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From YouTube: 2015 State of the City Presentation
Description
The annual State of the City presentation featuring Mayor Gene Winstead and City Manager Jamie Verbrugge.
A
C
A
A
As
I
mentioned
before,
my
name
is
dave
wallock.
I
am
president
ceo
of
fullerton
companies,
I'm
also
serving
as
the
president
of
the
bloomington
rotary
club,
the
bloomington
rotary
club
has
been
serving
the
bloomington
community
for
more
than
50
years.
It
is
part
of
a
worldwide
network
of
rotary
clubs,
with
1.2
million
members
stretched
out
between
all
continents,
cultures
and
occupations.
A
D
D
And
I
would
like
to
acknowledge
our
member
sponsors
for
today's
program.
Mall
of
america,
john
stanley,
with
raymond
james
financial
services,
hold
your
applause,
we'll
all
get
there.
Did
you
grease
them?
John
larkin
hoffman,
attorneys,
rasmussen,
college
tria,
orthopedic
center
holiday
companies,
total
wine
and
more
walter
and
excel
energy.
Thank
you
for
all
your
support
on
this
event.
Now
we
can
give
them
a
round
of
applause.
D
D
Next,
I
would
like
to
welcome
our
public
and
elected
officials
who
are
here
with
us
today:
our
bloomington
city
council
members,
tim
bussey,
cynthia
bemus
abrams,
andrew
carlson,
dwayne
lohmann,
john
olson,
bloomington
school
superintendent,
les
fujitaki,
our
bloomington
school
board,
members,
marine
bar
tom
bennett,
dick
bergstrom
nellie,
corman,
jim
sorum,
and
don
steigoff
three
rivers
park
district.
Commissioner,
john
gibbs
john.
I
think
I
saw
you
somewhere
and
met
council
member
steve
elkins.
Please
give
them
a
round
of
applause.
D
D
We
are
honored
to
have
the
city
as
a
vital
partner.
Our
theme
today
shape
of
things
to
come,
parallels
the
overall
vision
of
the
chamber
as
the
chamber
reshapes
our
direction
in
our
vision.
By
being
the
connector,
the
conveyor
and
the
voice
of
business,
we
will
stand
and
work
closely
with
the
city
of
bloomington.
D
D
D
Please
welcome
andrea
specht,
the
executive
director
of
the
bloomington
theater
and
art
center,
a
chamber
member
and
also
a
bloomington
rotarian.
On
july
1st,
the
bloomington
theater
and
art
center
launches
a
new
name
and
logo
artistry
great
andrea.
Please
welcome
in
andrea
speck,
who
will
introduce
today's
speakers.
E
For
the
first
time
in
more
than
two
decades,
this
year's
state
of
the
city
features
a
new
presenter.
Alongside
mayor
gene
winstead,
it
is
my
pleasure
to
introduce
our
state
of
the
city
speakers,
mayor
winstead
and
new
city
manager.
Jamie
fabregi,
mayor
winstead,
holds
the
record
for
bloomington's
longest-serving
mayor.
He
was
first
appointed
to
the
city
council
in
1995
and
elected
as
mayor
in
1999.,
mayor
winstead
was
re-elected
to
his
fourth
four-year
term
in
november
2011..
E
He
keeps
busy
as
a
partner
of
ike's
food
and
cocktails
in
minneapolis
and
at
the
minneapolis-st
paul
international
airport
city
manager,
jamie
farabruge
started
in
his
new
position
on
february
2nd
prior
to
his
appointment.
He
served
as
the
city
manager
of
brooklyn
park
and
city
administrator
in
rosemount.
E
B
First
of
all,
the
mall
of
america
we're
here
there
today,
it's
just
such
a
big
icon
within
the
city
of
bloomington.
It's
internationally
renowned,
it's
known
and
people
come
from
near
and
far,
but
you
also
need
to
know
that
the
mall
of
america
is
still
everything
bloomington
they're
involved.
They
contribute
they're
a
part
of
all
of
the
fabric
within
the
city
of
bloomington,
and
we
can
only
thank
them
for
all
that
they
do.
B
B
I
know
this
because
he
graduated
with
my
wife
from
high
school
in
1970
from
lincoln,
but
he's
built
his
practice
he's
a
great
financial
advisor
and
takes
it
and
still
contributes
back
into
this
community
in
so
many
ways
you
know
I
can
also
call
out
tria.
