[0:05] HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE, AND THIS  IS THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 17TH.  [0:10] ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL HAD A  GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW TO USE A NEW   [0:15] STATE REVENUE SOURCE CREATED SPECIFICALLY  TO PROVIDE HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD.  [0:20] BACK IN 2023, THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE  APPROVED A SALES AND USE TAX FOR THE SEVEN-COUNTY   [0:26] METRO AREA. REVENUES COLLECTED FROM THE TAX  ARE DISTRIBUTED TO CITIES AND COUNTIES AS   [0:32] LOCAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING AID, OR LAHA FOR SHORT. LAHA FUNDS CAN SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF PROJECTS,   [0:39] AND HOW THE FUNDS GET USED IS UP TO THE CITY.  BLOOMINGTON RECEIVED $567,000 OF LAHA IN 2024 AND   [0:47] THE BEST ESTIMATE IS THAT THE CITY WILL RECEIVE  AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR GOING FORWARD.  [0:52] BLOOMINGTON HAS NO SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING  ACTIVITIES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THIS FINANCIAL   [0:56] ASSISTANCE. BACK IN DECEMBER THE COUNCIL,  HRA, AND PORT AUTHORITY MET FOR A FACILITATED   [1:03] DISCUSSION ON HOW LAHA FUNDS COULD BE BEST USED. STAFF CREATED A PROPOSAL FOR HOW TO USE LAHA   [1:10] BASED ON TAKEAWAYS FROM THAT DISCUSSION, AND THE  PROPOSAL WAS BROUGHT TO THE HRA AND PORT AUTHORITY   [1:15] IN FEBRUARY, AND TO THE CITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY. THE PROPOSAL, APPROVED BY RESOLUTION OF THE CITY   [1:21] COUNCIL, SPLITS OUR ANNUAL LAHA FUNDS –  50 PERCENT FOR AFFORDABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP   [1:27] PROGRAMS AND 50 PERCENT FOR AFFORDABLE  HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION.  [1:32] SO, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN PRACTICE? FOR HOMEOWNERSHIP, THIS COULD MEAN HELPING   [1:37] FAMILIES MAKE THEIR DOWN PAYMENT ON A  NEW HOME, OR SUPPORTING THE DEVELOPMENT   [1:41] OF NEW AFFORDABLE SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES. FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND PRESERVATION,   [1:46] THIS COULD BE REHABILITATION OF EXISTING  AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO KEEP IT IN GOOD CONDITION,   [1:50] OR FUNDING NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS  THAT ALIGN WITH THE CITY’S GOALS.  [1:54] THE BLOOMINGTON HRA WILL ADMINISTER  THESE FUNDS AND REPORT TO THE COUNCIL   [1:58] EACH YEAR. I’M EXCITED THAT THESE FUNDS  WILL BE PUT TO WORK IN BLOOMINGTON TO   [2:03] SUPPORT HOUSING THAT PEOPLE CAN AFFORD. ALSO ON MONDAY NIGHT, OUR CITY’S SUSTAINABILITY   [2:08] COMMISSION PRESENTED ITS WORK PLAN FOR 2025.  AS YOU’VE HEARD ME SAY OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS,   [2:13] EACH CITY BOARD AND COMMISSION COMES IN FRONT  OF THE COUNCIL ANNUALLY TO PRESENT THEIR WORK   [2:17] PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR. WE’VE BEEN WORKING OUR  WAY THROUGH OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS OVER THE   [2:22] PAST FEW WEEKS, AND IT WAS NICE TO HEAR FROM  THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION ON MONDAY NIGHT.  [2:26] IN 2025, THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION WILL FOCUS  ON FIVE KEY PRIORITIES TO MAKE BLOOMINGTON A   [2:32] GREENER, MORE RESILIENT COMMUNITY. THE COMMISSION  AIMS TO ENHANCE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION,   [2:38] INCENTIVIZE SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOR, EDUCATE AND  ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY, REVIEW AND UPDATE POLICIES,   [2:44] AND SUPPORT ONGOING OUTREAC…