Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

I think the Michigan games.

This conference will now be recorded. Get out of there.

Attendance will be recorded by staff member Katie McShane and a forum is present the six of us. Uh our first order of business is uh Commissioner Burke is attending via Zoom. So we need to vote to have Commissioner Burke attend and vote virtually due to purposes of employment. Do I have a motion? Second. All in favor? I I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Um and then we also would like to welcome our newest commissioner, Bruce Tomkins. He is rep or he is from the city of Bloomington. Uh so Bruce, do you want to introduce yourself a little bit to the commission?

Sure. Uh I was born and raised in Bloomington, went to Bloomington High School and U ofi. Uh after U of I went moved out west and went to law school in uh Eugene at the University of Oregon. I never dreamed they'd be a big tense school, but thanks. Uh so I was in private practice out there for about 13 and a half years when we moved back and took a job at the legal department of state fun. So, uh, I practiced for 41 years total and decided that was enough and retired about four years ago. So, I'm married to my wife Carol. We've got blended family, five kids, and seven grandkids. And five of them were living in the area. So, we're we're blessed with that. Looking forward to working with all of you and learning more about the planning process.

Welcome. Thank you. Thank you. Great to have you. three new commissioners for a full full commission. So now full great to have you Bruce. Uh so next Ray, is there anyone from the public who wishes to address the commission? Uh no we did not or have not received any request for Okay. All right. Moving on to the consent agenda. Um does any commissioner wish to remove an item from the consent agenda for separate discussion? All right. Is there a motion to enact and adopt the consent agenda? So move. Second.

All in favor say I. Any opposed? And Ruth, you're on you're on mute just so you know. I

I think that it was delayed. So I wanted to make sure that was not an A. So without the motion carries. All right. Um, so moving on, we have one item for the regular agenda. So this was um part of our discussion last meeting uh where this was introduced. So we are looking at revising the public comment policy amendment for the MLAN County Regional Planning Commission. Um this new redline version worked on by Rain of Staff was provided in the agenda packet. Um I noticed first off carrying on from our discussion um at a high level addresses the extension of time period for public comment in individual speakers or speakers representing uh an organization as we discussed. Um but there might be a potential need for that depending on business. Um it also removes the requirement that speakers register 24 hours ahead of time and providing their address. Um so um before we move on, is there any um I guess first we'll start with Ray. Is there anything in terms of the red lines that you wanted to explain to the commission or any highlights?

Yeah, thank you. uh the draft proposal uh in front of you has been uh drafted by staff uh based on discussion of the meeting last last time and also we this has been revealed by the legal council they're okay with it and just want to mention that this is uh the proposed uh draft is in keeping with the county policy in terms of public comment as well as it meets the in openings and so be happy to answer any questions uh attach Catch one A is really the the one that we asking for your adoption if so desired. Uh catchment B the the the red line versions for reference. So is the C which is the sample uh signup sheet for the meeting.

Are there any questions or comments? I know I have a couple but I'll defer to the rest of the commission first. Can we um was there any decision made around whether we include a section for the organization name someone speak?

Not sure. uh and and we can check if somebody decid uh but I was thinking in terms of address because that kind of identifies you know individual with certain location that's kind of no no um so I don't uh for people representing the organization I think they have to identify if they actually represent an organization u but if it's not spel out. Uh I don't think that's a big problem. Uh different.

Well, it does say they have to be a representative of groups. I agree totally with you that they represent a group, you have to say what group you're representing. Yeah. And then the chair would like um ask that individual to say come forward or speak to them. That will be the time to say organization. Do we want to capture that on the registration form? And Commissioner Wy, do you know if that's something that you all do at the school board or We just give people free minutes. We don't get organizations,

but we've not had it's been well, how do I say this? When we've had public comment, it hasn't necessarily been from organizations. It it could be from a group, but they're not necessarily incorporated as an organization. They're more individuals. And so, we just get three minutes. But I I'm okay with the five minutes for

um if the commission so desire I mean definitely add that word they may be subject to council uh consent or checking if if we need to have the organization identified whatever it's but I would agree that usually they will to identify otherwise they will be limited to the three million they would not be given additional visits. Um and then Commissioner Burke I saw you go off mute. Did you have anything?

