[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6062797,"mediaKeyId","3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c","parentId",3275664,"title","Bloomington council debates, weighs support for Home Sweet Home shelter sale to convert Connect Transit property","audioSeconds",3955,"startMs",1381000,"endMs",5336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c&start=1381&end=5336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c/thumbnail_1381000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062797/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Bloomington-council-debates-weighs-support-for-Home-Sweet-Home-shelter-sale-to-convert-Connect-Transit-property","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062797-15c91027acef5399bcc70a4614a80885/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165702&Signature=k28TD7JO502je9PSV2-~TEvHilFZsjq679XbvS~oR7N6QzLKMhRe9RURipYTSkUIy1nXXEUDcIp7jfEdPBtq6e8gNUTieCBg~qWLUEy7Cgi568FU6qwtdyrIaAyuilprSi0GAEyWfdQWm3Oomqyl1vK-t9vgLjSFeplvGjufR7m5A7rhx~czHACJ1CdkAkyHy3oJ3lvNWtpTdjOyKVxwjgyIgtbcOntrmCSH0Gx36auU-Zj7axMFbLcBasTNtcsfilCcqAHU56fdFTG8ly4I-7NYoj8nRHi1btR3rFY3-TJcS4PBm57VGkyBOBOqZNbIzsykbNhl4nOdHSjbcxdXGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bloomington, IL","date","2025-05-12T22:50:09Z","article","The Bloomington City Council discussed a resolution to support Connect Transit’s proposed sale of 104 East Oakland to Home Sweet Home Ministries for a noncongregate shelter project, often described in the meeting as “the Bridge.” Councilmember Cody Hendricks moved the resolution and Councilmember Ward seconded the motion; council members debated funding, service needs, and possible coordination with the Town of Normal before proceeding to finalize language.

The issue matters because the sale would enable Home Sweet Home to open shelter space intended as a temporary, low- or no-barrier option while service providers work toward permanent housing solutions. Councilmember Cody Hendricks said the project “represents collaboration” and called it “a start, and it’s the right start,” while supporters from the public, neighborhood business owners and service providers urged the council to act.

Supporters described the shelter as a coordinated regional response. Matt Burgess of Home Sweet Home, who previously presented the project to council, drew on community history and local nonprofit partnerships to frame the proposal as rooted in care and local tradition. Robbie Ozinga, a downtown business owner, told the council the project “reflects the compassion that built our past and the boldness that will shape our future.” Liam Wheeler, coordinator for the Central Illinois Continuum of Care, described his personal experience receiving shelter from Home Sweet Home and said the facility would act as “a stop gap to help us create more space so that we can find more permanent solutions.”

Council members who opposed or pressed for more information asked for clearer data on local trends and outcomes. Councilmember Antony listed a series of data points she said she could not locate online, including a continuum of care count she referenced from late January and then compared HUD point-in-time counts for McLean County from 2020–2024. Antony asked the council to examine how the local unsheltered population rose — she referenced a reported increase “from 60 to 130” in 2025 in local reporting — and to understand root causes before expanding low- or no-barrier shelter options. Antony also cited outcome data from micro-community and hotel-based programs in other cities (Denver, Seattle) and asked council to consider those outcomes in local planning.

Other council members urged balancing urgency with oversight. City Manager Jeff Jurgens told council there is no direct city financial support requested in the sale; he described a potential county shared sales-tax grant that could be applied, and said the property is appropriately zoned but will require an administrative permit from the city. Jurgens explained the permit would be renewed annually and could be revoked if the project becomes injurious or a nuisance to the neighborhood. He also said Connect Transit sought a formal nod from the Council before completing the sale.

Council discussion included operational concerns: expected law-enforcement and emergency medical service demand, layered funding from multiple grants, and the importance of service provision consistent with the Continuum of Care. Several council members urged coordination with Home Sweet Home on rules and on how the project will fit into broader homelessness strategy. At one point the mayor proposed, and the mover accepted, language adding a sentence encouraging the Town of Normal to consider a similar resolution of support; council members agreed that election of that language would not be a contingency for action.

