[0:05] HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE AND THIS IS  THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 29.  [0:11] AT OUR MEETING ON MONDAY, THE CITY COUNCIL ENACTED  A MORATORIUM AND BEGAN A STUDY OF AIRPORT PARKING   [0:17] FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. THE  MORATORIUM WENT INTO EFFECT MONDAY NIGHT AND   [0:22] WILL BE IN PLACE FOR NO LONGER THAN A YEAR OR  UNTIL THE STUDY IS COMPLETE AND ANY PROPOSED   [0:27] CODE AMENDMENTS ARE ADOPTED. SOME QUICK BACKGROUND:  [0:31] RIGHT NOW THERE ARE TWO OFF-SITE AIRPORT  PARKING FACILITIES IN BLOOMINGTON;   [0:35] THE PARK AND FLY AND PARK AND GO FACILITIES  IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE SOUTH LOOP.   [0:40] THERE IS ALSO ONE HOTEL THAT LEGALLY OFFERS  AIRPORT PARKING TO PEOPLE WHO STAY THERE,   [0:45] AND THE CITY HAS RECEIVED MULTIPLE INQUIRIES FROM  OTHER GROUPS TO ALLOW AIRPORT PARKING IN THEIR   [0:50] FACILITIES. AND IT’S NO SECRET THAT MANY HOTELS  ACROSS THE CITY ALLOW AIRPORT PARKING FOR HOTEL   [0:57] PATRONS WITHOUT THE REQUIRED APPROVALS. WE ALSO KNOW THAT STAFF IN SEVERAL CITY   [1:02] DEPARTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY SPENDING A LOT OF TIME  WORKING INDIVIDUALLY WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THOSE   [1:07] EXISTING AND POTENTIAL AIRPORT PARKING FACILITIES. AND, CITY STAFF ARE ALSO WORKING ON THE UPDATE OF   [1:14] THE SOUTH LOOP DISTRICT PLAN, WHICH IS OF COURSE  THE AREA IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.  [1:20] WITH ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT BALLS IN  THE AIR, THE COUNCIL AND STAFF AGREED   [1:24] THAT IT MAKES SENSE TO PUT A TEMPORARY PAUSE ON  THINGS, DO A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF THE TOPIC,   [1:30] AND LOOK FOR WAYS TO ADDRESS A VARIETY OF ISSUES  IN A COMPREHENSIVE AND CONSISTENT MANNER. WE ALL   [1:36] AGREED THAT’S A MUCH BETTER APPROACH THAN WORKING  IN A REACTIVE MODE AND MAKING ONE-OFF DECISIONS.  [1:42] THE STUDY WILL INCLUDE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT  WITH OPERATORS AND LOOK AT ISSUES LIKE WHERE   [1:48] OFF-AIRPORT PARKING IS OCCURRING, WHERE  EXPANSION IS PROPOSED, THE COMPATIBILITY   [1:53] OF THOSE LOCATIONS, AND IF THERE’S A NEED  FOR ADDITIONAL STANDARDS OR DESIGN CRITERIA.  [1:58] SOME SPECIFICS ON THE MORATORIUM, AS I MENTIONED  IT WILL LAST NO LONGER THAN ONE YEAR AND THE   [2:02] COUNCIL HAS THE OPTION OF LIFTING IT EARLIER;  IT PROHIBITS ANY NEW AIRPORT PARKING FACILITIES   [2:08] WHICH MEANS THE CITY WON’T ACCEPT OR ACT ON  ANY APPLICATIONS OR REQUESTS RELATED TO AIRPORT   [2:13] PARKING; AND THE CITY WON’T TAKE ANY ENFORCEMENT  ACTIONS ON EXISTING AIRPORT PARKING FACILITIES.  [2:20] IN SHORT, I THINK THIS IS A SENSIBLE APPROACH.  OPERATORS AND USERS SHOULDN’T SEE ANY MAJOR   [2:25] IMPACTS, AND WHILE THIS CERTAINLY ISN’T  A BURNING ISSUE IN BLOOMINGTON, IT’S ONE   [2:30] THAT NEEDS A BIT OF CLARIFICATION AND STRUCTURE.  THE PAUSE ON ACTIVITY AND A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK   [2:35] AT THE TOPIC WILL GIVE US EXACTLY THAT. ALSO ON MONDAY, THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE   [2:41] PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT  PLANS FOR A PARTIAL REDEVELOPMENT   [2:45] OF THE SOUTHTOWN SHOPPING CENTER SITE. AS I’M SURE YOU KNOW, THE DEMOLITION OF   [2:49] THE FORMER HERBERGER’S AND TOYS R US BUILDINGS  HAS MADE WAY FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF SOUTHTOWN.   [2:54] BEING LOCATED ON 494 RIGHT AT PENN AVENUE AND  AMERICAN BOULEVARD NOT ONLY MAKES THE SITE A   [3:00] PRIME REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT’S ALSO  AN IMPORTANT FRONT DOOR FOR ALL OF BLOOMINGTON.  [3:06] THE DEVELOPMENT PLANS APPROVED ON MONDAY CALL  FOR A TWO-LEVEL, 120,000 SQUARE FOOT DICK’S HOUSE   [3:12] OF SPORT RETAIL BUILDING THAT WOULD BE LOCATED  JUST TO THE EAST OF THE EXISTING KOHL’S STORE,   [3:17] AND A COMPLEMENTARY 18,000 SQUARE FOOT OUTDOOR  ATHLETIC FIELD ON THE NORTH SIDE ALONG 494.   [3:24] A FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PHASE WOULD CONSIST  OF A FOUR-STORY MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING.  [3:29] THE PLANS ALSO SHOW THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE  PARKING AREAS FOR ROUGHLY THE EASTERN HALF OF   [3:34] THE SITE. RIGHT NOW, OTHER THAN A SMALL PATCH OF  LILAC BUSHES, THERE IS VIRTUALLY NO LANDSCAPING   [3:39] ON THE SITE. THE RECONSTRUCTED PARKING AREA  WOULD BE BROUGHT UP TO CITY CODE STANDARDS   [3:44] WITH LANDSCAPING AND LIGHTING IMPROVEMENTS. THE CURRENT SITE IS ALSO VERY UNINVITING FOR   [3:49] PEDESTRIANS, SO THE PLAN CALLS FOR SIDEWALK  CONNECTIONS THROUGH THE PARKING LOT, SIDEWALKS   [3:54] TO BE ADDED ALONG KNOX AVENUE NORTH OF AMERICAN  BOULEVARD, AND A CONNECTION TO THE ORANGE LINE BUS   [4:00] RAPID TRANSIT AND PEDESTRIAN TUNNEL UNDER 494. IF YOU WATCHED MONDAY NIGHT, YOU SAW THAT THE   [4:06] COUNCIL HAD A COUPLE OF LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ON  SEPARATE BUT RELATED DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS IN   [4:11] THE PENN AMERICAN AREA. AND DURING THE SOUTHTOWN  DISCUSSION WE TALKED QUITE A BIT ABOUT LAND USE,   [4:17] DENSITY, AND WHAT THIS PRIME PIECE OF REAL ESTATE  COULD OR SHOULD LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE. SO I’M   [4:24] GOING TO GET A BIT WONKY ON YOU FOR JUST A MINUTE. A MAJORITY OF SOUTHTOWN IS ZONED C-3 FREEWAY   [4:31] COMMERCIAL CENTER. LARGE-SCALE, REGIONAL SHOPPING  CENTERS ARE AN INTENDED USE WITHIN THE C-3 ZONING   [4:37] DISTRICT. OBVIOUSLY, THAT’S WHAT SOUTHTOWN IS. BUT, A ROUGHLY THREE-ACRE AREA – FOR SCALE THAT’S   [4:44] SLIGHTLY LARGER THAN A DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS BLOCK  – AT THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF AMERICAN BOULEVARD   [4:49] AND KNOX AVENUE IS ZONED C-5 FREEWAY MIXED USE.  SPLITTING THE ZONING LIKE THIS IS KIND OF UNIQUE   [4:57] AND IT’S THE RESULT OF A NEGOTIATED DEVELOPMENT  AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PROPERTY OWNER, KRAUS   [5:01] ANDERSON, AND THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON TO ASSIST  IN IMPLEMENTING THE PENN AMERICAN DISTRICT PLAN.  [5:08] THE PENN AMERICAN DISTRICT PLAN CALLS FOR GREATER  DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY THAN WHAT HAS BEEN IN AND   [5:13] AROUND SOUTHTOWN SINCE IT OPENED IN 1960. THAT  NORTHWEST CORNER OF AMERICAN AND KNOX IS ZONED   [5:19] C-5 WITH THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF SEEING HIGH DENSITY  RESIDENTIAL ON THE SITE. IT’S A GREAT SPOT FOR   [5:26] RESIDENTIAL GIVEN IT’S PROXIMITY TO THE AMENITIES  IN THE PENN AMERICAN DISTRICT AND THE FACT THAT   [5:31] IT’S RIGHT NEXT TO AN ORANGE LINE BRT STATION.  