If
you
recall
last
year
I
stood
up
here
with
a
cast
on
my
leg
and
tria.
Got
me
back
in
shape.
All
is
good
and
well
with
it,
but
tria.
Not
only
did
they
get
me
back
in
shape,
they
also
contribute
to
the
city.
B
E
B
B
I'm
excited
about
the
shape
of
things
to
come
in
bloomington
last
year
was
a
year
of
new
starts
and
I'm
happy
to
announce
that
many
projects
I
reported
on
are
now
coming
along.
In
fact,
today,
you'll
learn
more
about
those
developments
taking
shape
how
our
local
economy
is
in
great
shape
and
about
the
people
and
partnerships
that
shape
the
many
facets
of
life
in
bloomington.
B
The
places
and
faces
you
saw
in
that
video
are
fine
example
of
what
shapes
this
great
community.
Bloomington
is
truly
a
wonderful
place
and
we
found
that
residents
continue
to
be
highly
satisfied
with
the
quality
of
life.
Here,
2014
was
the
third
year
in
a
row
that
the
national
citizens
survey
was
conducted
in
bloomington.
B
Overall,
at
least
four
out
of
five
residents
gave
excellent
or
good
ratings
to
bloomington's
overall
image,
their
neighborhoods
as
places
to
live,
and
the
city
is
a
place
to
raise
children
and
the
community's
overall
appearance.
I
love
bloomington
stated
one
respondent,
it's
the
center
of
everything.
For
me,
I
rarely
leave
when
it
comes
to
bloomington
as
a
place
to
live.
94
of
the
residents
raided.
B
The
city
is
excellent
or
good,
and
nearly
9
out
of
10
bloomington
residents
rated
their
overall
quality
of
life
as
excellent
or
good
85
regarded
the
services
provided
by
the
city
as
excellent
or
good
putting
bloomington
in
the
top
20
percent
of
cities.
Nationwide
services
like
the
drinking
water,
rated
ninth
among
265,
u.s
jurisdictions,
nationwide
in
the
city,
sewer
and
storm
drainage,
along
with
snow
removal,
all
those
really
fun
things
that
the
city
represents.
B
B
The
future
leaders
program
is
a
school
partnership
with
the
chamber
of
commerce
which
helps
members
and
students
build
relationships
and
gain
insight
into
various
aspects
of
business,
and
this
is
specifically
a
great
example
of
a
collaboration
because
the
chamber
is
able
to
provide
this
program
with
help
with
the
grant
provided
by
the
noon.
Rotary
club
of
bloomington
the
city
provides
funding
for
bloomington
educational
channel
to
provide
school
education
and
activity.
Programming
on
cable,
tv,
bloomington,
police
and
fire
continue
to
provide
training
and
consultation
on
the
school
district
safety
plan
and
emergency
operations.
B
B
B
B
A
successful
community
strengthens
itself
when
it
looks
out
for
its
neighbors.
Many
organizations
provide
support
through
their
services
that
help
build
this
community
veep
provides
food
and
other
social
services
for
families
in
need.
Cornerstone
is
continuing
to
end
and
continuing
on
their
mission.
End
violence
in
families
and
relationships,
bridging
provides
furniture
and
household
goods
to
families
and
individuals
and
companies
to
classrooms
recycles
business
surplus
into
supplies
for
local
classrooms.
B
Bloomington
is
proud
of
great
leadership
in
its
community
and
there
has
been
some
new
leadership
in
several
organizations
over
this
past
year
and
a
few
coming
up
in
the
near
future.
First
off
dr
joyce
esther
the
new
president
of
normandale
community
college.
She
took
the
role
after
the
retiring
of
joe
oppatz
meg
schnabel
is
the
new
executive
director
of
cornerstone
and
she's,
taking
the
reins
from
the
recently
retiring
susan
nice
who's
here
with
us
today,
dr
trenda
boyambreed
is
rasmussen's
college
new
president
being
inducted
this
next
april.
B
B
I'm
happy
to
report
that
bloomington's
economy
has
rebounded
and
is
back
in
excellent
shape
to
demonstrate
this
point,
and
I'm
reporting
again
this
year
on
bloomington's
unemployment
rate
and
that
the
unemployment
rate
in
bloomington
is
lower
than
the
nation,
the
state
and
the
metro
area.
