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From YouTube: May 25 Council Minute
Description
The City Council held an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon to prepare for the gradual reopening of Bloomington businesses. Mayor Tim Busse brings you the details, plus a message about face masks and a special message to Bloomington schools.
A
Hello,
Bloomington
I'm,
Mayor
Tim,
and
this
is
your
council
minute
for
the
week
of
May
25th
with
the
Memorial
Day
holiday.
The
City
Council
didn't
have
its
typical
Monday
night
meeting
this
week,
but
on
Tuesday
May
26,
the
council
did
meet
for
an
emergency
meeting,
although
it's
probably
more
accurate
to
say
this
was
an
urgent
meeting
rather
than
an
emergency
meeting.
A
As
I'm
sure
you've
heard
last
week,
governor
Tim
Walz
announced
the
next
phase
in
the
gradual
reopening
of
Minnesota
businesses
under
the
plan,
restaurants
will
be
allowed
to
open
on
June
1st,
but
for
outdoor
dining
only
and
provided
that
social,
distancing
and
other
practical
safeguards
are
enforced.
At
our
emergency
meeting,
the
City
Council
approved
an
ordinance
that
grants
restaurants
and
ultimately
bars
the
flexibility
to
expand
outdoor
seating,
so
they
can
serve
more
customers
while
obeying
the
guidelines
governor
Wallace
outlined
in
his
stay
safe,
Minnesota
plan.
That's
where
the
urgency
of
our
meeting
came
into
play.
A
We
wanted
to
make
sure
we
had
an
ordinance
in
place
to
allow
for
expanded
outdoor
dining
and
to
give
business
owners
time
to
make
the
necessary
preparations
for
the
June
1st
reopening.
Finally,
I
wanna
add
there
are
no
city
fees
associated
with
this
ordinance.
Let
me
say
that
again,
there
are
no
city
fees
associated
with
this
ordinance.
I
say
this
twice,
because
there
was
a
rumor
going
around
on
social
media
that
the
city
was
going
to
charge
an
exorbitant
fee
and
make
implementation
very
difficult
for
our
restaurants.
A
It
was
started
by
the
same
people
who
typically
start
rumors
just
to
create
division
and
discord
in
our
community.
There
is
no
fee.
The
City
Council
is
united
in
its
support
of
the
Bloomington
business
community
and
will
continue
to
collaborate
with
the
Bloomington
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
our
local
business
owners.
As
we
all
work
through
these
challenging
times,
some
residents
have
emailed
me
asking
if
Bloomington
will
join
with
other
cities,
including
Minneapolis
in
requiring
face
masks
in
public
settings
and
indoor
gathering
places
like
stores
and
schools
and
universities.
The
answer
is
No.
A
Bloomington
will
not
be
requiring
masks
in
public
at
this
time
now.
Make
no
mistake.
Masks
are
an
important
tool
in
slowing
the
spread
of
this
pandemic.
The
centers
for
disease
control
and
the
Mayo
Clinic
agree
that
if
everyone
would
wear
a
face
covering
when
out
in
public,
the
risk
of
exposure
to
Coba
19
would
be
reduced,
but
instead
of
making
masks
a
requirement.
I'd
rather
appeal
to
Bloomington
sense
of
community
and
ask
everyone
to
wear
a
mask
when
they're
out
and
about
the
logic
behind
masks
is
pretty
straightforward.
A
They
aren't
warned
to
protect
the
wearer,
but
rather
everyone
else
who
might
come
into
contact
with
the
wearer.
You
can
be
infected
and
contagious
with
the
coronavirus
and
not
know
it
either
because
you
haven't
yet
developed
symptoms
or
because
you'll
be
one
of
those
mild
cases
who
never
develop
noteworthy
symptoms.
When
you
were
growing
up,
your
mom
always
told
you
to
cover
your
mouth.
When
you
cough
wearing
a
mask
is
simply
the
next
step.
A
Given
the
severity
of
this
pandemic,
I
see
a
lot
of
signs
in
my
neighborhood
that
say
we're
in
this
together
and
folks.
No
truer
words
have
been
spoken
in
the
past
two
months.
We've
seen
Bloomington
step
up
and
reflect
those
words
by
supporting
local
businesses
or
donating
to
veep
or
doing
great
drive
by
birthday
parties.
Now,
as
we
take
the
next
small
steps
toward
normalcy,
we
need
to
continue
with
that
sentiment
and
protect.
Each
other
masks
are
an
easy
way
to
do
so.
A
Please
wear
one
when
you're
out
in
public
and
finally,
congratulations
to
all
Bloomington
students,
teachers,
school
workers
and
parents,
as
you
wrap
up
this
unprecedented
school
year,
you
all
did
remarkable
work
under
incredibly
challenging
circumstances,
and
you
did
so
with
creativity,
resourcefulness
and
courage.
Very
well
done.
I
hope
you
enjoy
your
summer
and
boy.
I,
hope,
September
looks
a
lot
different
for
all
of
us
to
all
of
our
graduating
seniors.
I
know
your
senior
year
was
nothing
like
you
hoped
it
would
be,
and
really
I
truly
feel
for
you.
A
You
missed
out
on
spring
sports
and
activities,
prom
graduation
parties,
the
whole
bit
and
I
really
am
sorry
for
you,
but
the
bottom
line
is
you:
did
it?
You're
persevered
take
what
you've
learned
over
the
past
12
years
and
just
as
importantly,
what
you've
learned
over
the
past
two
months
and
put
that
knowledge
to
good
use
as
you
move
forward
to
whatever
you've
got
planned.
Next,
congratulations
be
proud
of
yourselves
and
be
proud
that
you've
cemented
your
place
in
long
history
of
Bloomington
schools.