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From YouTube: Water park at MOA Facebook Live Event
Description
On June 12, City Manager James Verbrugge and Port Authority Administrator Schane Rudlang hosted a Facebook Live Q&A at the Mall of America overlooking the site of a proposed water park project. Jamie and Schane answered questions submitted by viewers as well as questions submitted in advance via Facebook and Nextdoor.
A
Good
afternoon
everybody
welcome
to
the
city
of
Bloomington's
facebook
live
event.
My
name
is
Jaime
Verbruggen,
the
city
manager
for
the
city
of
Bloomington.
We
scheduled
this
Facebook
live
Q&A
to
talk
about
the
proposed
water
park
project
at
Mall
of
America
there's
been
a
lot
of
interest
in
the
community.
It's
been
discussed
at
a
couple
of
different
events.
A
This
is
the
first
time
we're
doing
a
Q&A
through
Facebook
live,
so
we're
hoping
that
you
enjoy
this,
that
you
take
advantage
of
the
opportunity
to
submit
some
questions
and
that
you
share
with
your
friends
too
joining
me
today.
Shayne
rod,
Lang
is
the
director
or
the
administrator
of
the
Bloomington
Port
Authority.
The
port
authority
is
the
development
arm
of
the
city
of
Bloomington
in
the
South
Loop
Development
District
Shane's
gonna
talk
about
the
project,
he's
our
lead
negotiator
and
project
manager.
A
He
has
a
tremendous
amount
of
information
and
then,
after
we
give
you
a
quick
overview
of
the
project,
we'll
take
some
questions,
some
of
which
we're
already
submitted
through
next
door
and
through
Facebook
and
we'll
have
more
coming
in
during
the
live
event
and
we'll
take
those
as
we
can.
So
let's
go
ahead
and
get
started
Shane.
Can
you
do
a
quick
overview
of
what
the
project
is?
You
know
the
scope
of
it.
What
we're
trying
to
accomplish,
etc.
Sure.
B
If
everything
goes
as
planned
and
then
open
roughly
two
years
after
that
large
water
park
projects
like
this
are
becoming
a
little
bit
more
common
around
the
country,
but
still
a
big
water
park
like
this
takes,
takes
a
lot
of
work
and
effort
to
pull
off
it's
something
that
the
city
has
approved
as
part
of
the
expansion
plans
out
here
for
many
decades,
and
we
did
see
a
water
park
get
built
at
Great,
Wolf
Lodge,
just
a
kiddy
Korner
from
the
mall.
It's
about
a
seventy-five
thousand
square
foot
water
indoor
water
park
with
a
hotel.
B
This
would
be
a
250,000
square
foot,
building
footprint
water
park
with
about
360
thousand
square
feet
of
total
space,
and
once
again,
that's
that
one
of
the
largest
or
the
largest
built
in
North
America.
And
so
it
would
be
an
amenity
not
only
to
the
city
of
Bloomington
and
in
the
region,
but
from
the
greater
Upper
Midwest
area.
Good.
A
B
When
people
come
to
Bloomington
to
stay
in
hotel
rooms
that
reduces
the
rate
that
residents
pay
for
property
taxes,
and
so
that's
one
reason.
It
certainly
adds
in
it
once
again
many
to
Bloomington
into
the
region
that
doesn't
exist
today.
You
know
in
a
big
world-class
water
park
and
then
also
it
adds
a
vibrancy
and
and
different
mix
of
people
to
the
to
the
area
in
South
Loop
and
to
the
Mall
of
America.
Now.
A
Folks
may
not
know
that
about
40
million
visitors
go
through
the
doors
at
Mall
of
America
every
year
about
40%
of
those
come
from
outside
of
the
hundred
and
fifty
mile
circle
around
the
Twin
Cities
area
and
about
10
percent
of
them
are
international
visitors.
So
there
are
a
lot
of
people
coming
to
this
area
and
one
of
the
things
the
Mall
of
America
wants
to
do.
One
of
the
things
the
city
wants
to
do
is
to
continue
to
have
new
attractions
and
new
interesting
venues
to
keep
them
coming
back
to
visit
right,
correct,
okay!
A
Well,
let's
talk
about
the
project
specifics.
The
financing
of
the
project,
especially
that's,
been
something
that
I
think
that
folks
have
had
a
number
of
questions
about
it's
a
unique
structure.
It's
a
really
expensive
project
and
it's
really
complex
so
to
the
best
that
you
can.
Can
you
make
it
a
little
bit
simpler
to
understand
how
the
structure
works?
Sure.
B
I
will
try
so
the
the
our
park
as
we've
structured.
This
financing
would
be
owned
by
a
nonprofit
entity
and
we're
currently
in
the
process
of
talking
to
a
number
of
different
nonprofits,
to
find
the
right
fit
for
that
non-profit
owner.
They
actually
are
the
owner
of
the
water
park.
They
build
it.
They
borrow
the
money
for
it
for
over
a
30-year
period
and
the
reason
that
we've
used
this
this
ownership
structure
is
because
it
protects
the
city
from
risk.
B
If
you
will
at
Mall
of
America
on
admissions
and
lodging
food
and
beverage
and
sales
tax
in
kind
of
a
cascading
order,
depending
on
how
much
money
would
be
needed,
but
not
property
taxes,
but
not
property
taxes,
these
are
taxes
only
collected
on
the
two
main
mall
Lots,
which
is
the
Mall
of
America
phase
one
building
and
then
a
lot
behind
us
to
the
North,
including
IKEA,
and
so
those
that's
just
a
pass-through.
And
so
that's
that's.
B
A
B
The
people
that
are
taking
the
risk
on
this
project
will
be
fully
informed
through
an
offering
statement
that
is
created
by
financing
people
in
the
underwriter
and
the
people
that
buy
those
bonds
to
finance
the
project
are
the
ones
that
get
to
decide
whether
or
not
they
want
risk
their
money
in
the
project
and
those
are
typically
institutional
and
larger
investors.
This
is
typically
not
something
that
you
know
that
I
would
buy
or
people
that
I
know
these
are.
B
These
are
institutions
that
are
well-versed
in
these
specific
types
of
bonds,
which
are
tax-exempt
which
has
advantages
beyond
the
project
itself
and
so
that
that's
what
makes
this
project
financeable
is
the
interest
rate
that
they
pay
on.
The
loan
is
just
a
lot
about
half
roughly
of
what
you
would
pay.
Typically
in
a
normally
project.
Privately
funded
development
got
it.
A
If
you
see
me
looking
the
other
direction,
we
have
one
of
our
communications
crew.
Eric
is
sitting
next
to
me.
Taking
your
questions
from
the
Facebook
live
event.
So
please
put
your
questions
in
in
addition
to
grant
behind
the
camera,
who
is
also
helping
us
out
today,
one
of
the
pre
submitted
questions.
B
The
West
Edmonton
Mall
in
Canada
is
what
mall
america
was
modeled
after
they
have
an
amusement
Center.
They
have
a
water
park.
Other
amenities
recreationally
have
a
big
pirate
ship
in
the
middle
of
it.
It
was
built
in
the
Hades,
and
you
know
it
is
what
mob
America
was
modeled
after.
It
is
more
like
a
number
of
South
Dale's
kind
of
snapped
together.
It's
not
master-planned
as
well
as
Mall
of
America
was
master-planned,
and
so,
but
it
is
a
very
big
project.
B
A
B
That
market
was
really
modeled
after
that,
of
course,
they
didn't
build
the
waterpark
on
in
the
first
phase,
but
that
project
up
there
in
Canada
was
was
all
privately
financed.
So
that
was
done
in
the
80s.
Canada
doesn't
really
do
that
type
of
thing
you
move
down
to
the
United
States
the
closest
project
to
Mall
of
America.
The
closest
facsimile
in
the
u.s.
B
is
a
project
that's
being
built
out
in
New
Jersey,
the
American
New
Jersey,
which
is
also
being
built
by
Triple
five
and
was
promoted
by
Governor
Christie
back
in
the
day
and
received
a
substantial
public
subsidy
to
get
built
and
which
is
the
case
for
all
well,
not
all,
but
probably
very
close
to
all
large
water
park
projects,
be
they
Great,
Wolf
or
Kalahari
in
various
places
like
the
Poconos
and
things
like
that.
These
often
see
public
subsidy
so.
