It's August, and that means another update on what the city's commissions and boards are working on. Each Commission has a work plan approved by the City Council and works with city staff to accomplish its goals. First up the Human Rights Commission. The group is seeking nominations for its annual Omar bond darood Human Rights Award. This award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to ensuring the rights of people in Bloomington.

The award is named in honor of Omar bond darood, who was the first chairperson of the Bloomington Human Rights Commission formed in 1968.

If you know an individual or organization who has shown special efforts to ensure citizens of Bloomington, equal opportunities in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education or represent the substantial effort toward educating winning or preserving equality and justice for protected groups, nominate that for the 2019 award, applications are being accepted through August 25th find the application on the city's website at BL mm n, slash von darude, or by contacting 9 5 2 5 6 3 8 7 33. The sustainability Commission is challenging residents to subscribe to wind energy.

With the contest as part of its energy action plan, the city will be giving away 4 $100 gift cards. It's meant to encourage residents to subscribe to Xcel Energy's wind source program. 44% of Bloomington electricity comes from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. With the wind source program, you can ensure that 100 percent of your electricity is powered by renewable wind power. The sustainability Commission wants you to join 1,500 of your neighbors, who have already subscribed and help the city reach. Its goal of 2,000 subscribed households for a chance to win.

One of four $100 gift cards head to BLM MN / renewable entries will be accepted until Monday September fifteen at 5:00 p.m. August is a busy month for the creative placemaking commission. Several events will be taking place to celebrate the Arts in August, an augmented reality. Tour will be unveiled at the old cedar, Avenue bridge to celebrate its completion. All you need is your smartphone to experience that educational, entertainment themes will include historical information about the bridge, selfie wings from local birds and butterflies and flags representing the diversity of Bloomington.

The creative happy hour is also taking place in August on the 15th from 5 to 7 at Bloomington Central Station park. There will be live music with dance instruction, food trucks and creative activities for more information on these events and creative placemaking efforts head to BLM MN slash place, making. The commission's next meeting is Monday August 12th at 5 p.m. in the Dakota conference room at Civic Plaza, the Planning Commission held a public hearing on Bloomington's new opportunity, housing ordinance. It was originally approved back in February and will take effect. September 1st.

During this six-month phase-in period, staff worked with stakeholders to test the ordinance provisions and review it for consistency and clarification. This review resulted in proposed amendments to the ordinance, but none impact the main thrust of it. Additional amendments are expected over the next year as projects take shape. The opportunity housing ordinance requires new housing developments of 20 units or greater to build at least 9%, affordable units. The ordinance also offers other options to comply like contributing to the affordable housing fund that aids in building and preserving, affordable housing now to parks, arts and recreation.

The Commission reviewed the cultural arts grants the grants, are city funded and given to local arts groups to assist with operations and encourage art. In Bloomington after the Commission reviewed the grants, they took a tour of the Bloomington Center for the Arts. The Commission also discussed the 29 team, Parks and Recreation Award of Excellence nominations are now being accepted until August 31st, the August meeting for park has been canceled. That's your Commission update for the month of April for a complete look at the agendas for each commission head to BLM MN / boards.

You can also sign up for I subscribe to receive information on topics you choose are important to you just head to be LM d: MN /! You subscribe, I'm, Laurie Schulte. Thanks for joining us, we'll see you next month.