote Bloomington as the country’s first CDFI-Friendly City.

 

• Conducted a second community-wide survey of Bloomington residents to gauge residents’ perceptions of the quality and value of City services and current conditions in the community.

 

• Officially opened Bloomington’s Trades District, the City’s new hub of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. 

 

• Launched a new online tool, bloomington.ecdev.org, in partnership with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC), the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce (Chamber), and civic technology firm LocalIntel. The tool visualizes public data relevant to current and prospective business owners and entrepreneurs in a streamlined, user-friendly platform.  

 

• City joins U.S. Green Building Council’s leed for cities and communities program.

 

• Received “Outstanding Restoration or Rehabilitation Outside of Marion County” award from Indiana Landmarks for the former Showers factory building now known as The Mill. 

 

• Launched Osage Place, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, a 50-affordable home project for residents with household earnings between 25 and 80 percent of the area median income.  

 

• City of Bloomington received the Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Business award from the League of American Bicyclists.

 

• Mayor Hamilton convenes a task force to consider the feasibility of a city-wide renewable energy initiative.

 

• Bloomington Police Department acquires a new mobile field office vehicle that will provide public safety assistance at major events, natural disasters, or major crime scenes. 

 

• Launched the “Brighten B-town” initiative, a partnership among Parks and Recreation, Utilities, and Public Works, to improve the delivery of upkeep and maintenance services designed for greater efficiency and more visible results. 

 

• Reopened Wapehani Mountain Bike Park following the successful removal of the Weimer Lake dam and the planting of more than 400 native trees in the former lake bed. 

 

• Utilities launched the Residential Stormwater Grants Program and awarded $35,000 fund projects, including rain gardens, dry creek beds, and other drainage stabilization projects.

 

• Mayor Hamilton presented his fourth annual State of the City address to the community at the Buskirk Chumley Theater.

 

• Presented Annual Public Safety Report–overall crime decreased and reported zero fire fatalities.

 

• Mayor Hamilton was awarded the 2019 National Award for Local Arts Leadership for cities with a population of fewer than 100,000 people by the Americans for the Arts and the United States Conference of Mayors. 

 

• Bloomington Police Department received accreditation from the Indiana Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (ILEAC).

 

• Launched “Year of Food,” a year-long campaign to promote food equity in the community and economic opportunities for local farmers.

 

• Devta Kidd appointed as Director of Innovation.

 

• Utilities completed deployment of an $8 million Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project, replacing CBU’s 27,000+ water meters and adding radio communications to a central data-collection network. The AMI system reads all the meters once per hour (as compared to the manual once-per-month schedule). This improves CBU’s billing systems and provides all customers with online access to their water-use data.

