Council denies police investigation request, addresses Hall of Fame relocation
The Bloomington City Council held a listening session on January 27 where residents raised concerns about relocating historical photos, investigating police records, and a controversial award video. The council denied requests for a police investigation and record correction but acknowledged the need to find a home for displaced Hall of Fame photos.
The council chair explicitly rejected a resident's request for an internal affairs investigation into police complaints and CAD reports related to the Daryl Frooke property. The resident, identified as Sally, alleged inaccuracies in police records and claimed no laws were violated. The council chair stated that police records are "fixed public records" reflecting officers' observations at the time, and the city has "no way" and "no process" to correct or remove them. This was not the first time the request was made.
On a more positive note, the council acknowledged the historical importance of the Bloomington Hall of Fame photo display, which was removed from the Ice Gardens during renovations and is currently stored in a resident's garage. Dan Laris, who is storing the photos, urged the council to act quickly, noting a limited-time discount on photo scanning services available only in February—$2 per photo instead of the regular $4. However, the council chair said the Parks and Recreation department has not finalized plans for the renovated Ice Gardens space, so no decision can be made yet.
The council also addressed concerns raised by the Bloomington Parents Alliance (BPA) regarding an Omar Bonderood award video. Alan Ready, representing BPA, objected to what he called misrepresentations in the video and disputed claims that the group is affiliated with Moms for Liberty. He clarified that BPA challenges books based on sexually explicit content and age-appropriateness, not to erase LGBTQ+ representation. The council confirmed that an external version of the award video has been removed, but noted that editing the official meeting record would be legally and procedurally complex. A disclaimer may be considered.
Finally, a representative from Bethels Rock Church asked about rezoning the Slumberland furniture building from its current CR1 zoning to accommodate a church. The council directed the inquiry to city planning staff for detailed guidance on the rezoning process.
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Votes (4)
Bloomington Hall of Fame Relocation and Reinstallation
Residents Dan Laris and Paul advocated for the reinstallation of the Bloomington Hall of Fame photos, displaced by Ice Gardens renovation. They emphasized the historical importance, connection to city builders, and the need for a 20-25 ft wall space. They also requested a timely decision due to a temporary discount on photo scanning services. The Council acknowledged the historical value but stated that the Parks and Recreation department had not yet finalized plans for the renovated space and would need time to find a solution accommodating various considerations.
Internal Affairs Investigation and Correction of Police Records
Sally requested an internal affairs investigation into police complaints, prosecution requests, and CAD reports, alleging inaccuracies and that no laws were violated. She provided detailed context on the Daryl Frooke property's alleged non-compliance with zoning (e.g., unauthorized charter school expansion, daycare inquiries) and her personal legal history, including a successful suit against the city over an unconstitutional code. The Council Chair explicitly denied the request, stating that the city does not have a process to correct or remove police records as they reflect officers' observations at the time.
Bloomington Parents Alliance Concerns and Omar Bonderood Award Video
Alan Ready, representing Bloomington Parents Alliance (BPA), voiced strong objections to an Omar Bonderood award video, which he claimed contained misrepresentations and fair use violations. He clarified that BPA is a grassroots organization, not affiliated with 'Moms for Liberty,' and challenged accusations of trying to erase LGBTQ+ representation, stating their book challenges are based on age-appropriateness and sexually explicit content. Ready also reported harassment of a BPA member and questioned the Human Rights Chairperson's role in the video and alleged online attacks. The Council confirmed the external award video had been taken down but noted that editing the official council meeting record was complex and potentially illegal, though a disclaimer could be considered. The Council also outlined the general video production process, indicating that communications staff do not typically conduct fact-checking for 'human interest' stories.
Bethels Rock Church Zoning Inquiry
Tracy Greenfield, representing Bethels Rock Church, sought preliminary guidance from the City Council regarding the potential purchase and rezoning of the Slumberland furniture building in Bloomington for a church. The building is currently zoned CR1, and the church sought to understand the Council's stance on approving a place of assembly at that location.
Notable Quotes (15)
Been going on from people who built this city like John Beyonkey at already Johnson, their photos are up there. They're now in my garage. I feel like they should go back up there.
I can get these scan down to this size here. I need to do it the month of February. They have a half price sale I can get them done for two bucks a piece, Otherwise they go up to four bucks a piece, so I need an answer from you guys here.
I agree with you a hundred percent about the importance of the history of the city, the importance of not forgetting, just remembering the folks who helped build this city and and celebrating the folks who built the city.
Honestly right now the the answer that I can give you is right now we don't know because there's NO finalized decisions.
I am once again requesting an internal affairs investigation. There should be an internal affairs investigation in the police complaints request for prosecution and the eight CAD reports should be corrected or removed from the record.
There was not an investigation and there should be. I sued the city because this council passed an unconstitutional city code and was applying for an unconstitutional state statute that was determined to be mute because the legislation that changed its Constitutionality.
We've talked about this before and we're not gonna be doing an internal investigation and police records are fixed public records. They are, they re reflect the police officer's observation and recollection at the time. We have NO way, we have NO process of going into correct or fix or or do with, with police records. That's not going to happen either.
One of those is the, you know, the continued assertion in there that we have an association with moms for liberty. So I'm sure there's a lot of things that we agree with moms for liberty on on a number of issues, but we are not any affiliate or chapter of monster or liberty.
The facts of the matter are that we challenge books on the basis of sexually explicit content regardless of orientation or gender identity and the gender and orientation topics that we challenge in elementary middle school books were based on whether or not they're age appropriate according to evidence based scientific and child development standards.
1st of all, I agree a hundred percent harassment of that kind is absolutely unacceptable. And please, if it happens, that that's what 911 is for.
There's really, it becomes very complicated when we start talking about editing public record. And I mean it becomes very, I I don't know of an official avenue to do that because it is official, it's the official record of the city of Bloomington and to go in and to edit it in some way, shape or form, frankly, I don't think it's legal.
The comments that were made were made by a private citizen. So they were they were the opinions expressed by the individuals in that group. There wasn't any endorsement by the city.
1st and foremost, this is being put out on, you know, a city website, you know, city social media channels. So you're responsible for that content, so there's some sort of implicit endorsement if you put something out there.
What we're doing is we're just doing the the groundwork to trying to figure out what the city council would approve or disapprove your kind of your grounds of what you would if a church would be ok to begin there.
I think your 1st call, Tracy needs to go to Nick Johnson in our planning staff.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Specific amendments regarding daycare and institutional uses, cited in relation to the Daryl Frooke property's compliance issues.
Required for specific land uses, discussed in relation to expansions of a private school and charter school on the Daryl Frooke property.
Police reports requested to be corrected or removed from the record due to alleged inaccuracies.
Inquiry about this document for Success Academy's school on the Daryl Frooke property.
An unconstitutional state statute that the city attorney allegedly applied to a resident, leading to legal action.
Legal opinion related to a civil case against the city, citing a judgment amount.
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Other Topics from This Document
Request for Internal Affairs Investigation and Police Record Correction
Bloomington Parents Alliance Concerns Regarding Omar Bonderood Award Video
Church Zoning Inquiry for Commercial Property
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