A
You
mentioned
Great,
Wolf,
Lodge,
I.
Think
a
lot
of
the
folks
watching
us
are
aware.
The
Great
Wolf
Lodge
is
just
a
stone's
throw
away
from
Mall
of
America.
Here,
that's
actually
a
successor
to
the
original
water
park
that
was
built
there
I
think
through
the
third
operator
now
Great
Wolf
Lodge
has
a
different
operating
model
when
it
was
approved
a
couple
years
ago.
It
was
approved
so
that
the
users
of
the
water
park
had
to
be
guests
of
the
hotel.
A
B
What
we
think
about
when,
when
we
think
about
Great,
Wolf,
Lodge
and
adding
another
big
water
park,
is
we
think
about
the
Dells
and
all
the
water
parks
that
exist
there?
The
Poconos
is
another
cluster
of
water
park,
resorts
great
Wolf's
and
others.
They
they
seem
to
cluster.
You
think
of
Orlando,
so
they're
that
water
park
is
the
seventy
five
thousand
square
foot
water
park.
It
has
a
certain
market
segment
that
it's,
it
serves
very
well
they're,
a
really
good
operator.
Sorry.
B
Examples
of
water
park
clustering
exactly
sure
where
I
got
cut
off,
but
I'll
repeat
it
in
summary,
is
we
think
about
the
Dells
and
the
Pocono
is
in
Orlando.
These
amusement
and
water
park
areas
seem
to
cluster
together
and
offer
different
products.
If
you,
if
you've
been
up
to
the
Dells
like
I,
have
with
my
they
have
the
kalahari,
which
is
a
one
big
indoor
water
park.
It's
you
know
super-sized,
and
then
they
have
the
wilderness,
which
has
a
bunch
of
satellite
water
parks.
B
A
Right
and
they'll
have
different
products
to
different
experiences
right.
We
had
a
couple
of
questions
submitted,
one
in
advance
and
one
during
the
feed
here,
I
think
a
couple
of
folks
who
are
a
little
bit
more
environmentally
conscious
and
understand
that
water
is
a
precious
commodity.
When
you
talk
about
like
places
like
the
Dells,
where
you
have
a
lot
of
water
parks,
this
is
going
to
be
a
high
user
of
water.
B
Not
sure
if
we're
we're
live
or
not,
but
I
will
continue
to
answer
and
the
question
so
that
the
question
was
about
water
and
what
we're
doing
from
a
water
use
standpoint
and
sustainability.
Standpoint
on
the
project.
Sustainability
was
a
was
a
key
part
of
the
contract
that
is
going
to
design
this
project,
and
so
we're
not
quite
at
the
phase
yet
of
getting
into
specificity
about
that.
But
the
water
for
the
project
will
come
through
the
normal
potable
water
supply
from
Bloomington
and
yeah.
B
Well,
the
water
that
is
used
in
the
park
will
get
discharged.
The
sanitary
sewer
in
this
area,
self-loop
has
been
planned
for
intense
uses
for
for
many
years
actually
many
decades,
and
so
the
pipes
have
all
been
sized
for
large
uses
and
water
park
has
been
one
of
those
uses
since
well,
since
the
beginning,
actually
in
the
late
80s
right.
A
A
What
the
council's
trying
to
do
is
make
sure
that
we
are
making
efforts
throughout
the
community
to
refresh
and
renew
and
revitalize
some
of
the
aging
parts
of
our
community
make
sure
that
they
remain
vital
and
vibrant
going
into
the
future.
So,
as
a
matter
of
fact,
just
this
year
we
have
approved
an
affordable
housing,
ordinance,
that's
going
to
spur
development
of
much
needed
housing
units
and
then
also
we
have
recently
created
a
gateway
development
district.
That's
going
to
tie
together.
A
Some
of
our
aging
neighborhood
commercial
nodes,
like
98,
the
Nicollet
and
98th,
and
lyndale
90th
and
pan-american
in
portland
Lyndale
Avenue
corridor,
recognizing
that
these
aging
commercial
nodes
are
maybe
not
designed
to
meet
the
current
needs
of
the
neighborhood
surrounding
them.
So
we
are
working
in
that
regard.
We
also
have
two
other
development
districts
at
Penn,
American
and
also
at
Normandale
lakes.
So
the
South
Loop
development
district
is
one
of
our
three
large
well
now,
four
large
development
districts
talk
a
little
bit
about
how
this
fits
in
with
the
South
Loop
development
plan.
Sure.
B
So
the
the
South
Loop
district
plan,
as
Jamie
mentioned,
is
a
focused
plan
for
this
area
of
Bloomington.
That's
east
of
trunk,
highway,
77
called
self-loop,
and
this
area
is
a
lot
of
different
things
on
the
east
side
of
this
district,
where
the
light
rail
is,
there
are
a
lot
of
housing
projects
that
are
either
getting
built
or
getting
talked
about,
and
a
big
one.
That's
under
construction
right
now,
the
family
over
Bloomington
Central
Station.
As
you
move
westerly
in
this
area,
that's
roughly
the
size
of
downtown
Minneapolis.
B
A
Conferences
and
downtown
Minneapolis
we
often
get
a
lot
of
conference
goers
that
stay
in
Bloomington
major
events
like
Super
Bowl
or
the
Final
Four
Bloomington
is
a
big
hospitality
host
as
well
so
again
trying
to
trying
to
diversify
the
number
of
attractions
that
we
have.
Let's
ask
back
to
some
more
questions
at
some
point.
A
B
The
the
project
itself
is
being
built
on
land
that
triple
five
currently
owns
in
triple
five
is
the
owner
of
Mall
of
America,
and
the
city
is
involved
for
a
number
of
key
reasons
that
are
key
to
this
structure
of
the
deal.
The
most
important
one
is
the
pass-through,
as
I
mentioned,
if
you're
tuning
in
at
the
early
part
of
the
live
event
here
these
past
three
of
sales
and
use
taxes
that
are
collected
at
Mall
of
America.
So
once
again
the
city
isn't
pledged
those
beyond
what
is
collected.
So
there's
no
there's
no
risk.
B
It's
just
you
know.
If
X
is
collected,
X
is
passed
through
to
the
water
park
loan
payment
if
the
revenues
aren't
sufficient
to
pay
that
loan
payment,
and
it's
important
that
I
think
to
say
and
mention
right
now
that
that
this
project
is
still
in
a
feasibility
and
design
phase.
This
project
isn't
for
sure
sitting
here
today
we
have
a
number
of
steps
that
are
happening
as
we
speak.
B
A
Good
so,
along
with
whose
land
is
it
we
had
a
question
submitted
by
Randy
in
advance.
Saying
is
the
city
subleasing
land
non-profit
for
50
years
was
one
of
the
things
that
I
think
was
a
bit
of
confusing
and
how
the
lease
payments
are
structured
over
the
time
period
and
then
what
happens
at
the
end
of
the
30
year
period?
So,
let's
start
with
the
50
years.
Are
we
are
we
sub
leasing
the
land
for
50
years?
Sure.
B
So
so
the
project
set
up
on
a
lease
it'll
be
a
waterpark
for
50
years
and
the
first
30
of
those
years.
The
nonprofit
owns
it,
while
that
the
loan
is
outstanding
for
the
project.
Now,
once
that
loan
is
paid
off
than
the
city
owns
it,
but
the
city
then
owns
it
without
any
loan
payment.
So
that's
a
that's
a
big
benefit
to
the
city.
So,
but
during
the
first
30
years
the
nonprofit
owns
it.
There
is
a
leased
structure.
That's
set
up
where
the
city
leases
it
and
then
leases
it
to
the
nonprofit.
B
A
B
And
so
just
like
on
your
home
mortgage,
if
you
own
a
home,
you
can
pay
it
off
early
and
that's
that's
a
feature
that
will
be
included
in
the
in
the
bond,
offering
statement
and
the
loan
documents
that,
if
the
revenues
are
higher
than
anticipated,
then
you'll
pay
that
off
earlier
in
the
city.
We
don't
have
free
and
clear
earlier.
B
B
Once
the
thing
gets
built,
there's
some
nuances
that
I'm
not
going
to
go
into
that
are
outside
of
diagram,
but
once
the
projects
built,
if
the
revenues
for
the
waterpark
don't
pay
the
loan
payment,
the
city
passes
through
those
taxes,
and
so
you
know
if
the
project
were
to
go
completely
belly-up,
there
would
be
a
bankruptcy
proceeding
and
they
would
come
in
and
they
would
want
to.
There
would
be
an
entity
that
would
represent
the
people
that
bought
the
bonds
for
the
project
and
their
goal
is
to
get
the
bond
buyers.
B
A
Money
right
all
right,
Jim
submitted
a
question
in
advance-
is
the
YMCA
partnering
with
the
city
on
this
project.
The
answer
is:
no.
We
had
a
community
center,
we
do
have
a
community
center
project
that
we're
working
on
the
YMCA
was
identified
as
a
possible
partner
in
that
project,
which
the
council
has
chosen
to
go
in
a
different
direction,
and
so
the
YMCA
is
not
currently
a
partner
in
that
project.
B
So
the
partners
for
this
project
once
again
the
city
as
I've
mentioned,
and
then
the
Port
Authority,
is
typically
involved
in
these
projects
out
here
for
providing
public
infrastructure
like
parking.
So
the
Port
Authority
is
involved
with
the
project.
There's
the
nonprofit
and
there's
an
underwriter
which
packages
the
loan
into
right
sized
pieces
for
the
people
that
wall
that
will
buy
it.
There's
triple
five
they're.
A
co
developer,
along
with
the
Port
Authority.
B
A
triple
five
entity
is
the
land
lessor,
so
they
received
the
lease
payment
for
the
the
land
pad
for
whether
the
project
would
sit
and
there's
a
number
of
consultants,
of
course,
doing
design
and
things
like
that
now,
a
triple
five
entity
that
would
cope
coal
market
this
and
manage
it
along
with
other
attractions
at
Mall
of
America.
They
would
be
the
manager
of
the
water
park
project,
and
so
those
are
the
the
key
primary
players.
The
primary.
A
Players
have
so
again,
you
mentioned
the
Port
Authority
and
for
those
who
are
just
tuning
in
we're
talking
about
the
water
park
project
at
Mall
of
America,
the
Port
Authority
is
the
development
arm
for
the
city
that
works
primarily
in
the
South
Loop
Development
District.
Where
does
funding
come
from
for
the
development
activity
that
we
do
in
the
area
around
South
Loop
and
around
Mall
of
America?
If
it's
not
property
taxpayer
dollars
sure.
B
Well,
they're
funding
for
the
port
authority
comes
through
a
couple
of
different
avenues.
There
are
two
large
TIF
districts
that
exist
out
in
South.
Little
TIF
is
a
tax
increment
financing
district.
Thank
you.
Tax,
increment
financing
is
the
is
the
new
taxes
that
are
created
after
a
project
is
is
built.
A
Then
we
also
have
admissions
taxes
which
don't
go
into
the
South
Loop
Development
Fund,
but
they
do
go
to
the
city's
general
fund.
So
one
of
the
positive
things
about
this
large
development
district
here
and
how
vibrant
it
is
with
the
with
the
hotel
lodging
tax,
is
with
the
admission
taxes
that
money
that
goes
into
the
city
general
fund
is
about
15%
of
the
total
operating.
So
it's
it's
a
significant
amount
of
money
that
comes
in
so
it's
one
of
the
benefits
of
having
Mall
of
America
in
Bloomington
is.
A
It
is
a
substantial
contributor
to
our
tax
base,
but
we
also
generate
a
lot
of
other
revenue
for
associated
activity
right,
absolutely
good.
All
right,
we
have
a
message
from
Scott
who
says:
when
will
it
start
being
built?
He's
excited
to
bring
his
nieces
when
it's
finally
open?
What's
project
timeline?
Sure.
B
The
project
timeline
is
once
again
if,
if
we
get
through
design
and
feasibility
proves
out
once
again,
this
project
isn't
for
sure
we
think
it's
a
buildable
project
for
sure
right
now,
but
there
is
a
chance
that
it
doesn't
move
forward.
So
the
current
schedule
is
that
in
February
of
2000
in
20,
the
project
would
start
construction
and
open,
roughly
two
years
after
that
so
spring
or
early
summer
of
2022
good.
A
So
we've
got
about
five
three
and
a
half
minutes
left
in
our
broadcast.
