A new Bloomington task force will evaluate converting compostable organic material at the city’s wastewater plant into compressed natural gas to fuel public vehicles.

Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton revealed the plan during his annual State of the City Address Thursday night at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.

“This is a complex and expensive challenge, but one we ought to tackle together," Hamilton says. "I’ll ask for a report within a year to recommend a path forward.”

A local Black Lives Matter group shut down last year’s address over the city’s decision to purchase an armored vehicle.

Hamilton says the city has increased transparency with its open door policy and online portals.

“We’re demo-ing a web-based service called PolCo, where, once you subscribe, you are asked to weigh in on community issues - from trash collection to scooters, every two weeks.”

Hamilton spoke on last year’s initiatives including the bicentennial celebrations. He used that theme to look forward to the next 100 years.

But he says not everything at City Hall works as they plan. Hamilton says as a progressive city, sometimes they try things that a regressive state steps on such as annexation, gun control, and solar net metering.

“I have to say, this state legislature seems to be looking backward. They refuse to pass a real hate crime bill,” Hamilton says.

Hamilton also addressed long-term affordable housing. The city added more than 600 bedrooms of affordable housing during his term and Hamilton says they’ll commit to more. He referenced the 24 downtown acres at the current hospital site and the Sudbury Farm area.

Redevelopment Commission President and realtor Donald Griffin says Bloomington doesn't have enough single family homes.

“I think we need more help from the county, we need more help with infrastructure out in the county, and zoning, we need change of zoning laws. There’s only so much Bloomington can do,” Griffin says.

This was Hamilton’s fourth State of the City Address. Monroe County Commissioner Amanda Barge is challenging him in the May primary.