Here's
some
comparisons
from
year
end
2013
to
the
year
ending
in
2014,
you
can
see
the
united
states
is
now
at
5.4
percent
unemployment.
B
B
Our
biggest
goal
is
to
build
community,
but
one
of
the
first
things
we
need
to
do
is
to
maintain
our
existing
assets.
Looking
to
2015
bloomington's
total
assessed
value
is
estimated
to
be
11.3
billion
dollars.
This
is
a
sign
that
things
are
bouncing
back
from
previous
years.
Our
historical
high
water
mark
was
11.8
billion
dollars
in
the
year
2008..
B
We
are
not
a
static
community.
We
are
a
dynamic,
growing
community
and
are
looking
at
our
goals
and
where
we
need
to
grow
last
year
was
a
great
year
for
the
city,
as
evidenced
by
the
growing
number
of
hotels,
housing
office
and
retail
developments
that
broke
ground.
It
was
a
record
year
for
building
permits.
B
This
graph
shows
a
comparison
over
the
last
10
years.
This
is
a
sign
of
companies
and
individuals,
confidence
in
the
future
of
this
community.
They
wouldn't
invest
if
they
didn't
share
our
goals.
The
orange
bar
in
the
graph
is
commercial
industrial,
which
shows
how
important
commercial
industrial
development
is
to
our
city.
B
applewood
point
of
bloomington
at
valley.
West
is
located
at
beard
avenue
and
old
shakopee
road.
There
are
77
senior
co-op
units
underway.
As
of
this
february.
Every
unit
has
sold
and
that's
five
months
before
the
scheduled
opening
of
the
building,
and
this
is
going
to
be
a
very
attractive
housing
development
within
our
community.
B
B
B
The
summit
at
chelsea
ridge
at
rar
preserve,
which
is
in
the
far
southwest
corner
of
bloomington
off
of
110th
street
and
west
of
dred
scott
playfields.
This
is
a
project
that
will
construct
14
new
single-family
homes.
Five
are
under
construction
with
two
permits
recently
issued.
There
is
only
one
lot
left
in
this
subdivision
and
it's
only
been
around
now
since
this
past
summer.
B
This
long-standing
fixture
in
the
community
is
renewing
itself.
The
masonic
homes
proposes
to
replace
an
existing
portion
of
their
building
with
a
new
52
000
square
foot.
Building
addition,
the
proposed
building
includes
a
420
seat
auditorium
a
lower
level,
multi-purpose
gathering
hall,
a
mason's
museum,
a
library
and
a
masonic
lodge
room.
The
new
building
will
be
attached
to
the
existing
building
and
will
serve
as
a
public
gathering
space
for
masonic
charities
activities
and
events.
B
Musical
performances,
speakers
and
plays
masonic
homes
was
originally
the
summer
home
of
marion
savage,
the
owner
of
dan
patch.
You
remember
that
famous
pacer
racehorse
it
was
purchased
by
the
minnesota
masonic
fraternity
in
1918
to
use
as
a
home
for
seniors,
and
the
first
residents
arrived
and
moved
in
in
1920.
close
to
100
years
old.
Now,
covington
apartments
on
green
valley
drive
just
south
of
interstate
494
and
west
of
normandale.
Boulevard
is
a
250
unit,
rental
apartment
building
that
opened
in
the
summer
of
two
thousand
fourteen.
B
It's
five
stories
of
apartments
and
they're
built
over
a
one-story
parking
ramp,
luxembourg
at
5100,
west
82nd
street.
This
is
a
three-story
apartment.
Building
with
attached
four-story
parking
ramp.
There
are
282
rental
apartment
units
under
construction,
and
this
can
possibly
open
late
in
2015
or
in
early
2016..
B
A
congratulations
needs
to
go
out
to
toro,
who
celebrated
its
100th
anniversary.
This
past
year,
toro
constructed
a
75
000
square
foot
three-story
office
building
with
a
282
space
surface
parking
lot.
The
company
is
now
engaged
in
a
major
remodel
of
space
vacated
by
these
office
users.
Toro
is
a
great
corporate
citizen
and
at
the
center
of
our
city,
infiniti
of
bloomington,
along
35
w
near
american
boulevard,
is
adding
to
the
existing
dealership
and
nearly
tripling
its
size.
B
The
reconstruction
provides
enhanced
sales
and
service
areas.
