City council discusses local issues

The Bloomington City Council met Wednesday, taking time to discuss a myriad of issues. \nThe meeting opened at 7:30 p.m. with sympathetic words concerning former Bloomington Mayor Frank McCloskey, who was recently diagnosed with bladder cancer.\nCouncil member Jason Banach said the mayor would be in his thoughts, and encouraged the approximately 20 people present to do the same.\nWhen the public had an opportunity to speak, Bloomington residents wasted little time expressing their concerns about city issues.\nBloomington resident George Brooks expressed his discontent over the College Mall Road construction. He said he was unpleased when he drove through a seemingly safe part of the construction and turned into a parking lot only to have his car fall four feet off the pavement, and finally coming to rest on the front bumper.\n"It's ridiculous when you drive by that to see the empty construction equipment and very few safety precautions," Brooks said.\nBloomington resident Rob Fishmen spoke about the importance the 2003 city budget has on decreasing sprawl, a long time goal of the City Council. He discussed his desire to concentrate the city's designated finances on beautifying existing suburban areas, rather then on new developments.\n"The budget is a key sprawl controlling tool," Fishmen said. "Please use it in that way."\nWhen the final 2003 city budget was presented to the City Council, it was unanimously recommended for passage at next week's meeting.\nThe final 2003 budget includes an overall increase of 2.4 percent. Even with the small increase, homeowners should expect their city property taxes to stay level. The final tax rates won't be known until December, but Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez said he did not expect tax rates to increase.\nFernandez said he and his staff attempted to find the minimum tax burden due to the changing financial times.\n"We've tried to put together a budget that will reflect the varying degree of fiscal uncertainty Bloomington will face," Fernandez said. "However, at the same time the budget will deliver enough funding to keep the quality programs our citizens have grown to expect."\nThe agenda included eight pieces of legislation, including the city budget, the budget of the Bloomington Public Transit Corporation and several ordinances that set fixed salaries for city employees.\nIn addition to these issues, City Controller Tom Guevara spoke of the city's new funding initiative in tourism, emphasizing its importance. The city has partnered with certain local organizations -- including IU -- in order to assist with funding tourism.\n"We are putting together a plan to recruit more visitors who will stay longer and enjoy all aspects of the city, including the University," Guevara said.\nThe city's plan to establish a solid tourism system has much to do with an effort to keep IU graduates in Bloomington.\n"Part of our problem is what we call a brain drain," Guevara said. "When the more intellectual students leave Bloomington, it hurts the city. We want them here so businesses will follow."\nMayor Fernandez said he was looking forward to receiving the tourism funding so Bloomington can begin retaining its gifted students.\nAlong with these intentions, the most noticeable increase in the city's 2003 budget included allocating additional funds to the city's Sanitation Department. The budget will reflect an increase in overtime pay for the addition of Sunday downtown cleaning crews. The intention is to keep the area as eye-catching and clean as possible.\n"When you've invested money in a very popular downtown, you want people downtown," Fernandez said. "We have people who work, live and play there, and it makes sense for us to do a pick up everyday as opposed to everyday but Sunday."\nWhile the sanitation investment was not made because of students' weekend activities, City Council member Tim Mayer spoke of an increase in litter since students have returned to Bloomington.\n"Unfortunately, we have had an influx of litter in our community since the students have returned," Mayer said. "Hopefully our new comers will understand how to dispose of their trash properly."\nThe next City Council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 in Bloomington City Hall.