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From YouTube: Council Minute April 20
Description
In honor of Earth Day, Mayor Tim Busse talks about sustainability initiatives happening in the City, including curbside organics, new hybrid patrol vehicles for the BPD and a thank you to those working to make the community a greener place.
A
Hello
bloomington,
I'm
mayor
tim
bussey,
and
this
is
the
council
minute
for
the
week
of
april
18th.
We
didn't
have
a
council
meeting
this
week
so
in
honor
of
earth
day
on
friday.
I
wanted
to
take
just
a
few
minutes
to
highlight
a
couple
of
green
initiatives.
We
have
underway
here
in
the
city
of
bloomington,
curbside
organics
recycling
started
the
second
week
of
march.
The
program
is
off
to
a
strong
start,
with
21
percent
of
households
already
signed
up
for
the
service,
thanks
to
everyone,
who's
already
signed
up.
A
If
you
haven't
yet
signed
up,
it's
really
easy
to
do
so.
Simply
contact
utility
billing
and
they'll
make
sure
you
get
your
organics
cart
and
a
welcome
pack
that'll
make
it
easy
for
you
to
get
started.
The
welcome
pack
includes
10
compostable
plastic
bags,
a
reference
guide,
magnet
and
a
home
setup
guide
that
will
help
you
set
up
your
kitchen
for
collecting
organics.
If
you
need
more
information
earlier
this
week,
the
city
hosted
its
third
organics
recycling
workshop
that
provided
residents
with
detailed
information
about
what
can
go
in
organics
carts.
A
What
types
of
bags
to
use,
and
even
a
tour
of
two
kitchen
setups
if
you're
still
not
convinced
I
can
offer
a
personal
endorsement.
We
recycle
organics
in
our
house
and
even
though
it's
only
two
of
us,
we
generate
at
least
two
bags
of
stuff
each
week
and
we
keep
coming
up
with
more
things.
To
add-
and
I
know
some
folks
already
have
a
backyard
compost
pile.
A
I
do
too,
but
it's
always
been
a
bad
idea
to
put
meat
or
fish
or
animal
bones
in
a
compost,
pile
and
things
like
a
pizza
delivery
box,
they've,
never
been
compost,
pile
material.
Those
things
can
be
collected
and
are
collected
as
part
of
organics
recycling.
Other
benefits.
It's
a
weekly
service
composting
does
good
things
for
the
environment,
like
reducing
greenhouse
gas
emissions
at
landfills
and
increasing
the
efficiency
at
garbage
incinerators
like
the
hennepin
county
garbage
burner
where
bloomington
trash
goes
and
all
organics
collected
at
the
curb
are
turned
into
compost.
A
Now
I've
read
and
I've
heard
the
opposition
that
some
folks
have
about
being
required
to
pay
for
the
program
and
believe
me,
I
do
get
it.
The
city,
council
and
the
sustainability
commission
talked
for
a
long
time
about
whether
to
have
everyone,
pay
and
spread
the
cost
across
the
entire
city
or
to
set
up
the
program
in
such
a
way
so
that
only
households
that
participate
are
required
to
pay.
A
Ultimately,
we
followed
this
logic:
hennepin
county
required
cities
to
offer
organics
recycling.
If
bloomington
is
going
to
be
required
to
do
something
we
want
to
set
it
up
in
such
a
way
that
it
will
succeed
now
we
know
that
from
past
examples,
an
opt-in
pay-only
if
you
participate
system,
would
result
in
a
lower
participation
rate,
which
in
turn
would
make
the
program
even
more
expensive
for
households
that
do
opt-in
and
do
participate,
which
in
turn
would
lower
the
participation
rate,
which
ultimately
would
make
the
program
unsuccessful.
A
If
you
aren't
recycling
organics
yet
give
it
a
try,
I
think
you'll
be
surprised
at
how
easy
it
is
and
by
how
much
organic
materials
your
household
produces.
Each
week
last
december,
the
city
council
approved
the
purchase
of
four
new
patrol
cars
for
the
bloomington
police
department
that
are
hybrid
vehicles.
Those
vehicles
will
join
the
bpd
fleet
and
be
out
on
the
streets
by
sometime
this
summer.
The
ford
interceptor
suv
hybrids
that
are
on
the
way
will
reduce
fuel
costs
for
the
police
department.
A
Change
starts
with
action,
and
small
actions
can
make
a
big
difference
throughout
this
community.
There
are
so
many
people
and
organizations
who
are
activating
change
through
individual
and
group
actions.
Many
of
you
do
it
without
seeking
the
limelight
or
recognition
you're
simply
looking
for
ways
to
improve
our
world
to
all
of
you.
Thank
you
so
very
much
within
city
hall.
Thank
you
to
the
bloomington
city
staff,
who
continue
to
focus
the
city's
sustainability
efforts
on
surface
water,
quality
transportation,
solid
waste,
ecological
land,
stewardship,
energy
and
environmental
justice.
A
Thank
you
also
to
our
sustainability
commission,
whose
members
have
acted
as
community
leaders
and
change
agents,
and
despite
the
limitations
of
the
pandemic
over
the
past
couple
of
years,
have
cultivated
strong
relationships
with
residents.
Community
groups,
businesses,
faith-based
institutions
and
other
governmental
institutions.