Completion
is
scheduled.
This
fall
ziegler,
the
heavy
equipment
supplier
and
legacy
bloomington
business
located
at
94th
street
on
the
east
side
of
35w
ziegler,
is
expanding
operations
on
the
west
side
of
35w
on
96th
street
they're,
going
to
go
forward
with
a
109,
000
square
foot,
modern
industrial
facility
and
it's
a
renovation
of
an
existing
industrial
building
and
will
include
new
office
space,
warehousing
and
distribution
and
manufacturing
space
for
servicing
and
rebuilding
engine
and
components
for
their
equipment.
B
B
Oati,
which
stands
for
open
access
technology
international
is
a
tech
company
that
provides
software
solutions
and
management
for
the
energy
industry.
The
company
is
building
a
five-story,
110
000
square
foot
office
building
and
data
center
along
the
494
corridor
at
computer
avenue
construction
began
last
summer
and
will
continue
through
this
year.
B
Bloomington
south
loop
district
is
a
distinctive
urban
center
where
people
build
their
lives
around
and
work
and
commune
in
their
community.
It's
a
trendy
neighborhood
at
the
crossroads
of
the
metro
area's
transportation
networks.
Yet
it's
only
moments
away
from
the
quiet,
unspoiled
beauty
of
the
minnesota
valley,
national
wildlife
reserve,
portions
1
and
2
of
lindau
lane
were
completed
last
year
at
a
cost
of
49
million
dollars
notice
how
development
has
clustered
around
the
new
streets.
B
B
B
B
The
total
project
cost
is
350
million
dollars,
and
what
does
the
future
look
like
for
the
mall?
Well,
there's
a
lot
of
potential,
and
it
includes
development
over
and
north
of
lindau.
Lane
uses
are
largely
undetermined
at
this
time,
but
could
include
retail
entertainment
office
and
hotels
and
a
tentative
start
of
construction
could
be
about
a
year
out.
B
Also
in
the
south,
loop
is
lennar
indigo
a
six-story
apartment
complex
at
american
boulevard
and
34th
avenue.
The
395
unit
development
would
be
located
across
the
street
from
the
american
boulevard
light
rail
transit
platform
in
bloomington
central
station
development
construction
is
scheduled
to
begin
very
soon.
Yet
this
spring
more
construction
cranes
in
south
loop,
the
302
room,
full
service
hyatt
hotel,
is
under
construction
at
bloomington
central
station.
B
It
is
centered
around
the
light
rail
station
in
bloomington
central
station
park
and
is
scheduled
to
open
just
about
a
year
from
now
how
about
another
hotel,
marriott
town
place,
suites
118
room,
limited
service
hotel
is
underway
at
2500
lindau
lane.
This
is
the
first
new
construction
on
the
extension
of
lindau
lane
in
the
lindau
link.
It
will
include
a
public
plaza
with
art
and
place
making
elements.
B
B
The
plan
consists
of
a
five-story
148
room
hotel
with
a
full-service
50-seat
restaurant
that
includes
an
outdoor
patio
space
adjacent
to
a
public
plaza
on
the
corner
of
24th
avenue
and
lindau
lane.
The
project
would
construct
a
300
space
parking
structure
which
would
be
shared
by
other
uses
in
the
overall
planned
development.
B
Future
phases
on
the
site
include
a
restaurant,
coffee,
shop
and
retail
building
this
spring
and
summer,
new
art
installations
will
be
unveiled
as
part
of
the
creative
placemaking
endeavor
in
the
south
loop.
James
brenner
will
design
and
install
a
sculpture
in
the
roundabout
at
the
intersection
of
lindau
lane
and
28th
avenue
artist.
Eric
pearson,
who
created
the
bloomington
civic,
plaza
mural,
will
create
a
mural
at
cypress
semiconductor
that
takes
inspiration
and
images
from
the
great
history
of
technology
and
semiconductors
in
the
south
loop.
B
The
project
is
part
of
a
national
endowment
for
the
arts
grant
and
bloomington
theater
and
arts
center
partnership
with
the
city,
as
maureen
mentioned
earlier,
the
bloomington,
theater
and
art
center
will
soon
have
a
new
identity.
Artistry
will
be
the
new
name
beginning
this
july.
