BLOOMINGTON — The Bloomington Common Council will hold its first facilitated public safety deliberation session on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
Organized in partnership with the Community Justice and Mediation Center (CJAM), the meeting is designed to gather community feedback and resident perspectives on public safety to help shape future municipal funding and policy priorities.
Purpose and Structure of the Deliberation
The upcoming session focuses on understanding residents’ lived experiences rather than debating policy or proposing immediate solutions. Organizers aim to gather input on what makes community members feel safe or unsafe in Bloomington, laying the groundwork for a second follow-up deliberation scheduled for October 21.
- Format: Small breakout groups of four to eight members of the public, each paired with a CJAM facilitator, a trained CJAM notetaker, and a City Council co-facilitator.
- Participation: Eight total discussion groups are planned, including dedicated remote discussions via Zoom and a Spanish-language group co-facilitated by Councilmember Isabel Asare.
- Leadership Roles: Councilmembers Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Matt Stosberg, and Isak Nika Zulich led the organization of the initiative alongside Mayor Kerry Thomson and CJAM Executive Director Wyatt Lawson.
Following the small group discussions, elected officials will report out the primary themes from their respective tables, and participants will complete a public safety survey on-site.
Agenda & Key Details
The deliberation session is open to all members of the public.
- Date & Time: Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.
- Location: Council Chambers (Room 115), City Hall, 401 N. Morton Street
- Remote Access: Available via Zoom (Meeting ID: 870 8928 7108 / Passcode: 165752)
- Broadcast: Streamed live on Community Action Television Services (CATS) and the City’s YouTube channel
Next Steps in the Process
Notes and survey results from the September 9 meeting will be compiled by CJAM into a summary report outlining key community themes. That synthesis will serve as the foundation for the October 21 deliberation session, which will focus on defining public safety for Bloomington and identifying actionable steps the city administration and council can take to improve public safety programs and investments