Yeah, I um so I just want to say thank you for for getting this work done. Um I think it's great that we are aligning with the the county policies and I think that will help um our entire community. Um, I had two questions, concerns. Um, so I know that out where I live in, uh, rural Bloomington that I have some neighbors that don't drive, um, and they don't use the internet. Um, I've I've gone over to one neighbor's house to help her use the internet before. Um, so I'm just wondering if we might also consider accessibility. Um, I was uh made aware that like I know the city of Bloomington they allow for virtual comments. Um, I don't don't want to die on that hill, but that's just something we may want to think about. Um, and then um I had a question about where the signup sheet will be located. What consistent place? I know the government building has uh many different entities that meet in these rooms and sometimes someone else's meeting is ending just a couple minutes before ours does. So, will that signup sheet be posted outside or um at the at the uh office? uh it if I may answer uh it will be placed uh at the venue of the meeting and so uh it won't be in our office. So depending on whether the meeting is held here or sometimes for whatever reasons have to be relocated to a different place and that's where the uh time sheet will be.

Will that be inside or is that going to be

It'll be inside. it'll be inside and uh uh so we'll be at a convenient place still for the public to see and and then uh we'll probably be mind because because of course people would have to tell us in advance whether they plan to speak or not. Uh so if we see people uh come in that we might even stab you before the meeting starts. If you see some individuals coming we say hey have you signed up to speak? If you do please sign up and also on that list uh for the people for the individuals who will sign up in advance we'll put the names you know according to the time because they will be asked to address the commission or the committee in the order that we receive uh the the request and also for them to sign up. So we also that order I think I think that's fine as long as people have the ability to to get into the room um 15 minutes before and sign up and then maybe go get a drink of water, use the restroom and then come back when the meeting starts. Thank you.

Yeah, thanks. And so confirming for understanding right the plan would be this would be uh in the room paper form would be the yes you have to sign the only way to sign up. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well say but online 24 hours. So it is available online.

Yeah because that's the actual language uh under signing up in person at a meeting. So actually we we already kind of say that because yeah it's because if we put it outside who knows there depending on the location other people walking by what we usually have staff available. Any other questions comments? All right. Also, as a commission, we will now consider the revised MLAN County Regional Planning Commission public comment policy amendment for adoption. Um, any additional discussion? Just one more chance. All right. Is there a motion to adopt?

Second. Second. All in favor? I I Any opposed? All right, motion passes. Thank you. Okay, so now we move on to our um regular the scheduled um items for information and discussion. Uh and we will go in order kicking off with um Rey and the housing coordinator position update.

Yeah, it's really quick. uh we've been so strong so we need more time uh uh to have this the RFP completed probably in a week or so uh and then uh yeah once we write it up then we can advertise it. Yeah. So yeah we saw apologize. Does the state DCOE need to approve that once it's drafted? No. Any questions on housing coordinator? Right. And moving on. I saw Luke I think housing initiative update. Hi good afternoon everyone.

Um before I give my updates I just want to address the um last month coach Burke asked me a question about the white paper specifically about how the census calculates median gross rent and whether they take into consideration housing uh the type of housing units. So I looked at the census glossery and they define gross rent as the amount of contract rent plus estimate estimated average monthly cost of utilities if paid for by the renter. And if the unit is a renter occupied unit and the renter pays cash rent then it is considered in the survey. Um the ASUS does not have data on median gross rent by type of housing unit. So like whether it's single family, town homes, duplex, but they do have they have data on median gross rent by bedroom. So studio, one bed, all up to five or more bedrooms. So to answer your question, they kind of do, but not in the way that you're expecting like in whatever format like duplex, but through bedrooms. They do also have data on physical housing characteristics of occupied housing units like one detached, one attached, two apartments, but not median gross rent by that variable. So I hope that answered your question. Uh moving on to our regular scheduled programming. Um for local updates, we chaired the March affordable and supportive housing or ash meeting two weeks ago where we presented the 2025 area median income white paper and highlights from the housing dashboard update. Um the we posted the final version of the 2025 AMI white paper on our website. So if you have the time, please check it out. And um so I also have some highlights from the housing dashboard update. Um for total housing units, MLAN County uh in 2024,