The
new
name
will
help
audiences
artists,
funders
and
other
stakeholders
understand
that
the
nonprofit
arts
organization
is
based
in
bloomington,
but
it
reaches
its
reach,
extends
to
other
locations
throughout
the
whole
metro
area,
bloomington,
theater
and
art
center.
B
The
pan
american
district
has
significant
development
potential.
The
district
is
adjacent
to
two
of
the
region's
busiest
freeways
and
is
in
the
center
of
the
region's
second
largest
employment
corridor.
The
pen
american
district
is
at
the
junction
of
significant
future
transit
investments,
and
here
is
what
is
currently
developing.
B
Construction
is
underway
for
a
five
story.
Eighty
thousand
five
hundred
square
foot
mixed
use,
building
a
budding
penn
avenue.
The
first
floor
includes
a
172
seat,
red
robin
restaurant
and
9
100
square
feet
of
retail
space
floors.
Two
through
five
will
be
occupied
by
home
to
suites
by
hilton,
which
is
a
108
room,
extended
stay
hotel
opening
is
scheduled
for
this
october.
B
Construction
is
also
underway
for
the
fresh
time.
Farmers
market
grocery
store,
abutting
newton
avenue,
those
that
live
and
work
in
the
area
will
have
a
new
and
unique
place
to
buy
groceries.
The
market
combines
the
spirit
of
a
weekend
farmers
market
and
the
convenience
of
a
neighborhood
store.
With
the
nutritious
offerings
of
a
natural
food
marketplace,
opening
is
november
of
this
year.
B
Art
will
be
installed
on
the
north
and
east
sides
and
corner
of
the
fresh
thymes
building
artist,
andrea
mikkelbust
and
artist
stanton
grace
sears
will
fabricate
a
mural
made
of
multi-layered
water
jet
cut
stainless
steel
plates
lighted
with
color
shifting
led
lights.
The
intricate
circular
plates
are
inspired
by
plant
forms.
If
all
goes
according
to
plan,
it
will
be
a
catalyst
for
other
public
art
in
this
emerging
bloomington
neighborhood.
B
B
Is
needed,
improvement
to
connect
and
enhance
transportation
systems
that
allow
us
to
function?
We
are
working
on
three
legislative
priorities,
important
to
shaping
our
future:
the
mall
of
america
transit
center.
The
busiest
transit
station
in
minnesota
is
in
in
dire
need
of
upgrades.
We
need
to
improve
the
efficiency
of
the
operations
of
this
transit
center.
We
need
to
increase
the
visibility
and
improve
those
station
amenities
and,
along
with
providing
a
clear
and
convenient
pedestrian
access
to
and
from
the
mall
metro.
B
Transit
is
working
cooperatively
with
the
city
of
bloomington
and
an
rfp
for
a
final
design.
The
goal
is
to
get
the
project
completed
in
2017,
to
be
ready
for
the
2018
super
bowl
coming
to
our
area.
Funding
has
been
committed
from
metro,
transit,
dakota
county,
some
federal
funds
and
the
city
of
bloomington.
B
I
35w
and
494
for
a
decade.
I
have
been
speaking
to
this
one
and
it's
been
a
long
journey
working
to
improve
this
interchange,
but
I
think
I
can
report
some
progress
this
year.
This
interchange
is
approaching
60
years
old
and
has
had
very
few
improvements,
since
the
original
opening
in
1959
mndot
has
come
up
with
an
interchange
design
that
can
be
constructed
in
phases.
B
The
first
phase
is
key
to
the
whole
interchange,
and
that
is
the
northbound
35w
to
west
494
ramp.
The
ramp
can
be
constructed
for
a
mere
65
million
dollars.
In
fact,
bloomington
representative
anne
landchesky
in
the
house
is
carrying
a
state
bonding
bill
for
the
65
million
amount
this
year
and
governor
dayton
and
transportation.
Commissioner
charlie
zelle
recently
called
for
a
fix
to
this
bottleneck.
B
Metro
transit
is
applying
for
federal
funding
for
the
orange
line,
bus
rapid
transit.
This
integrates
itself
into
this
area.
Also,
the
goal
is
to
complete
the
bridge
in
the
underpass
of
I-494,
concurrently
to
minimize
the
impact
of
traffic
during
construction
westbound
ramp
to
494
corridor
at
east
bush.
Lake
road
was
not
built
when
494
was
built
in
the
1960s,
with
the
surrounding
development
on
the
south
side
of
494
and
the
potential
redevelopment
opportunities
that
exist
on
the
north
side
of
494.
