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From YouTube: Council Minute May 17
Description
In this week’s Council Minute Mayor Tim Busse explains the connection between a recent national security forum he attended at the Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and Bloomington. Plus, an invitation to the Public Works and Bloomington Police Department Open Houses on Saturday, May 20.
A
Hello
Bloomington
I'm
mayor
Tim
Bussey,
and
this
is
the
council
minute
for
the
week
of
May
15th.
We
didn't
have
a
council
meeting
this
week,
but
there
are
two
things
I
wanted
to
talk
about
today,
but
first
I
want
to
double.
Back
to
last
week,
I
was
out
of
town
thanks
much
to
Jenna
Carter,
for
stepping
in
as
acting
mayor
once
again,
and
the
council
heard
a
couple
of
important
presentations
that
I
want
to
be
sure.
We
don't
lose
track
of.
A
The
council
heard
an
update
on
our
neighborhood
traffic
Management
program
that
we've
been
talking
about.
Staff
has
been
studying
a
variety
of
ideas
that
would
help
improve
the
livability
and
safety
of
Bloomington
neighborhoods
from
a
traffic
management
standpoint.
The
second
item
was
a
public
safety
update
by
Chief
Booker
Hodges,
as
I
said.
Both
are
important
topics
and
I
want
to
make
sure
we
have
a
chance
to
review
them,
but
this
has
been
a
really
busy
week
and
honestly.
I
simply
haven't
had
time
to
pull
the
information
together.
A
You
can
always
go
back
and
watch
the
entire
meeting
on
the
city's
YouTube
channel,
or
you
can
just
watch
the
specific
discussions.
I
promise.
We
will
talk
about
both
Council
discussions
in
the
coming
weeks.
As
I
mentioned,
I
was
out
of
town
last
week,
I
had
the
unique
opportunity
to
spend
a
week
at
Maxwell,
Air
Force
Base
in
Montgomery
Alabama,
where
I
attended
a
national
security
form
at
the
air
War
College.
It
was
a
fascinating
five
days
and
it
shows
Once,
Again,
bloomington's,
growing
influence
and
impact
on
things.
Well
beyond
our
city.
A
Some
quick
background.
Since
1954,
the
secretary
of
the
Air
Force,
has
sponsored
a
national
security
form
to
bring
together
Community
leaders
and
Senior
Air
Force
officers.
The
goal
is
to
have
an
open
discussion
on
current
national
security,
strategic
realities
and
the
challenges
that
go
along
with
him,
kudos
to
the
Air
Force,
for
understanding
that
a
strong
relationship
between
local
communities
and
the
Armed
Forces
is
one
of
the
keys
to
success
in
both
sectors.
A
The
community
leaders
included
people
from
business,
non-profits,
education
and
local
government
and
all
were
nominated
by
Air
Force
leadership
or
by
students
at
the
air
award
College
Colonel
Andy
mentioner,
who
I've
known
for
about
20
years,
was
nice
enough
to
nominate
me
to
participate
over
a
three-day
period.
We
invitees
engaged
with
senior
level
military
leaders
from
the
United
States
and
from
other
foreign
governments
in
a
lecture
and
seminar
structure,
topics
included
issues
like
China's
threat
to
Taiwan
the
Russian
invasion
of
Ukraine
and
how
all
that
space,
junk
floating
in
orbit
is
a
national
security
issue.
A
So
why
me
we
don't
host
a
military
facility.
So
what's
the
connection
between
Bloomington
and
a
conference
that
was
titled,
the
China
Challenge
upholding
the
international
rules-based
order?
Well,
two
things.
First,
we
talked
extensively
about
the
importance
of
soft
power,
in
contrast
to
hard
power,
which
is
basically
military.
Might
soft
power
is
the
use
of
positive
attraction
and
persuasion
to
achieve
foreign
policy
objectives.
Countries
that
use
soft
power
look
to
gain
influence
by
building
networks,
communicating
compelling
narratives
and
being
good
International.
A
So
I
guess
I
shouldn't
have
been
surprised
that
the
number
of
Military
Officers
that
I
spoke
with
all
the
way
up
to
the
generals
that
I
had
a
chance
to
spend
time
with
who
knew
exactly
what
my
Expo
2027
lapel
pin
was
to
a
person.
They
were
excited
to
talk
about
the
Expo
and
about
the
soft
power
opportunities
that
come
with
hosting
an
expo.
While
we
look
at
an
expo
as
a
long-term
Economic
Development
opportunity,
our
military
leaders
look
at
an
expo
as
an
excellent
opportunity
to
strengthen
diplomatic
relationships
across
the
globe.
A
That's
where
all
the
thoughtful
discussion
comes
into
play,
but
after
getting
to
know
these
officers
hearing
from
four
star
generals
and
seeing
up
close
the
awesome
abilities
of
the
F-22
Raptor
I'm,
confident
that
if
the
need
should
arise,
America
is
in
good
hands.
Finally,
today
I
can't
wait
to
see
everyone.
This
Saturday
May
20th
for
not
one
but
two
open
houses
featuring
city
of
Bloomington
departments
kicking
off
the
day,
is
the
Public
Works
open
house,
9
A.M
to
noon
at
the
Public
Works
facility,
it's
just
to
the
north
of
98th
Street
across
from
Civic
Plaza.
A
This
is
always
a
great
event,
but
it's
been
on
Hiatus
for
a
couple
of
years
due
to
covet
and
I'm,
so
glad
to
see
that
it's
back,
if
your
kids,
like
big
trucks
and
big
equipment,
or
if
you
happen
to
be
an
older
kid
who
also
likes
big
trucks
and
big
equipment,
you
won't
want
to
miss
this
Public
Works
will
have
all
of
the
equipment
out.
Staff
will
be
doing
demonstrations
and
answering
questions.
A
You
can
take
pictures
sitting
in
the
trucks
and
you'll
be
surprised
at
how
good
the
popcorn
tastes
at
nine
o'clock
on
a
Saturday
morning
and
after
you've
had
your
Public
Works
fixed,
walk
across
98th
Street
to
the
Police
Department
open
house.
The
police
open
house
is
right
at
Civic
Plaza
and
it
runs
from
11AM
to
2
p.m.
So,
if
you
time
things
right,
you
can
easily
enjoy
both
open
houses.
A
All
of
the
specialty
units
will
be
there
with
their
gear
and
their
vehicles,
the
SWAT
team,
the
bomb
squad,
the
negotiations,
team
and,
of
course,
other
units
like
crime
prevention
and
the
Traffic
Unit
will
also
be
there.
There
will
be
a
canine
demonstration
and
tours
of
the
police
station.
This
is
the
70th
anniversary
of
the
Bloomington
Police
Department
and
I
can't
think
of
a
better
way
to
recognize
and
celebrate
that
impressive
Milestone,
and
to
thank
our
outstanding
men
and
women
in
blue
than
to
join
them
at
the
open
house.
A
Once
again,
Public
Works,
open
house
from
9am
to
noon
and
the
Police
Department
open
house
from
11
a.m.
To
2
P.M
the
weather
on
Saturday
is
looking
fantastic
I,
look
forward
to
seeing
you
all
there
that
will
do
it
for
this
week's
Council
minute,
thanks
much
for
tuning
in
until
next
time,
stay
safe,
Bloomington,.