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From YouTube: Bloomington Today: November 16, 2011
Description
On this episode of Bloomington Today, we'll take a look at what the Mall of America is doing to ease holiday parking stress, and find out what it takes to become a Community Emergency Response Team member.
A
Welcome
to
Bloomington
today,
I'm
kailyn
real
thanks
for
joining
us.
The
city
of
Bloomington
has
been
making
strides
toward
a
more
sustainable
future
for
some
time
now
and
as
a
part
of
that
ongoing
effort.
Last
summer,
Public
Works
set
out
to
improve
the
city's
storm
water
management
practices.
Let's
take
a
look
back
at
that
journey
and
find
out
how
the
changes
are
improving
City
sustainability,
the
east
parking
lot
of
Public
Works.
Isn't
your
typical
asphalt
pavement
parking
area?
This
lot
was
resurfaced
in
September
of
2010
with
material
not
normally
seen
around
bloomington
pervious.
B
A
Poorest,
quality
of
the
pavement
and
rock
base
soaks
up
stormwater
and
reduces
annual
runoff
by
ninety
percent.
Now
a
year
later,
Public
Works
performed
the
test
to
make
sure
the
lot
is
still
absorbing
water
like
it
should.
One
thousand
gallons
of
water
is
dumped
onto
the
lot
and,
as
you
can
see,
it
disappears
in
second
underneath.
B
The
concrete
surface
here
is
a
foot
and
a
half
of
large
rock
that
are
all
one
size
about
two
and
a
half
inches
so
inside
that
rocks
is
about
forty
percent
voids,
which
means
that
can
store
forty
percent
of
that
18
inches
of
rain.
So
when
it
then
it
below
that
is
a
sandy
soil
subgrade
the
base
that
regular
soil
here,
then
it
will
infiltrate
there
within
four
to
six
hours.
B
Much
our
whole
urban
environment
is
has
little
pollutants
all
over
and
when
the
water,
when
rain
comes,
it
washes
those
pollutants
into
parking
lots
on
the
sidewalks
into
the
street
and
in
the
storm
sewer,
which
then
goes
into
your
local
creeks
early
pond.
And
if
we
can
infiltrate
that
there's
natural
processes
that
go
on
in
the
soil
below.
So
this
storm
water
is
actually
going
into
the
ground
rod
or
benefiting
the
aquifers
and
not
going
into
puns.
The.
B
A
Works
has
no
current
plans
at
this
time
to
install
more
pervious,
concrete
lots,
but
Seager
says
they'll
continue
to
monitor
the
Public
Works
lot
and
become
more
and
more
familiar
with
new,
environmentally
friendly
techniques
to
improve
City
sustainability
in
the
event
of
an
emergency
Bloomington
Public
Health
has
recognized
the
need
for
as
many
helping
hands
as
possible.
That's
why
they've
partnered
with
the
cities
of
Edina
and
richfield
and
created
the
community
emergency
response
team
or
cert.
A
And
finally,
how
often
you're
supposed
to
get
your
fire
extinguisher
checked
and
where
you
can
go
to
refill
it.
Volunteers
are
giving
in
equipment
bag
to
take
home,
complete
with
a
hardhat
work,
gloves,
goggles
and
more.
That
will
come
in
handy
in
whatever
crisis
they
may
be
called
upon
to
aid
the
community
in
once,
cert
members
complete
the
three-day
training
they're
recognized
in
their
communities
with
a
formal
graduation
ceremony
to
apply
to
be
a
cert
volunteer.
A
The
city's
website,
keyword,
search,
cert
and
complete
the
online
registration
form.
We'll
keep
you
updated
right
here
on
Bloomington
today,
as
when
the
next
training
exercise
will
be
on
last
week's
episode
of
Bloomington.
Today
we
brought
you
news
of
a
unique
ribbon-cutting
ceremony
to
welcome
one
type
of
children's
museum
to
Bloomington
today,
we'll
take
a
tour
of
the
works
and
see
how
more
space
has
given
them
the
opportunity
to
grant
more
fun
with
learning
to
area
residents.
A
C
A
Works
previously
located
in
the
Edina
community
center
had
outgrown
its
space
as
popularity
for
the
facility
began
to
grow
school
groups.
Daycares
and
residents
rapidly
began
needing
more
room
to
play
and
learn.
This
new
space
offers
all
the
old
favorites
like
the
light
harp
and
pulley
systems,
while
offering
some
new
components
as
well.
Our
old
space.
C
Was
was
pretty
small
and
compact
if
anybody
had
ever
been
there,
and
here
we
have
a
40,000
square
feet
to
fill.
So
in
addition
to
all
the
exhibits
and
interact
as
we
moved,
we
have
a
temporary
or
changing,
exhibit
gallery
which
right
now
we're
featuring
toys,
the
inside
story,
and
then
we
have
a
design
lab
up
on
our
second
level,
which
is
open-ended
engineering,
explorations
and
activities
for
children
and
families,
which
is
something
our
old
space
did
not
have
in
it.
C
A
C
A
C
Matter
what
activity
they're
doing,
whether
they're
one
of
our
classroom
activities
or
whether
they're
out
you
know
on
the
floor,
exploring
you
know,
building
racing
cars,
it's
one
of
these.
You
see
them
stop
for
a
minute
and
think
how
did
that
happen
and
what,
if
I,
do
it
again
and
what,
if
I,
do
it
a
different
way?
And
that's
exactly
at
the
heart
of
what
we're
trying
to
do.
A
The
works
is
open
to
the
public,
thursdays
and
fridays
from
ten
a.m.
to
a
p.m.
and
then
saturdays
through
mondays.
From
ten
a.m.
to
five
p.m.
admission,
prices
are
six
dollars
for
adults
and
children.
Admission
plus
design
lab
entrance
is
eight
dollars
now
it's
time
for
another
in
the
loop
segment,
where
we
bring
residents
news
and
events
happening
within
bloomington's
South
Loop
area
this
week,
we'll
find
out
what
the
mall
of
america
is
doing
to
ease
parking
and
traffic
concerns
around
the
mall
during
the
holiday
season.
A
Between
thanksgiving
and
new
year's,
the
Mall
of
America
welcomes
more
than
16
million
guests
with
the
boom
and
shoppers
during
the
holiday
seasons.
Residents
often
become
concerned
with
how
they'll
get
in
get
out
and
park.
According
to
a
mall
representative
MOA
plans
to
address
these
concerns
using
three
tools:
Twitter
updates,
real-time
traffic
updates
provided
by
a
mobile
phone
app
and
a
new
wayfinding
signage
system.
A
The
idea
is
that
when
congestion
occurs
in
parking
lots
or
around
the
mall,
the
signs
and
mobile
alerts
will
be
updated
to
let
motorists
know
the
least
congested
way
to
reach
the
mall
of
america
with
more
than
520
stores.
Mall
representatives
say
that
staff
is
always
looking
to
hanse
guest
experience.
As
of
the
first
week
of
November,
the
mall
is
decked
out
in
all
of
its
christmas.
Decor
and
Santa
arrived
on
November
tenth
and
will
be
available
daily
to
take
photos
until
December
24th
and
while
you're
planning
your
next
visit
to
the
mall
of
america.
A
Stop
by
on
turkey
day,
where
hundreds
of
people
will
be
gathering
to
end
hunger,
you're
invited
to
join
the
Twin
Cities
hunger
initiative
for
its
5k
route.
Around
the
first
floor
of
the
mall
of
america,
registration
for
walkers
begins
at
seven
a.m.
on
thanksgiving
thursday
november
24th
and
groups
will
begin
their
hike
around
the
mall
from
730am
to
10
a.m.
registration
is
twenty-five
dollars
for
adult
walkers
and
those
who
raise
the
hundred
dollars
get
a
free
t-shirt.
A
According
to
officials,
one
in
ten
of
our
neighbors
doesn't
know
where
their
next
meal
is
going
to
come
from
for
more
information
on
the
2011
walk
to
end
hunger
visit
ww-watch
to
end
hunger
org.
It's
now
time
for
a
short
break.
When
we
come
back
we'll
take
a
look
at
an
informational
video
about
the
do's
and
don'ts
of
the
roundabout
stay
right
here.
The.
E
D
A
Welcome
back
to
bloomington,
today,
more
and
more
often,
residents
are
seeing
roundabouts
being
used
in
area
construction
projects
like
the
169
I
494
interchange
system.
For
example,
6
roundabouts
will
be
installed
on
the
new
ring
road
system
by
2012.
In
an
effort
to
alleviate
residents
concerns
about
the
new
traffic
circles.
The
Minnesota
Department
of
Transportation
has
produced
a
video
highlighting
why
they've
chosen
roundabouts
and
teaching
residents
how
to
use
them.
Take
a
look
one.
F
Big
reason
for
the
move
to
modern
roundabouts
is
that
they're
much
safer
than
traditional
intersections,
who
says
so
well.
The
insurance
institute
for
highway
safety
for
one
they're,
a
research
organization
that
issues
safety
ratings
for
cars,
they've
conducted
research
on
roundabouts,
too,
they
looked
at
23,
traditional
intersections
that
were
converted
to
single
lane
roundabouts.
What
they
found
is
interesting
conversion,
two
roundabouts
reduced
all
crashes
by
about
forty
percent
reduced
crashes,
that
caused
injuries
by
about
seventy-five
percent
and
eliminated
fatalities.
F
Almost
entirely,
are
you
impressed,
or
are
you
skeptical
if
you're,
unsure
they're
with
me
for
a
few
minutes,
I
think
I
can
show
you
that
modern
roundabouts
are
often
the
right
solution.
One
step
engineers
have
taken
in
designing
modern
roundabouts
is
to
reduce
the
size
of
the
circle,
but
the
most
significant
change
was
to
have
vehicles
entering
the
roundabout
yield
to
traffic
already
in
the
circle.
This
is
done
with
yield
signs
at
the
entrances
rather
than
stop
signs
or
lights.
These
changes
help
to
keep
traffic
moving
at
a
safe
and
efficient
speed.
F
How
efficient,
well
those
researchers
at
the
insurance
institute
for
highway
safety
study?
Ten
traditional
intersections.
They
calculated
that
if
those
intersections
were
converted,
two
roundabouts,
each
driver
would
save
a
minute
herself
and
that
the
combined
savings
of
all
drivers
using
those
roundabouts
would
be
about
325,000
hours
every
year.
F
F
You
can't
sit
at
a
red
light
at
a
roundabout
because
they
don't
have
lights
when
there's
room
for
you
to
enter
your
in
and
out
with
almost
no
delay,
and
that's
our
roundabouts
reduce
harmful
emissions.
If
you
don't
have
to
stop
and
start,
you
burn
less
fuel.
The
same
study
by
the
Insurance
Institute
for
Highway
Safety,
estimated
that
if
those
ten
intersections
were
converted,
two
roundabouts
fuel
consumption
would
be
reduced
by
about
235,000
gallons
a
year.
F
F
Well,
sadly,
it's
because
at
traditional
crossroads
intersections
we
see
t-bone
and
on
collisions
and
they're
the
ones
that
tend
to
be
serious
but
t-bone
and
head-on.
Collisions
are
just
about
eliminated
at
modern
roundabouts,
because
all
traffic
is
moving
in
the
same
direction
and
it's
slower
speeds.
That
means
any
collisions
that
do
occur
tend
to
be
sideswipes
or
other
glancing
blows,
which
rarely
cause
injuries.
F
F
Second,
research
has
shown
that
more
than
half
of
all
crashes
involving
pedestrians
also
involve
left
turns,
but
there
are
no
left
turns
in
a
roundabout
to
go
left.
You
actually
make
a
right
to
enter
the
circle
and
a
right
to
exit,
also
notice
that
when
modern
roundabouts
have
crosswalks,
the
crosswalks
are
farther
back
than
in
traditional
intersections,
because
pedestrians
are
set
back
from
the
circle.
Drivers
can
react
to
the
pedestrians
first
and
then
deal
with
the
traffic.
Compare
that
with
traditional
intersections,
where
drivers
have
to
deal
with
everything
at
once.
F
The
islands
between
the
lanes
in
the
approach
to
a
roundabout
also
contribute
to
safety,
since
pedestrians
only
have
to
cross
traffic
one
direction
at
a
time
notice
that
the
entries
to
the
roundabouts
are
slightly
curved
and
that
the
circle
as
a
relatively
small
diameter.
These
features
naturally
slow
traffic,
usually
to
about
15
to
20
miles
per
hour.
That
has
a
couple
of
advantages.
First,
it
tends
to
reduce
the
force
of
any
collisions
that
do
occur,
so
there
are
fewer
injuries.
Second,
with
slower
traffic
in
the
circle,
it's
easier
for
drivers
to
enter
the
roundabout.
F
G
First
impression
was
what
is
a
roundabout
and
then
my
second
concern
that
we
had
was:
were
we
able
to
get
our
emergency
vehicles
around
the
roundabout?
So
we
decided
then
to
bring
one
of
our
largest
fire
trucks,
which
is
a
90-foot
aerial
platform
down
there
and
drive
around
it
in
which
we
did,
and
it
worked
just
fine.
It's
really
important
that
your
people
are
comfortable
with
it
and
understand
how
well
it
does
work.
Research.
F
Shows
that
members
of
the
general
public
tend
to
react
the
same
way
once
they've
driven
around
about
a
few
times.
Most
people
like
it
and
driving
roundabouts
is
actually
pretty
easy
to
get
used
to.
You
just
need
to
follow
a
few
simple
rules.
As
you
approach,
a
modern
roundabout
you'll
see
a
roundabout
ahead
sign.
As
with
any
other
intersection,
you
should
watch
for
pedestrians
and
stop
for
them.
The
most
basic
rule
and
roundabouts
is
the
idea
of
yielding
the
traffic
already
in
the
roundabout.
Has
the
right-of-way
and
the
entering
traffic
must
yield.
F
So,
as
you
approach
be
sure,
to
look
left,
most
roundabouts
have
signs
in
the
center
island
guiding
you
in
a
counterclockwise
direction
when
an
opening
appears
and
it's
safe
to
proceed
enter
the
roundabout
once
you're
in
the
roundabout,
keep
your
place
in
line.
Don't
pass
as
you
approach
your
exit
put
on
your
right
turn
signal
exit,
the
roundabout
and
again
look
for
pedestrians
in
the
crosswalk.
F
If
you're
in
a
roundabout,
when
an
emergency
vehicle
approaches,
don't
stop
in
the
roundabout
drive
out
of
the
circle
and
then
pull
over.
Did
you
notice
the
raised
apron
in
the
middle
of
the
roundabout?
Some
people
see
tire
marks
there
and
think
the
roundabout
wasn't
built
big
enough
than
in
the
large
vehicles,
but
that's
not
the
case.
The
apron
is
there
just
for
the
trucks
and
other
large
vehicles.
It
gives
them
the
extra
room
they
need,
but
the
raised
pavement
discourages
used
by
cars.
F
What
we've
seen
so
far
is
a
single
lane
roundabout,
but
some
roundabouts
fed
by
heavier
volume
roads
have
more
than
one
land
both
on
the
approach
and
in
the
circle
itself.
The
rules
we
just
covered
for
single
leg
roundabouts
still
apply,
however,
in
a
multi-lane
roundabout,
just
as
with
any
multi-lane
intersection,
you
also
need
to
choose
a
lane,
as
you
approach,
depending
on
where
you
want
to
go,
typically
use
the
right
lane
for
a
right
turn
or
to
go
straight
ahead.
F
You
can
use
the
left
lane
in
three
ways.
You
can
use
it
to
go
straight
ahead
or
to
make
a
left
turn
or
a
u-turn
in
any
round
about
be
sure
to
follow
the
signs
and
markings
as
we've
seen
here.
Modern
roundabouts
are
an
option
being
considered
by
public
officials
for
designing
intersections
in
many
situations.
Roundabouts,
the
big
advantages
they
save
time.
They
save
fuel
they're
better
for
the
environment,
they
save
lives
by
reducing
crashes
and
when
most
people
try
them
they
like
them.
That's
why
modern
roundabouts
are
being
built
all
around
Minnesota.
A
And
in
related
mndot
news,
the
2011
construction
season
is
nearing
an
end
and
Minn
dot.
Crews
are
busy
tying
up
loose
ends
on
the
169
I
494
interchange
before
heading
into
the
2012
season.
The
new
washington
avenue
bridge
spanning
I
494
is
nearing
completion
on
November
10th
crews
were
working
on
the
bridge
approaches
and
installing
the
railing
at
this
point,
MnDOT
expects
to
have
the
bridge
open
for
traffic
sometime
in
late
november
or
early
december,
storm
sewer
installation
near
the
newbridge
continued,
as
well
as
curb
and
gutter
installation.
A
One
of
the
six
roundabouts
is
expected
to
be
completed
and
operational
in
the
next
month,
or
so.
The
remaining
five
will
be
completed
in
2012
am
in
debt.
Representatives
says
another
general
project
open
house
to
address
public
concerns,
and
questions
is
planned
for
the
spring,
we'll
keep
residents
informed
as
to
when
they
can
expect
that
open
house
to
take
place.
The
fourth
annual
veterans
appreciation
lunch
was
a
huge
success.
Human
services
hosted
a
sold-out
crowd
for
the
event.
On
thursday
november
10th
at
creekside
community
center
American
Gold
Star
Mothers
Inc.
A
H
A
I
See
it
nowadays
so
much
that
the
sacrifice
of
service,
as
well
as
just
all
that
goes
on
in
the
world,
now
is
really
borne
by
such
a
few,
and
it
is
the
veterans
and
those
who
are
actively
serving
in
the
military's,
but
their
families
also
that
pay
that
price,
and
so
it's
all
of
us
who
really
need
to
say
thank
you
to
all
that.
You
have
done
and
all
that
you
do
a
photo.
A
Wall
featuring
men
and
women
from
all
branches
of
service
will
remain
in
place
at
creekside
community
center
until
november
30th,
so
be
sure
to
stop
by
and
check
that
out
before
the
display
comes
down.
A
city
event
is
looking
for
vendors,
Bloomington's
housing
and
redevelopment
authority
will
host
the
tenth
home
improvement,
fair
on
februari
25th
at
Civic
Plaza,
but
they
need
more
vendors
to
download
a
copy
of
a
vendor
application.
A
Log
on
to
the
city's
website,
keyword
search
home,
fair
the
fee
to
obtain
a
vendor
booth
at
the
fair,
is
either
three
hundred
dollars
or
six
hundred
dollars
depending
on
size.
Both
the
registration
form
and
the
fee
are
due
by
December.
15Th
officials
are
looking
to
build
on
the
great
turnout
from
last
year
that
attracted
more
than
1500
residents
and
60
exhibitors.
It's
here
that
residents
were
able
to
attend
how
to
seminars
visit
home
improvement,
exhibits
and
ask
questions
and
get
ideas
about
remodeling
projects.
A
A
Winter
in
Bloomington
brings
beautiful
snowy
landscapes
and
plenty
of
fresh
air,
and
that's
the
perfect
backdrop
for
cross-country
skiing,
Highland
Park
Reserve
in
bloom
10
has
more
than
seven
miles
of
lit
cross-country
ski
trails,
and
now
it's
the
time
to
get
your
family
a
ski
pass
so
that
you
can
enjoy
a
full
season
of
cross-country
activity.
Daily
ski
passes
are
four
dollars
and
season
ski
passes
are
fifty
dollars
and
then
twenty
five
dollars
for
each
additional
path
purchased
per
household
purchase
your
path
at
Highland
visitor
center.
A
The
city's
website
to
check
out
past
bloomington
today
shows
or
other
city
productions
visit,
bloomington's
youtube
channel
accessible
right
from
the
city's
homepage
that
so
much
more
is
online
right
now
at
wwc,
I,
bloomington,
MN
us
if
Facebook
or
Twitter,
isn't
your
thing
sign
up
for
e
subscribe
to
have
updates,
sent
right
to
your
email
or
cell
phone.
This
is
bloomington
today,
a
presentation
of
the
city
of
Bloomington
communications
division.
I'm
kailyn
real
thanks.
So
much
for
joining
us.