City of Bloomington, MN Town Hall Forums - 2022-2023, 11 Mar 2023

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From YouTube: March 11, 2023 Town Hall Forum with Councilmembers Jenna Carter and Chao Moua

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March 11, 2023 Town Hall Forum with At Large Councilmembers Jenna Carter and Chao Moua.

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So we're going to get started. Thank you so much for coming out this morning on another snowy day.

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In minnesota, um hopefully, this saturday works well for people and if you have any feedback.

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On that, of course, we would love to hear that um so I'll just start quickly by introducing.

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Myself so I'm council, member jenna carter, I am an at-large member. I was elected in november of.

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2019, so I started on my term on january 2020.. I think everybody in this room knows what happened.

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A couple months after that, so it's been quite a wild ride in my first term here in council and.

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Then my term will be up at the end of 2023.. Oh actually, I do want to mention too, that I live.

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Here in bloomington with my husband mike who actually joined us today, thank you and then we.

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Have two kids: we have a son, who's 12 and goes to oak grove, and then we have a daughter who is eight.

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And goes to hillcrest, and then we have two dogs, luna and sunny, can't forget about our fur. Babies.

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So, uh thank you so much for being here, my name is chao. Moua it's pronounced saw like a chainsaw.

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That's kind of how you can remember it, so I am the other at large council member and I was recently.

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Appointed in february, when former council member nathan coulter vacated the seat to take his uh his.

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Seat at the state house, so I'm very excited and very honored to be working with all of you and the.

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City to continue making sure that bloomington's a remarkable community, I I'll tell you a funny story.

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Here uh I joke with my wife all the time and she's like we have a baby coming in april. We have two.

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Toddlers, so why are you doing city council on top of that so anyways, it's very busy, but I'm excited.

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For it and I'll share, also literally the morning after uh the vote on city council, I went out, and I.

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Was driving around town just to get a new view right, and I was looking at the houses and the.

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Businesses and the parks and schools around also- and I felt this weight just settle on my shoulders.

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And it was a big weight and I've been entrusted to help lead bloomington in the future. And it's.

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A role that I'm very excited about, but also a role that I take very seriously. So thank you so.

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Much for being here today, we're excited to have this discussion with everyone, as you can tell, we.

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Are very fortunate that saw decided to put his name forward for the appointment, so thank you.

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um So just a couple of logistical pieces um chief seal is going to be polling. The questions out of.

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A bowl, so if you have some that you haven't yet written down, there are cards and pens in the back.

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Of the room- and you can just bring them up here and we can add them- some of the town halls have.

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Been more conversational, but one thing that we did notice when they're a little bit bigger it.

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Can be unfair for people who have submitted their questions via the bowl? If there's a lot.

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Of back and forth with one or two people in the crowd and we might run out of time, and so just in.

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Fairness to everybody who showed up this morning and who has questions we want to make sure we can.

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Get through as many of those as possible, so we are going to go through the presentation. First.

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And then we will take questions at the end um and with that I think that we'll go to the next slide.

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Here so this is the outlay of how our districts are split up. So hopefully, everyone here knows.

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What district you live in and who is your direct district council member council member carter and.

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I we are the at large, so we take a large view of the city, so we don't own a specific district, but.

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We try to take the view from the city as a whole, and so, if you don't know who your council member.

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Is in your district, please let us know so we can help you figure out who that is but also know.

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That you can reach out to councilman ricardo and I anytime, regarding any issues that you might have.

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Whether it's related to your specific neighborhood or the city at large, we also have this wonderful.

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Map of the districts in the back, we would love. Just have you put a sticker in your district.

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You don't have to put it on your house, we don't need to know where you live, but in your district.

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So that we can kind of see it at large district council members or at large council members, are we.

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Able to you know, address the the needs of the city as a whole, so please, let us know where you live so.

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We can get a feel for who's coming from where so. The other thing that I wanted to mention, um so I.

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Saw I mentioned we're both at large, so we have the two at large members. Each district has an at-large.

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So we're six council members plus the mayor, so a seven member council. I also like to tell people.

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Or remind people that we are not like minneapolis or saint paul, we are not full-time and we are not.

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Even part-time, I joke we are part, part part-time, so I think a previous council member jack baloga.

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Had calculated it out, he he figured he made about a dollar an hour, so we do get a stipend, but all of.

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Us council members also have full-time jobs, and so throughout the presentation or at the end of the.

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Presentation, I will say we will do the best we can to answer the questions you have and if you want.

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More details, if you have a lot more questions, we're happy to sit down and have a conversation.

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We're happy to do follow-up. We can have staff reach back out too. So I also just want to pause.

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And recognize that we do have our hennepin county commissioner, here today, debbie gotel sitting in.

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The back so thank you debbie for coming. So if you have any hennepin county questions, you can ask.

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Debbie- and we also have the council member from district 3 lona dallessandro joining us. So if you.

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Live in district 3 and you have specific district three questions. Lona is here this morning as well.

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Are there any other electives in the room that I'm not seeing? Okay? Great awesome, so with that.

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We will move on to our presentation yeah, so today we're going to go over a few key topics that have.

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Been obviously going on through the city so that we can give you guys a update on what's going on.

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And then, after we get through this presentation, we'll take the questions whether they're related.

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To this or other topics, or whatever it is we'll continue with that conversation, then.

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Awesome so the first topic that we're going to touch on is the city's new strategic plan.

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Bloomington tomorrow, together so last year, hundreds of people across the city came.

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Together, residents and city staff to develop the new strategic plan, the plan that we had.

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In place prior to this, one was really developed by the city council, with very little engagement.

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Of residents, which was a fine approach at that time, but the council now really felt strongly.

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That we needed to have a community-centered community-gaged approach as we developed new.

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Goals for the city, and so there was a core planning team which actually council member.

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Moua served on so I don't know if you want to make any comments about that experience. Sure.

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I I was on the core plan team as a resident, so this was before being appointed to office and.

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So I was extremely happy to see that the city was taking this approach because I think traditionally.

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Across the country in minnesota, the strategic plan is done by the city, council and staff.

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And that's a big voice, that's not her! It's the resident, so we were very intentional in this.

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Strategic plan lots of conversation over you know five days we were stuck in a room together and so.

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We were very intentional on the wording we chose and the outcomes we wanted to see so very proud.

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Of the work, we did I'm very happy that the city has taken this approach to ensure that residents.

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Voices are being heard as we plan for the future, so, in addition to the core planning team, there.

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Were action teams there were a lot of community engagement sessions. I think I see a lot of people.

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In the room, I think that attended those sessions as well. So thank you for that, and so the result.

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Of our strategic planning engagement process led to new core values, a new mission statement, new.

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Strategic objectives and new strategies and those will guide us over the next five years.

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All right, so, as you can see on the screen up here, our new mission is to cultivate an.

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Enduring and remarkable community where people want to be so the plan really acknowledges the.

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Fact that bloomington is a unique and special place. We have things that are that make us a.

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Dynamic community, for example, one of the things I love to tell people about bloomington is that.

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35 35 to 36 percent of bloomington is parkland and green space. Most communities in the metro.

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Area are about 15, so we have really unique assets that make us special that we want to protect and.

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Celebrate and continue to build on so that we do have a thriving community where people want to be.

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uh So now the next step is that city staff have been working on a work plan based on the.

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Core values, the mission, the strategic objective and the strategies, and that work plan has three.

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Priority areas with desired outcomes, and so that is going to be presented. I believe, on april 4th.

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At the council meeting, if you are interested in learning more I'm going to provide just a.

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Quick overview, so the first priority area in the work plan is fostering a connected and.

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Welcoming community and we are holding ourselves accountable as a council and as a city to really.

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Measure our progress and our success in each of these priority areas, so for this one it is.

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How connected people feel to their neighbors? How welcome they feel by to by the city and.

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Then how valued they feel by the community and then staff have identified 11 initiatives to.

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Measure our progress in this area, one example being implementing our park system master.

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Plan and sorry, I think I said april 4th, but I think it's I think april 3rd is a monday. So.

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April 3rd, the second priority area is being a healthy community, and so our measures of.

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Success for that priority area will be improved. Environmental health, improved mental health and.

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Increased safety and security, so staff have identified seven initiatives that are is.

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Falling in this priority bucket one example being implementing our energy action plan.

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And then the third area is being a community with equitable economic growth and our measures in.

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This area obviously, are that economic growth is more equally distributed, that there is expanded.

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Diversity in business ownership and that there's equitable job growth, so seven initiatives have.

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Already been identified by staff, one that we are super excited about in the city is the.

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Launch of our new small business development center, so the city is currently working on a.

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Public-Facing dashboard that will be launched on our website this summer. So any of you! Anybody in.

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Our community can go on our website and see how we are making progress on these priority areas.

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All right so getting into the bloomington sales tax or throughout the state is known.

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As lost local option sales tax, they just do a brief background, so people can get their head.

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Around this local option, sales tax has been a tool that cities throughout minnesota have.

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Been able to use that generates revenue outside of our traditional property taxes.

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This way we can get funds from visitors who come to your city to fund local capital projects that.

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Are needed in the community? There is a process with this, so it's not just going to happen. We did.

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Submit paperwork to the state legislature, this past january, to get approval to even put this.

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Question on a ballot that then needs to get voted on by bloomington residents, so it is a multi-step.

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Process and generally the local option, sales tax is a half a percent tax on the taxable items.

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Already being sold in the city, so it's not going to impact the groceries you buy at the grocery.

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Store second impact: the clothing that you're getting that is not taxed. It's going to only.

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Impact the services and products that are already taxable so at a half percent tax that allows us to.

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Generate revenue and the university of minnesota extension services estimated that we'll receive.

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About 12 million dollars a year for the next 20 years, if we're able to pass and implement.

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The local option- sales tax we've identified three projects that we have prioritized, that this money.

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Would then help support and that's the bloomington ice gardens the new community health and wellness.

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Center and then the nine mile creek watershed restoration. Typically, if this was born solely.

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On taxpayer dollars, these are capital improvements that we have to make to make sure that the city is.

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Healthy that we have the services that residents are looking for, if we did it solely in property,.

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Tax, the blue intent property taxpayer would expect to see a 230 dollars a year in additional tax.

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Property taxes to support these projects with the lost option, the local option, sales tax- we are able.

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To utilize this big thing on the east side of the city, this big mall shopping area called the mall.

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Of america and get money from visitors who come to bloomington and lift the burden off the taxpayers.

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It's estimated we're going to have 60 percent of these projects funded from visitors to bloomington.

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Who are spending their dollars and purchasing things here and so the rest of the remaining.

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40 would then be traditional property tax, and so we would be looking at the typical homeowner.

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Property tax owner only having to contribute an additional 70 to 100. So it's a huge lift off of.

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Our property taxes and allowing visitors who are going to come here who want to be here who.

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Want to shop here to help us and complete these capital projects that our residents are asking for.

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All right, um the only other thing I would mention on the local option. Sales tax is if the.

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Legislature were to approve bloomington being able to move forward with local option sales tax again.

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Those questions would be on the ballot in november and you would vote for each project individually.

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So you wouldn't have to vote for all or none so if you're, supportive of big. But you don't.

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Want to see the nine mile trail improvements, you could just vote yes for big, so just want to kind.

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Of emphasize that all right, so another hot topic here in bloomington, the world's expo, so the united.

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States, the last time the united states hosted a world's expo was in 1984 in new orleans. So.

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It's been quite a while and when you consider the economic, the political, the diplomatic, the cultural.

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Significance of these events, it is actually pretty surprising that we haven't had one. It's also been.

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Surprising, because, for many years now, the united states actually has been interested and has been.

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Pursuing the expo it's been bipartisan, there's been support at the federal level and at the.

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State level- and so you know we are pretty excited here on council and at the city, because the the.

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Separate organization that is leading these efforts really is making a lot of progress.

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In terms of getting the expo here, so the theme of the expo this year is if it were to come here, the.

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Theme of expo 2027 would be healthy people healthy planet. We do believe that minnesota is one of the.

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Perfect places to showcase the forward-thinking approaches that are happening in this space.

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The host country will be decided in june and if the united states were to win the bid, the expo.

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Would happen between may and august of 2027.? We are competing against spain, thailand, serbia and.

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Argentina, so some fierce competitors, I will say, and then the proposed site is actually in south.

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Loop on two different parcels that equal about 50 acres, so one is currently a parking lot and it's.

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Been a parking lot for as long as I think anybody can remember and the other parcel has been vacant.

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For about 10 years, so not currently providing a lot of value to the residents of bloomington.

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So there are many benefits to the usa hosting a world's expo, but I really want to focus.

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Specifically on the local benefits, because that is, of course, what I care about the most.

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And I think councilmember moua would agree with me um personally. My feeling is that this is a.

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Huge opportunity for bloomington, because it is a massive economic development project. When you look.

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At the size of those parcels, and you think about how long it would ordinarily take us to develop.

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Them it would be years over a decade, sometimes two decades I mean if you look around our our.

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City right now look at old shakopee in france right it has taken years and years and years.

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To see redevelopment in that area, and so this is kind of a massive infusion of resources in these.

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Two parcels that will bring economic development, long-term job growth and increased tax revenue, not.

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Just when the expo is here, but into the future and as council member our council member talked about.

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A little bit ready, you know when we have that additional tax revenue, whether it's coming from.

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The hotels or south loop in the mall of america that offsets our property taxes and when we talk.

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About wanting to make sure that bloomington is an affordable place to live, part of that is having a.

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Really strong vibrant economic base to help offset our residential property taxes, um so there are.

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Additional benefits that are more kind of state and regional. If you got the last bloomington.

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Briefing there were some really nice statistics on the front page there. I don't think I'm going.

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To read through them kind of in the interest of time, but I think we have one more slide. Of course,.

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I'm the slide person here and I will add also this is getting support not only from just the city but.

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From the state and the federal level bi-partisan support across the federal level to have the.

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World's fair, the expo here in minnesota, so we're getting a lot of support to help promote this.

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Event, if we do get it if we do get selected this summer, so I'm very excited that we have this level.

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Of support from across the country two more quick points: bloomington taxpayers are not on the hook.

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There are minimal resources going into the expo project right now from the city of bloomington.

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There is a separate organization that is doing the fundraising if we were to get the bid there.

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Would be a separate organization that has to do all of the fundraising, the bloomington taxpayers.

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Are protected? We are treating this as an economic development project, and so just.

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As in, if there were any economic development project, there's always a little bit of risk, but.

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That risk is not being borne by the taxpayers and if something were to go sideways or and.

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There would still be good infrastructure in place that we would work to transform into.

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Commercial development or housing, which is what we do all the time, particularly in the south loop.

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And then the last piece that I was going to say about this, something I feel really passionately.

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About and I I believe that others on council feel really passionately about, is that we have.

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To engage our community in thinking through what this looks like not just now, but into the future.

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So we know that it is critically important to not just be thinking about the event itself, but what.

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Happens to that infrastructure after the event there's permanent infrastructure, and then there is.

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Temporary infrastructure that gets taken down, one of the ideas was, can that temporary infrastructure.

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Go to build tiny homes somewhere else right like there are really cool, innovative, sustainable ways.

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That we can move forward with this project, and my understanding is that if we were to.

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Get the bid the architects and developers would be engaging our community in those conversations.

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All right so now the other big topic that's been floating around is the water park at the mall of.

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America, this is a really interesting topic. It's it's something that's been developing for quite.

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A while- and I will say I'm excited about this opportunity because hospitality in bloomington.

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Is our largest industry? They mix up 20 of the city's revenue, so hotels, the mall bars restaurants.

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That all feeds directly into the city and helps lift the tax burden off of our taxpayer base.

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I know uh when I, when I went to the uh the the league of minnesota cities, new leaders convention.

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There are cities all across minnesota who are so jealous that we have this type of opportunity here.

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In bloomington, it's what we're able to do to help support the region. So things like the super bowl.

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Ncaa final fours for both men and women, the ryder cup, countless other events couldn't happen unless.

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Bloomington had the regional infrastructure, the regional industry, to support that and.

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This goes a long way to continue to make sure that we have a robust hospitality industry.

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This is going to be primarily finance, and so this isn't going to be put on the back of the taxpayer.

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To support this project, and so I know the mall is having conversations to fill a financing gap.

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That they're, that they currently have what the city will offer is what you might have heard is.

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Called tax, increment financing or tiff and tiff is a really complicated subject and councilman carter.

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Has a great explanation for that, so I'm gonna, let her explain it. I don't know about great, but.

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um So here who here knows what tiff is okay, so we've got a couple of hands, but.

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There are plenty of hands that are not up so tax increment financing very, very simply, put.

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um Is the so every property has a value right and the city gets a property tax based on the value of.

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That property, we have a lot of properties that um well I'll. Just give an example: we had a property.

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That was an old kind of dilapidated commercial building in bloomington. Right didn't add a lot.

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Of value to the community, just in general, but then also was you know at a lower value in.

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Terms of the amount of property taxes that it contributed to the city. Well, now that building.

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Has come down, they are building multi-family housing and the property value has increased.

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Significantly right that increase in the tax between that kind of base, lower value to the new.

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Higher value is the increment right. The tax increment that then gets put back into the project.

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For whatever it was so for in this example, it would have been for the affordable units in that.

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Building right for certain businesses, it might be if we do a tax increment financing for economic.

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Development, it might be to go toward um certain parts that would be hard to hard to do. It's so.

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It kind of varies, but um so we've used tiff for not only affordable housing but also to bring.

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Businesses to bloomington- and so I just I wanted to say that, because I think sometimes people.

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Think that when we offer tiff to developers that it's property tax dollars take taken out of our.

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General fund and put into a project- and that is not the case right- it is the new taxes generated.

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From that project that land itself that goes back into the project for a certain amount of time, once.

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That time lapses that that new value goes into our general fund, so I hope I explained it. Okay.

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And the tiffany for this particular project is really going to help make sure the roads.

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Are set up, make sure the infrastructure so plumbing and running all the pipes.

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Of the ground so and parking, so that's really where the tiff financing is going to help with.

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This project, and so really looking forward to it and when I think about our strategic plan right.

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We think about the mission. Our mission is to cultivate an enduring and remarkable community.

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This makes us remarkable it's a way for us to showcase to the region, to the state, to other.

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States of the nation that we have things here where people want to be, and when I was on that.

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Core planning team: we spent a lot of time making sure that the language and that statement applied.

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To a broad spectrum, it wasn't just residents who want to be here: it's not just businesses who want.

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To be here, it's not just visitors who want to be here as people who want to be here and so.

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This helps us make what bloomington remarkable so that people and businesses want to be here.

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And we can showcase that we are the community that they're looking for and that they know.

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The one thing I would mention related to the water park is that when the city does approve tiff.

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Resources, those resources typically go for public infrastructure to support the project. It's not.

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You know like that's, that's, usually what tiff is used for, um and the nice thing is is when you do.

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Use tiff and you negotiate with developers. You can ask for certain things and one of the things that.

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We've pushed triple five on pretty hard is making sure that there are really strong sustainability.

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Components built into this project- I know that that's a huge concern for myself and for others.

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On the council and for people in the community- and so I just wanted to emphasize that too.

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It's a fun picture, it does look fun, you gotta admit.

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I know my kids will love it. Oh, the other thing to mention about the water park is something that we.

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Were also very vocal about on council is making sure that bloomington residents get a discount.

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I was very happy to see that that went through all right so and the next update is around gyropolis's.

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Expansion so who here has eaten at gyropolis? Yes, everybody like it is a beloved iconic locally.

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Owned business in bloomington that we love, and so gyropolis we are very excited to say, is about to.

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Triple in size, they are about to uh at do a 2400 square foot edition that will include expanded.

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Indoor seating, as well as outdoor seating, so a fun patio which I live in this neighborhood, so.

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I could not be more thrilled. Let me tell you in addition, the gas station that everybody in.

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Bloomington loves to hate on the corner is getting torn down, and so the construction of this or this.

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Construction will happen through probably start in the spring summer 2023 and go through 2024.

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um And just want to, you know, recognize and appreciate dino and his team, their commitment.

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To bloomington you know it's their successful business operation that put them in a position to.

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Be able to partner with the city and we were happy to support them in creating a tiff district, happy.

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To partner with them on a deed grant and then also, we looked at sewer availability charges that.

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Really helped them to be able to do that outdoor patio, which, of course, is just even more appealing.

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For all of us to want to go there, I will say I've also pretty much begged dino in the council.

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Meeting to expand their hours because I don't know about any of you, but on sunday afternoons, I'm.

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Always like, oh, I wish I could go so we really are treating this project as an example of how this.

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Can partner with local businesses and use the resources that we have at our disposal to.

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Really support them in a much more effective and enhanced way, and we are going to continue to do.

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That work we're going to accelerate that work. This council is very, very committed to supporting small.

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Businesses in bloomington, we are about to launch a small business development center and then we also.

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Just uh kind of redid the I'm going to paint this very simply so our we have an hra, a housing.

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And redevelopment authority and we have a port authority and we recently kind of restructured so.

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That the port authority is taking a much stronger approach on economic development throughout the.

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City before this change, I think city staff would agree that there really wasn't any specific entity.

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That was like really laser focused on economic development throughout bloomington, and so we're.

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Really excited about this change and we believe that it's just going to significantly accelerate.

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The work that we're doing, especially as it relates to supporting small businesses.

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And this is a project that I'm really excited about that I don't think is getting enough.

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Headlines so we're getting an oxendales grocery store here on the east side on the south loop.

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Yes very excited about it. I love oxendales. I've been to a couple in st paul and it's just like.

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The the nicest greatest local grocery store you could go to so I'm very excited for that.

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But what I'm even more excited for is, if you didn't know, bloomington has one food desert in.

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Our city and the usda defines a food desert as a half mile radius, where access to fresh.

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Affordable food can be found and in that area, just east of the mall to bloomington central.

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Station there is no grocery store. That's close by that. Anyone who lives there can.

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Go to easily to get fresh produce to make dinner at home, so I'm extremely excited the oxendales.

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Part of the carbon 31 development is going to be here. This can be a grocery store. There's.

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Going to be a liquor store there, it's going to help support this area that has been talking.

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And screaming at us for years to help support them in this area, and so by having this here.

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I'm so excited we're able to eliminate a food desert and meet the needs of our residents and.

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That's an incredible story that we got to share more and so very happy that this is happening.

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All right, so um I am very, very proud of the work that the city council has been doing over the past.

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Couple years, but I am like probably the most proud of the work that we've been doing around.

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Housing- and uh you probably hear us talk about it as affordable housing and unfortunately, the word.

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Affordable has negative connotations associated with it, but I really just want to emphasize that.

A

When we talk about affordable housing, this is housing that people across the income spectrum.

A

Can afford- and the other thing that I want to say about this- is that the area median income.

A

In bloomington for a family of four is a hundred and eighteen thousand dollars yeah. I saw a jaw.

A

Drop back there, yes, so when we approve affordable so first of all, the city does not build affordable.

A

Housing, so let's just say that we do not build affordable housing developers approach the city.

A

And they ask us to help support them in developing, affordable housing, using the tools that we have at.

A

Our disposal, which often time is tiff but a couple years ago, we also passed an opportunity housing.

A

Ordinance that allows for some flexibility in developments to decrease their costs and be able.

A

To do things like affordable units, so a lot of the units that we have approved are at 60 percent.

A

Area median income, so that's like right around seventy thousand dollars, so I don't know about.

A

You all, but when I think about somebody having a family of four having an income of seventy.

A

Thousand dollars, like I mean that's, not low income right, and so I just want to kind of challenge the.

A

Notion that the narrative that you know the city is building a bunch of affordable housing and you.

A

Know it's not good, but it really is good for our community, because these are places that people.

A

Who are working in hospitality can live? These are places that first-year teachers can live. These are.

A

Places that first-year police officers can live, we have to make sure that we have housing options for.

A

People across the income spectrum- and I will also add that we haven't done nearly enough to support.

A

People who are below 60 people who are living single people who are living on fixed income right.

A

Seniors who are living on fixed income, people who are bringing in thirty to forty thousand dollars a.

A

Year, I think in council member dallessandro's town hall, she talked about what the minimum wage is and.

A

If you worked full-time on minimum wage, it's still only thirty thirty thousand dollars a year so.

A

Right now we have very little housing opportunities for people who make thirty.

A

Thousand dollars a year, if we expect them to only spend 30 percent of their income on housing,.

A

um So go to the next slide here. One last thing that I will emphasize about this is that every.

A

10 years the met council sets affordable housing goals for every community. They are very ambitious.

A

Most communities don't ever reach them, but I am proud to say in bloomington we recently found out.

A

That we are 86 of the way toward our 2030 goals. That means that we are leading the way across.

A

The metro- we are very, very proud of that. Our expectation, though, is also that other communities.

A

Are doing their part to also reach their goals and and help solve this crisis that we're in across.

A

The state and country around having enough housing for people, the one thing I'll say about this too.

A

Is that right now we're about 160 000 units short to actually meet the housing demand in the state.

A

And this is why you know if you just supply and demand housing prices, rent prices continue to.

A

Go up, and so we have to as a community as a state continue to build so that we can meet that demand.

B

And now earn second safely earns sick and safe leave. You probably heard a lot about this.

B

Late last summer, or early last summer, when the city council unanimously voted to approve a.

B

Sick earn sick and safe leave ordinance for the city of bloomington, and this is going to take.

B

Effect starting july 1st of this year, and so the conversation starting again, what's going to happen.

B

What are the policies, and essentially, what this ordinance is going to do is.

B

Allow workers who work in bloomington to access earn sick and safe leave time to take care of.

B

Themselves, their loved ones, their family members in an event of a health emergency.

B

And that's a fantastic opportunity, so people don't have to choose between I'm going to lose a day's.

B

Worth of wages or I'm going to come in sick and get everyone sick and, as we've seen through this.

B

Pandemic that has become the forefront of the conversation of how do we keep our workers safe.

B

So we can continue to function and how can we provide them access and not have fear of losing.

B

Out on choosing between paying the bills or or being sick and not functioning properly, so I'm.

B

Extremely excited for this to come through we're going to be releasing additional information and.

B

Continuing to work with local businesses so that they understand what's coming and what.

B

The ordinance and regulations are going to be, and so as we continue to do that, we'll be releasing.

B

Additional information you can reach out and ask us and we'll be able to provide that, for you.

A

All right, another hot topic, rethinking curbside cleanup so in 2021, the city.

A

Council approved a new plan for handling bulky waste items in a more sustainable.

A

Way with our goal really to be seeing more reuse and recycling in 2018, the city council.

A

Directed staff to study the environmental impacts of the curbside cleanup program.

A

And during the 2019 cleanup, they audited 2 000 cleanup piles right before they were picked up.

A

So after pickers had gone through them, just want to emphasize that and about 35 percent of the.

A

Materials could have been reused or recycled. Instead, they went to the landfill uh in 2020.

A

Curbside cleanup generated 2, 000 tons of garbage, all of which, all of which went to the landfill.

A

So that is equal to 167 city of bloomington, snow plows, all into the dump, and we know that landfills.

A

Create methane gas, which is actually 84 times more potent of a greenhouse gas than even carbon, also.

A

We know that the city of burnsville has approved the expansion of the burnsville landfill, the city.

A

Of bloomington has written numerous letters of opposition kind of calling it mount garbage at.

A

This point I mean the fact of the matter is we have to figure out as a community as a region as.

A

A state how to stop producing so much garbage right, there's only so many places that we can.

A

Take it, we are fortunate. Some of ours goes to the incinerator in minneapolis, but again like we have.

A

To do things to read, use the amount of garbage that we're putting in landfills, so the updated.

A

Program elements include, we will have a curbside cleanup event, but it will be on the even years.

A

So in 2023 we will not have a curbside cleanup in 2024. We will. We will have monthly pickup of.

A

Reusable and recyclable bulky items for customers that are using city, garbage and recycling. So if.

A

You have something that needs to be picked up. You can just call the city and have that done.

A

We will have an annual drop-off event in the fall for recyclable materials, such as appliances, scrap.

A

Metal material, art, mattresses, bicycles and then also paper for on-site paper shredding, and this.

A

Will be open to all residents and then we will also have swap events in the summer for for items.

A

Like sports equipment or gardening tools and again this is open to all residents and then.

A

A few important things for you all to know for residents to know that when we made this change.

A

The the fee that you will see on your bill now is a bulky item management fee that is replacing.

A

Curbside cleanup fee and there's actually a 16 decrease in what that cost will be to you. So we.

A

We approved that decrease just with the changes of the program, and then you will receive a bulky.

A

Item management guide within the next couple of weeks in your your mailbox just to give more.

A

Further details about these different programs and then you will also receive a solid waste.

A

Services guide, which will kind of lay out all of the garbage services, so garbage recycling, organics.

A

Recycling yard waste bulky items hazardous waste and that should be coming in april.

B

And now we're coming up to that time of year, where everyone's going to get this big letter.

B

In your mailbox and be like what is this, I know as a resident myself, it's hard to figure out.

B

What's going on with this valuation notice, and so the city has actually created a wonderful.

B

Video that helps us walk through what this is, what it means. I think we're going to show it.

B

um Correct right so we're going to take a second to show this video so that we.

B

Can see what it, what it means and how you can understand it, and if you have questions we'll.

D

Foreign deputy finance officer, kari carlson and I'm city, assessor tim bulger, we're going to walk through.

D

Two documents that will be arriving in mailboxes in march related to taxes and home valuations I'll.

D

Talk about the 2023 property tax statement and tim will discuss the valuation notice every year.

D

The county city and school district levie total property tax dollar amount that is necessary to.

D

Fund services at the bottom of the 2023 property tax statement, there is a breakout of tax amount.

D

Showing the portions that go to hennepin county, the city of bloomington and the bloomington.

D

School district, each of these separate entities receives approximately a third of the total taxes.

D

The city's 2023 property tax levy was set at 74.5 million, which was a 9.15 percent increase over.

D

2022. I want to spend a little more time sharing you through, what's different this year, keeping a.

D

City running takes a lot of work and resources. Each year, department, budgets and services are.

D

Carefully studied to make sure services are meeting residents needs and making progress on.

D

The community's mission to make bloomington an enduring and remarkable community where people.

D

Want to be to better understand, residents needs last year, staff engaged with the public about.

D

The budget at seven different community events to learn more about what was important to residents.

D

When it came to the budget and city services along with that, the mayor and council discussed.

D

The budget with the community at five town hall forums last fall as well as detailed discussions.

D

At several council meetings throughout the year, the results of the annual national community.

D

Survey are also analyzed for budget topics. We heard from the community that public safety was.

D

A priority and the city council made sure that was the top priority in the 2023 budget. 85 percent of.

D

The tax levy increase is an investment in police and fire services that includes new full-time.

D

Police and fire positions, equipment, training and funds for new fire station construction for every.

D

Dollar of city taxes, paid 50 cents go toward police and fire 25 cents go toward public works.

D

16 cents goes to community development, community services and parks and recreation.

D

And the remaining nine cents goes to paying outstanding debt for roads, reconstruction and.

D

Building construction, such as the new fire station number, four, the city's total proposed levy amount.

D

Is spread out among properties based on their value and type of property, minnesota property.

D

Tax calculations are very complex, but basically properties that have higher values pay a higher.

D

Portion of the tax levy, the 2023 tax statements are based on the property valuations that you.

D

Received last year in march, 2022., the 2024 budget process is just getting started. City staff will.

D

Once again be out in the community the spring and summer gathering input from the public and.

D

Bringing forward information and options to the city council, your property taxes in 2024 will.

D

Be based on the 2023 property valuation notice, which tim will walk you through now, thanks kari.

E

In addition to the 2023 property tax statements that kari explained, 2023 property valuation notice.

E

Are also mailed out in march, as kari said, these will be used to determine your 2024.

E

Property taxes, but the time to question or appeal, your classification or value, is upon a receipt of.

E

That notice, the valuation notice, will show your estimated market value, which is the value used to.

E

Determine the amount of property taxes you will pay the estimated market value of your property.

E

Is determined by the city's assessing division and is based on the market conditions leading.

E

Up to the assessment date of january 2nd each year, our assessing division is responsible for.

E

Accurately, assessing 32 000 parcels of real estate in the city and determining.

E

Their estimated market value, which is the most probable sale price if it were to be sold on the.

E

Open market, if you believe that the property information on your valuation notice is not.

E

Correct or believe the value to be inaccurate, you may appeal: please call our office at.

E

952-563-8722 to discuss your concerns with an assessor if an inspection is needed, we.

E

Can schedule an appointment with you, although most concerns can be resolved by contacting our.

E

Assessing division: there is also an option to appeal by attending the local board of.

E

Appeal and equalization this meeting will be held in the city of bloomington council.

E

Chambers on wednesday april 19th at 6 pm, the local board of appeal and equalization is an.

E

Appointed panel of bloomington residents, who are knowledgeable in real estate, they provide.

E

A fair and objective forum for property owners to appeal the valuation or classification of.

E

Their properties, if, after attending the local meeting, you are still not satisfied with the.

E

Results, you can attend the hennepin county board of appeal and equalization. This will.

E

Be held on monday june 12th at the hennepin county government center in minneapolis. They.

E

Recommend that you call by may 17th to make an appointment for the meeting by the way.

E

These dates are also on the city's website. Remember it's always best practice to contact.

E

The bloomington assessing division first and as soon as you receive your valuation notice.

E

Many concerns can be resolved informally by speaking with our team. Additionally, the.

E

State offers income-based property tax refunds for both homeowners and renters. There's also a.

E

Non-Income based property tax refund available for properties where there has been a large increase.

E

In taxes year over year, that state refund form is called the m1pr and can be found on the minnesota.

E

Department of revenues website, if you have any questions about your valuation notice or questions.

E

About the state's property tax refund program, please contact the city's assessing division at.

E

952-563-8722 or assessing at bloomington mn.gov and we'd be happy to help. You thanks.

D

For watching we're always trying to improve the ways we engage and.

D

Communicate, if you have suggestions for how we can do better at getting resident input.

D

And sharing information, please don't hesitate to contact us with your ideas.

B

All right, um if you haven't, had any experience with our assessor's office, I would recommend if.

B

You have any questions to reach out to them. I have previously and they are a fantastic group.

B

Of people who really want to make sure that we're having the right discussions and we're coming to.

B

An agreement, and so, as tim said in the video most of these issues or discrepancies or whatever you.

B

You see on your statement can be dealt with informally and it saves you time because you.

B

Don't have to go to a bunch of board meetings and then it saves our assessor's time because they're.

B

Able to directly work with you and figure out: how can we we move forward together? So any questions.

B

On the assessor notice or the valuation notice that comes this this month, please feel free to.

B

Reach out to the assessor's office, if it were to us and we'll get you in contact with the right.

B

People to uh to discuss the matters all right, I also just want to say uh that I mean I don't.

A

Know, if you all have noticed, but the way that we develop the budget and approve the tax levy has.

A

Has improved so much, and I just want to thank kari and her team, because when I started on.

A

Council I mean you had to go on to the city website and down like open the budget book.

A

Which, if you printed it, is about this thick I mean it is a massive document super helpful, but.

A

The community engagement component of setting the budget really had not been developed out.

A

And so we felt passionately as a council that we needed to have a lot more easily accessible.

A

Resources for our community to understand the budget understand the tax levy, setting process.

A

That's why kari has been out in the community. Her team has been out in the community listening.

A

To residents about what their priorities are, and so I just want to recognize and appreciate.

A

That transformation that has happened and if you ever have any questions related to the.

A

Budget, we are happy to answer those, so we will move on to questions and I do think we have a.

A

Pretty hard stop at 10 30, I think creekside or 11 30. My apologies, I think creekside is.

A

uh Good at booking their rooms up, and so we want to be respectful of that time. Okay,.

F

Did you guys hear me okay, so the first first one here is about pedestrian and biker safety.

F

Poorly designed intersections, blocked and or obstructed sight lines, speeding, slash running.

F

Stoplights not stopping, etc, etc, etc. Okay, so um I'm not sure who asked the question, but I should.

A

Thank you good guess. I should have guessed. um I just want to say that I really appreciate.

A

The question and I agree with your concerns and I think that others on council also agree. So we.

A

Actually, our public works staff and our planning staff are just about they're, starting literally.

A

I think next week an engagement process to look at our active transportation plan and then also.

A

Our traffic management program at the same time, so two different things but address the concerns.

A

That you are talking about specifically, I think each one of us on council have talked about our.

A

Concerns related to obstructed sidewalks icy, sidewalks people speeding through our.

A

Neighborhoods at way too high of speeds I mean I live in a neighborhood without sidewalks and.

A

My kids bike in the street right and it makes me really nervous and so uh agree, and there are there.

A

Is community engagement and planning happening right now, so would love to engage you in that.

A

Process, if you would be willing, can I just say something: I want to thank the new police chief.

G

Daily, I have now seen six traffic stops along old shock. He wrote in previous administration.

G

I only saw one so I want to thank the three police chief hodges. That seems.

G

Like the police force is starting to crack down on people's speed, I appreciate that.

A

um So just to for people who might be viewing this on youtube, there was a compliment to chief.

A

Hodges on um his leadership, because there is noticing that people are being stopped.

A

Speeding- and it's appreciated, I think, uh just to add one of the other concerns.

B

Is connected so that means slower speeds. That means having quiet lanes, I'm just having blockable.

B

Accessible opportunities for people to walk and explore community, and not just be stuck in your.

B

Building, so that is also part of the conversation we'll be having moving forward. How do we address.

B

The safety concerns, but also, I hope we continue to build and connect together. Yeah, hello, hello,.

B

There it is okay, all right: what is the status of the rfp process for 700 american boulevard west.

A

700 american boulevard west, I might have to throw a lifeline. It's our lyndale and american.

A

Still working on it.

A

Whoever asked that question, I would encourage you, maybe to corner jamie after the meeting to.

A

Get details I had to think about the map. Yes, this question is jenna. What have you done to.

F

Promote small business in bloomington: how does the family leave thing help? How does the family leave.

A

Applies to businesses that have employees of six or more so, the really small businesses.

A

Can choose to provide people paid time off, or I mean they don't they don't have to participate.

A

In that program, so in terms of things that I specifically have done to support small businesses.

A

I mean, I think the launch of the small business development center is a really great example. You.

A

Know it is believe it or not a very innovative thing that we're doing in bloomington and that.

A

Idea actually came out of the racial equity, strategic planning that we did shortly after.

A

We declared racism, a public health crisis and I just kind of saw the turmoil that was happening.

A

In minnesota, due to the pandemic and the murder of george floyd, and so the strategic planning team.

A

Elevated that issue as an idea and I'm proud to say that I was one of the council members.

A

That really advocated for that to move forward and I'm on the port authority and so advocated through.

A

The port authority that we move that project forward, I also will say during the pandemic,.

A

City staff, we made it very clear as a council, but we had to do every single thing in our power to.

A

Support small businesses in bloomington, and so we worked really closely with hennepin county.

A

To make sure our small businesses were getting the resources that were available to them, city.

A

Staff were calling businesses individually making sure that they knew of the support that we could.

A

Provide there were a lot of forgivable loans that were given out to small businesses and um so yeah.

A

So there's a couple of examples: kind of off the top of my head. Just in the interest of time, I.

A

Won't kind of go into more examples, but I'm happy to talk further with whoever asked that question.

F

What is your opinion on a city-wide speed limit of 20 miles per hour? In specifically many streets.

F

Have no sidewalks and are near schools. A 20 mile per hour on these streets would be great.

B

Yeah, I was recently just a couple weeks ago out at olson elementary school and, if you've ever been.

B

At 102nd street there and you've been there at uh drop off or pick up. You can see how fast cars are.

B

Going you can see how many kids are walking around and it is a valid concern and that's part of what.

B

We just spoke about and reevaluating what the speed limits are in the city. How can we make our.

B

Streets safer and how we can continue to connect the bloomington to each other, so I truly believe.

B

That we need to take a broader approach to this. It's been something that's coming for a long time.

B

We've seen other cities have a mandatory, city-wide speed limit, and so, as we start, these conversations.

B

And really start working and digging towards this, we'll definitely be reaching out for community.

B

Engagement to make sure that we're treading the right direction and putting in policies that make.

B

Sense to protect our kids to protect our residents and protect the people who are out and enjoying.

B

Our city so very much looking forward to the work that we're going to be doing coming up here to.

B

Address speed and safety concerns, and I would say that I absolutely support reducing speed limits.

A

Next to schools very, very important. I think the first part of that question was a city-wide speed.

A

Limit of 20 miles an hour which I think would not only be, I think that would pretty much be.

A

Impossible because the city does not, I mean the county has roads, the infrastructure is pretty.

A

Complex but on our local streets we have a lot more authority and things that we can do and so.

A

um Just kind of want to put that out there that we couldn't do a 20 mile per hour, speed limit.

A

Throughout the whole city, but there are definitely places that we should be reducing speeds. I believe.

F

How to politely, correct, really bad info on next door? Whoever can answer that question.

F

It's the nobel peace prize. At this point, I hate to engage in constant fact checking yes,.

B

That's a great question, that's a great question. I mean.

A

I mean book and twitter and I mean I think that that's a problem that we have in society right now.

A

Is the rapid spread of misinformation and the damage that can be done very quickly, and so I.

A

Mean we try our best in the city to have proactive communications if you check out youtube and social.

A

Media we have a lot of videos that highlight a lot of the good work. That's been happening.

A

We also very intentionally, you know, develop communications on some of the contentious.

A

Issues we very intentionally included things like the water park and the expo and curbside today, so.

A

That we can talk about it and have conversations, but I would encourage people, you know if you have.

A

If you see things just reach out to the city, I mean we're not we're not hiding things and.

A

We want to hear honest opinions from residents, and so um please know that sometimes on facebook.

A

I even or on any next door. I don't think things always start out as intentionally misleading or.

A

Misinformation, but it's almost like the game of telephone that we used to play when we were.

A

Little right, like you, tell one person and then the next person tells an s person, but it kind of.

A

Changes the story changes a little bit and I think that I mean I see that happening too right where.

A

What what is actual fact kind of then gets turned into not so fact, and just personally over the last.

B

Few weeks, a couple months, if I got sent an email, I'm putting in the actual link to the actual.

B

Proposal to you so that you know what's going on um like jenna said we have nothing to hide we're.

B

Residents here too, and so we want to continue to see, bloomington be successful, and so, if you have.

B

Questions reach out our city staff is fantastic in answering questions directly or reach out to.

B

Your council members and we'll work to get that information to you as well, so you have it from.

B

The source of, what's actually going on, instead of relying on the 10th person who talked to this.

B

Person and that person now is finally getting to you so please reach out anytime. You have questions.

F

Comments about world expo, I'm dubious thanks. um So whoever asked that question do you want to.

A

Give any other specific questions that we did not presentation that you would.

A

Want to ask otherwise, I think we just I feel like we smoke quite a bit about it.

A

I'm not seeing anybody raise their hand during the march 20th city council meeting. Will there be a.

F

Public hearing about the city code, amendment single and two family residential standards.

F

And comprehensive planned text amendment or will citizens not be allowed to speak to it? Follow-Up.

F

One quick second here follow up: if it is not a public hearing, how do we best reach out for.

F

Concerns it is a public hearing. We had a public hearing the last time we talked about it at a.

A

Council meeting we closed it and then we decided to open up a public. We didn't have to do another.

A

Public hearing, but we decided to open it up again because we know that there are people who want to.

A

Engage in the discussion, and so we will have a public hearing. We encourage everybody to come.

A

Out and learn more at the council meeting and then also express your opinion in the meantime. Please.

A

Reach out to city council members, city staff to just make sure you have accurate information. I.

A

Will honestly say, I have no idea how I'm going to vote on that specific ordinance and like I want to.

A

Hear from residents- and I think it's really important- that people have facts about what.

A

We're actually doing the city is not proposing, you know, buying up properties and building quadplexes.

A

And apartment buildings and neighborhoods right, like that's ridiculous, we're not! That is not the.

A

Proposal so just please make sure you're reaching out to get uh the facts of the situation again.

A

No idea how I'm going to vote personally, but um but really want to make sure that we're getting.

A

Good resident feedback based on accurate information and I'll add to that. This is a.

B

Necessary conversation for us to have so we've the interactions we've had with residents so far have.

B

Been overwhelmingly positive, we want the residents are actively engaging with us to make sure that.

B

We're understanding where their thoughts and their opinions are, but bloomington is a built-out city.

B

If you haven't noticed, we don't have land like plymouth or lakeville, where you can just like.

B

Put up a bunch of houses or redevelop and put up a new mall, we just don't have that space or.

B

That capacity to do that, and so it's a necessary conversation for us to have so that we can best.

B

Chart together with you, the what bloomington is going to look like and how we can support people.

B

Who want to be here so they can live here. They can work here. They can raise their children here.

B

So it's a great conversation for us to have it's not easy by any means, but we'll continue to have.

B

That conversation and continue to have your input so that we can make the best decision for the.

B

Future of bloomington and what the bloomington is going to be. Ultimately, as we look forward.

F

Can you please address proposed residential rezoning? How will you protect homeowners.

F

Neighborhoods from our from over urbanization, congestion, pollution, property values, etc. So.

A

Yeah, I think it's a similar question to the last one. um I will also just emphasize that.

A

If the council were to to move to approve this ordinance, it is very much uh it would impact a.

A

Very small amount of parcels across the city and it the council, wouldn't be doing anything right.

A

Like if people decide to sell their large lots and and they sell to somebody who then is wants.

A

To split it, that person could do that if the lot was big enough, if right again, this would.

A

Only apply to a very small percentage of lots in bloomington, and so um I just again just kind of.

A

Want to emphasize that I know we spoke to it last s yeah and for me the stance I'm seeing on it is.

B

It's a reduction in government regulation if you're a property owner. I firmly believe you.

B

Should have the right to do what you want with your property, and the government should not be.

B

Pushing as many regulations as they can on you on what you can and cannot do with your property.

B

And I'm also a proponent of free market. So if this does get passed, it's up to the property owner like.

B

Jenny said to decide what they want to do, and then it's ultimately up to the free market to decide is.

B

This valuable enough for us to split this and put two homes instead of one home on here and.

B

So there's a lot of different factors that go into this: it's not an easy decision by any means. I have.

B

My concerns regarding you, and so we have a couple weeks to continue to have these conversations with.

B

Staff with residents, and so we'll continue to have this conversation and we're very thankful.

B

That you continue to engage with us in a positive way, so that we can really make the right decision.

A

And I also will just emphasize too that again we're not the current r1 zoning district is.

A

For single and two family homes we're not changing that, it's still for single and two.

A

Family homes, the thing that is changing is well. I haven't talking points here, but it's like lot.

A

Size requirements and setbacks from the front of the road, and so it's again it when you actually.

A

Look at how many parcels would be eligible to be split and then have a single or two family.

A

Home build it's a pretty small portion of your properties and that's not even like putting into.