IN THIS PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN,   [5:37] THE CITY COUNCIL ADOPTED A CONDITION WHICH  MAINTAINS THE EXPECTATION THAT THIS SITE   [5:42] WILL BE USED FOR HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL. RIGHT NOW, THERE AREN’T ANY FORMAL DEVELOPMENT   [5:47] PLANS FOR THIS AREA ZONED C-5. ONE OF THE  MAJOR REASONS IS BECAUSE THE SANITARY SEWER   [5:53] IN THE AREA DOESN’T HAVE THE CAPACITY  TO SUPPORT THAT TYPE OF PROJECT. YET.   [5:59] BUT THAT IS A DISCUSSION FOR ANOTHER TIME. WORK RELATED TO THE DICKS HOUSE OF SPORT AND   [6:03] THE PARKING LOT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATER  THIS FALL. STAY TUNED FOR MORE UPDATES.  [6:09] AND FINALLY, ON MONDAY NIGHT THE COUNCIL  HAD THE FIRST OF OUR IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS   [6:13] REGARDING THE PROPOSED 2025 BUDGET. FIRE  CHIEF ULIE SEAL PROVIDED INFORMATION ON   [6:18] THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET REQUEST FOR NEXT  YEAR, AND DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICER KARI CARLSON   [6:23] GAVE AN OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PRIORITIES FUND. AS YOU MIGHT RECALL, BACK IN SEPTEMBER THE COUNCIL   [6:29] APPROVED A PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY INCREASE OF 11.5  PERCENT. I’VE TALKED IN THE PAST HOW A GOOD CHUNK   [6:35] OF THAT INCREASE GOES TOWARD COMPENSATING  THE PEOPLE WHO PROVIDE THE OUTSTANDING   [6:39] SERVICES THAT BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS HAVE COME TO  EXPECT, AND TOWARD THE CITY PRIORITIES OF PUBLIC   [6:45] SAFETY – POLICE AND FIRE. THE PRESENTATION  WE HEARD FROM CHIEF SEAL BRINGS THOSE TWO   [6:50] PIECES OF THE BUDGET TOGETHER VERY CLEARLY. THE PROPOSED 2025 FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET WOULD   [6:56] INCREASE BY JUST UNDER $2.1 MILLION. THE  LIONS SHARE OF THAT INCREASE WOULD GO TO   [7:02] COMPENSATION FOR EXISTING FIREFIGHTERS, THE HIRING  OF NEW FIREFIGHTERS IN NEW FULL TIME ROLES, AND   [7:08] PROVIDING THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT FOR ALL OF OUR  FIREFIGHTERS SO THEY CAN KEEP BLOOMINGTON SAFE.  [7:13] IT WAS ALSO EXCITING TO HEAR THAT ONCE AGAIN THE  BLOOMINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL RECEIVE A FEDERAL   [7:18] SAFER GRANT THIS YEAR. THE GRANT OF MORE THAN $6  MILLION WILL ALLOW FOR THE EXPEDITED HIRING OF   [7:24] 18 ADDITIONAL FULL TIME FIREFIGHTERS AND WILL  COVER THEIR SALARIES AND BENEFITS FOR THREE   [7:29] YEARS. THIS COMES ON THE HEELS OF A 2022  SAFER GRANT THAT ALSO PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY   [7:35] TO HIRE 18 FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTERS. THE CITY’S BUDGET WEBSITE INCLUDES THE   [7:40] PRESENTATIONS AND DETAILS FROM MONDAY  AND A PLETHORA OF BUDGET INFORMATION.   [7:45] I’D ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE A LOOK. THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEKS COUNCIL   [7:48] MINUTE. THANKS MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.  UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY SAFE BLOOMINGTON.