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Description
The City Council held an emergency meeting on Monday, March 16 to receive a public health and emergency management briefing on COVID-19.
A
Hello,
everyone
I'm
Mayor,
Tim
Boise,
and
this
is
your
council
minute
recapping,
the
council
meeting
from
Monday
March
16th
friends.
We
are
living
in
an
extraordinary
time
and
it's
sad
to
say,
but
that
feels
like
a
bit
of
an
understatement.
Right
now,
on
Sunday
March
15th
I
made
a
local
emergency
declaration
and
on
Monday
the
16th,
the
City
Council
held
an
emergency
meeting
and
consented
to
that
declaration.
The
declaration
has
a
30
day
effective
period
and
formally
authorizes
the
city
to
implement
its
emergency
operations
plan.
A
The
Emergency
Operations
plan
describes
the
basic
strategies
through
which
the
city
will
mobilize
resources
and
conduct
activities
to
guide
and
support
our
local
emergency
management
efforts.
The
Emergency
Operations
plan
is
designed
to
coordinate
resources
in
a
way
that
maximizes
the
protection
of
life
and
property
and
ensures
the
continuity
of
government.
In
worst
case
scenarios.
The
plan
will
guide
efforts
to
sustain
survivors
and
repair
and
restore
critical
infrastructure
in
the
city
of
Bloomington,
the
city
manager,
Jamie,
VirB
roogie
is
responsible
for
providing
overall
direction
and
control
of
city
resources
involved
in
the
response
to
an
emergency.
A
The
city
emergency
manager,
fire
chief
Julie
seal,
coordinates
all
aspects
of
the
plan
and
serves
as
a
direct
liaison
to
the
Hennepin
County
Emergency
Management
Director.
This
action
follows
the
recent
announcement
of
closures
and
cancellations.
The
Bloomington
ice
garden
center
for
the
arts
and
Creekside
have
all
been
closed
until
at
least
March,
23rd
and
frankly,
I
expect
that
date
will
be
extended
significantly.
We
also
canceled
programs,
classes
and
events.
You
can
check
the
city
website
for
a
complete
list,
but
it's
safe
to
say
that
everything
has
pretty
much
been
canceled
now.
A
Obviously,
there
are
many
city
employees
who
simply
don't
have
a
work
at
home.
Option
are
critical
city
services
of
Police,
Fire
and
Public.
Works
will
continue
when
you
see
those
folks
out
doing
their
job
I
think
it's
entirely
appropriate
for
you
to
stop
and
to
thank
them
along
those
lines.
I
want
to
take
a
moment
to
commend
the
executive
leadership,
team
and
other
members
of
our
city
staff
for
the
work
that's
been
done
on
this
so
far.
There
is
no
specific
playbook
that
describes.
This
is
how
you
get
through
a
rapidly
developing
pandemic.
A
Instead
we're
fortunate
to
have
experienced
skilled
and
dedicated
city
employees
who
have
done
a
great
job,
responding
to
all
of
this
in
a
timely
and
appropriate
manner.
So
thank
you
all
very
much.
Our
missteps
likely
somewhere
down
the
line-
yes
I,
think
that's
inevitable,
but
again
because
there
is
no
template
to
follow
on
this.
It's
difficult
and,
let's
be
honest,
the
price
of
inaction
is
far
greater
than
the
cost
of
a
mistake.
A
Again,
thank
you
to
city
staff
and
please
keep
up
the
good
work,
and
similarly
is
everyone
going
to
be
completely
happy
with
every
decision.
The
City
Council
makes
over
the
next
two
or
six
or
twelve
months
regarding
this
crisis.
Obviously,
no
but
I
think
all
members
of
the
City
Council
understand
that
being
responsible
sometimes
means
ticking
off.
A
Some
people
I
have
full
confidence
in
our
city
council
to
make
decisions
that
are
best
for
our
community
and
I
applaud
them
for
the
leadership
on
this
so
far
as
we
all
try
to
figure
out
next
steps
in
a
situation
that
seems
to
be
changing
by
the
hour.
It's
important
to
remember
how,
inter
woven
this
community
is
even
though
we
shouldn't
be
physically
close.
A
We
are
all
connected,
and
with
that
in
mind
we
are
convening
a
meeting
of
other
community
partners,
leaders
from
Bloomington
Public,
Schools,
Normandale,
Community,
College,
Cornerstone,
veep
Oasis
for
youth
and
the
Bloomington
Chamber
will
be
meeting
to
discuss
how
we
can
align
our
efforts
to
meet
emerging
community
needs.
As
you
have
undoubtedly
heard
and
read,
this
is
going
to
get
worse
before
it
gets.
Better.
People
are
going
to
get
very
sick,
some
people
may
die,
people
will
lose
their
jobs,
businesses
will
fail,
City
revenues
and
ultimately,
city
services
will
be
severely
impacted.
A
This
is
a
long-term,
community-wide
challenge,
the
likes
of
which
we've
never
seen
before,
but
I'm.
Confident
the
residents
of
Bloomington
are
up
to
the
task.
So
what
can
you
do?
First
for
God's
sakes,
stop
hoarding
toilet
paper
and
other
supplies
be
reasonable
and
responsible
with
your
purchasing.
Secondly,
stay
informed
with
facts:
the
Minnesota
Department
of
Health
and
the
Centers
for
Disease
Control
are
your
best
bets
locally.
We
will
do
everything
possible
to
keep
you
updated
of
any
changes
at
the
city
level.
A
Third,
follow
the
now
well-known
recommendations
regarding
social
distancing,
avoiding
crowds
and
washing
your
hands
and
finally
help
your
neighbor
and
be
kind
right.
Now
we
can't
get
enough
of
that.
Please
help
your
neighbor
and
be
kind.
Remember
we
can't
direct
the
wind,
but
we
can
certainly
adjust
the
sails.
We
are
going
to
get
through
this
as
a
community
through
the
strength
of
our
residents
and
by
the
grace
of
our
Creator.