2016-2018 Accomplishments 

Jobs/Economy

• $400 million investment for IU Health Regional Academic Health Center and retention of 2,700 jobs
• Purchase of closed GE plant by Cook for $100 million and creation of 500 jobs
• Investment of $1 billion in Bloomington from Catalent, retaining 750 jobs and adding 36 new jobs
• $10 million commitment from Tasus/Tsuchiya for North American headquarters in the Trades District, adding 48 new jobs
• Planned $75 million expansion of the Monroe County Convention Center
• Renovated and opened The Mill with 150 new members and 2 new companies
• $125 million expansion of Catalent to add 200 jobs
• Partnered with Columbus (IN), The Mill and Elevate Ventures, providing $2.5 million for entrepreneurship and innovation
• Commitment from PTS Electronics Corp to add 80 jobs
• Expansion of Envisage to add 80 new full-time jobs
• Commitment from Phoenix Closures to add 73 jobs
• Commitment from Hanapin Marketing to add 37 jobs
• Retention of 44 full-time jobs at 3D Stone and announcement of 32 new jobs
• Expansion of Cornerstone Information Systems to add 14 new jobs
• Expansion of GP Strategies to add 12 new jobs
• Opening of MetroStar at The Mill, creating 10 jobs
• Opening of DataSprout headquarters at The Mill, creating 10 jobs
• Expansion of LRAP to add 8 new jobs
• Expansion of Periodic to add 8 new jobs
• Expansion of Secretly Group to add 5 new full-time jobs
• Expansion of Cheddar to add 3 jobs
• Expansion of Rock Paper Scissors to add 3 new jobs
• Expansion of Pigasus Institute to create a professional film and theater academy in Bloomington, the first of its kind in Indiana
• Conducted first city salary survey in 20 years for all non-union and union employees
• Approved market-adjusted pay increases for non-Union employees to be implemented over 3 years, dependent upon Council approval for funding
• Used salary survey data to inform police and AFSCME union negotiations (fire union employees are under contract through 2020)
• Established minimum $15/hour wage for every regular full- and part-time city employee
• Approved living wage by 2020 for all temporary and seasonal employees
• Tripled investment in city employee training, 2015 to 2019 (from 0.5% to 1.5% of payroll)
• Received recommendations from first-ever Wage Growth Task Force on branding, training support, innovation culture, early childhood education, business/shareholder/academic gatherings and shared benefits for small businesses
• Directed first-ever $100,000 of general fund revenue to support pre-K childhood education for families and providers needing support, based on a recommendation from the Wage Growth Task Force
• Directed additional $100,000 of city general fund money to support pre-K childhood education, with grant applications available to interested providers
• Established “CDFI Friendly Bloomington” with $4 million in local financing and leveraging $10 million in outside financing
• Named the first “CDFI Friendly City” in the country in 2018
• Partnered with Centerstone to provide job opportunities to 5 Centerstone clients
• Purchased 24-acre current hospital site for $6.5 million for community-directed redevelopment
• Received recommendations from Urban Land Institute (ULI) for re-utilization of the current hospital site based on engagement with community leaders
• Convened a national meeting on municipal broadband options, attracting experts from around the country
• Recommended and passed a city resolution in support of the passage of the Food and Beverage Tax (1% increase in sales of prepared foods and beverages to pay for expansion of convention center)
• Passed Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) extension resolution to renew Urban Enterprise Zone
• Designed and implemented “Start A Business” end-to-end quick start guide on new City website
• Secured $300,000 EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant to stimulate private investment in the Trades District
• Developed a draft business retention and expansion plan in partnership with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC) to publish in 2019
• Financed and built infrastructure for Trades District, including extensive green features
• Updated Master Plan and hired Master Broker for Trades District

 

Affordable Housing

• Accelerating $12 million Bloomington Housing Authority (BHA) investment to upgrade 312 units of public housing in the city in 5 years instead of 25 years
• Approved and supported building of Evergreen Village, creating 115 new affordable assisted-living apartments
• Approved and supported building of Switchyard Apartments, creating 8 new affordable apartments
• Approved and supported building of Crescent Development, creating 117 new affordable apartments
• Approved and supported building of B-Line Heights, creating 34 new affordable apartments
• Approved Middle Earth co-housing project, refinancing 20 affordable beds
• Approved building of Urban Station 1, creating 10 new affordable apartments
• Approved and supported building of Park South, creating 4 new affordable apartments
• Approved and funded Crawford II, creating 36 new apartments for people experiencing chronic homelessness
• Approved Monon Crossing (formerly Southern Knolls), preserving 31 units of affordable housing
• Approved and refinanced Limestone Crossing (formerly Canterbury House), preserving and creating 208 affordable units
• Approved building of Adams Village, creating 13 new affordable apartments
• Approved building of Alley Works (Yellow Cab), creating 5 new artist-oriented affordable apartments
• Approved Omega Property, creating 4 affordable units and contribution to Housing Development Fund
• Approved Evolve, new student-oriented apartments, and negotiated $1 million contribution to Housing Development Fund
• Passed new ordinance to allow for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), with 4 approved since passage
• Created Housing Development Fund to help finance affordable housing
• Developed, released and updated Affordable Housing Plan
• Passed new Comprehensive Master Plan with emphasis on affordable housing
• Developing new Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) to update zoning code and emphasize affordable housing
• Developing sub-area zoning plan for Sudbury Farm
• Developing sub-area zoning plan for areas around new Switchyard Park
• Developing sub-area zoning plan for Third Street corridor
• Developed a Regional Affordable Housing Plan with Regional Opportunities Initiative (ROI)
• Passed Ordinance 17-28 to add Cooperative Housing (such as Middle Earth) and Pocket Neighborhoods (such as Bloomington Cohousing) to zoning code as conditional uses
• Provided housing counseling to 497 households
• Authorized $3.9 million in federal CDBG/HOME funds supporting 63 affordable housing and community projects
• Passed interim UDO Title 20 change to reduce the by-right height and density available downtown
• Inspected 23,071 rental units for compliance with code requirements in regular cycle rental inspections
• Distributed rental deposit assistance to 45 residents
• Developed Workforce Housing guidelines to provide long-term oversight of affordable housing units
• Rehabbed 53 homes through Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) programs

