Today I got this response:
Obviously there is no reason why this lame response couldn’t have been given within the 5 days allowed by law.
The Grove information came from this document dated February 2015: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=12052
Since many more houses have been built at the Grove since 2015 – Tari is relying on old information. It’s not the first time and it certainly won’t be the last. He will do whatever it takes to only spend money downtown.
__________________________________________________________________
By: Diane Benjamin
Laws only matter if you are a citizen – not part of government. The Freedom of Information law states a response must be given in 5 days. An extension can be requested, but it is also due within 5 days.
Since Tari Renner hates The Grove subdivision and doesn’t always use real facts, I saw something in the May 15th meeting documentation I want proof of. Tari even mentioned this during the meeting. One would think if this number was being thrown out, they should easily be able to prove it. Somebody must have a spreadsheet showing all the bills the City has paid and how much they collect in fees and taxes from the residents.
The FOIA was due today. Nothing was sent or received. So much for the law.
Below is the FOIA, I have to send them via a Gmail account because they bounce from my BlnNews account.
To count 5 days, start with May 17th – skip weekends. It was obviously due today. Sure wish we had a local prosecutor!
The City probably doesn’t have the information because it was compiled by MCRPC for the Comprehensive Plan (CP) probably using a “land use” formula. Renner is parroting from the “award winning” CP. Regardless, the FOIA request should have been honored according to law.
The Grove at Kickapoo Creek has cost the City a significant amount of money for infrastructure however the subdivision has not been completed. The homes in that subdivision cost $250,000+ which generate significant property taxes. A smart thing to do is encourage the developer to complete the subdivision–what the CP refers to as “infill.” The developer strategically placed the elementary school (tax exempt) along the road to avoid “tap-on” fees for the sewers. There is a “nature preserve” located in the Grove which will not be developed and does not generate any taxes. Land is set aside for a city owned park and a storm water retention basin (neighborhood “lake”).
If you examine the graphic in the CP, there are MANY areas in the City that have a “fiscal net loss”–the Downtown being one of them due to the fact that over a third of the land use in downtown is government owned and tax exempt–not to mention the expense of subsidies for the entertainment venues.
Snyder’s Fox Creek Subdivision (1995) also produces a “fiscal net loss” because $10M was invested with a $1M return. It is not complete either and includes the City owned Den golf course. (Snyder still owes the City $500,000 in fees.)
The far southwest quadrant has a greater “fiscal net loss” than the Grove for many reasons–police calls being one of them as well as very low property tax revenue. Walmart/Schnuck’s are the tax generators in that area.
The area(s) that have a net gain are in the northeast part of the City where property taxes (both individual and corporate) are high plus establishments along Veterans Parkway which generate sales tax, as well as food/beverage tax. These areas are “supporting” the entire rest of the City.
Thank you blessed oracle of knowledge!
I thinking it’s referring to the 2015-2035 master plan. The specific pages (31-41) can be found at http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=12052. The overall plan is at http://www.cityblm.org/doing-business/economic-development/comprehensive-plan
There are some interesting charts in the first link that show taxes per acre for the whole city. I can’t tell what the Grove is since I don’t know the boundaries.
The issues I have with the assertion that the Grove costs money is that the date on the charts is February 2015 (thus taxes could have changed) and that Renner is not considering the future tax potential.
WGLT had an article about this issue which can be found at http://wglt.org/post/developers-push-back-se-bloomington-sewer-oversizing. In it Renner is quoted as saying: “Mayor Tari Renner said he respects Fruin, but disagrees with him. He said infill and city core are more important to the entire community than sprawl”. Also from the article: “Alderman Scott Black has also publicly favored prioritizing the city core over growth at the edges.”
So basically Renner doesn’t want to spend money where the growth is because downtown is what is most important.
The Grove has many more houses now than in 2015. Obviously the number is out of date.
All numbers are estimates and are taken from FY2013 CAFR. The data is 5 years old.
Probably close to twice as many houses by now
“The CP does not provide a mandate. It is advisory only.” “The reader should know that actionable items are suggestions to achieve the goals and objectives but NOT mandates.” (emphasis mine)– page 10. Also, 50% of the Grove is tax exempt and is listed as an “emerging neighborhood.” Renner needs to read and understand the CP not just pull numbers out to suit his purpose. More manipulation of the facts.
Look at page 35 in the link to the Comprehensive Plan. it shows that 50% of the land use in the Grove is tax exempt. There are many factor that are used to come up with the fiscal impact analysis.
Also, on page 10, the report says, “The CP does not provide a mandate. It is advisory only.” “The reader should know that actionable items are suggestions to achieve the goals and objectives but NOT mandates.” (emphasis mine) Also, 50% of the Grove is tax exempt and is listed as an “emerging neighborhood.” Renner needs to read and understand the CP not just pull numbers out to suit his purpose. More manipulation of the facts.
Other than the school property, which isn’t 50%, why is any of it exempt? The wetlands project? (weed infested ugly ditch with a cute bridge over it)
Yep. The wetlands. Fox Creek is similar with the Den occupying 50% of the land use.
It’s even better when these global warming environmentalists burn it every year.
The bridge is for “ride you bike to school days” and of course walking. There will be a city park installed too like in the other affluent neighbors.
Mr. Fruin is a real estate agent now that he has retired from State Farm. What Mr Fruin said was that not everyone wants to live in historic neighborhoods but rather in new construction. The Grove has been active in sales. The topic is related to the $300,000 budget item for an upgraded sewer line in the Grove. Renner and Black want to amend the budget in order to use that money in the historic core. There was no indication as to what in the historic core though.
Sprawl? But Renner the forever hypocrite lives in Old Farm Lakes which is towards the edges of the sprawl. Why doesn’t he and his boys move into the Ensenberger building since he loves downtown so much?
I was wondering where Renner lived. Anyone ask him why he hasn’t moved downtown if it’s such a great place to be? Sounds like something a good journalist should ask.
I can’t even get FOIA’s answered!
“why he hasn’t moved downtown”
“Why doesn’t he and his boys move into the Ensenberger building since he loves downtown so much?”
For the same reason the dictators in the old Soviet Union all had their dachas in Crimea–the ‘rules” didn’t apply to them. He wants you to ride a bike, while he tools around in his red Corvette, too.
You have to decode what “Sprawl” and “Core” mean to Renner and Black. Their definition is loaded, skewed, and solidly rooted in Marxist ideology. To them:
“Sprawl”=Makers
“Core”=Takers
I’m SOOO confused. Renner lives in Old farm lakes, Fruin says that people want NEW houses, yet Tari says millenials want to live in the “burbs” i.e.:downtown and he lives on the edge of town, yet the NATIONAL surveys say that millenials WANT to live in the country!!
Maybe I’ll just buy a tent and live outside Ulan-Bator or Thule!
Once again, Tari WANTS his projects funded, not YOURS!
No koalas for the zoo I guess!!