B
It
is
time
to
construct
this
westbound
ramp.
The
inverted
loop
design
avoids
any
impacts
to
the
railroad.
That's
been
the
problem
for
this
ramp.
Since
the
original
494
construction,
the
ramp
will
improve
traffic
flow
and
flow
through
the
already
congested
normandale
highway,
100
and
I-494
interchange
again,
bloomington
state
representative
ann
lanchesky
introduced
a
bill
for
20
million
dollars
to
fund
this
project,
several
pedestrian
and
bicycle
trail.
Improvements
will
take
place
this
summer,
including
the
long-awaited
rehabilitation
of
the
old
cedar
avenue
bridge
over
longmeadow
lake.
B
This
two-year
project
will
reopen
the
historic
bridge
providing
a
river
crossing
connection
to
the
future.
Dnr
minnesota
river
trail
bids
have
been
received.
The
amount
in
total
is
higher
than
the
earlier
engineering
estimates.
We
believe
that
the
city
has
sources
to
fill
the
gap
between
bids
and
the
state,
appropriated
funds
and
grants,
and
we
can
get
this
project
underway
this
summer.
B
Safe
and
well-maintained
roads
are
an
important
part
of
what
a
city
provides
and
bloomington's
pavement
management
program
ensures.
We
are
doing
the
right
maintenance
at
the
right
time.
In
2014,
a
number
of
local
street
segments
were
reconstructed
and
overlaid
as
part
of
the
program
for
a
total
construction
cost
of
approximately
10
million
dollars
in
2015.
B
This
three
rivers
park
district
project
replaces
the
old
1974
ski
chalet,
with
a
modern
two-story
ski
chalet.
That
is
twice
as
large.
Completion
is
expected.
This
fall
in
advance
of
the
next
winter
ski
season.
The
city
and
the
park
district
have
jointly
undertaken
a
parking
lot
improvement
project
at
normandale
lake
park
to
provide
off-site
parking
for
the
highland,
ski
and
snowboard
area.
B
This
is
my
granddaughter
kate
at
the
thailand.
Kate
has
absolutely
no
fear-
and
these
are
actually
just
pictures
of
my
grandkids,
but
you
can
see
the
construction
progress
of
the
new
chalet
in
the
background
and
there's
really
a
nice
view
of
the
bloomington
skyline.
I
work
them
in
every
year.
Just
so
you
know
there
are
many
great
things
taking
shape
in
bloomington,
but
there
are
also
challenges.
B
B
The
consultant
has
completed
meetings
with
stakeholder
groups,
and
a
building
assessment
has
been
done.
A
report
will
be
presented
and
discussed
at
the
city
council
study
meeting
next
month
after
the
city
adopted
long-range
vision,
plans
for
south
loop,
normandale
lake
and
pen
american
districts.
The
next
step
was
to
initiate
rezoning
in
the
districts
to
match
the
vision
expressed
in
the
plans
and
make
public
infrastructure
investments
three
of
the
city's
top
legislative
priorities.
This
year
are
for
highways
and
transits
serving
the
districts.
B
B
Organized
trash
collection
has
slowly
been
maturing
in
bloomington,
since
five
hauler
districts
within
bloomington
were
established
in
1998..
The
further
organizing
of
city
trash
collection
is
needed
to
reach
the
following
goals.
We
need
to
reduce
truck
noise
and
litter
and
improve
safety
within
our
neighborhoods.
We
need
to
improve
recycling
and
composting
and
work
for
waste
reduction.
B
B
B
One
of
those
exciting
new
opportunities
is
new
leadership.
At
the
city
of
bloomington,
bloomington
city
manager,
jamie
verbruge
took
the
helm
when
longtime
city
manager
mark
bernard,
said
retired
in
december.
We
are
so
pleased
to
have
jamie
on
board
and
there's
a
little
video
here.
That'll
help
us
get
to
know
jamie
a
little
better.
F
I
still
spend
a
lot
of
time
at
the
university
of
minnesota
going
to
football
and
hockey
and
basketball
games
and
wrestling
matches
because
I've
been
doing
the
public
address
announcing
there
for
quite
a
while.
I
got
my
first
city
administrator.
