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From YouTube: Council Minute December 8
Description
Mayor Tim Busse presents a recap of the December 6 Council meeting where the 2022 tax levy and budget was approved, congratulates Oasis for Youth as the 2021 Omar Bonderud Human Rights Award recipient and provides an update on the Southtown redevelopment.
A
Hello
bloomington,
I'm
mayor
tim
bussey,
and
this
is
the
council
minute
for
the
week
of
december
6th.
On
monday
evening,
the
council
held
our
annual
truth
and
taxation
hearing
it's
a
hearing
held
every
year
to
give
members
of
the
public
an
opportunity
to
provide
direct
feedback
to
the
city
council
on
the
proposed
tax
levy
and
budget.
Three
residents
came
forward
to
speak
on
monday
night
and
after
hearing
their
input
and
continuing
discussion
of
the
budget,
the
city
council
approved
a
final
2022
tax
levy
set
at
68.3
million
dollars.
A
That's
an
increase
of
2.75
percent
from
the
last
year's
tax
levy
and
is
an
overall
increase
of
1.8
million
dollars.
I
have
said
before,
and
I
will
say
again
without
question
these
annual
discussions
are
the
most
important
discussions
we
have
as
a
city,
and
I
know
the
city
staff
and
the
city
council
take
very
seriously
the
responsibility
we
have
regarding
taxing
decisions
and
how
we
spend
your
money,
monday's
truth
and
taxation.
Hearing
was
the
seventh
time
the
council
has
discussed
the
2022
tax
levy
and
budget
in
a
public
meeting.
A
The
great
job
staff
did
listening
to
you,
the
community,
your
input
through
emails
and
public
comments
and
the
two
budget
information
sessions
and
roundtable
discussions
held
in
october
is
clearly
reflected
in
this
budget.
Ultimately,
this
budget
has
been
shaped
to
reflect
the
priorities
of
residents
and
businesses,
particularly
in
the
area
of
public
safety.
This
budget
makes
investments
where
needed
to
drive
improvement
in
our
community
and,
yes,
resources
are
needed
to
make
that
happen.
A
That's
a
choice.
I
believe
that
bloomington
is
the
community.
It
is
today
because
past
leaders
and
residents
made
similar
choices.
They
saw
the
benefit
of
investing
in
this
community.
It's
as
true
now,
as
it
has
ever
been
here
in
bloomington.
If
we
say
we
value
something,
we
should
be
willing
to
invest
in
it.
A
At
the
same
time,
this
budget
clearly
acknowledges
the
financial
hardship
that
many
of
our
residents
still
face.
The
2.75
levy
increase
is
the
same
increase
as
last
year,
and
those
are
the
lowest
percentage
increases
since
2014,
and
a
2.75
percent
increase
is
the
lowest
increase
by
far
among
our
peer
cities
in
the
metro
area.
A
On
monday
night
I
was
honored
to
present
the
2021
omar
bonderrood
human
rights
award
to
oasis
for
youth.
The
omar
bonderud
award
is
presented
annually
by
the
human
rights
commission
to
an
individual
or
organization
that
has
made
significant
contributions
to
ensuring
the
rights
of
people
in
bloomington.
Omar
bonduroud
was
the
first
chairperson
of
the
bloomington
human
rights
commission,
which
was
formed
in
1968..
A
This
year's
honoree
oasis
for
youth
was
established
by
community
members
back
in
2007
as
an
all-volunteer
organization
to
help
young
people
in
our
community
who
are
experiencing
or
who
are
at
risk
of
homelessness.
Working
out
of
oak
grove,
presbyterian
church,
a
2009
recipient
of
the
omar
bonda
root
award
oasis,
operates
a
drop-in
center
with
their
resources
and
outreach
targeted
towards
youth
who
live,
work
or
attend
school
in
bloomington,
edina
and
richfield.
A
All
of
their
services
are
offered
free
of
charge
and
include
food
resources,
laundry
and
showers,
job
search
assistance,
help
with
transportation,
on-site
mental
health
counseling
and
much
more.
They
do
school-based
and
community
outreach
out
of
their
mobile
case
manager.
Van
and
oasis
works
in
partnership
with
mall
of
america
to
provide
additional
support
to
youth
on
location
at
moa
during
the
height
of
the
pandemic,
in
2020
oasis
for
youth,
served
352
youth
with
184
of
those
young
people
being
new
to
oasis
the
organization
distributed.
A
713
meals
made
more
than
3
000
virtual
and
in-person
visits
and
provided
nearly
23
000
in
rental
subsidies.
They
do
it
all
through
dedicated
volunteers,
the
financial
support
of
local
community
members,
churches
and
civic
organizations
and
through
the
work
of
an
outstanding
board
of
directors
and
a
remarkable
staff
led
by
executive
director,
nicole
mills,
as
their
mission
statement,
says.
Oasis
for
youth
is
truly
a
trusted
resource
committed
to
elevating
youth
in
our
community.
A
Congratulations
to
oasis
for
youth,
the
2021
recipients
of
the
omar
bonda
root
award.
Last
week
I
provided
a
short
update
on
the
proposed
redevelopment
of
the
southtown
shopping
center
area.
It's
been
talked
about
a
lot
on
social
media
recently
because
it
would
bring
a
hyvee
grocery
and
liquor
store
to
bloomington
and
would
meet
the
removal
of
the
bowling
alley
at
southtown.
A
I
finished
last
week's
update
by
saying
stay
tuned
on
this.
One
there's
more
to
come
well
that
more
to
come
actually
came
on
thursday
afternoon
when
the
city
was
notified
by
kraus
anderson,
the
owner
and
developer
of
the
site
that
they've
decided
to
withdraw
their
development
application
for
the
project.
A
So
for
now
the
project
is
on
hold
cross
anderson
hopes
to
take
a
second
look
at
possible
options
sometime
next
year,
so
continue
to
stay
tuned
on
this
one
there's
more
to
come,
but
it
won't
be
for
a
few
months
yet.
Finally,
today
a
mayor's
shout
out
and
heartfelt
congratulations
on
behalf
of
the
city
goes
to
longtime
bloomington
resident
tony
oliva,
congrats
tony
o
on
your
long
overdue
election
to
the
baseball
hall
of
fame.
You
absolutely
deserve
to
be
in
cooperstown
and
I
couldn't
be
happier
for
you
and
for
your
family
well
done.