The council delved into the intricacies of Chapter 5 of the city charter, which outlines the powers of initiative, referendum, and recall granted to the citizens of Bloomington. These provisions allow residents to propose new legislation, reject existing laws, or remove elected officials from office. They are tasked with drafting and submitting their proposed ordinance along with a purpose statement to the city attorney for approval. Once deemed legally sufficient, the committee can proceed with gathering signatures.

A crucial aspect of this process is the regulation that individuals cannot be compensated for collecting signatures, though legal and consultative services are permitted. This was clarified in response to questions about whether petition circulators could receive payment, with the council reiterating that compensation is not allowed. The intricacies of the petition process were detailed, including the necessity for signatures to be gathered on a form that includes the proposed ordinance. The required number of signatures is based on the total votes cast in the last municipal election, with a recent figure indicating approximately 288 signatures are necessary for an initiative.

The council also explored the procedural steps following the collection of sufficient signatures, which include a public hearing and the council’s mandatory action on the ordinance within 65 days. The importance of transparency was underscored, with public notices being published to ensure citizen awareness and involvement.

Adjustmentsttention was given to the mechanics of recall elections, particularly the procedures following the submission of a recall petition. If a council member resigns after receiving a recall petition, the process mimics a special election. However, if the resignation occurs after ten days, the ballot must include both the recall question and the names of candidates for the vacant seat. This can lead to complexities, and the council discussed the advantages and disadvantages of linking the recall election to the replacement candidate selection. Arguments for maintaining the connection included minimizing representation gaps and avoiding the financial burden of conducting separate elections, which could each cost around $85,000.

The council addressed the importance of clear communication and potential revisions to the recall process. There was acknowledgment of the potential for public sentiment to influence decision-making, particularly regarding whether the council could appoint a temporary replacement rather than holding a special election.

Additionally, the council reviewed the thresholds for initiatives and referendums. The initiative threshold is set at 10% of the votes cast in the last municipal election, while the referendum threshold is at 15%. The council noted that referendums are generally more challenging due to regulatory requirements. The filing process for petitions was elaborated, indicating that committees must submit signatures within 15 days of their initial request, with the city clerk having ten days to verify their sufficiency.

Efforts to educate the community were highlighted, including outreach to legal representatives and potential reviews of existing procedures to ensure they align with current public needs.

The council also explored potential amendments to the city charter, including the delegation of authority for contract approvals. A proposal was made to revise the language in the charter to clarify who has the authority to sign documents, particularly in the context of using outside counsel. The city attorney stressed the need for streamlining the signing process to avoid delays caused by awaiting multiple approvals.

The dialogue around contract management highlighted a tension between efficiency and oversight, with some members expressing caution about delegating responsibilities. There was consensus on the need for further consideration of these proposed changes, balancing the desire for streamlined processes with the necessity for maintaining oversight within the legal framework.