Job
done,
rose,
mountain
2003.,
so
2008
comes
along
and
the
job
position
for
brooklyn
park
city
manager
shows
up
in
my
mailbox
they're
a
hearty
bunch
up
here
in
brooklyn
park.
F
The
reputation
for
the
city
of
bloomington
is
unequaled
frankly
in
this
state
of
minnesota.
My
passion
is
really
in
building
communities
and
building
strong
organizations,
and
so
the
philosophy
of
community
engagement
merged
with
the
philosophy
of
employee
engagement,
I
think,
is
really
the
key
to
building
a
successful,
thriving
community.
F
I
think
the
employees
are
absolutely
integral
to
making
stronger
communities
because
people
trust
us
to
deliver
services
on
a
daily
basis,
but
we're
more
than
just
the
delivery
of
services,
we're
actually
important
pieces
in
in
building
strong
communities,
because
we
play
a
role
as
a
connector.
We
play
a
role
as
a
facilitator
and
we
play
a
role
in
providing
service
engine
programs
that
people
really
value.
I've
told
many
people
that
I
think
bloomington
is
probably
the
premier
city
manager
job
in
the
state
of
minnesota.
F
The
city
has
a
tremendous
reputation
as
not
just
a
place
where
there's
a
thriving
commercial
sector
where
there's
a
lot
of
business
activity,
because
there
certainly
is.
But
what
I
also
hear
is
that
there
are
great
neighborhoods
in
bloomington
people
who
are
from
bloomington
love
bloomington
period.
They
just
love
the
city.
Two
managers
in
50
years
is
really
an
anomaly.
You
just
don't
see
that
it's
a
stability
that
sends
a
really
powerful
message
that
this
is
a
place
that
does
good
government.
F
F
In
the
brief
time
I've
been
here,
I've
spent
a
lot
of
time
talking
about
the
importance
of
community
engagement
and
recognizing
the
natural
changes
that
occur
in
the
community.
It's
attracting
a
diverse
population
of
residents
and
it's
attracting
a
diverse
population
of
businesses
as
well
as
we
look
at
the
shape
of
the
positive
things
to
come
to
bloomington.
My
plan
is
to
embrace
the
future
by
working
with
you
and
with
others,
to
build
this
community
coming
in
new
there's
a
learning
process
that
goes
on
there
are
things
that
you
know
about
a
community.
F
There
are
things
that
you
think
you
know
and
then
your
things
that
you
learn
along
the
way.
Well,
one
of
the
things
that
I've
learned,
especially
about
the
operational
aspects
of
the
city,
is
that
bloomington
is
most
proud
of
its
excellent
financial
strength
for
the
11th
year
in
a
row,
bloomington
has
received
the
highest
bond
ratings
for
all
three
bond
rating
agencies
now
think
about
this.
F
F
Additionally,
the
monthly
cost
of
services
continues
to
be
very
affordable
for
residents
of
bloomington
at
71.64
cents
for
the
owner
of
a
median,
valued
home.
So
maintaining
city
services
is
important
to
the
survey
respondents.
It's
also
key
to
do
so
at
a
cost
affordable
to
residents,
while
we're
still
providing
value
to
them,
because
bloomington
is
financially
strong.
We're
able
to
continue
to
create
a
successful
community
by
providing
the
essential
and
quality
of
life
services
and
having
the
financial
flexibility
to
act
when
needs
and
opportunities
present
themselves.
F
A
month
less
than
what
you
pay
for
your
cell
phone,
less
than
what
you
pay
for
your
electric
and
your
gas,
and
it's
quite
a
bargain
to
get
your
streets
plowed
to
know
that
fire
and
police
are
going
to
show
up
when
you
need
them
absolutely
and
to
provide
the
other
essential
and
quality
of
life
services
that
the
city
provides.
I
think
that's
a
pretty
good
bargain,
in
addition
to
the
excellent
financial
position
and
this
being
a
premier
city
with
an
outstanding
reputation.
F
There
are
a
few
other
things
that
I
knew
about
bloomington
when
I
came
in
here.
So
I
knew
that
bloomington
was
the
home
of
a
former
twins
players
like
tony
oliva
and
kent
herbeck.
I
was
a
baseball
fan
growing
up
as
a
kid,
and
I
knew
that
there
were
professional
wrestlers
and
some
nhl
players
that
lived
here.
I
knew
it
was
the
home
of
mall
of
america
and
the
headquarters
to
toro.