there were an estimated 75,35 total housing units, which is 185 more or 0.2% higher from 2023 estimates. Um for median home value, median home value in the county for 2024 is $28,400 which is 5.1% higher than 2023 SMS. Rent burden or those paying more than 30% of income on rent among the renting population in McLean County 34.9% of them experience rent burden. And then for rental vacancy rates, rental vacancy rates are rental units that are unoccupied at a specific time and the healthy market has a 8 to 10% vacancy rate.

Sorry, Scott. Is he answering? Can somebody help? Can you No, he's not.

Sorry. Um, a healthy market has an 8 to 10% vacancy rate. The county has a 5.5% vacancy rate according to the 2024 estimates. So, that's way below the um healthy market. All right. For other updates, we attended the housing coalition and unhouse task force meetings. Um, some updates from those meetings. According to the Salvation Army, about 25 people might return to the streets because their emergency winter shelter is shutting down for the season. And then um East View Church, the East View Christian Church is donating the community center and may macarthur to Home Street Home Ministries. That community center has been used to provide um shelter services and now home sweet home will be running that in the short term. I believe um Home Sweet Home has plans for that. I'm not sure what they have in store for future. Um this v this place will also be the venue of the Caref Fair. Just a brief overview. Caref fair provides showers, health, health screenings, and meals to um those who need it. And the screen spring care fair will be on May 21st um at the East Community Center. Then last, the Illinois Housing Development of RV or IDA is running their Illinois Housing Blueprint survey right now. Um, the goal of the survey is to help further understand the housing and development needs of Illinois communities. And I think we can provide you a link of that survey after this meeting. Maybe I can say those are the updates I have.

Couple questions. I want to make sure I was writing stuff down so I want to make sure that I wrote it down. Right. You said total housing units. Did you say 75,000? Yes. 75,300. Okay. And so you said a red or healthy is 8 to 10. We have 5.4. Is that better or worse? That means it's really tight. Yeah. Okay. I thought that was the case. Sometimes lower is better. Yes. So we only have among the total housing units we only have 5.5% available. So So we need more rental units basically. Yes. Which helps explain why some such a high percentage are rent burden. Yes. as far as

another question on the dashboard and it might not be fair to ask you this but if you know the increase of 180 from the previous year do you know what kind of housing that represents are those apartments single family multif family if you know total total housing with this increase or just it's an aggregate of all total so yeah don't know by type okay any other questions for Luke. Thanks so much. All right, next up is Jen with the human services transportation updates. Thank you. Good afternoon.

Uh last month we conducted the third of four quarterly meetings during the fiscal year, the current fiscal year. Uh and it was attendance was primarily online because it was a bit of a cold day unusually. So a handful of people from Livingston County and right in Pontiac where the meeting was held. Topics addressed included transitioning to a single regional committee instead of the two we have maintained for many years. Um as laid out in our agreement with IDAT and revisions to the bylaws to reflect that committee structure. We're still in the process of doing that revision so that we're sure it explains exactly how we want this to operate and can convey that to the county officials and others who are part of that committee or who will be part of that committee. Um, our staff continues to update procedures and materials. A special shout out to Thomas Valencia who is maintaining our HSTP hub on our website and doing mapping and rearranging lots of other things. So, uh, Thomas is very much tied in these communities through our website. Um, we're also engaging with committee members and county administrative staff in an effort to sort of carry through some of the conversations that we've had over the last couple of months and considering options for additional public outreach um, and identifying revisions needed in the plan itself to reflect the changes that have taken place. During the meeting, we were advised that Urklo County was considering a transportation arrangement with Urklo Memorial Hospital in terms of agencies providing rural transportation. Uh, and that would be an arrangement somehow not quite defined with futures uh connections and that's a relatively new service as well. Uh, today I received an email from a county board member from Uricway who is the one who told us about this. It turns out the

