City of Bloomington Seeks Residents to Serve on Boards and Commissions

The City of Bloomington invites residents to apply for positions on multiple boards and commissions. These service opportunities will allow members of the public to directly participate in city government initiatives and policy-making processes. Positions are currently available as follows:

Board of Housing Quality Appeals — Hears appeals from individuals who are the subject of, or directly impacted by, a ruling or decision of the enforcing officer or any administration official, in any matter relative to the interpretation or enforcement of any of the provisions of Title 16 of the Bloomington Municipal Code. The board is authorized to make investigations relative to the appeal and may overrule the decisions of any administrative officer, including the neighborhood development division.

Seat(s) available: 3 • Appointed by: Mayor (1), Common Council (2)

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city

Board of Public Safety — Oversees the City’s police and fire departments, pursuant to statute, and has the authority to allow and approve claims.

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Mayor

Eligibility Requirements: Members shall have been voters of the city for ast least one year immediately preceding the appointment

CDBG Funding Citizens Advisory Committee — Reviews and recommends Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for various community development projects.

Seat(s) available: 6 • Appointed by: Mayor

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city

Commission on Hispanic and Latiné Affairs — Works to identify and research the issues that impact the Hispanic and Latino populations in Bloomington, especially in the areas of health, education, public safety, and cultural competency. 

Seat(s) available: 2 • Appointed by: Mayor (1), Common Council (1)

Eligibility Requirements: Can either be a resident of the city or a resident of Monroe County 

Commission on Sustainability — Promotes economic development, environmental health, and social equity initiatives.

Seat(s) available: 2 • Appointed by: Mayor

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city

Commission on the Status of Children and Youth — Promotes connections that empower, enhance, and nurture children and youth. The Commission will access resources and information to make recommendations to people and organizations with the authority to create and support systems that encourage the healthy development of children and youth.

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council 

Eligibility Requirements: Can either be a resident of the city or a resident of Monroe County 

Community Advisory on Public Safety Commission — Advises the Bloomington City Council on community perceptions of and preferences for public safety.

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city 

Environmental Commission — Advises the City of Bloomington on how its actions and policies may preserve and enhance the quality of Bloomington’s environment, including the life-supporting processes that natural ecological systems provide to humans and other organisms. 

Seat(s) available: 3 • Appointed by: Mayor 

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city

Fire Merit Commission — Establishes and/or administers policies based on merit for the appointment, promotion, demotion, and dismissal of members of the fire department. 

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Mayor

Eligibility Requirements: Each commissioner must have been a resident of the City for three (3) consecutive years immediately preceding the commissioner's term, a commissioner must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, a commissioner may not be an active member of a police or fire department or agency and not more than two (2) of the commissioners may be past members of a police or fire department or agency. AND must be a person of good moral character. A person may not serve on the commission if the person receives any remuneration as a salary from the unit.

 Historic Preservation Commission — Ensures the historic preservation of and design-conscious development in Bloomington's historic neighborhoods and buildings.

Seat(s) available: 3 • Appointed by: Mayor (1), Common Council (2, Advisory Seats. The Common Council appointment seats on this commission do not have voting privileges.)

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city 

Plan Commission — The Plan Commission is the land use and development policy body for the City and is the decision-making body for site plan review, preliminary and final plats, and final Planned Unit Developments (PUD's). The Commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Common Council for rezoning requests, preliminary PUD's, and amendments to the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). The Plan Commission also advises the Common Council on the adoption of, and amendments to, the Growth Policies Plan (GPP).Works to improve the economic, physical, and social environment for the city’s  zone residents and businesses

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Mayor

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city 

Transportation Commission — The Transportation Commission is a new commission that will make recommendations on relevant transportation and parking sections of the Bloomington Municipal Code, review all transportation-related projects, and propose policies that promote safe, equitable, and sustainable transportation and parking policies and decisions.  

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Mayor

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a resident of the city 

Urban Enterprise Association — The Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association (BUEA) works to improve the economic, physical, and social environment for Zone residents and businesses. The BUEA Zone is an area north, west, and south of Downtown whose residents and businesses are eligible for scholarships, arts and business grants, and tax incentives.

Seat(s) available: 1 • Appointed by: Common Council

Eligibility Requirements: Must be a Zone Resident, and of a differing political party than the other appointed zone resident.

After submitting an application, candidates must be appointed to the boards or commissions by either the Bloomington Common Council or Mayor Kerry Thomson. City residency is required for most, but not all, of the boards and commissions.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to attend a meeting of their board or commission of interest before applying. Meeting schedules for each body can be accessed at bloomington.in.gov/public-meetings. All board and commission meetings are open to the public, allowing prospective members to gain a clear understanding of the work involved.

This notice is issued in accordance with Bloomington Municipal Code 2.02.020.

For more information on current vacancies or to apply visit bloomington.in.gov/onboard/committees.