[0:05] HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE, AND THIS  IS THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF APRIL 20.  [0:10] OUR COUNCIL MEETING THIS WEEK WAS A STUDY SESSION.  NO VOTES TAKEN ON ANY ITEMS, JUST AN OPPORTUNITY   [0:16] TO HEAR FROM STAFF, TO LEARN, AND TALK AS A  COUNCIL ABOUT RELEVANT TOPICS. THE MEETING   [0:22] WAS IN A CONFERENCE ROOM INSTEAD OF THE COUNCIL  CHAMBERS, BUT IT WAS LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED,   [0:27] AND LIKE ALL OF OUR MEETINGS YOU CAN WATCH  IT ANY TIME ON THE CITY’S YOUTUBE CHANNEL.  [0:32] AT THE MEETING, THE COUNCIL RECEIVED A DETAILED  BRIEFING ON THE FEDERAL GRANT FUNDING THAT THE   [0:37] CITY RECIEVES. CURRENTLY, BLOOMINGTON BENEFITS  FROM A VARIETY OF MAJOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS   [0:43] INCLUDING HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS, COMMUNITY  DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS, PUBLIC HEALTH GRANTS,   [0:48] THE WIC NUTRITION PROGRAM, AND THE SAFER  GRANT SUPPORTING OUR FIREFIGHTER STAFFING.  [0:54] FOR 2025, BLOOMINGTON IS SCHEDULED TO RECIEVE  JUST UNDER $20 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING   [1:00] RELATED TO THOSE PROGRAMS. THAT’S FUNDING THAT  WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT,   [1:05] THAT BLOOMINGTON APPLIED FOR AND WAS AWARDED,  AND THAT IS PART OF BLOOMINGTON’S 2025 BUDGET   [1:10] AND SERVICE DELIVERY PLANS. BUT AS WE’VE ALL SEEN RECENTLY,   [1:14] THE AVAILABILITY OF FEDERAL FUNDING HAS BECOME  INCREASINGLY UNRELIABLE AND UNPREDICTABLE.  [1:20] SO, CITY STAFF HAS BEEN DOING SOME CONTINGENCY  PLANNING. ON MONDAY, THE COUNCIL TALKED ABOUT   [1:26] THE CITY’S OPTIONS IF FEDERAL FUNDING GOES  AWAY. OPTIONS LIKE PURSUING ADDITIONAL   [1:31] GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, SHIFTING FUNDING BASED ON  PRIORITIES, LEVERAGING PARTNERSHIPS AT THE LOCAL,   [1:37] COUNTY, OR STATE LEVELS, AND OTHER POSSIBLE  STRATEGIES. I APPRECIATE STAFF INITIATING   [1:42] THIS CONVERSATION AND I KNOW THEY’LL  CONTINUE TO EXPLORE AND VET OTHER OPTIONS.  [1:46] OF COURSE, ANOTHER OPTION IS TO STOP DOING  THE PROGRAMS FUNDED BY FEDERAL GRANT DOLLARS.   [1:53] THE IMPACT OF SIMPLY ELIMINATING MANY OF THE  ACTIVITIES IS CONCERNING. IT’S ONE THING TO   [1:59] LOSE FUNDING FOR A WELL PROJECT, OR FOR HIGHWAY  PLANNING AND CONSTRUCTION. IT’S ANOTHER THING TO   [2:05] LOSE FUNDING FOR THE 1,800 FAMILIES THAT COUNT  ON THE WOMEN, INFANTS, AND CHILDREN SUPPLEMENTAL   [2:11] NUTRITION PROGRAM. OR THE 180,000 PEOPLE WHO RELY  ON PUBLIC HEALTH PLANNING AND ACTIVITIES. OR THE   [2:18] 608 FAMILIES WHO HAVE A PLACE TO LIVE BECAUSE OF  THE SECTION 8 HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHERS PROGRAM.  [2:25] THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CITIES AND THE  FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS LONG STANDING,   [2:29] AND IT’S BUILT ON TRUST AND ON SHARED VALUES  AND PRIORITIES THAT HAVE BEEN IN PLACE FOR   [2:34] DECADES IN THIS COUNTRY. VALUES LIKE MAKING  SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT. OR   [2:40] THAT WE KEEP PEOPLE HEALTHY. OR THAT THE POOREST  IN OUR COMMUNITY HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.  [2:46] I CERTANLY AGREE THAT ALL PUBLIC SPENDING  SHOULD BE OPEN TO SCRUTINY, EVALUATION,   [2:51] AND POSSIBILY REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION. BUT  I ALSO BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SPENDING SHOULD   [2:57] REFLECT THE VALUES AND PRIORITIES OF A COMMUNITY,  AND IF DOLLARS ARE COMMITTED, THEY SHOULDN’T BE   [3:02] PULLED BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUDGET YEAR. THE CITY WILL CONTINUE PRIORITIZING STRATEGIC   [3:08] PLANNING TO ENSURE WE CAN MAINTAIN  QUALITY SERVICES WHILE ADAPTING   [3:13] TO AN EVOLVING FEDERAL FUNDING LANDSCAPE. THIS WEEK, THE BLOOMINGTON HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY   [3:18] CAME TOGETHER FOR THE 27TH ANNUAL DIAMOND SERVICE  AWARDS. THE DIAMOND SERVICE AWARDS HONOR AND   [3:24] CELEBRATE THE FRONTLINE SERVICE PERSONNEL IN THE  BLOOMINGTON HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. THE AWARDS ARE   [3:30] HOSTED BY BLOOMINGTON MINNESOTA TRAVEL AND TOURISM  AND THIS IS THE ONLY AWARDS PROGRAM OF IT’S KIND   [3:35] IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. IN SO MANY WAYS, THE HARD  WORKING PEOPLE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY ARE THE   [3:41] FACE OF BLOOMINGTON FOR VISITORS. THE WORK THEY DO  AND THE OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE THEY PROVIDE   [3:47] IS A VITALLY IMPORTANT PIECE OF BLOOMINGTON’S  REPUTATION AS A WORLD CLASS VISITOR DESTINATION.  [3:53] DIAMOND SERVICE AWARDS ARE PRESENTED IN  OSCARS-LIKE FASHION ACROSS 14 DIFFERENT   [3:58] CATEGORIES INCLUDING BEST HOUSEKEEPING, GUEST  SERVICES, FOOD PRODUCTION, AND TRANSPORTATION.   [4:04] THE EVENING IS A JOYOUS CELEBRATION  THAT INCLUDES GLITZ AND GLITTER, MUSIC,   [4:09] FIRED-UP AWARD WINNERS, AND PROUD, SUPPORTIVE  CO-WORKERS CHEERING ON THEIR COLLEAGUES.  [4:15] CONGRATULATIONS TO THE AWARD WINNERS AND TO  EVERYONE WHO WAS NOMINATED. THANKS TO ALL OF   [4:20] YOU FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK. AND THANKS TO  BLOOMINGTON TRAVEL AND TOURISM FOR SPONSORING   [4:25] THIS ONE-OF-A-KIND CELEBRATION HIGHLIGHTING THE  DEDICATION AND EXCELLENCE OF THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE   [4:30] BLOOMINGTON A WELCOMING DESTINATION FOR VISITORS. FINALLY TODAY, SPRING IS HERE, WHICH MEANS   [4:36] BLOOMINGTON COMES OUT OF HIBERNATION  AND GETS TOGETHER FOR A CALENDAR FULL   [4:40] OF COMMUNITY EVENTS! HERE’S JUST A TASTE OF  WHAT’S GOING ON OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS:  [4:44] THIS SATURDAY, APRIL 26 IS THE CREEKSIDE  BOUTIQUE OPEN HOUSE. IT RUNS FROM 9 A.M. TO   [4:50] 1 P.M. AND WILL SHOWCASE HANDCRAFTED ITEMS  MADE BY OUR TALENTED CREEKSIDE CRAFTERS.  [4:55] ALSO ON THE 26 IS THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EXPO HERE  AT CIVIC PLAZA. THIS FREE EVENT IS DESIGNED TO   [5:01] SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH KIDS AGED FIVE AND YOUNGER.  THERE WILL BE RESOURCES, MUSIC, CRAFTY ACTIVITIES,   [5:08] AND A BABY GEAR SWAP. EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO BE  PART OF THE SWAP. ALL ITEMS ARE GIVEN AND TAKEN   [5:16] FREELY, AND YOU DON’T NEED TO DONATE ITEMS TO  SHOP THE SWAP. THE EXPO AND ALL THE ACTIVITIES   [5:22] ARE HAPPENING FROM 11 A.M. TO 2 P.M. NEXT WEEK, BLOOMINGTON WILL CELEBRATE   [5:26] OUR VOLUNTEERS WITH A VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION  EVENT ON TUESDAY THE 29 HERE AT CIVIC PLAZA.  [5:32] AND ON WEDNESDAY THE 30 PLEASE JOIN US  FOR AN ASIAN AMERICAN, NATIVE HAWAIIAN,   [5:36] AND PACIFIC ISLANDER CELEBRATION  AT NORMANDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.  [5:40] IF YOU’RE READY TO GET OUTDOORS,  JOIN OUR VOLUNTEER CREW FOR A GARLIC   [5:44] MUSTARD PULL AT PARKERS PICNIC GROUNDS ON MAY 4. AND SATURDAY MAY 17 IS THE BIG DOUBLE HEADER. OPEN   [5:51] HOUSES AT BOTH PUBLIC WORKS AND THE BLOOMINGTON  POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALWAYS A GREAT TIME.  [5:56] THAT’S A LOT AND THAT’S JUST A TASTE OF THE EVENTS  SCHEDULED FOR THIS SPRING AND SUMMER. CHECK OUT   [6:02] THE FULL CALENDAR OF EVENTS ON THE CITY'S WEBSITE. THAT WRAPS UP THIS WEEK’S COUNCIL MINUTE. THANKS   [6:08] FOR WATCHING, AND UNTIL NEXT  TIME, STAY SAFE, BLOOMINGTON!