talks with memorial have ended and that county will be relying on futures connections to provide their rural transit service as well. So after literally nine months of trying to get all of this arrange and figure out who served where and what agency going under and others figuring that they were headed in that direction. Now at the moment if assuming this information is confirmed have three counties being served by futures connections Lston Ford and MLAN being served by connect transit connect go and ka key being served by show it's nice to have that so we can finish doing all the maps and proceed forward and that's all I have

questions for Jennifer Jennifer is the service all is it actually up and functioning now like in McLaren County. Yes, it is. It's been up and functioning since last July, but it's a slow process and this is a type of service that they're adjusting to because it's not it's in no way like

the urban area fixed route service. So, it's it's a different type of animal basically. Um they're they are increasing their wrership numbers and that's a good thing. We like to see that happen. And also they've been spearheading a conversation among the all the counties in the region, all five of them about how to handle cases where people are going from county to county as part of a trip and how to handle that. Hasn't been nailed down yet, but they are in the process. I haven't involved in those conversations. So we hope to see a kind of, you know, set policy as to how that will happen. You know, having all of the providers cooperate in getting people cross country lines to address. So we don't have big gaps. Yeah, I think so.

Do you know did connect have to purchase additional equipment?

Not initially. They're getting buses from what had been the full show us that was serving actually something like eight counties at one point. So there have been transfers. That's also true for some of the other providers around the area. and they are have always been in line for uh what we call 5310 which is to say mostly social services and small uh transit providers vehicles funded by the Illinois Department of Transportation. there should be although it hasn't been announced yet another round of those purchases and I think they were using some of their mobility vehicles because part of the issue with rural service is that it pretty much has to be prepared for uh people with accessibility issues who need to be in a wheelchair or whatever. So those were an obvious mix into the system that connect for years now has been trying to get people off of the mobility service and able to use the fixed route service and then that means that the service can provide some support for the rural service.

Thank you. Great. Up next with the Veterans Park web corridor plan update.

Sure. Um the project steering committee uh met March 13th. It seems like today is April 1st. Okay. last month a few weeks ago. Uh so they looked at uh and discussed with the committee the consultant discussed with the committee certain uh design alternatives and then they uh narrow it down to a preferred option uh and that will be further uh review and look at and then next meeting is going to be on the 10th uh next Friday as a matter and uh so they will uh but and they will uh uh study a little bit more on the prefer option You're basically keeping Veterans Parkway alignment the same, but then they'll be having uh narrower lanes. They'll be adding uh some turn lanes uh and then uh share paths on both sides, your pedestrian, cyclists, and then improvements to intersections for certain intersections and making sure it's safe for people to cross. uh there will be more detailed but just in in in concept uh that's kind of the option they're looking at. So they will drill into a little bit more uh on that and um uh so there will be some more discussion this uh upcoming meeting April 10th.

Any questions for Ray about the veteran parkway study?

Okay. And so next we have an update on the regional comprehensive plan. And I wanted to note that um Commissioner Annie Burrow will serve as our liaison um to the project steering committee that's in the process of being formed. I'm sure Ray will address uh the status of that. So want to thank Commissioner Burrow. So she'll sort of be part of these monthly discussions and updates as the hope and sort of bring us back to the commission. um you know where the steering committee is um on certain matters. So really appreciate her. I know she's not here right now but um and with that I'll turn it over to um Anthony Ray.

Yeah. So uh yeah I provide more detail but this the time you uh you've heard and seen uh all what we and you have done in terms of the strategic language plan. Uh so now we back on track uh on the the uh important regional uh or the regional comprehensive plan and and exciting details and uh Anthony's going to share.

