06:28The primary focus of the council meeting was the examination of proposed amendments to chapters five and six of the city charter, with a special emphasis on petition and referendum processes. The council aimed to enhance clarity by adjusting the language used in petition forms and related sections, as presented by Melissa from the city attorney’s office. Her presentation outlined the necessity of modifying the petition form to include contact details, such as email addresses and telephone numbers, to streamline communication between petitioners and the city clerk’s office. The proposed changes were presented in a color-coded format.

10:03Council discussions revealed concerns about the readability and practicality of the petition form, especially regarding the space available for signatures and additional information. The chair assured the council that the shift from handwritten to typed information would address these concerns. Moreover, council members debated altering the referendum language to differentiate clearly between a repeal and an opportunity for residents to vote. The chair agreed that the language could be refined to state explicitly “petition the council for repeal or its submission to the vote.”

21:15The council also considered the implications of language that described an ordinance as “detrimental to the welfare of the city,” ultimately deciding that its removal would not affect the process since proponents of a repeal likely believed the ordinance was harmful.

23:35Additionally, the council deliberated on the requirement that signers of a petition must be registered voters in Bloomington. While some members questioned why this was not limited to those who had voted in the last election, it was noted that enforcing such a requirement would be challenging and was not standard practice for initiatives or referendums. The consensus was to maintain the current language to facilitate the approval of initiatives without additional complexities.

33:37The meeting also addressed amendments to the titles of positions within the city’s organizational structure, specifically updating the title of “deputy” in Chapter 6 to reflect current professional terminology. The council agreed on the urgency of moving these amendments forward, even though some language changes were not yet finalized.

35:19Following thorough discussion, the council unanimously approved a resolution related to the proposed charter amendments. Moreover, the council scheduled a timeline for public hearings concerning the amendments, with June 2nd suggested as the publication date and potentially the first public hearing.

38:09The council also passed a motion to adopt the annual report without dissent, highlighting a smooth progression of agenda items. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn.