[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 REDU…