By Howard Packowitz and Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is trying to build a case for spending city tax dollars to hire a mayoral aide and for the city to take over the privately-run, not-for-profit Downtown Bloomington Association.

Renner is asking the city council to allow him to hire the aide at an annual salary of $53,000 with benefits that would amount to a total compensation of $72,000.

The position is considered a political appointment to help him formulate and implement policies, programs, and projects, and also manage day-to-day operations of the mayor’s office.

In a memo to the council, Renner said the city and the role of mayor and city council have changed dramatically since the 1970s and ’80s.

The mayor’s job, according to Renner, is a full-time position with an “unrealistic” part-time salary of $12,000 a year.

In Chicago suburbs like Schaumburg, Renner said city leaders are virtually invisible to the public, with little if any radio, newspaper or television coverage.

Here, Renner said elected officials are constantly in the media spotlight.

He claims many opportunities to receive grants for various programs have fallen by the wayside because there’s no time to complete grant applications.

Renner envisions the aide will act as a liaison to other local leaders, businesses, community groups, and state and federal agencies.

Downtown Bloomington Association

The proposal which alderman will review Monday would establish a Downtown Development division within the Community Development Department and would significantly increase the city’s investment in its central business district.

The city has currently funded DBA $90,000 annually, but DBA’s predecessor Uniquely Bloomington had received as much as $200,000 annually. Funding for downtown development would increase to $272,000 per year.

In a staff memo, the city claims the additional funding would allow for the development of “bigger, bolder and better regional activities” in addition to the programs DBA currently runs. It’s signature event is the Farmer’s Market which is held each Saturday outside the McLean County Museum of History from May to November and once per month at Grossinger Motors Arena during the winter.

The current DBA board would continue to serve in an advisory role.

Aldermen are expected to discuss the proposals Monday during a special city council session at 5 p.m., prior to the council’s regular 7 p.m. meeting.

Listen here to Renner’s interview with WJBC’s Greg Halbleib:

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected].