Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Monday, May 18, 2026
Darulfatwa Shared Use Agreement Terms
Smith Park Maintenance and Field Usage
Community Relations and Anti-Muslim Rhetoric
Votes (1)
Public Discussion on Darulfatwa Shared Use Agreement and Smith Park Maintenance
Moved by Councilmember Carter · Seconded by Councilmember D'Alessandro
The listening session focused on community input regarding a new shared use agreement for a field on the Darulfatwa property, with strong public opposition to the agreement's terms, particularly the city's inability to opt out and its long-term obligations. Concerns were also raised about the perceived decline in field use data, the city's overall maintenance of Smith Park, and the impact on local youth sports. Additionally, a resident addressed divisive narratives in the community, advocating for unity and council accountability in civic discourse.
Notable Quotes (8)
The city should not sign an agreement that it can't opt out of. It obligates the city to maintain parking spaces including plowing and lighting even if they are not needed.
Removing the city's interest in the Smith Park football soccer field on the Darrell Brook property results in athletes on the east side having to drive further to practices and games. That is not sustainable.
The contract that was negotiated by the city looks to not be a fair contract. It allows one party to opt out and not the other to to opt out.
I'm just concerned about the cleanliness of the park.
I am here tonight to firmly reject that narrative and to invite all of you to join me in rejecting that narrative.
Fear-mongering and exclusion have no place in Bloomington's civic conversations, and I want to be sure that our City Council hears my plea to reject any rhetoric that seeks to divide us into an us versus them dichotomy.
BAA does indeed use and reserve that field for soccer games uh from August to about mid-October. They play two soccer games there a night four nights a week. So, I I I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood that that there was misinformation given.
what they wanted the council to know was that they had not made any statements regarding this agreement and don't condone any statements made on their behalf to date.
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
A new shared use agreement between the city and Darulfatwa property owners, criticized for its terms including the city's inability to opt out and its parking obligations.
Conditional Use Permit; referenced as a reason for Darulfatwa's need for specific parking arrangements.