 

Innovative, Transparent and Accessible Government

• Created B-Clear on city website, with 150 public data sets and growing
• Published semi-annual budget goal updates, starting in 2018
• Established new program-based budgeting model for accountability and transparency
• Established Mayor at the Market series for weekly accessibility
• Conducted first-ever community-wide statistically valid survey in 2017
• Conducting follow-up community-wide statistically valid survey in 2019
• Mayor hosted weekly open office hour appointments with city residents
• Published bi-weekly survey questions through Polco, an online public engagement platform
• Launched new city website
• Launched new uReport system for improved resident reporting
• Won the 2018 Best of Indiana Award for Best Application Serving the Public (Local Government) for 2017 website redesign
• Improved city bond rating to AA
• Organized Citizens Academy for 90 participants
• Purchased iPads for HAND to use during housing inspections, resulting in an anticipated annual time savings of approximately 6,500 hours of labor
• Created Innovation Task Force to provide recommendations for city innovation
• Established After-Hours Ambassador position, based on Innovation Task Force recommendation
• Established Digital Communications Specialist position, based on city survey results
• Established Director of Public Engagement position, based on Innovation Task Force recommendation
• Established Director of Innovation position, based on Innovation Task Force recommendation
• Established Fiscal Task Force to review city financial operations; implementing taskforce recommendations
• Implemented financial ethics training for all city employees, based on Fiscal Task Force recommendation
• Developed and adopted policies for internal controls and materiality, based on Fiscal Task Force recommendation
• Implemented TransMap, a new service that entails automated scanning, detailed data collection and analysis for street, sidewalk and other conditions
• Created Chatbot to send out automatic traffic alerts
• Demonstrated autonomous bus on Kirkwood, in collaboration with Bloomington Transit (BT)
• Completed sanitation modernization with automated cart hoists
• Approved smart meter lease to fund implementation of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system serving all City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) customers
• Improved and expanded social media communications, hosting 8 Facebook Live town hall meetings and gaining nearly 1,200 followers in 2018
• Initiated Youth Participatory Budgeting program
• Repurposed budget savings (reversions) for unfunded community and department needs
• Hosted local coding brigade to produce an app for Bloomington Transit
• Implemented a document retention and destruction program
• Coordinated Fast Forward Bloomington virtual reality event in collaboration with Monroe County Public Library (MCPL)
• Established protocol for alerting the public and press about sanitary sewer overflows in city limits
• Achieved 3 clean State Board of Accounts annual audits
• Created Bloomington Revealed to publish data related to safety, civility and justice issues
• ITS Department ranked 10th in the 2017 Digital Cities Survey, 75,000-125,000 population category
• Received Government Technology’s Best of Indiana Award for Best Application Servicing an Organization’s Business Needs for inRoads application

 

Sustainability

• Installed solar PV systems at 30 locations, generating 2 megawatts of electricity in 2018
• Hosted Solarize Bloomington program enabling 180 homeowners to install over
• 1.2 megawatts of solar capacity
• Partnered with Indiana Solar for All (ISFA) to increase lower-income residents’ access to renewable energy (8 homes in 2018, 12 homes in 2019)
• Purchased new electric vehicle to monitor and maintain the B-Line Trail
• Expanded recycling with weekly, single-stream recycling program
• Launched composting program in City Hall
• Approved permit for companies to provide curbside composting pick-up in city limits
• Achieved Gold-level Bicycle Friendly City designation from the League of American Bicyclists, the only such city in Indiana and 1 of only 5 in the country (2018).
• Received Tree City USA designation for the 34th year in a row
• Created the first Sustainability Action Plan, adopted by City Council
• Developed programming for 2019 Year of Food
• Received grant to hire a Value Chain Coordinator to increase connections between the local network of agricultural providers and the local and regional retail and wholesale markets
• Adopted measures in CBU to significantly increase water conservation and reduce water loss
• Replaced utilities infrastructure, including the installation of 5 miles of sewer linings, to increase water quality and decrease sanitary sewer overflows
• Launched Pace bike share in partnership with Indiana University
• Added E-Cigs to the Smoking Ordinance
• Approved 8 new individual property historic designations from 2016-2018
• Added 1 new conservation district in January 2019
• Received a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign 3 years in a row, the only municipality in Indiana to do so
• Increased diversity in Mayor-appointed cabinet positions to majority female
• Increased diversity of board and commission appointments
• Maintained 4% or less vacancy rate for mayoral board and commission seats
• Hosted Mental Health 101 training classes for city employees
• Collaborated with the county on launch of Monroe County Pathways, an addiction navigator service for people with substance use disorder
• Developed "Dia Latino de Voluntarado," or Latino Volunteer Day, during Hispanic Heritage Month

[see also Jobs/Economy and Quality of Life sections]

 

Public Safety

• Achieved first-ever national Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) accreditation of Police Department
• Achieved first-ever state Indiana Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (ILEAC) accreditation of Police Department
• Improved Fire Department national safety rating (ISO rating) to Level 2
• Established Safety, Civility and Justice (SCJ) Task Force for community input and recommendations regarding downtown activities
• Implemented 23 of 31 Safety, Civility and Justice Task Force recommendations; pursuing the remaining recommendations
• Established Social Worker position in Bloomington Police Department (BPD)
• Established 2 BPD Neighborhood Resource Officer positions
• Overall crime rate is down 9.4% in 3 years, according to Uniform Crime Report data
• Hired 6 new dispatchers and 3 new dispatch supervisor positions to reduce stress and overwork for 24/7 operation
• Hired 39 new police officers, 3 as new sworn officer positions, to serve the growing local population
• Hired a CALEA/Social Media Specialist in BPD to manage the accreditation process and improve outreach to the community
• Expanded Downtown Resource Officer (DRO) program
• Employed IU police cadets to increase downtown presence
• Participated in the Police Open Data Initiative, as national leader in transparency for police information
• Purchased new fire safety equipment with heat mapping technology
• Purchased 3 new fire trucks
• Piloted and expanded new Quick Response Vehicle (QRV) program
• Tripled hours of professional training for firefighters
• Instituted required regular physical fitness training for firefighters
• Purchased 37 new police cars
• Installed new fire dispatch system (Locution system) to protect firefighter health with targeted alerting
• Supported and gained approval by City Council of the Public Safety Local Income Tax (PSLIT) to fund public safety investments, resulting in more than $15 million of investments to Dispatch, Police and Fire
• Adopted first written Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IU for fire services at the Woodlawn Station
• Approved Fire Union contract in 2017
• Replaced obsolete police equipment with annual funding from Justice Assistance Grants (JAG)
• Public Safety Board evaluated national 21st Century Policing Report and implemented recommendations
• Allocated $20,000 in 2018 and 2019 to the Shalom Center to add weekend hours
• Established new Annual Public Safety Reporting event
• Purchased Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) rescue vehicle to protect public safety
• Instituted new monthly CIRT activity reports to the Board of Public Safety
• Established Fire Department Logistics Officer position
• Developed and in process of implementing a 10-year plan for police and fire equipment and facility upgrades
• Rescued 10 people from life-threatening fire or EMS incidents
• Purchased up-to-date fire fighting safety gear for all firefighters
• Created new annual health check program for all firefighters

 

Quality of Life

Arts

• Awarded funding for 14 arts projects from the Zone Arts Grant Program sponsored by the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) and the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD)
• Doubled annual funding for Arts Commission grants from $20,000 to $40,000
• Established first Black y Brown Arts Festival featuring over 30 artists of color with more than 500 attendees
• Hosted Bicentennial Street Fair on Kirkwood with over 6,000 attendees
• Collaborated with Indiana University on first Granfaloon (Vonnegut) Festival
• Posted first 6-figure arts commission in Hamilton Administration for Trades District
• Commissioned a new mural on the B-Line in collaboration with Vectren
• Commissioned a new mural in People’s Park
• Commissioned additional public art on the Morton Street parking garage
• Commissioned mural on 3rd Street median under the B-Line Trail
• Commissioned mural on underpass of 45/46 bypass
• Commissioned paintings on utility boxes at intersections
• Issued 10 public RFQs for arts/culture projects and received over 120 submissions -- over 60% of them new to the public art landscape; 50% of artists chosen are women
• Negotiated $360,000 commitment to public art from The Graduate Hotel as it invested in downtown
• Participated in the national For Freedoms project
• Participated in the national Creative Time Pledges of Allegiance
• Hosted Richard Ross’ Juvenile In Justice photography exhibit in City Hall
• Hosted first arts and culture summit in the City’s history, reflecting on the impact of the Bloomington Entertainment and Arts District (BEAD)
• Commissioned and released Bicentennial song
• Received US Conference of Mayors 2019 National Award for Local Arts Leadership

 

Parks

• Completed design of Switchyard Park; park currently under construction, to open November 2019
• Passed Bicentennial Parks Bond to fund alley improvements, city gateways, trees and new trails
• Funded new 3.6 mile Griffy Loop Trail
• Funded new trail connecting Switchyard Park to the westside
• Funded new neighborhood greenway along 7th Street east from B-Line to the Bypass
• Funded conversion of Cascades Park road lane to bike/ped only
• Extending Jackson Creek Trail
• Extending Rail Trail south
• Connecting the B-Line west to County trails
• Connecting Heritage Trail to IU
• Approved funding and awarded contract for wildlife management at Griffy Lake Nature Preserve
• Received 2018 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management from the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration
• Hosted 2018 National Girls Fastpitch Softball tournament
• Won bids to host National Girls Fastpitch Softball Tournament for the 20th time
• Hosted bicentennial July 3rd downtown fireworks display
• Coordinated first free and family-friendly Winter Palooza in 2018 and planning for second in 2019
• Recognized as a 2017 Playful City USA community

 

Infrastructure (Public Works/Utilities)

• Completed $2.1 million animal shelter expansion and upgrade
• Achieved lowest euthanasia rates ever in 2018 at just 6% of intake at the Animal Shelter
• Purchased and installed computers in Animal Control vehicles to improve efficiency and access to records
• Installed 437 ADA ramps to improve access and mobility for all
• Initiated “Takin’ it to the Streets” neighborhood clean-up program
• Facilitated 8 neighborhood cleanups
• Paved all reported potholes (8,407 in 2018), with 92% completed within 24 hours of report
• Commissioned and completed Parking Study to identify best practices in parking management
• Established Parking Services Director position
• Evaluated condition of 4th Street garage and made plans for future of facility
• Received approval of Trades District garage financing and construction
• Quickly and efficiently repaired dangerous 3rd Street stormwater culvert, avoiding a crisis
• Accelerated and completed major Grimes Lane water repairs in time for school opening 2018
• Received INDOT approval and funding for 7 major water/sewer lines under I-69
• Established Sanitation Advisory Committee, which created the final Sanitation Modernization Report prompting sanitation modernization
• Purchased 8 new sanitation trucks with mechanical arms as part of sanitation modernization
• Approved new sanitation rate as part of sanitation modernization
• Collaborated with regional stakeholders on Lake Monroe protections
• Passed backflow protection ordinance to protect drinking water quality
• Protected Lake Monroe water quality with new chlorination methods and initiated monthly water quality testing to better track water quality, specifically tracking disinfectant byproducts (DBPs)
• Approved CBU rate increases to replace and upgrade decaying sewer and water lines
• Increased capital investment in new and replacement equipment, including a paving machine, milling machine and dump trucks
• Issued $20 million worth of bonds to fund infrastructure improvements and replacements

 

Click here for the 2016-2018 accomplishments.

 

 

 

*Recover Forward

**Bicentennial Bonds