A formal motion to approve “a resolution supporting the sale by Connect Transit of 104 East Oakland to Home Sweet Home Ministries for a noncongregate shelter project” was made (mover: Councilmember Cody Hendricks; seconder: Councilmember Ward). The transcript of the provided meeting ends after the council finalized discussion about adding language encouraging Normal; a recorded roll-call vote on the resolution does not appear in the supplied transcript.

What happens next: Connect Transit must complete the sale to Home Sweet Home and Home Sweet Home must apply for and receive the city’s administrative permit, submit a concept plan, and comply with permit conditions. The council and city staff said they expect the permit to include annual renewal and that the city can revoke the permit if conditions documented in the permit are not met.

Community members and council members asked that the project be monitored and coordinated with regional partners and service providers to track outcomes and to mitigate neighborhood impacts.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - 5/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Bloomington City Council debated whether to endorse Connect Transit’s sale of 104 East Oakland to Home Sweet Home Ministries for a proposed noncongregate shelter known as “the Bridge,” with supporters calling it an urgent, collaborative response to homelessness and others asking for more local data and clarity about service demands and outcomes.","taxTitle","Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois","taxId",2828,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062787,"Water director updates council on lake recovery and standing by for possible algaecide treatment",627,2734000,3361000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c&start=2734&end=3361","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c/thumbnail_2734000.jpg","/articles/6062787/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Water-director-updates-council-on-lake-recovery-and-standing-by-for-possible-algaecide-treatment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062787-b9fd20c3fed4c667594ac528019b0c6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165702&Signature=WHnisy-JcdrZ50hC-~ZihvnwNiAyAZjohyRwZuGWxzlcgZYvA15pFierlbO8eJrfs9r6eEJMhcw1UIOfkpqmtuSD~vTrIrd20Cc5xUmwyZ9qjACUUYFrAGMtgjEGgyvxGBc0Yq~8SYKNsK4oCa46WHD9TZbCawefgRwMxIpOxyJsLLRXICqNG1PexQYkDb5J9-432uhoh6v8Q-SuzR2QLVizxFBQNCnuUacMaEhpddeyhlK7lmridPm4fpoOfiaMn7hGf9nIFUCJi~ws9yftNaeWD~w4RjSeoGaB0PwZ~ws4EiM9op1YKO7kaN8h~s3kHQwXlnZalkJhD5P6h~fFaA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington Water Director, Ed Andrews, updated the City Council on lake levels, water-quality monitoring, and a potential contingency treatment to address a recent harmful algal bloom (HAB) event. Andrews reported Lake Bloomington is flowing over the spillway and Lake Evergreen is slightly below normal pool; he said finished-water microcystin levels have been low and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) characterizes the system as being “on the backside” of the event.

Andrews told council the utility began a temporary powdered activated carbon (PAC) feed on March 3 and has added “just a little over 60 tons of material” to date. The water utility performed an algaecide treatment earlier in the season and treated Lake Evergreen after switching pumping to Bloomington on April 7. Andrews said a test spike on April 28 prompted readiness for a second treatment; IEPA requested one more weekly sample and then three monthly samples to wind down agency monitoring.

Andrews explained health thresholds discussed with IEPA: he said 0.3 microcystin units is the level that would trigger a drinking-water restriction for children under 6 and pregnant women. He reported the city’s finished water has not exceeded 25% of that level and is currently around 4% of the action level for finished water. The city also continues taste-and-odor sampling (geosmin and MIB) and is transitioning some monitoring in-house while IEPA continues lab testing in Springfield.

Staff described additional monitoring tools deployed on the lakes, including buoys reporting live data to the Hydrosphere cloud and ongoing pH and dissolved-oxygen boat checks. Andrews said the IEPA’s regional field engineer, Matt Talbot, coordinated agency communications and Chris Johnson at the IEPA lab handled laboratory work for microcystin and related compounds.

City staff recommended a resolution authorizing an additional treatment if monitoring demonstrates a need; councilmember Montney moved to approve the item and a second was recorded. The transcript shows the motion and second on the floor but does not include a recorded roll-call vote in the supplied excerpt.

