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From YouTube: Council Minute June 28
Description
Mayor Tim Busse provides a recap of the June 26 City Council meeting, including the assessment on the state of homelessness in Bloomington, the Public Relations Strategic Plan, a legislative update plus, an invite to Summer Fete.
A
We
are
able
to
carve
out
some
details
from
the
aggregate,
Hennepin
County
information,
but
it's
difficult,
and
not
all
that
specific.
Based
on
the
presentation,
the
council
heard
on
Monday
night
I
can
offer
these
specifics.
25
percent
of
the
people
in
Hennepin
County,
who
are
in
Emergency
Shelters
transitional
housing
or
who
are
unsheltered,
are
under
the
age
of
18..
African
Americans
comprise
88
percent
of
those
experiencing
homelessness
in
Hennepin
County,
while
they
comprise
only
14
percent
of
the
population.
A
There
is
a
need
in
Bloomington
for
temporary
housing
options
for
the
medically
Fragile,
the
elderly
and
those
experiencing
housing,
instability
or
homelessness
due
to
a
variety
of
reasons,
including,
but
not
limited
to
social
to
economic
status.
Health
safety
and
mental
health
concerns
the
consultant
hired
to
do.
The
assessment
offered
recommended
actions
that
fall
into
categories
of
prevention,
emergency
shelter,
transportation
and
advocacy,
Erica,
Coleman,
bloomington's,
HRA,
administrator
added
to
the
list
of
recommendations
and
included
aligning
bloomington's
work
with
the
Hennepin
County
Office
of
housing.
A
Stability,
expanding
bloomington's
response
and
prevention
efforts
and
implementing
recommended
actions
sooner
rather
than
later.
The
presentation
on
Monday
was
an
informational
item.
Nothing
was
decided,
nothing
was
voted
on.
We
know
there
are
no
easy
or
simple
answers
for
those
experiencing
homelessness,
and
we
know
that
it's
not
limited
to
Bloomington.
A
I
look
forward
to
our
conversation
here
in
Bloomington
on
how
this
community
should
move
forward.
Over
the
past
several
months,
the
city
has
been
working
on
a
public
relations
strategic
plan
for
Bloomington.
It's
something
the
council
has
been
talking
about
for
quite
a
while
now,
and
the
ultimate
goal
is
that
the
plan
will
improve
media
relations,
enhance
internal
information
flow
showcase
the
community
and
give
us
some
strategies
that
will
help
showcase
Bloomington
and
do
a
better
job
of
telling
our
story
now.
I
want
to
be
clear
here.
The
city
of
bloomington's
communications
division
is
fantastic.
A
The
division
is
recognized,
Nationwide
for
the
creativity,
professionalism
and
the
effectiveness
of
its
work.
Bloomington
has
a
long
history
of
winning
local
and
national
awards
for
its
Communications
products,
and
we
have
the
trophies
to
prove
it.
Bloomington
has
also
invested
significantly
in
Resident
awareness
and
education
that
investment
is
seen
in
the
monthly
Bloomington
briefing,
which
residents
say,
is
the
top
source
of
information
about
the
city.
We
also
have
community
outreach
and
engagement
staff
and
the
office
of
racial
Equity
inclusion
and
belonging
all
working
to
understand
and
personalize
interactions
with
our
residents.
A
The
result
is
an
in-depth
strategic
plan
that
includes
guiding
principles
and
a
series
of
communication
strategies
that
lay
out
goals
and
objectives
around
important
strategies
like
building
the
community's
identity,
developing
additional
feedback
tools,
developing
proactive
Communications
plans
and
key
messages
for
projects
and
initiatives
and
enhancing
Outreach
to
the
business
Community
like
everything.
There
are
budget
implications
to
this
plan.
The
council
touched
on
that
conversation
on
Monday
and
the
recommendations
outlined
in
the
plan
will
be
part
of
our
upcoming
budget
discussion.
I'm
excited
about
this
plan.
A
The
city
of
Bloomington
has
a
great
story
to
tell,
and
the
city
council
is
committed
to
communication
and
engagement
that
serves
the
city
well,
and
this
plan
is
designed
to
help
move
that
work
from
good
to
great.
We
will
implement
the
feedback
from
residents
and
leaders
that
form
the
recommendations
of
this
plan.
A
It's
been
a
little
more
than
a
month
since
the
Minnesota
Legislature
adjourned
their
2023
session
and
Monday
night
was
the
city
council's
first
opportunity
to
hear
from
and
to
thank
three
members
of
our
legislative
delegation
for
their
work
on
behalf
of
Bloomington
Senator
Melissa
Wicklund
and
representatives
Steve,
Elkins
and
Nathan
Coulter
joined
us
on
Monday
and
provided
a
brief
rundown
of
the
legislation.
They
helped
Shepherd
through
the
legislature
that
benefits
Bloomington.
A
It
includes
legislation
regarding
a
local
sales
tax
that
will
give
voters
the
opportunity
this
fall
to
decide
if
Bloomington
should
impose
a
half
cent
sales
tax
to
fund
Bloomington,
Ice
Garden
Renovations,
a
new
Community
Health
and
Wellness
Center,
and
improvements
to
The
Nine
Mile,
Creek
Corridor.
It's
an
opportunity
to
make
strategic
investments
in
the
community
that
moves
Bloomington
forward
and
by
the
way,
if
you
want
to
learn
more
visit,
bloomingtonforward.org
now,
that's
not
to
mention
bonding
money.
A
A
public
safety
bill
that
allocates
almost
4
million
dollars
for
Bloomington,
Police
and
Fire
and
350
thousand
dollars
for
the
Bloomington
remembers.
Veterans
Memorial,
more
than
anything
Monday
night,
was
a
chance
to
thank
our
legislators
for
the
work
they
do
for
Bloomington
and
to
acknowledge
and
appreciate
the
strong
and
productive
working
relationship
that
exists
between
the
city,
council
and
City
staff
and
our
state
elected
officials.