The general consul of Israel discusses meeting with politicians from Holcomb, Indiana

Bloomington, Indiana – During its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, the Bloomington City Council unanimously decided to name council member Isabel Piedmont-Smith as its president.

Piedmont-Smith was the council president in 2010 and is beginning her fourth non-consecutive term on the council since 2007. Piedmont-Smith was the vice president of the council the previous year.

“I believe I can bring a balance of experience and new ideas to this administration,” Piedmont-Smith said. “I know that several of my colleagues are interested in pursuing process reform this year and my historical knowledge of council processes in addition to my proven willingness to try new approaches would make me a suitable leader during this time.”

The council president appoints council members and chairpersons to each standing committee, approves agendas, and keeps tabs on the preferences of other council members. In addition, the president confirms each adopted ordinance, resolution, address, or order with the city clerk, repeats any questions put forth by other council members, and announces the outcome of each vote during council meetings.

In 2023, Sue Sgambelluri, a former member of the city council, presided over the council. In the Democratic primary held in May 2023, Councilmember Kate Rosenbarger defeated Sgambelluri.

By a unanimous vote, the council also chose Councilmember Andy Ruff to be the group’s vice president. Ruff was chosen by the constituents in November 2023 to the position of at-large council representative. Before then, he had served five terms on the city council. In 2020, Ruff sought reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives representing Indiana’s ninth district but was defeated by Trey Hollingsworth, who is currently a former representative.

According to Bloomington municipal code, the vice president of the council will chair the meeting if the president is not present.

By unanimous majority, the council chose Hopi Stosberg to succeed incumbent councilmember Dave Rollo as a parliamentarian. In November, Stosberg—a newbie to the municipal council—won the only contest on the council.

“As someone who’s new to council it feels like a big responsibility and I feel ready and prepared for it,” Stosberg said. “In order to prepare for this role, I have watched all the council’s meetings in 2023 because I wanted to familiarize myself with the process and with the procedures and how the council did business.”

Stosberg’s job as a parliamentarian is to counsel council members on issues about policies and procedures.

Five other recently elected council members, Ruff, Isak Nti Asare, Rosenbarger, Shruti Rana, and Sydney Zulich, join Stosberg on the body. At age 21, Zulich is the youngest person to be elected to the Bloomington City Council, and Rana will be the first woman of color to hold a council seat.

After adjourning the meeting on Wednesday, the council members appointed their peers to fourteen boards and commissions.

As part of her newly elected position as president, Piedmont-Smith also nominated council members to chair and represent them on seven standing committees of the council.

Each council member will serve on the following boards, commissions, and committees during this session:

Isabel Piedmont-Smith (D-1, Incumbent):

• Board of the Waste Reduction District of Monroe County
• Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee (a committee under the Monroe County Local Income Tax Council)
• Interview Committee B
• Special Committee on Council Process (chairperson)

Dave Rollo (D-4, Incumbent):

• Bloomington Commission on Sustainability
• Climate Action and Resilience Standing Committee
• Interview Committee C
• Special Committee on Council Process

Matt Flaherty (D-At-Large Representative, Incumbent):

• Bloomington Parking Commission
• Utilities Service Board
• Climate Action and Resilience Standing Committee (chairperson)
• Interview Committee C
• Special Committee on Council Process

Andy Ruff (D-At-Large Representative, newly elected):

• Monroe County Food and Beverage Tax Advisory Commission
• Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee (a committee under the Monroe County Local Income Tax Council)
• Jack Hopkins Social Services Standing Committee
• Sidewalk Standing Committee
• Interview Committee B

Isak Nti Asare, (D-At-Large Representative, newly elected):

• Bloomington Economic Development Corporation
• Monroe County Economic Development Commission
• Bloomington Economic Development Commission
• Jack Hopkins Social Services Standing Committee
• Interview Committee A

Kate Rosenbarger (D-2, newly elected):

• Citizens Advisory Committee for Physical Improvements Community Development Block Grants
• Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee (a committee under the Monroe County Local Income Tax Council)
• Sidewalk Standing Committee (chairperson)
• Interview Committee A

Hopi Stosberg (D-3, newly elected):

• Bloomington Plan Commission
• Climate Action and Resilience Standing Committee
• Jack Hopkins Social Services Standing Committee
• Sidewalk Standing Committee
• Interview Committee A

Shruti Rana (D-5, newly elected):

• The Bloomington-Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Jack Hopkins Social Services Standing Committee (chairperson)
• Sidewalk Standing Committee
• Interview Committee B
• Special Committee on Council Process

Sydney Zulich (D-6, newly elected):

• Downtown Bloomington, Inc. Board of Directors
• Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee (a committee under the Monroe County Local Income Tax Council)
• Citizens Advisory Committee for Social Services Community Development Block Grants
• Climate Action and Resilience Standing Committee
• Interview Committee C