F
Just
a
quick
story.
I
actually
had
to
go
to
toro
because
my
mother-in-law
used
to
work
there.
So
when
I
asked
for
my
wife's
hand
in
marriage,
I
did
that
in
the
employee
cafeteria
toro,
so
it
was
a
significant
moment
in
my
life
and
my
my
wife
is
here
today
too.
So
I
think
I
should
give
her
a
little
shout
out.
So
if
you
have
a
chance
you
can
say
hi
to
jennifer.
F
H
I
K
Give
some
time
hi,
I'm
tom
russett
and
I'm
a
board
member
have
been
for
about
a
year.
In
addition
to
the
board,
I
am
a
general
volunteer
from
time
to
time.
I
work
in
the
in
the
warehouse
that
we're
standing
in
right
now,
looking
at
labels
on
donated
goods
to
make
sure
that
they're,
okay
to
put
onto
the
pantry
shelves.
N
M
Q
About
two
years
ago,
middle
of
the
night
we
had
an
apartment
player
come
out
just
over
on
98th
and
nicolet
and
when
the
first
trucks
pulled
up,
they
had,
I
think,
11
people
hanging
out
of
the
windows
had
a
quick
go
into
action
and
the
chief
heck
out
there
had
a
great
plan
got
the
crews
to
where
they
needed
to
be,
and
everybody
did
a
really
good
job
of
doing
what
they
needed
to
do,
and
nobody
ended
up
getting
hurt
on
that.
So
that
was
a
pretty
memorable
moment.
Q
F
You
know
we
want
to
recognize
a
few
of
the
celebrities
who
are
here
with
us
today
that
you
saw
in
this
video
susan
nice
has
recently
retired
was
committed
to
those
affected
by
domestic
violence
as
cornerstones
executive
director
for
nearly
30
years,
and
susan
is
also
a
bloomington
community
foundation
legacy
award
winner
susan.
Would
you
please
stand
up.
F
F
And
captain
matthew
hammernick
with
the
bloomington
fire
department
for
seven
years,
he
works
full-time
for
book
and
parks,
fire
department,
and
I
was
there
for
his
first
day
about
two
months
ago.
We
had
pancakes
on
his
first
date,
which
was
great,
but
matt
makes
his
home
here
in
bloomington.
He
loves
living
here
with
his
wife
and
his
two
kids
matt.
F
Detective
chad
clawson's
a
15-year
veteran
of
the
bloomington
police
department,
along
with
his
recently
retired
partner
kane,
has
provided
excellent
service
to
our
community.
Unfortunately,
kane
couldn't
be
here
today,
not
just
because
we
don't
have
a
seat
for
a
dog
at
the
table,
he's
actually
going
through
some
cancer
treatment.
So
he's
not
well
enough
to
attend
with
us
today,
but
detective
clausen
is
here.
Chad.
F
And
jim
carroll,
private
first
class
carol
was
recently
given
the
night
of
the
legion
of
honor
medal.
It's
the
highest
award,
that's
bestowed
on
a
foreigner
by
the
french
republic
as
a
soldier
in
the
101st,
airborne
division,
private
first
class
carol
jumped
into
normandy
and
holland
as
a
paratrooper.
F
You
know-
and
it's
and
it's
people
like
this-
that
really
make
for
a
strong
community.
It's
the
thing
that
excites
me
coming
into
this
city
in
terms
of
the
opportunities
to
really
continue
to
build
on
what
I've
described
for
the
city,
council
and
our
staff
as
a
position
of
strength.
This
is
a
wonderful
community
and
there's
so
much
potential
here
to
continue
building
and
it's
because
of
people
who
have
a
legacy
of
building
already
and
we're
fortunate
to
recognize
them
today,
and
I
know
that
there
are
many
more
local
celebrities
out
here.
F
Some
of
them
are
in
the
room
and
some
of
them
haven't
even
emerged
yet
and
we're
looking
forward
to
working
with
all
of
them.
I
want
to
thank
you
all
for
being
here
today
and
thank
you
for
the
warm
welcome
that
I've
received.
Thank
you
to
the
mayor
and
council
as
well
for
the
opportunity
not
just
to
be
your
city
manager,
but
to
stand
up
here
today
as
well
and
to
share
the
podium
with
you.
So
again,
thank
you
for
attending
the
state
of
the
city.
Address.