B

Account like topography right like some of these, might be on uh overlook and if you've ever been.

B

Over there, they kind of drop off pretty fast so like even though you might qualify. There are.

B

Other factors that could come in that won't allow that anyway, so lots of things again to consider.

C

A

um So you can email, we just have a city council address that you can send one email and I'll go.

A

To all of us, and then we can respond individually. But really, if you want to talk to all of us at the.

A

Same time it has to be during the public hearing. Otherwise we would be in violation of open meeting.

A

Yeah, but I know lots of different council members myself included, have had individual.

B

Conversations with individual residents based on their concerns and so like we are not up.

B

Against, like no we're not going to have coffee with you and chat about it, so send us an email.

B

And we'll continue the conversation and keep talking. So that's something as a new council.

B

Member that I've been really happy and excited about is just the actual conversations that are.

B

Happening between council members and residents when we are out and part of this community so.

B

Please don't feel like you can't reach out to us, and I will also say that it's through resident.

A

Conversations that so many really good questions and very valid points have been brought up right.

A

Things that we may not be thinking about, and and so when we hear from residents- and we hear.

A

The good questions and you know concerns then we know to ask those questions in the council.

A

Meetings- and so it's super helpful- I mean I really please reach out. Please email, please call so.

F

This is uh two pieces on this card. One you've probably addressed pretty significantly already.

F

But I'm going to read it: 160 houses short. What is being done to meet the needs of family housing.

F

That's underlined and in parentheses three to four bedroom: housing, affordability, too yep, so.

A

That's part of the single and two family. The zoning changes is to at least have a couple.

A

More opportunities for new houses to be built in bloomington. We also recently made some changes to.

A

Our accessory dwelling unit policy and so people can actually build accessory dwelling units on.

A

Their property now so, let's say you have like a multi-generational housing situation. You want.

A

Your mother-in-law to live in an accessory unit on your property, or you would like, I think, some.

A

I think we can do like you can have you can rent it out. I mean I shouldn't say that I don't know.

A

I'm blinking, but um so uh the other thing is that the housing and redevelopment authority.

A

Is really focusing focusing strongly on kind of the housing continuum and has a kind of revived.

A

Focus on increasing access to home ownership and that work is just kind of getting off of the.

A

Ground erica coleman is our hra administrator and really leading that. But there's a lot of.

A

Really cool work, that's underway. For example, the met council just released some properties that.

A

They had bought from the city many many years ago in the scenario that 35 would be expanded.

A

Not going to happen, and so they gave those they gave those properties back to the city. We are.

A

Now talking with some different developers to build some homes on those properties and.

A

They would be affordable options for people, so those are just some examples.

F

Second piece: although the world expo sounds like an exciting opportunity, have unintended.

F

Consequences of such large events been addressed. Some of these are increase in human trafficking.

F

Increase influx of drugs and crime, what will be done to keep the residents of bloomington.

F

And the metro area from the impact of these unintended consequences and then there's an.

F

Asterisk human trafficking is increasing and our students statewide, are being recruited contact.

F

Act united.org for verification. So thank you for that question all very valid concerns that we have.

B

We we don't want anyone to fall into something like human trafficking and I think the benefits.

B

Of having state and federal support with this is, we will have resources that are beyond what our.

B

Police force can do our police forces focused here on bloomington to address the needs of.

B

Bloomington and adding this on top of it is another. You know, lift that we're asking them.

B

To do so having the support from the state and the federal level gives us the resources to reduce the.

B

Work that our personal, our own police department, has to do and gives them insight into how we can.

B

Address this from the state address this from the federal level to reduce that and make sure.

B

That if this event does come to bloomington, it is successful because we're promoting healthy people.

B

Healthy planet- that's part of it and so having those resources, I think, is going to be something.

B

That will be invaluable to us that we'll be able to continue to use moving forward, and I will say.

A

We we do have experience doing this already. So, for example, when the super bowl was here a lot of the.

A

Super bowl activities were actually in bloomington, and so we have experience working with state and.

A

Federal authorities on increased security, and so we have yeah. We have that experience. We have some.

A

Of the models in place, and so we will continue to work very very closely with those partners.

A

And make sure that we have the resources in place to ensure the security of bloomington.

F

My understanding that rs-1 lots are not subject to the proposed city, residential.

F

Code changes, so I assume planning looks at all r1 lots the same. They are not.

F

Was there any considerations that all r1 lots and areas are not the same, especially when considering.

F

Safety wildlife quarters, wetlands and topography question mark and finally, do you both agree.

F

With the assumption that all r1 lots should be considered the same in the proposed code, changes.

A

So I think this is a great question and if you actually watch the council meeting, I asked a.

A

Very similar question, so I look forward to staff answering that at our council meeting, because I.

A

Agree like I think we have. The point that I made is that we have a couple of residential zones and.

A

Then we have a lot of different other zones right for commercial, industrial and it. I do think that.

A

There is opportunity for us to be a little more.

A

um I don't think they're homogeneous right. I don't think r1 lots are all the same and.

A

So I do think there is an opportunity for us there and but we'll continue the conversation.

B

Yeah and the analogy I was using is a broad brush approach or a fine brush approach, and so I think.

B

There's opportunity for us to really evaluate what a broad sleeping, broad brush proposal like.

B

This means or to have the consideration to have okay. How can we better serve the city by having.

B

A finer approach, and so those are all questions that have been asked and we will continue to.

B

Get answers to so that we can make the right decision for that. It appears that participation.

F

In the organic ways to pick up program is not being utilized by very many residences.

F

Realizing that is me that it is mandated by hennepin county, but the way it is done is up.

F

To the municipality, why not do it like ramsey county, where it is picked up by the same truck.

F

As recycling there are so many trucks rumbling around on pickup day, burning, fuel and wear and.

F

Tear in the streets, it's almost like it was before when competing trash companies were hired by the.

F

Resident and lots of different trucks roared through the neighborhoods. So maybe it's time.

F

To take another look at what the city approved all valid points, uh I I this brings me back to. I don't.

B

Know when I was a kid I remember like recycling being brought up and napping in a recycling bin.

B

Instead of just a garbage bin and the same thing happened, it takes time to get adoption for people.

B

To understand how do we use this, and then it takes time for the city to figure out? What's.

B

The best way to do it and make it more efficient, so very valid. I think conversations will continue.

B

To have as we address, how do we make this more accessible to people, how to make it easier for.

B

People to use and ultimately how do we keep our streets safe so that people understand how to use.

B

Them properly so, yes continued conversations to improve this process. I also just really appreciate.

A

The suggestion to look at ramsey county's model because I think that's a great idea.

F

What are the plans for the two acre empty lot at 86th and penn? um So these are the town homes.

A

The penn lake townhomes that have been under discussion. I think this is probably one of the.

A

First votes that I took on council in 2020. So if you recall ultimately, the city had voted.

A

Had voted no to not have the development move forward, there was litigation and unfortunately, the.

A

City did not win, and so the developer is moving forward with townhomes is that okay, jamie.

A

Okay, so we don't have an active proposal right now: okay, but yes,.

F

Why aren't smaller electric buses used around town instead of the big, mostly empty gas guzzlers.

A

So the city does not run the bus system. The met council does met transit. However, I will.

A

Say that starting in 2002 met, transit did start transitioning to electric buses, and I.

A

Think, just within the last couple years they have a zero emissions plan. They've created a.

A

Zero emissions plan that they are beginning to operationalize, and so I agree that it's super.

A

Concerning and we know that transportation is one of the biggest contributors to.

A

um You know climate change, the transportation sector, and so we know it's really important.

A

um We are very supportive of met council's efforts to transition to electric buses and so very valid.

A

Concern and point, and as we look at how to best meet the needs of our residents and transportation.

B

We continue to have those conversations with met, transit and also we have our strategic.

B

Priorities and baked into that is environmental sustainability, and so we want to make sure our.

B

Strategic priorities are going to be met by our partners as well, so those are conversations we're.

B

Going to continue to have and make sure that we're hitting strategic priorities and making.

