City of Bloomington, MN Council Minute 2020, 5 Aug 2020

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From YouTube: August 3 Council Minute

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Mayor Tim Busse runs through the August 3 Council meeting, provides an update on the City’s budget and progress reports on housing development projects, and discusses community engagement and public comment.

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Hello bloomington, I'm mayor tim busse, and this is the council minute for the week of august 3rd.

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This week's city council meeting included a lot of development activity.

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An update on the city's budget and discussions about how the city staff and.

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City council engages our community. Let's get to it.

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The city council received a monthly update from steve peterson.

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Co-Chair of the community budget advisory committee, this nine person.

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Group of residents has been working with staff to understand the budget challenges for the coming year. 2021.

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And to make recommendations to the city council for the city's budget.

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Level of services and property taxes- the discussion this week.

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Focused on council's thoughts about the preliminary tax levy for next year,.

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In september of each year, the city council has to set the maximum amount of.

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Taxes that can be collected for the next year.

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Then, when we adopt the final budget and tax levy in december, we can reduce the.

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Levy but we can't go any higher, because the city expects much less.

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Revenue from next year's taxes collected at our hotels and entertainment venues.

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Like nick universe, there is a big hole in the budget, and that means we're going to have to either cut some services.

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Ask taxpayers to pay a little bit more or find some spot in between.

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Co-Chair peterson will take what he heard from the city council back to the.

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Budget advisory committee and the committee will return to the city council later this month with a recommendation for what that preliminary tax levy should be.

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One thing that hasn't slowed down during the pandemic so far.

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Is new housing, development for bloomington and that development activity is for new multi-family residential buildings? At the meeting this week the council took action to move forward.

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On three different developments, totaling 590 units.

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Lyndale flats is a four-story 81 unit, affordable housing development that was.

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Approved by the city council last year, the apartment building will take shape.

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On the northwest corner of lyndale avenue on west 94th street.

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Right across the street from fong's, it's a lot. That's been vacant for many years.

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The developer is working towards financing options that would allow.

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Starting in spring of 2021., the action taken by.

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The council provides preliminary approval to issue revenue bonds or, what's called conduit, financing to help finance the.

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Development, conduit financing allows the developer.

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To use the tax-exempt status of the city, while the developer is responsible for.

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Paying the debt a public hearing to approve the development and the conduit financing will occur later this year, be sure to.

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Stay tuned the park and fly remote airport parking lot near american.

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Boulevard and 34th avenue, which has been in operation for three decades, will be.

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Redeveloped for residential and commercial uses in.

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Several phases phase, one which is planned to begin by.

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Next summer is a six-story 181 apartment building.

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Developed by the rosa development company phase, one will be located along american boulevard. East.

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With convenient access to the american boulevard, 34th avenue light rail transit.

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Station and 20 percent of the apartments will be affordable. The council's actions set the timelines.

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For the interim use permits for the properties which will determine when the rosa development projects must be started,.

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Across the street from the rosa development site, south of american boulevard is american square. American square is a.

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Two phase: two building residential development.

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Phase one will be a six-story 242 unit.

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Market rate apartment building, while phase two will be five stories.

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With 86 units of affordable housing phase, one is planned to be in.

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Construction, this fall and phase two is planned to follow next summer. The development takes advantage of the.

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Great views of the minnesota river valley and it's also within easy walking.

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Distance to the american boulevard, 34th avenue light rail transit station. The council action this week established.

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A tax increment financing plan to help this project move forward.

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These projects are continuing. The strong progress bloomington is seeing.

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In our commitment to focused renewal of the community, one of the city council's.

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Strategic priorities, the three projects will also add.

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More than 200 units of affordable housing helping to meet an overwhelming.

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Need in our community for additional, affordable housing on a.

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Related note, the council will be meeting with the bloomington housing and redevelopment authority on monday august 10th to continue the discussion of bloomington's housing goals and policies.

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The city council received a report from staff this week on the many different.

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Communications and outreach tools, the city uses to share information with.

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Residents and businesses, and to engage with members of the community, our manager of the city's outreach and engagement division.

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Melissa wurst persaud also provided an in-depth look.

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At the work her team has been doing, especially during the pandemic and.

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Social unrest of this summer to build relationships with individuals, groups.

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And organizations in bloomington, now more than ever, those relationships are.

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So important and we're very grateful for the work being done to build trust and connections.

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The council also discussed one of the ways we communicate with residents.

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If you've watched city council meetings, you know that a regular part of our.

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Agenda is to receive public comment according.

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To the city council's rules of procedure, the public comment.

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Portion of the agenda is for residents to address the council on issues of city business that are not on the agenda. In other.

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Words making the council aware of new issues that are of concern to residents.

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And have not been raised before this week.

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The city council spent some time talking about how we can provide opportunity for.

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Residents to make sure their concerns are heard and to do it in a way that provides constructive conversation.

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If you've watched, you know that our current way of doing things does not.

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Always provide constructive conversation after a really good discussion about.

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What we mean by engagement, what ways we have to make sure people.

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Are heard and how we might do things differently, the council asks staff to bring back some ideas to modernize our process.

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And I say modernize because our current process for public comment.

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It really is a relic of the past. It was developed in a time before email.

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Before virtual meetings, and certainly before social media.

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The reminder for you is that the city council is accessible to you through.

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Many different means- and we value your input.

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Well, that's a wrap on this week's council minute. Thank you for tuning in.

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We'll see you next week be well stay safe, bloomington.