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From YouTube: Council Minute February 24
Description
Mayor Tim Busse provides an overview of this week’s City Council meeting, including the multimillion-dollar economic impact of arts and culture in Bloomington, results of a dispatch service assessment, and boards and commissions appointments.
A
A
I'm
sure
many
of
you
have
been
to
the
bloomington
center
for
the
arts,
at
civic,
plaza
to
see
a
show,
enjoy
a
concert
wander
through
the
galleries
or
take
a
class
personally.
I've
missed
those
things
terribly
over
the
past
11
months
and
I'm
guessing
many
of
you
have
as
well.
I'm
never
shy
about
saying
that
the
arts
are
essential
to
the
quality
of
life
in
any
vibrant
city.
That's
why
we
should
be
so
appreciative.
The
bloomington
center
for
the
arts
was
included
in
the
civic
plaza
project.
Two
decades
ago,
art
brings
a
community
together.
A
Students
involved
in
the
arts
do
better
academically.
The
arts
build
friendship
and
community.
As
picasso
said,
the
purpose
of
art
is
washing
the
dust
of
daily
life
off
our
souls,
but
one
thing
you
may
not
realize
is
how
much
the
arts
contribute
to
our
economy
right
here
in
bloomington.
How
much
you
might
ask
we'll
try
this
one
on
for
size
back
in
2019,
the
economic
impact
of
arts
and
culture
in
bloomington
was
more
than
12
million
dollars.
A
That's
according
to
a
study
that
was
done
by
creative
minnesota,
an
organization
that
produces
research
about
minnesota's
arts
and
creative
sector.
This
week
the
council
heard
a
presentation
from
the
executive
director
of
the
minnesota
citizens
for
the
arts
on
the
profound
and
lasting
impact
that
arts
and
culture
have
on
the
social,
cultural
and
economic
well-being
of
the
city
of
bloomington.
Here
are
some
of
the
numbers
from
the
study,
so
in
minnesota
there
are
more
than
1900
arts
and
culture
organizations
and
in
2019
more
than
23
million
people
attended,
arts
and
cultural
performances,
exhibits
and
events.
A
A
A
Bloomington's
creative
non-profits
are
a
force
of
production
and
a
workforce
growth.
They
are
an
economy
and
an
economic
driver
all
their
own.
The
city
council
was
very
complementary
of
the
arts
and
creative
sector
in
bloomington,
even
describing
the
arts
as
the
soul
of
the
community,
but
maybe
the
best
last
word
on
this
comes
directly
from
the
report
from
dr
jerry
lucart,
who
is
the
conductor
and
artistic
director
of
the
medalist
concert
band
right
here
in
bloomington,
dr
lukhart
said
the
arts
are
like
a
light
when
they
shine
brightly.
A
A
Until
then,
you
can
still
appreciate
the
work
of
visual
artists
at
the
greenberg
gallery
and
the
atrium
gallery
at
the
bloomington
center
for
the
arts
be
sure
to
check
them
out.
I've
shared
with
you
on
a
number
of
occasions
that
our
city
staff
and
our
city
council
have
been
working
together
over
the
past
couple
of
years
to
do
in-depth
service
assessments
throughout
the
city's
organization.
A
A
A
Our
dispatchers
handle
9-1-1
and
10-digit
direct
dial
calls
for
both
police
and
fire
services.
They
interact
closely
with
elena
for
emergency
medical
services
and
they
have
a
unique
relationship
with
the
security
and
dispatch
center
at
the
mall
of
america.
One
of
the
most
distressing
results
of
the
study
is
how
difficult
it
is
to
recruit
and
retain
dispatchers.
A
The
authorized
staffing
for
bloomington
dispatch
is
for
13
dispatchers
and
for
one
supervisor
our
dispatch
center
hasn't
been
at
that
authorized
level
since
2015,
due
to
high
rates
of
turnover
and
a
very
limited
pool
of
candidates
to
recruit
from,
and
to
be
clear
that
isn't
an
issue
unique
to
bloomington,
staffing
shortages
and
dispatch.
Centers
are
a
statewide
issue.
A
The
dispatchers
here
in
bloomington
are
also
very
busy,
although
staffed
as
a
small
public
safety
answering
point
by
national
standards,
the
volume
of
calls
and
cad
events
is
twice
the
average
number
that
would
occur
in
medium-sized
operations,
with
larger
staff
allocations
around
the
country.
Now,
one
key
measurement
we
look
at
is
the
telephone
answering
time
in
2019.
A
A
The
staff
is
already
at
work,
taking
actions
on
the
recommendations
of
the
consultant.
Those
recommendations
focus
on
strategies
to
address
the
persistent
staffing
problems,
the
development
of
a
quality
assurance
program
to
make
sure
that
the
operation
is
meeting
standards
and
looking
at
technology
that
will
improve
efficiency
and
productivity.
A
I
want
to
thank
our
staff
for
taking
on
these
service
assessments.
We've
initiated
these
studies
because
it's
important
to
consistently
assess
whether
how
we've
been
doing
business
for
a
long
time
is
still
the
best
and
the
right
way
to
deliver
those
services
the
community
is
changing.
Technology
is
changing.
The
employment
market
is
changing
with
all
of
this
change.
We
need
to
make
sure
that
our
services
are
not
just
keeping
up
with
the
pace
of
change,
but
are
anticipating
it
and
making
sure
we're
prepared
for
the
future.
A
A
case
in
point
right
after
hearing
the
results
of
the
dispatch
service
assessment
staff
presented
the
scope
of
work
for
our
next
service
assessment.
This
one
will
study
our
facilities,
maintenance,
division
and
the
systems
we
have
in
place
to
take
care
of
city
facilities,
develop
performance
measures
and
manage
projects.
A
That
study
is
expected
to
take
about
six
months
and,
of
course,
we'll
report
back
to
you
when
it's
complete
at
this
time.
Every
year
the
city
council
takes
on
one
of
the
hardest
jobs
we
have
to
tackle.
That
is
deciding
who
should
be
appointed
to
the
city's
advisory
boards
and
commissions.
I
say
it's
a
hard
job,
because
every
year
we
get
applications
from
so
many
people
wanting
to
volunteer
their
time
and
service
to
the
community
that
it's
disappointing,
that
we're
only
able
to
choose
just
a
few.
A
This
year
was
no
different.
In
fact,
this
may
have
been
the
toughest
year
since
I've
been
on
the
city
council.
Over
the
past
year,
we've
been
working
with
our
staff
in
the
community
outreach
and
engagement
division
to
overhaul
the
commission
selection
process.
That
included
intentional
and
targeted
outreach
to
community
members
to
ensure
that
the
applicant
pool
would
reflect
the
rich
diversity
of
the
bloomington
community.
A
A
These
boards
and
commissions
do
really
important
work,
moving
policy
and
program
recommendations
through
the
city
staff
and
the
city
council.
If
you've
been
watching
our
meetings
in
january
and
february,
you've
seen
a
number
of
them
presenting
the
summary
of
their
accomplishments
in
2020
and
laying
out
their
work
plans
for
2021.
They
are
doing
a
lot
of
good
work.
A
The
work
of
governing
our
city
depends
on
resident
involvement
and
participation,
and
we
are
so
grateful
for
all
of
you
who
step
forward
and
express
your
desire
to
help
serve
your
fellow
citizens
by
volunteering
to
be
on
our
boards
and
commissions.
Thank
you
all
so
very
much
that
is
a
wrap
on
this
week's
council
minute.
I
hope
to
see
you
again
next
week,
stay
safe,
bloomington.