By: Diane Benjamin

Below is a slide showing topics for discussion:

33% of the Council was not at this meeting:

Danenberger, Hendricks, and Lee didn’t show up.

How can any decisions be made with 3 of the 9 wards not represented?

This discussion reinforced why I hate meetings. I didn’t see anything decided, just bloviating. Some members wanted a resolution to set in stone whatever the plan becomes. The mayor thinks the next Council is bound by whatever this one decides, so he’s all for a resolution. Other members preferred to bring items like zoning and rehabilitation to the Council as opportunities arise.

The subject of the 190 short-term rentals came up again. Evidently, they greatly affect the housing market. So did telling renters they didn’t have to pay rent for a year and a half. So did telling landlords they owe thousands of dollars in unpaid water bills they didn’t know their tenants weren’t paying. The State of Illinois damaged the housing market in violation of the Illinois Constitution. Bloomington has no right to tell people they can’t short-term rent their homes; the owners still have property rights. Of course, rights are worth zero if they aren’t defended.

Tom Crumpler wants to waste a ton of staff time investigating buy-downs and incentives. This would involve picking winners and losers since funding both for everyone who wants them would be too expensive. Big plans are always a disaster for taxpayers. Interfering in the local housing market, which will eventually work itself out, will also qualify as a disaster. Just hit play to listen.