","City water staff reported Lake Bloomington is flowing over the spillway, Lake Evergreen is near normal, and Illinois EPA advised the city is on the backside of a harmful algal bloom (HAB) event. Staff described prior treatments, monitoring results and a contingency resolution to authorize additional treatment if needed.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062792,"Council revisits 707 East Empire special-use denial; debate centers on enforcement gap and housing/quality concerns",894,2003000,2897000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c&start=2003&end=2897","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3275664-43f560d23a30eae78204abd3baacfa4c/thumbnail_2003000.jpg","/articles/6062792/Bloomington/McLean-County/Illinois/Council-revisits-707-East-Empire-special-use-denial-debate-centers-on-enforcement-gap-and-housingquality-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062792-992a00497ec4b78933dab0c76b0b04d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165702&Signature=FkzFKXWMpITt3dTOHOQUmpDlf0SJ1zT6uyICXyd1eKqKl17bUG~-i3WTHk4Gff7SY-BcdAn0f~VNC7xky72E7GZ~atiPFsNHbhDp~ulj5WqSjz8IaPvUPCzY55LILEV~jrV7HP9s4Z5hvOm1zmxRGWpesocn1hA3f9fLXLtk0m5vrDH8K7K86XrYB3j0ubMT8EpWJ1Z2Iif7ya~x3kXyGA8aOAk~utO5Lr~bAgDaE5m1hSJ0mPW5qrXz6YG4O6YaGP6V-PSGEOZ5vxaPV4eG5AnkeyeJD3KnP0WS0OzT6uED87r5~Z5Q8wzE3T6Nko8OPWUP7bUy6Z~mIpzbTYHtTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council considered a motion to adopt an ordinance denying a special-use permit for 707 East Empire Street, consistent with a unanimous recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Council discussion focused on the property’s history, enforcement of the rental-registration program, and whether an additional dwelling unit is habitable and appropriate for the neighborhood.

The issue arose after a councilmember pulled item 7(k) from the consent agenda and sought a standalone vote. Councilmember Danenberger moved to approve an ordinance denying the special-use permit; the motion was seconded. Councilmember Strazza recused himself from that discussion.

Planning staff described the property’s 2006 record: the owner at that time applied for a special use; staff and the ZBA recommended approval but council denied it. Planning Manager Alyssa Pemberton said a city enforcement letter then instructed the property owner to remove a kitchen to reduce the building to two units; that work was not completed. Development Services Director Kelly Pfeiffer told the council the property later registered in the city rental-registration program as a three-unit property and that inspection compliance work had been completed, but staff acknowledged the zoning review step was not executed when the property registered. Pfeiffer said the city could record a denial and file it with the property but that an owner could appeal and reapply.

Council debate split between housing-availability arguments and livability/enforcement concerns. Councilmember Montney and others urged caution, arguing the third unit matches prior examples in the neighborhood that are underoccupied and not truly livable. One councilmember cited 1 White Place — a nearby multiunit house — as a case study with persistent low occupancy rates, saying it “is never more than half rented.” Other councilmembers argued that the city should not reduce supply during a housing crisis and cautioned about evicting neighbors.

Staff clarified enforcement options and the distinction between rental registration and zoning review; they said the registration and inspection occurred but the zoning check was missed. The council discussed the precedent set by earlier denials and the implications for consistent enforcement across property transfers.

A motion to approve the ordinance denying the special use was on the table (mover: Councilmember Danenberger; seconder: Montney). The supplied transcript records discussion, recusal, and preparations to vote, but a final roll-call outcome is not present in the provided excerpt.

","Council members debated an ordinance to deny a special-use permit for 707 East Empire Street following a unanimous Zoning Board of Appeals recommendation; debate included the property's 2006 hearing, a rental-registration enforcement gap, and whether a third unit is livable.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bloomington council debates, weighs support for Home Sweet Home shelter sale to convert Connect Transit property

Water director updates council on lake recovery and standing by for possible algaecide treatment

Council revisits 707 East Empire special-use denial; debate centers on enforcement gap and housing/quality concerns