B

Sure that residents who need transportation are going to be taken care of, and so at the moment it.

B

Is what we have set up now, but we're going to be looking forward to how we can improve that.

F

I thought that the receipt of the safer grant in the amount of 527 k would help reduce the levy.

F

Because it would cover some of the costs of the firefighters. However, that wasn't the case.

F

Then, when I listen to the budget presentation, there was a line item called reduction in.

F

Strategic priority transfer revenue in the amount of 729 kid. What is that.

F

I asked my council person and he said he would call me about it, but never did.

A

uh Do you want to talk about the same program and then I can talk about strategic priorities.

A

Part of the question sure the 527k reduction that the person is referring to actually isn't related.

F

To the safer grant or the safer firefighters, it's related to us, starting and reducing the.

F

Number of additional firefighters: we are hiring from six to three and starting them actually in.

F

July, rather than in january, so that 527k savings was based upon starting three firefighters in july.

F

Rather than january that pretty close curry all right- I got my fact checker here. So all right.

A

And so then the other piece around the strategic priorities fund. So um for many many many years.

A

Long before this version of the city council, the city council has a strategic priorities fund and.

A

That allows the council to work on priorities that may be emergent or maybe kind of one-time expenses.

A

It's really varied, I think, over the years. So when the pandemic hit- and we kind of had this perfect.

A

Storm of the commercial property values tanking. So then the residents experiencing more of the.

A

Property tax burden, of course, things being shut down loss of revenue- I mean. Obviously it was just.

A

Kind of the perfect storm right. The city council knew at that time that even if we passed a zero.

A

Percent levy, property, taxpayers of bloomington we're going to see a huge increase in their.

A

Property tax bill because of those shifts in the market, and so we had decided to put aside a big.

A

Chunk of money in that strategic priorities fund, we called it tax levy, stabilization money, so that.

A

We could use those resources to offset some of that property tax burden. That residents were going.

A

To be facing the the challenge with that approach, which we felt very passionately in that moment,.

A

um The chat was the right thing to do. The challenge is that it creates a structural.

A

Imbalance moving forward in our budget, so um so we had planned for several years to be infusing. These.

A

Resources into the property tax conversation right, the levy conversation to offset some of those.

A

Property tax increases, but we have to start doing that less and less over the years. Because again it.

A

Is a structural imbalance in the budget? It's not sustainable, and so um that is what I think the.

A

Question was referring to. We had originally planned on doing. I think infusing, like 1.8.

A

Million into uh the the budget- and we reduced it down to 1.1 just again to address that structural.

F

The veep food pantry in bloomington is facing a continuing high demand for food in response to.

F

Inflation and the impending reduction of snap benefits as covid supports, are being reduced.

F

The food pantry provides food support to families and seniors in bloomington.

F

Richfield edina and parts of south minneapolis, the 2021 online annual report for veep, indicates.

F

That it provided services to 23 236 people and had 1 785 volunteers. It also shows it.

F

Received the following donations: city of edina, a hundred thousand plus city.

F

Of richfield, a hundred thousand plus city of bloomington 25 000 to 49 9999 questions.

F

What amount has the city of bloomington donated to veep in 2022 and is there a way that the city.

F

Of bloomington bloomington can donate more funding to veep with proposals pending for a 345 million.

F

On a water park and to spend 35 million on the ice garden, it seems that additional funding.

F

David could be donated by the city to provide for the basic food needs of its families and seniors.

A

I am a former veep board member and I've spent most of my career working.

A

In the area of hunger, relief and food access, and so totally.

A

Understand the concern here since the beginning of the pandemic, the city has.

A

um Given veep around 500 000- and this is in kind of social work, uh support.

A

Emergency rent assistance- and I think there was one other bucket.

A

Those are the two primary things and we continue to support veep. I don't know what our specific.

A

2022 number is, and we can look that up but agree that it's a huge concern, especially as some of.

A

The covet emergency provisions are being rolled back and snap benefits are being decreased for.

A

Family, it's super concerning these are also conversations that are happening at the state.

A

Legislature, because a lot of the big hunger relief organizations are incredibly concerned about the.

A

Impact that it's going to have on the hunger relief system and their ability to be able to.

A

Meet the needs across that system, so I mean I would definitely be open to the opportunity of.

A

Looking for more resources for veep um jamie's smiling at me, he's like, of course, you would.

A

um I don't know if you want to add anything else. No, um you know, I just think veep is a valuable.

B

Partner that we have here in bloomington, um that's the the question asked her question.

B

Asker mentioned, like we support a broad regional um uh base, and so we will continue to prioritize.

B

And make sure that these types of agencies that support those cities support the region are, are.

B

Being able to function and help support as much as possible. So um thank you for asking that question.

B

Yeah, the other thing I will add, and then I'll turn over to jamie, is that our public health department.

A

Does a really great job of working with community organizations like veep and oasis and cornerstone.

A

um And we have chws now that are out working in community trying to really make sure that people.

A

Know about the other resources and support that they have available through that to them. Whether.

A

That be through some government services or making sure that they're on you know wic or.

A

Getting them on the list for section 8, so there are a variety of things that we can do to also.

A

Help offset just kind of the daily living costs for people, maybe not us, specifically as a city.

A

Providing those resources but connecting them to the right resources confirm with the cities.

H

They sent to be was also from the federal funds that came from paris funding and the.

H

Arp the american rescue plan, which is what the city of bloomington did so in a normal.

H

Non-Pandemic year, richfield edina in bloomington are sending about the same amount of money.

F

That's all the questions, good job, everyone, yes,.

F

Sure we got 10 minutes. Are there any other questions.

G

How to feed our future happened then, if we have all these great organizations in minnesota that.

G

250 million dollars: where was our government? There was nobody questioning, there's nobody in here. You.

G

Know I second heart and sorry about it. Takes money out of my checking account every month.

G

I seen 250 million dollars for the second artist totally agree totally agree. You know I personally.

A

Don't know feeding our again. I worked in the hunger relief for a long time and I don't know.

A

That organization- I didn't know that organization or the people at that organization, to my knowledge.

A

And I know that people in the hunger relief community people at second harvest and hunger.

A

Solutions, veep, loaves and fishes are really frustrated and angry about that, because you.

A

Know it makes the hunger relief system itself look questionable when it shouldn't be it's a high. It's.

A

A system that is has so many checks and balances in it, and so the fact that this happened, like.

A

I mean I, don't, I don't know a lot about and I can't speak to.

A

um But I will just say that I think you're not the only one, that's frustrated by what happened.

A

What was that? Do you have ideas? What happened.

G

I will no, I mean I used to I mean it was just fraud. I have no idea how they did.

A

It or what happened, but I mean I know what I read in the newspaper just like everybody else,.

B

Yeah, I don't think we we have uh the details for that yeah.

B

Yeah, yes, yeah yeah and my personal feel on it is it's unfortunate that we have a minority.

B

Of people who act this way, I think one of the big things that I look forward to being on council is.

B

Creating community, because I think when we create community you care for your neighbors, you care for.

B

Each other you care for the city, and so when bad actors and things like this happen, the residents.

B

The people who are engaged and involved are the ones that are making sure it doesn't happen and.

B

So, by the time it gets the the city level where we have to make policy around it. We know what.

B

You're thinking we know that our community is engaged and working together, and so that's where.

B

I firmly believe that, as we continue to build community and connect residents throughout the.

B

City, these types of things are what we're going to be able to have be our secondary and tertiary.

B

Effects of everything that we're doing so very excited to be here for this and and very thankful.

B

For all of you to come out here today, we didn't know what to expect whether it's gonna be like.

B

Three people or like a hundred, so thank you so much for being here today. Thank you and please.

B

As we're getting ready to wrap up here as you're walking out put a sticker on your your district.

B

So we can know where you're coming from and please continue to engage us. We are the at-large members.

B

And so we want to take that broad bloomington view. So please let us know so we can go pester. Your.

B

District council member too, and get uh get your concerns addressed. So thank you so much. Thank you.