[0:05] HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE AND THIS  IS THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 5.  [0:10] HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I HOPE YOU HAD A  GREAT HOLIDAY SEASON AND I’M HOPING THAT   [0:15] 2025 WILL BE A SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ALL OF US  INDIVIDUALLY, AND FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.  [0:20] OUR COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY WAS THE FIRST  MEETING OF THE YEAR, AND THAT INITIAL MEETING   [0:25] ALWAYS INCLUDES A LOT OF HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS. THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDED BASIC ITEMS THAT   [0:30] MOST CITIES GENERALLY TO DO LIKE DESIGNATING  AN OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER AND A DEPOSITORY FOR   [0:35] CITY FUNDS, AND APPROVING THE APPOINTMENT  OF A BOND COUNSEL AND AN EXTERNAL AUDITOR.  [0:41] WE ALSO MADE A NUMBER OF OFFICIAL COUNCIL  APPOINTMENTS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. YOUR   [0:45] COUNCIL DOESN’T JUST WORK ON MONDAY NIGHTS,  EACH COUNCIL MEMBER ALSO REPRESENTS THE CITY   [0:49] ON OTHER BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS THAT ARE EITHER  INTERNAL, LIKE THE HRA BOARD OR THE SUSTAINABILITY   [0:55] COMMISSION, OR EXTERNAL LIKE THE 494 CORRIDOR  COMMISSION, THE AIRPORT NOISE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE,   [1:01] OR THE STATE COMMUNITY HEALTH SERVICES  ADVISORY COMMITTEE. IN MY ROLE AS MAYOR,   [1:06] I ALSO SERVE ON THE BLOOMINGTON PORT AUTHORITY,  THE HENNEPIN COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING   [1:11] COMMITTEE, AND ON THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS  OF BLOOMINGTON MINNESOTA TRAVEL AND TOURISM,   [1:15] AND METRO CITIES. THOSE APPOINTMENTS ARE  PART OF OUR REGULAR COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITIES,   [1:20] AND ARE IN ADDITION TO THE DAY JOBS THAT  COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE AS WELL AS FAMILY AND   [1:25] PERSONAL COMMITMENTS. IN SHORT, YOU’RE GETTING  YOUR MONEY’S WORTH FROM YOUR CITY COUNCIL.  [1:30] ANOTHER IMPORTANT TASK ON MONDAY WAS TO APPROVE  THE 2025 CITY OF BLOOMINGTON LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM.   [1:36] THE TITLE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM SOUNDS VERY  FORMAL, BUT THE PLATFORM IS SIMPLY A LIST OF   [1:41] PRIORITIES THAT BLOOMINGTON WILL EITHER WORK ON OR  SUPPORT DURING THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.  [1:48] NOW, SOME PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED THAT THE CITY HAS  LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES BUT IT’S PRETTY STANDARD   [1:53] PRACTICE FOR CITIES TO DO SO AND THERE HAS BEEN  A LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES DOCUMENT FOR BLOOMINGTON   [1:58] FOR AS LONG AS I’VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL. OTHERS MAY WONDER IF IT’S APPROPRIATE FOR   [2:02] ONE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT – THE CITY – TO BE  LOBBYING AT ANOTHER LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT – THE   [2:06] STATE – BUT AGAIN IT’S NOT AT ALL UNCOMMON. THERE’S A SAYING IN THE PUBLIC POLICY WORLD:   [2:12] IF YOU’RE NOT AT THE TABLE, YOU’RE ON THE MENU.  I’D PREFER BLOOMINGTON TO BE AT THE TABLE.  [2:18] THE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM INCLUDES TWO ITEMS THAT  WE HOPE TO SEE INCLUDED IN THE STATE BONDING BILL;  [2:24] THE FIRST IS THE NORTH CENTRAL SANITARY SEWER  PROJECT THAT WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT. THE PROJECT   [2:30] IS NEEDED SEWER UPGRADES ALONG 494 IN THE  SOUTHTOWN AND PENN AMERICAN AREA. THE TOTAL   [2:36] COST IS $26 MILLION, AND BLOOMINGTON IS REQUESTING  $13 MILLION FROM THE STATE TO COVER HALF THE COST.  [2:43] THE SECOND IS THE NORMANDALE BOULEVARD TRAIL WHICH  WAS PART OF THE CITY’S BONDING REQUEST LAST YEAR   [2:48] BUT AS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THERE WASN’T A BONDING  BILL SO WE’RE BACK AT IT AGAIN. THE TRAIL WOULD   [2:53] BE A REPLACEMENT AND BIG UPGRADE FOR THE TRAIL  THAT RUNS ALONG NORMANDALE BOULEVARD BETWEEN   [2:59] 94TH STREET AND OLD SHAKOPEE ROAD. THE TOTAL  COST OF THAT PROJECT IS $9 MILLION AND AGAIN,   [3:05] THE CITY IS ASKING THE STATE TO CONTRIBUTE  HALF OF THAT COST OR $4.5 MILLION.  [3:10] OTHER PRIORITY ITEMS IN THE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA  INCLUDE LIFTING THE LIQUOR PROHIBITION AT DWAN   [3:15] GOLF COURSE. RIGHT NOW, STATE LAW ONLY  ALLOWS THE SALE OF 3.2 BEER AT DWAN.  [3:21] EXTENDING FOR ANOTHER SIX YEARS THE PROPERTY  TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE RAMADA PROPERTY. THAT’S   [3:25] THE OLD THUNDERBIRD HOTEL SITE THAT IS A  PRIME DEVELOPMENT SITE OWNED BY THE CITY   [3:30] AND WE’RE ASKING FOR A BIT MORE TIME TO  DETERMINE THE BEST USE OF THE PROPERTY.  [3:34] FUNDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF ROOF-TOP SOLAR  PANELS ON CITY BUILDINGS, INCLUDING BLOOMINGTON   [3:38] ICE GARDEN, CIVIC PLAZA, THE 82ND STREET WATER  RESERVOIR, AND THE PUBLIC WORKS NORTH GARAGE.  [3:45] AND FUNDING FOR BLOOM IN BLOOMINGTON,  BLOOMINGTON’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  [3:50] BEYOND THE BLOOMINGTON SPECIFIC ITEMS,  THE ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM SPEAKS   [3:54] TO THE CITY’S PRIORITIES ON BROAD TOPICS LIKE  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING,   [4:00] AND PUBLIC SAFETY. THE CITY USED A NEW PROCESS  THIS YEAR TO DEVELOP THE PLATFORM THAT INCLUDED   [4:05] A NEW STAFF LEGISLATIVE ACTION TEAM. THEY  WORKED CLOSELY WITH OUR CITY LOBBYING TEAMS,   [4:11] THE CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE, AND THE COUNCIL  TO CREATE A LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM THAT   [4:15] REFLECTS BLOOMINGTON’S PRIORITIES AND NEEDS. AND FINALLY, THE COUNCIL HAD A GOOD DISCUSSION   [4:21] ON A VARIETY OF STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS IN  BLOOMINGTON CITY CODE THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO   [4:26] SMALL BUSINESSES WHICH CAN SOMETIMES PRESENT  BARRIERS TO BUSINESSES OPENING AND OPERATING   [4:32] IN BLOOMINGTON. THE COUNCIL ADDED THIS PROJECT TO  THE PLANNING COMMISSION WORK PLAN LAST YEAR WITH   [4:36] THE GOAL OF IDENTIFYING AND POSSIBLY CHANGING  SOME OF THESE STANDARDS. THE RESULTS OF THESE   [4:41] EFFORTS COULD POTENTIALLY MAKE IT EASIER AND LESS  COSTLY TO START A SMALL BUSINESS IN BLOOMINGTON.  [4:47] THE STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS WE TALKED  ABOUT WEREN’T ANYTHING BIG OR FANCY;   [4:51] IT WAS ACTUALLY PRETTY MUNDANE ITEMS INCLUDING  EXTERIOR BUILDING MATERIALS, PARKING AND LOADING,   [4:57] ROOFTOP EQUIPMENT SCREENING, TRASH AND RECYCLING  STORAGE, ODOR CONTROL, AND GREASE INTERCEPTORS.   [5:05] NOTHING ON THAT LIST MAY JUMP OUT AT YOU, UNLESS  YOU’RE AN ENTREPRENEUR TRYING TO GET YOUR SMALL   [5:09] BUSINESS OPEN. THE COUNCIL AND STAFF HAVE BEEN  WORKING HARD TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE BLOOMINGTON MORE   [5:14] SMALL BUSINESS FRIENDLY AND THESE PROTENTAIL  CODE CHANGES ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THAT.  [5:19] THE LIST OF ITEMS DISCUSSED MIGHT ALSO  JUMP OUT AT YOU IF YOU’RE THE OWNER OR   [5:24] RESIDENT OF A NEIGHBORING PROPERTY THAT  COULD BE IMPACTED BY THESE CHANGES.  [5:28] THE TRICK OF COURSE, IS TO BALANCE THE POTENTIAL  BENEFITS TO SMALL BUSINESS WITH ANY POTENTIAL   [5:33] NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND  WELFARE OF THE LARGER COMMUNITY. AS YOU MIGHT   [5:39] EXPECT, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS, AND THOSE  CONSIDERATIONS VARY GREATLY FROM SITE TO SITE   [5:44] AND BUSINESS TO BUSINESS. THERE IS CERTAINLY  A DESIRE TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS, BUT THE CITY   [5:50] ALSO NEEDS TO PROTECT PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR  LIMIT NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.   [5:56] THAT’S WHY THERE HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE  A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON THIS   [6:01] TOPIC. THE PLANNING COMMISSION PREVIOUSLY REVIEWED  THIS INFORMATION AND WILL HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING IN   [6:05] MARCH, AND THE CITY COUNCIL HAS A PUBLIC HEARING  TENTATIVELY SET FOR APRIL. AND OF COURSE, YOU CAN   [6:11] LEARN MORE AND WEIGH IN AT LET’S TALK BLOOMINGTON. THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEKS COUNCIL MINUTE.   [6:16] THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY. UNTIL  NEXT TIME, STAY SAFE BLOOMINGTON.