[0:05] HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE AND THIS  IS THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 10.  [0:10] I WANT TO START TODAY BY ADDRESSING SOME CONCERNS  THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED ONLINE REGARDING THE   [0:15] COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER PLANNED  FOR THE CREEKSIDE SITE, AND HOW IT RELATES TO   [0:20] SOME PROPERTIES ON NEWTON AND MORGAN AVENUES. AS YOU KNOW, AFTER VOTER APPROVAL IN NOVEMBER   [0:26] 2023, THE CITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING  A NEW COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER   [0:31] THAT WILL SUPPORT RECREATIONAL AND WELLNESS  ACTIVITIES, ALONG WITH COMMUNITY PROGRAMS   [0:36] FOR RESIDENTS OF ALL AGES THROUGHOUT OUR  COMMUNITY. THIS NEW CENTER WILL REPLACE BOTH   [0:41] CREEKSIDE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDING. NOW, THERE’S BEEN SOME CONFUSION ONLINE,   [0:46] WITH SOME PEOPLE EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT THE  CITY IS TRYING TO TAKE HOMES TO ACCOMMODATE   [0:51] MORE SPACE FOR THE NEW CENTER. THAT’S NOT AN  ACCURATE REPRESENTATION OF WHAT’S HAPPENING.  [0:58] WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ARE INITIAL  CONVERSATIONS WITH PROPERTY OWNERS ON   [1:02] NEWTON AND MORGAN AVENUES REGARDING  THE POSSIBILITY OF VOLUNTARY SALES   [1:07] OF PROPERTIES TO THE CITY. THE GOAL HERE IS  TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO PARKING AND GREEN SPACE   [1:12] AROUND THE NEW FACILITY. THE PROPERTIES WE’RE  TALKING ABOUT ARE THOSE CLOSEST TO 98TH STREET.  [1:18] LAST FALL, THE CITY’S CONSULTANT REACHED  OUT TO THESE PROPERTY OWNERS TO GAUGE   [1:22] THEIR INTEREST IN SELLING THEIR PROPERTIES  VOLUNTARILY. BASED ON THOSE CONVERSATIONS,   [1:28] CITY STAFF ARE PREPARING TO MAKE OFFERS TO  OWNERS WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST TO PURCHASE THESE   [1:33] PROPERTIES. THESE OFFERS WILL BE CONDITIONAL ON  CITY COUNCIL OFFICIAL ACTION AT A PUBLIC MEETING.  [1:39] THE CATALYST FOR THESE CONVERSATIONS HAS  COME FROM COMMUNITY FEEDBACK. WE’VE HEARD   [1:43] THAT PEOPLE WANT MORE ACCESS TO NATURE AND  GREEN SPACE TO COMPLEMENT THE NEW FACILITY,   [1:48] INCLUDING OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING AREAS. WITH THE  CURRENT DESIGN, WE’RE A BIT TIGHT ON SPACE   [1:52] FOR THAT KIND OF OUTDOOR PROGRAMMING,  SO WE’RE EXPLORING WAYS TO EXPAND IT.  [1:57] AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE’VE DONE SEVERAL ROUNDS OF  ENGAGEMENT TO GATHER FEEDBACK, INCLUDING A SURVEY,   [2:02] A PROJECT KICK-OFF EVENT, FOCUS GROUPS, AND  A RECENT EVENT WHERE COMMUNITY MEMBERS COULD   [2:07] REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THE SCHEMATIC DESIGN.  WE’VE BEEN LISTENING TO WHAT YOU’VE TOLD US,   [2:12] AND THAT’S GUIDING THESE CONVERSATIONS. I’M SURE MANY OF YOU HAVE HEARD THE OLD   [2:16] QUOTE ABOUT A LIE TRAVELING HALFWAY AROUND THE  WORLD WHILE THE TRUTH IS GETTING IT’S BOOTS ON.   [2:21] THAT’S NOT EXACTLY THE CASE HERE. I DON’T BELIEVE  THIS IS A LIE BUT RATHER A MISUNDERSTANDING. THE   [2:28] SAME CONCEPT APPLIES FOR A MISUNDERSTANDING  OR CONFUSION, ESPECIALLY NOW WHEN SO MANY   [2:33] PEOPLE RELY ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR THEIR “NEWS”. TO CLARIFY ONCE MORE—WE ARE HAVING CONVERSATIONS   [2:40] WITH THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO SEE IF THEY’RE  INTERESTED…