Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Monday, September 28, 2026
Mediation Request and City-Resident Communication Breakdown
Shared Agreement with Darryl Froke and City Field Use
Permaculture, Sustainability, and Ordinance Reform
Code Enforcement Practices and Resident Financial Hardship
Adjournment of Listening Session
Votes (5)
Public Comments / Resident Concerns and Mediation Request
Residents Brian Emerson and Elizabeth Cambrone presented a request for mediation with the city to resolve ongoing issues stemming from a city project, including code non-compliance, property damage, and harassment. They argued that despite initial refusal by city legal staff (Miss Manderschight), the City Council held ultimate authority to approve mediation and some council members were reportedly uninformed. The Council maintained that legal issues fall under city legal staff and advised residents to file a formal claim or a lawsuit, not engage in direct legal discussions during the public session.
Public Comments / Concerns Regarding Shared Agreement with Darryl Froke
Miss Necess presented concerns about a shared agreement with Darryl Froke, specifically questioning the city's inability to opt out of the agreement, contrary to earlier assurances. She cited discrepancies in staff-provided information regarding field usage demand and the terms of the agreement, leading her to allege 'fraud.' She highlighted that despite the city's need for the field and Froke's need for parking, Froke secured parking while the city did not secure field use and signed an agreement it couldn't exit. Council Member Revis had considered revisiting the vote but later declined.
Public Comments / Advocacy for Permaculture and Ordinance Changes
Matthew Hallott presented a detailed proposal for urban sustainability through permaculture principles (earth care, people care, fair share). He advocated for replacing sod with native/edible landscaping, establishing community gardens, green roofs, and urban farms. He specifically criticized city ordinances (201.301.15 and 17.671) that mandate sod, highlighting their contribution to urban heat and lack of food production. He emphasized the long-term environmental and financial benefits of these changes, including potential tax savings.
Public Comments / Code Enforcement and Resident Financial Impact
Miss Harper reported on aggressive code enforcement by the Environmental Department (specifically Josh), issuing violations for home maintenance issues like peeling paint, roofs, siding, and driveways, often without apparent checks for existing permits. She highlighted the significant financial burden on residents, especially those facing other unforeseen expenses like sewer backups, and questioned the department's role and oversight of employees. She also expressed concern about the lack of an appeal process. The Council committed to follow up on specific issues raised, including permit checks before citations, financial hardship assistance, and employee tracking.
Adjournment of Listening Session
Moved by Council Member [0:00]
Following the public comments, a Council Member made a motion to officially adjourn the listening session.
Notable Quotes (14)
So it seems like there's been a breakdown in communication, so we're here asking you directly because we still want to resolve this. And so we're asking if the council is. Willing to help make that happen, what that should look like going forward.
The representative of the people who are testifying the legal representative of the people that were testifying here tonight provided the city with provided me with a document called a draft. Complaint Pages and pages and pages of. A legal complaint that was formatted like a legal complaint and our staff evaluated it like we evaluate everything else, although I frankly never been provided with a draft complaint. We evaluated it and we provided a recommendation and we pursued that recommendation.
She told our attorney miss Mandersight, that she. Thought it was mutually beneficial for mediation, she agreed. And then she said, I don't have the authority to make that decision. It is ultimately up to the city council. She said that, those words, which is true. It is up to the city council and mayor to make that decision.
The administrative actions that you guys have, which we've said a number of times, is to file the, the claim form so that we can get our compliance team working with you on your specific complaints. That is an administrative action that you guys can take.
The city does not legally have the ability to opt out. I asked council member Revis to revisit the boat because the city can't. Opt out. The city says they can and now it says legally it can't. This is why fraud happens. Staff provides inaccurate information and council votes.
Council member Revas had requested to revisit the vote and then he said he changed its mind after considering all the facts. I asked council member Revas, what facts cause you to choose not to revisit the vote? He replied. It is known to everyone that it was is and will continue to be private property, and that alone gives me reason not to force anyone's private property to be used in any way, shape or form by a public entity such as a city.
The city needed the field Darryl Frug needed the parking, so how did it end up that Darrell Froke gets the parking but the city did not get the field and the city signs an agreement it can't opt out of?
When the forest in the city are functionally indistinguishable, then we know we have reached sustainability. We get there by the three principles of permaculture.
Our ordinances like section 20 one.three oh one.15 and section seventeen.six. Seven one literally dictate the default method of landscaping is sod and inedible audimentals considering charging $14 per square foot to install sod. Second is be second is people care. None of this is possible without building community.
Are you actually asking us to consider changes? And if so, specifically, can you tell me what changes you are asking for? Correct. I am asking for changes, I would have to get back to you on exactly what changes, but right now they literally I think it I'd have to go back and look at the verbiage or the exact word. Part of the landscape of new developments so so for your benefit mr. Hallott, if, if you ever do want us to make specific changes, you can bring those specific asks here and then that helps us kind of. I mean, I appreciate that this helps more prepared for next time, yeah? Yeah.
Last year, he gave tickets for peeling paint now was spring. Two of the neighbors got tickets for rough, new roofs, one for siding, one for a driveway, and he just kind of mianders around.
I will tell you, three of my neighbors across the street for me got hit this last year with sewer backup, which has nothing to do with this, but I want to explain their finances because when you get hit with sewer backup it's not covered underneath their homeowners and policy unless you endorse, have endorsements on there and people. Aren't aware of that and the tunes of these backups are 40 to 50000.
Why do you not check to see. If there's permits pulled, why do you waste our time and our money sending out these letters when you can go on the computer just like everybody else and see if the permit was pulled?
The reason why environmental health is involved in that and that environmental health is the department that supports our, what we call our building inspections and then our nuisance codes. So. Their job is actually to ensure code compliance with our environmental laws like. Like maintenance of homes, like, cleanup of, you know, front yards and like, you know, disease trees and all those kinds of things. That's their job, and so Josh works for that department and that's why you see him out and about.
Ordinances & Resolutions (9)
A document provided by residents' attorney to the city, outlining their grievances
An administrative action form suggested by the Council for residents to file specific complaints
City ordinance criticized for dictating default landscaping methods that promote sod
City ordinance criticized for dictating default landscaping methods that promote sod
Specific conditions related to the shared agreement, cited by Miss Necess
Historical record of anticipated field usage, contrasted with current data
Document indicating staff awareness of concerns with the shared agreement
Building or work permits whose status was questioned in relation to code violations
Official notices sent to residents regarding code violations