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January 2021 News Releases

City's Frank Southern Ice Arena Will Not Re-open for the Winter 2021 Season

Limits on gathering sizes contributed to the difficult season.

City of Bloomington's Switchyard Park Recognized for Outstanding Urban Forestry, Native Landscaping

Switchyard Park, whose landscape design emphasizes native landscaping, was nominated for the award.

Four City Workers Receive Positive COVID-19 Results

One City Hall employee, one employee of the Department of Public Works, and two City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) employees have reported receiving positive results of COVID-19 viral tests over the last week. None of the employees had been identified as a close contact of a previous COVID-19 case at the City. Details of each case are as follows:

Resident-Led Racial Equity Task Force Seeks Applicants

Residents are invited to apply for participation in a new resident-led task force being formed to help increase racial equity throughout the city of Bloomington. The Racial Equity Task Force is being established based on recommendations of the City’s Plan to Advance Racial Equity, accessible at the City’s website at  https://bloomington.in.gov/inclusion. This task force, dedicated to addressing broad issues of racism in the community and developing recommendations to address them, will comprise a broad selection of up to 15 residents. City residents interested in applying for a seat on the Racial Equity Task Force may complete this application by Monday, February 15 at midnight and will be notified of their selection by Tuesday, February 23. 

R&B Legends to Kick Off City/IU 2021 Black History Month Celebration January 29

The City of Bloomington and the Indiana University Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center invite the community to kick off Black History Month at the 2021 Opening Celebration on January 29. Beginning at 6 p.m., the free, public event will be held over Zoom video conferencing and streamed live on the City’s social media pages.  Registration to attend the event over Zoom must be made in advance at go.iu.edu/bhmkickoff.

Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Commission Accepting Resident Proposals for Traffic Calming Projects

The City of Bloomington Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Commission (BPSC) is seeking proposals for resident-led projects to install traffic-calming devices on neighborhood and residential streets.  Funding will be awarded through the Traffic Calming and Greenways (TCGP) Program to manage motor vehicle traffic through the installation of speed cushions and speed humps (in rare instances other devices may be considered). Prospective applicants must submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) on or before Sunday, February 21.  Submission information is available at https://bloomington.in.gov/tcgp

Donation to Fund Recreation Amenities at Goat Farm Property

Goat Farm design plan for passive recreation elements will be presented for public review in 2021.

Four City Workers Receive Positive COVID-19 Results

One City of Bloomington employee, two Bloomington Transit (BT) employees, and one City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) employee have reported receiving positive results of COVID-19 viral tests over the last week. None of the employees had been identified as a close contact of a previous COVID-19 case at the City. Details of each case are as follows:

City Farmers' Market Accepting Proposals from Food and Beverage Artisans, Applications from Farmers and Growers, for Vending Spaces at 2021 Saturday Market

Proposals from Food and Beverage Artisans and Applications from Farmers due Feb. 22

Residents Invited to Apply for City Funds for Neighborhood Improvement

The City of Bloomington Department of Housing and Neighborhood Development (HAND) invites residents to apply for City funding to improve their neighborhoods. Applications for funding through four neighborhood grant programs are currently being accepted for the 2021 application cycle. 

Residents Invited to Participate in Leaf Collection Innovation Process

Residents are invited to attend the third and final community meeting about innovating the City’s leaf collection service. The meeting will be held over Zoom video conferencing on Tuesday January 26 from 6:30-8pm and can be joined either by phone or computer (computer recommended for better access to visual presentation and breakout sessions) at this link: 

City Continues to Support Safer Options for Residents Experiencing Homelessness, Resumes Enforcement of Restrictions in City Parks and Rights-of-Way

Since early December, the City has actively coordinated with community partners to connect people who have been illegally camping in the Seminary Park area with better options for safe shelter. The number of those spending the night in the park or the right-of-way has declined over the last five weeks with that extensive outreach, and enforcement of the rules against overnight camping in City parks and in the right-of-way resumed Thursday, January 14 in order to protect the safety and health of these individuals and the community.  

City Shares Report of Master Plan for Hospital Site Redevelopment

The City today published the master plan report for redevelopment of the current Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital site. In 2018, the City contracted to purchase the 24-acre site in order to strengthen downtown with jobs and affordable housing, and pursue additional community goals for sustainability, equity, and inclusion. The plan provides a broad, overall framework for the site’s redevelopment, focused on the 24 acres but also connecting with the wider area, to frame and align future decisions with the community’s goals.

Two City of Bloomington Employees Receive Positive COVID-19 Results

Two City of Bloomington employees have reported receiving positive results of COVID-19 viral tests over the last week. Neither employee had been identified as a close contact of a previous COVID-19 case at the City. Details of each case are as follows:

City Sanitation Customers May Access Information, Services With New Online Tool

In its ongoing effort to increase the efficiency and sustainability of the services it delivers, the City is offering residents a new tool for accessing information about and scheduling sanitation services.

Community Invited to 2021 City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration

Mayor John Hamilton invites the community to the 2021 City of Bloomington Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, Monday, January 18.  To be held virtually this year, the event will include remarks by Hamilton, members of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Commission, and others starting at 7 p.m.

Two City of Bloomington Employees Receive Positive COVID-19 Results

Two City of Bloomington employees reported receiving positive results of COVID-19 viral tests this week.  Neither employee had been identified as a close contact of a previous COVID-19 case at the City.  Details of each case are as follows

City of Bloomington Utilities Presents Water Rate Case in 2021

The City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU) has begun the process of requesting an increase in customers’ water rates in order to modernize and improve the public water utility.