Council asks advisory commission to review CIB spending, advances convention-center process

The Bloomington Common Council on Sept. 4 adopted a resolution asking the Food & Beverage Tax Advisory Commission to recommend how food-and-beverage tax revenue should be used to support the Monroe County Capital Improvement Board's (CIB) 2025 budget.

The measure, Resolution 2024-17, passed 6-2 after council members questioned whether the CIB had followed the council's prior guidance on downtown pedestrian priorities. Eric Spoonmore, treasurer of the Monroe County CIB, said the resolution would allow the commission to make a recommendation and that the CIB would then return to the council for final appropriation.

Why it matters: Food-and-beverage tax revenues are earmarked for tourism- and hospitality-related improvements; the CIB is seeking guidance to fund early-stage work on a proposed convention center expansion that city and county leaders say would increase leasable space and allow larger events.

CIB officials presented a high-level schedule and budget for the proposed expansion. Doug Bruce, the city's representative to the CIB, described three conceptual design sketches and said the project team is leaning toward expanding to the east of the existing facility. Key dates the CIB provided include a community input meeting on Sept. 16 and a schematic-design review on Oct. 9; officials said they hope to begin plan commission work in late Jan. 2025 and, ideally, start construction in March 2025 with a target completion in mid-2027.

Spoonmore and Jeff Underwood, the CIB's controller, presented the 2025 operating budget request of $899,400. Underwood broke the request into categories: $0 in personnel services (category 1), $1,000 for supplies (category 2), and $898,400 for services (category 3). Major line items include $144,900 to Bunker Robertson for legal and administrative support, $71,500 for controller services, $320,000 for external professional fees and owner's representative work, and $360,000 for testing, commissioning and utility work.

Some council members raised concerns about whether the CIB had taken the council's design guidance seriously, particularly on pedestrian safety and the potential for a skywalk or connector. Council member Flaherty said she was "deeply disappointed" by comments indicating a connector was again being considered and said the council's comprehensive plan priorities should be honored. Council member Rosenbarger said she would vote no because she does not support the convention center project.

The resolution now goes to the Food & Beverage Tax Advisory Commission for a recommendation. CIB representatives said any recommended expenditures would then come back to the city council for final appropriation. The CIB is encouraging public input at the Sept. 16 community meeting and the Oct. 9 schematic review.