Yeah. Uh so we uh like have been coordinating all the project steering committee members for this project. Uh we roughly 17 20 right around there. Uh the first meeting has been scheduled for uh April 14th at 4 o'clock at the Bloomington Public Library. We've got a lot to discuss at that first meeting. It's the the big kickoff meeting, so it's it's probably going to be a little bit longer, a little bit content heavy. We've been doing a lot of background work. Um at this point, we've got the website uh pretty much complete. I mean, there's a couple of final touches, but it's it's done. you just need to show it to the ESC for their approval and comment. Um the first survey that we're planning on putting out uh to collect the vision statement for the comprehensive plan that that's all done and a lot of the the promotional materials, flyers, logos, kind of the marketing aspects of of the plan to get the word out. Uh those are all about 90% done. Realistically, we need to show the PSC and after that, we should be good to to go public, kick it off, let everybody know, this is this is the plan process. This is what we're doing. This is when you can provide your input. Um, so we're excited, but keep an eye out. Hopefully by the middle of April, April 14th is the first PSC. I'm hoping that that week we can get some stuff online.

That's all I got. Any questions? question. Uh, Commissioner B has her hand raised virtually. Um, thanks. Uh, so I just want to make sure I heard that right. So there's 17 to 20 people on the PSC. Uh, yeah, I think I have I have 17. There's still we're still waiting on a response from one organization. Um, so there might be 18. I think there's maybe a little bit of room, but that's more so Grace's prerogative. Okay. Yeah, that's the number. Yes.

Okay. Um, yeah, I just I want to note it I I still have concerns um about the size of that steering committee um compared to the engagement that the quantity of people that we engaged in 2009 on that plan. Um, and I'm going to continue to just snag and you can tune me out if you want, but I just want to make sure that we are not repeating some of the um repeating some of the systems and processes that caused challenges with the strategic land use plan. Um, I had emailed uh Rey and uh last month and he gave me some information about who the makeup of the P PSC. So, I would like to see that list of people and I would like it noted in the minutes that I think it is really important to engage uh regular citizens like people who aren't necessarily involved with an organization. Um, but I'm excited to see it's moving forward. And did the document that uh Anthony presented at the last meeting, did that get sent to county board members with confirmation of receipt? It was sent to the uh uh county uh administrator uh and she was asked you know to share with the county board members

did and did you receive uh confirmation that she she received it and it confirmation but I think she was out also for a few days.

Okay. I yeah if we could get some confirmation just so we know everybody's on the same page I think that would be a good way to move forward. Thank you. I guess just for my clarification, um you said we wanted to engage members of the public that aren't necessarily part of an organization. Um are you meeting in the project steering committee or in like additional public outreach events because we'll be doing like three very specific we want to hear from the public, you know, engagement practices, surveys, website, all that. Do you are you also suggesting to have members of the public on the project steering committee? I think that would be a good idea. Um, and even uh if we can think broadly about the type maybe even the types of organizations like I know the strong towns uh group like those would be that would be a great pool of people who I think would be excited and willing to to serve.

Sounds good. Thank you. Could I follow up? I'm sorry. You mentioned the concern about the way the process worked in 200 nine and I I'm not sure what what you were referring to. So, could you give me a little more background?

I I don't I don't have concerns about how the process went. In 2009, there was over 200 people that were engaged to develop that plan. I don't know if you've read over it. I've read it to back and it is a a beautiful, extremely thoughtful plan. So, we have a a really high standard to meet and um I think we should uh rise to that occasion. I apologize. I I thought I must have misunderstood. I thought you said there was a challenge or there could have been a challenge in terms of how things were done.

I I was referring to some of the some of the processes with the strategic land use plan um that that passed last year. Um yeah, no, the 2009 plan. I would encourage everybody to to take a look at it. It's really a beautiful strategic plan. Thank you. Any other questions for Anthony Ray? Thank you. All right. And I think we have one final item. Um Jennifer, if you can let us u fill us in on the metropolitan transportation plan.