I've
got
23
viewers
right
now,
thanks
for
sticking
with
us,
we've
had
a
little
bit
of
technical
difficulties,
so
appreciate
you
hanging
in
there
we
had
a
question
submitted
by
Kim.
This
is
a
public
process
right
any
time
the
City
Council
or
the
Port
Authority,
which
is
actually
a
body
appointed
by
the
City
Council,
is
conducting
business.
B
The
there's
opportunities
to
attend
the
concurrent
council
and
Port
Authority
meetings,
and
then
probably
the
easiest
way
to
do
that
is
to
is
to
subscribe
and
there'll,
be
a
link
that
you
can
click
on
in
the
information
to
subscribe.
But
you
get
an
email
about
Port
Authority
meetings
that
are
coming
up.
The
other
way
is
through
events
like
this.
You
know
we
typically
don't
hold.
Facebook
live
events
for
development
projects.
B
A
Also
have
other
communication
vehicles
from
the
city
of
Bloomington
Bloomington
briefing
shows
up
in
your
mailbox.
Every
month
we
have
the
city's
YouTube
channel.
You
can
also
check
out
our
Facebook
and
our
Twitter,
so
there
are
a
lot
of
different
ways
that
you
can
access
information
about.
What's
going
on
around
Bloomington,
of
which
this
just
happens
to
be
one
thing,
Randi
submits
a
question
says
triple
five
will
benefit
from
a
steady
revenue
stream
associated
with.
So
what
risk
are
they
taking
in
this
project?
Sure,
and
let's
talk
about
their
revenue
stream
as.
B
Well
sure,
so,
once
again,
triple
five
are
the
owners
of
the
Mall
of
America
and
they
do
get
a
ground
lease
payment
on
the
project
and
a
management
fee.
So
they
do
benefit
from
the
project
financially,
but
they
are
only
allowed
to
get
via
the
various
tax
exempt
bonding
rules
and
lots
of
IRS
regulations
and
whatnot.
We
have
a
team
of
lawyers
looking
at
these
things,
they're
only
able
to
get
the
amount
that
the
market
would
pay,
no
more
and
no
less.
B
In
fact,
they're
not
they're
regulated
out
of
if
they
wanted
to
take
a
lesser
fee
on
any
of
those
things
so
I'm.
What
are
they
risking
they're,
risking
the
land
they're
trying
to
you
know
obviously
they're
trying
to
bring
more
people
to
the
district
in
mob
America
and
hotel
rooms,
which
are
which
are
aligned
goals.
So
this
is
a
truly
a
public-private
partnership
and
it's
something
that
we've
been
doing
with
Mall
of
America
and
other
people
in
South
loop
in
other
areas
of
the
city.
A
I
would
just
reinforce
the
fact
that
the
way
that
the
city
has
historically
approached
complicated
projects
like
this
is
to
make
sure
that
we're
managing
our
risk,
which
is
our
taxpayers,
risk
to
the
greatest
extent
possible.
It's
the
reason
that
the
city
has
triple-a
bond
ratings
from
Moody's
and
Standard
&
Poor's,
and
you
know
the
ones
the
bond
houses
that
folks
are
familiar
with
it's,
because
we
really
strive
to
make
sure
that
the
risks
that
we
do
take
our
measured
risks
and
that
we
protect
we
protect
the
community
to
the
greatest
extent.
A
We
can
all
right.
We
are
into
our
last
few
seconds
here
of
our
live
Q&A
related
to
the
water
park
project
here
at
Mall
of
America.
We
want
to
thank
everybody
who
tuned
in.
If
you
appreciated
this,
we
would
welcome
that
feedback.
If
you
have
suggestions
for
how
we
can
do
this
better,
we
would
welcome
that
feedback
as
well.
A
So
please
share
after
the
fact,
so
that
other
folks
have
a
chance
to
see
and
send
us
your
comments
and,
as
always,
be
sure
to
check
in
on
Bloomington
briefing
your
Bloomington,
cable
and
YouTube
channels
to
check
in
on
what's
going
on
around
town
for
all
the
latest
news,
not
just
what's
going
on
with
water
park,
Shane
thanks
for
taking
the
time
today,
thanks
to
our
staff
for
making
this
possible.
Thank
you
most
to
you
for
tuning
in
have
a
great
day.