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Board approves security, accessibility and repair contracts; adopts policy package
Summary
At its November meeting the Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners approved several routine contracts and a package of policy updates, accepted a state preservation grant for Banneker steps, and advanced accessibility and tree-resilience work funded by ARPA and federal grants.
The Bloomington Board of Park Commissioners voted unanimously in a series of motions at its November meeting to approve routine contracts, accept a state preservation grant and adopt a bundle of updated park policies.
Among the items approved, the board authorized a 2025 security services agreement with the city’s incumbent vendor, Marshall Security. Rebecca Swift, operations development division director, told commissioners the department received a single responsive proposal and that the 2025 contract reflects a cost-of-living adjustment and removes the 4–5 a.m. shift; Hopewell Commons was added to the patrol rotation.
Staff also won approval to contract with Touch Graphics to design and manufacture a tactile, accessible map for Switchyard Park, with funding not to exceed $12,000 from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Park staff described a procurement process that included an accessibility-focused committee and direct testing of vendor samples by a blind, experienced braille reader; Michael Shirmas, the city’s human rights director and ADA coordinator, said the selected samples were "by far the superior quality."
The board accepted a grant and covenant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology to rehabilitate the upper limestone stairs at Banneker Park. Staff described the full project cost as $30,000, with the state grant covering approximately $22,500 and Bloomington Parks contributing a $7,500 local match.
A contract with Bluestone Tree LLC for storm-resilience pruning on priority routes was approved, not to exceed $25,000; staff said the work is part of a federal Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) grant awarded in February 2023.
Commissioners also approved an updated sponsorship and advertising policy (Policy 8010) that consolidates former solicitation and corporate sponsorship rules and adds language recommended by the city attorney’s office to make clear that sponsorship does not guarantee a city contract.
All items on the consent calendar and the motions referenced above passed on roll-call votes with the three present commissioners voting in the affirmative.
The board plans to consider year-end service agreements and the final price schedule at its December meeting.