I will indeed. Um, I'm going to pass around a map that is relevant to this plan because it helps define where the focus is. So, this is our U metropolitan planning area. It's a little hard to see. The blue stipple area is that planning area. So, that's what we sort of encompass as a metropolitan planning agency. and we have begun the development of the metropolitan transportation plan 2055 which will be completed, adopted and turned over to the federal government by October of 2027. Um the the scheduling on this and the extent of the plan horizon are a function of federal requirements. So we're out to 205 because of how their calendar works rather than our preferences. It's a long span. It's a lot of information to try and project from here we are in 2026. So we will set about doing that. Uh this plan is a requirement of our MO world as defined by the federal government and it will work with both the federal highway administration and the federal transit administration on aspects of the plan because there are elements that each of those agencies requires. Um the metropolitan planning area which is the map I just went around uh is defined through the census and US dot and it's our focus for this plan as we are the metropolitan planning organization. Uh we will examine some transportation issues in rural MLAN county obviously the interstate system goes that follows the paths out of the county. So that's part of it and that will be an ongoing conversation as we move forward. As I mentioned, this has a horizon year of 2055. It's kind of an arcane um federal highway restriction and we're going to be looking pretty far into the future. Um why are we doing this? Aside from the fact that we're required to do this, um, in the words of the Federal Transit Administration, the plan is to

accomplish the objectives outlined by the MO, obviously transportation issues, the state and public transportation providers with respect to the development and we would say sustainability um of the metropolitan area's transportation network. You must identify how the metropolitan area will manage and operate a multimodal transportation system, including transit, highway, and bicycle, pedestrian, and accessible transportation. And anybody else who seems to wander into that mix. You never know what's out there. Transportation. Um, and to meet the region's economic, transportation, development, and sustainability goals, among others, for the 20-year planning period. And then for the period beyond that, we're going to be sort of, you know, launching ideas into the dark the distant relatively distant future. Um, I'm pleased to say that this is the sixth um MTP or long range transportation plan I have carried out for uh the MO here and I suspect it will be my last. And this is going to be an interesting exercise because the world has changed a lot in the last 25 years. We know that too in doing the comp comprehensive plan that was last done county in 2009 on which I also worked. Ongoing activities currently for this plan include the collection and analysis of demographic, socioeconomic and transportation system data to delineate current conditions in the transportation system particularly in the urban area. Mapping of components of the transportation system. So we have kind of a a framework of visual reference for a current conditions report that's in progress now. Um and then a lot of staff discussion uh to consider outreach efforts, a public survey, formation of the project steering committee for this plan and other c tasks to be carried out. We're sort of putting together a to-do list month to month and then finally that preparation and revision of project phases and tasks that we kind of have it

nailed down as to what our pathful is in which tasks are accomplishing what phase. So that's where we are right now. Um once we get some of the initial data put together for our current conditions and also a report from the expert we've engaged to do population projections for this time period. Um, we'll have a a good framework for that initial step, that current conditions report, and then we'll go on to focus groups and subject matter expert groups and others in various topics, talk to them, talk to the public, do as much outreach as we can. We do have a survey put together that will be launching. We're trying to avoid confusion. So, we'll launch that after the uh county comprehensive plan survey that was just discussed. But we're moving forward and this is going to be interesting because so much has changed. Any questions?

When was the last one done again?

The last one of these it was uh adopted in 2022 and it was a little difficult then of course because we were still dealing with COVID restrictions. So it's a slightly different animal than we've done in the past. But this too is going to be a slightly different animal because now we have uh access to the public which was hard to do in 2022 and we also have a lot more data to work with. should also mention um a lot of the focus in this plan is going to be on safety safety initiatives. We are building from our go safe uh action plan that was adopted late last year or last September I guess. And so that provides us a lot of information that you know central already seen compiled about areas in the county where we need to focus and especially in the urban area where we need to focus our transportation planning efforts on safety for all as the brand put it. And so that's going to be the backbone of this as well. Anything else you wanted to address from your standpoint?

Okay. Is there any other business to come before the commission? Afternoon. Um, if there's no further business, is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. Second. All in favor? I opposed. All right. Motion passes. The April 1st, 2026 meeting of the MC RPC is adjourned at 4:41 p.m. Thank you for joining online.