[0:05] HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE AND THIS  IS THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 26.  [0:10] ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE COUNCIL HAD A VERY  GOOD DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLE CO-LIVING   [0:15] AND SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING OPTIONS IN  BLOOMINGTON. THE COUNCIL, THE PLANNING COMMISSION,   [0:21] THE HRA BOARD, AND STAFF HAVE ALL BEEN  WORKING ON THIS TOPIC SINCE LAST SUMMER,   [0:26] AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT TODAY TO BE SURE  THAT YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND THIS COMPLEX ISSUE.  [0:32] ALL ASPECTS OF HOUSING; THE COST, THE  AVAILABILITY, THE TYPES OF HOUSING, IT   [0:37] ALL CONTINUES TO BE A DIFFICULT ISSUE TO ADDRESS  NOT ONLY HERE IN BLOOMINGTON OR IN MINNESOTA,   [0:43] BUT ACROSS THE COUNTY. YOU’VE HEARD ME TALK  BEFORE ABOUT HOW HERE IN BLOOMINGTON WE’VE DONE   [0:47] A GOOD JOB OF ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING HOUSING  THAT IS AFFORDABLE TO HOUSEHOLDS THAT EARN 60 TO   [0:53] 80 PERCENT OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME. AREA MEDIAN  INCOME IN THE MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL/BLOOMINGTON   [0:59] REGION IS ABOUT $118,000 FOR A FAMILY OF  FOUR, SO THAT’S HOUSEHOLDS MAKING $71,000   [1:05] TO $94,000 DOLLARS A YEAR. THOSE ARE FOLKS  IN OUR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY OR OUR HIGH-TECH   [1:11] MANUFACTURING BUSINESSES OR TEACHERS. WHERE  BLOOMINGTON AND OTHER CITIES ARE STRUGGLING   [1:16] IS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING FOR PEOPLE  AT LOWER INCOME LEVELS – HOUSEHOLDS AT 30 TO 50   [1:23] PERCENT AREA MEDIAN INCOME. PEOPLE LIKE RETIREES  OR PEOPLE WORKING AT MINIMUM WAGE OR ANYONE WHO   [1:29] NEEDS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING IN THEIR LIFE. SO ONE OPTION THAT MANY CITIES HAVE BEEN   [1:34] LOOKING INTO IS THE CONCEPT OF CO-LIVING  OR SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY DWELLINGS.  [1:40] SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY, OR SRO, REFERS TO A  TYPE OF HOUSING WHERE INDIVIDUALS RENT SMALL,   [1:46] SINGLE ROOMS WITHIN A BUILDING, WITH ACCESS TO  SHARED KITCHENS AND OTHER COMMUNAL LIVING SPACE.   [1:52] THINK A DORMITORY OR A FRATERNITY OR SORORITY  HOUSE KIND OF SETTING. ESSENTIALLY, EACH PERSON   [1:57] HAS THEIR OWN PRIVATE ROOM BUT SHARES COMMON  AREAS FOR COOKING AND OTHER FUNCTIONS WITH OTHER   [2:02] RESIDENTS IN THE BUILDING. SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY  HOUSING PRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE BASIC,   [2:09] DIGNIFIED, INDEPENDENT HOUSING THAT’S AFFORDABLE  AND ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE WHO CAN AFFORD MODEST   [2:14] RENTS WITH LESS PUBLIC SUBSIDY NEEDED. SOME QUICK BACKGROUND HERE; FOR A VARIETY   [2:21] OF REASONS, SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY HOUSING EARNED  A BAD REPUTATION IN THE MID 1900S – SOME OF IT   [2:26] JUSTIFIED, SOME THE RESULT OF DISCRIMINATION. AND  I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, IF APPROVED, SROS WOULD   [2:33] BE SUBJECT TO THE REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS  OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON RENTAL HOUSING PROGRAM.   [2:38] BLOOMINGTON’S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH STAFF WOULD  DO PROPERTY MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS AS WELL AS   [2:43] CONDUCT ROUTINE INSPECTIONS OF HOUSING UNITS. BUT THE REPUTATIONAL ISSUES CAUSED MANY CITIES,   [2:48] INCLUDING BLOOMINGTON, TO WRITE CITY CODE OR  ZONING ORDINANCES IN WAYS THAT DISCOURAGED OR   [2:54] OUTRIGHT PROHIBITED SROS. FOR EXAMPLE, SPECIFIC  LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF ADULTS THAT CAN BE LIVING   [3:01] UNDER THE SAME ROOF, ABOVE AND BEYOND THE MINIMUM  REQUIREMENTS IN THE BUILDING CODE ARE COMMON PARTS   [3:06] OF ZONING ORDINANCES, AND THAT’S TYPICALLY  REFLECTED IN A CITY’S DEFINITION OF A FAMILY.   [3:11] THOSE RESTRICTIONS ARE LIKELY WELL INTENTIONED,  BUT DON’T TAKE INTO ACCOUNT COMPLEX OR UNIQUE   [3:16] RELATIONSHIPS OF PEOPLE LIVING TOGETHER TODAY. SO IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS, THE PLANNING   [3:21] COMMISSION, THE HRA BOARD, AND THE CITY  COUNCIL HAVE ALL HAD CONVERSATIONS ON   [3:25] THE TOPIC OF SROS AND STAFF HAS MADE  SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON A DRAFT ORDINANCE.   [3:30] BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES TO CONSIDER,  LIKE HOW TO REGULATE OCCUPANCY LEVELS, AND WHAT   [3:37] STANDARDS TO ADOPT TO MAKE A DEVELOPMENT FUNCTION  WELL IN BLOOMINGTON WHILE MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE   [3:43] RENTS. ON MONDAY THE COUNCIL SUPPORTED STAFF’S  RECOMMENDATION TO ADJUST RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY   [3:48] LIMITS TO “SIX OR FEWER ADULTS, OR ANY NUMBER OF  ADULTS WHO ARE ALL RELATED TO EACH OTHER BY BLOOD,   [3:54] MARRIAGE, GUARDIANSHIP, OR DOMESTIC PARTNERSHIP  RECOGNIZED UNDER MINNESOTA LAW, TOGETHER WITH   [3:59] MINOR CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE, LIVING IN A SINGLE  HOUSEKEEPING UNIT.” THE SEPARATE OCCUPANCY LIMITS   [4:05] OF THE STATE BUILDING CODE WOULD STILL APPLY AS  WOULD OTHER PROPERTY MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS.  [4:10] THIS MAY SEEM LIKE DEEP IN THE WEEDS STUFF, BUT  IT’S THE TYPE OF SPECIFICITY NEEDED TO ENSURE A   [4:17] BALANCE BETWEEN A SUCCESSFUL ORDINANCE, AND  THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. THERE WAS ALSO   [4:22] DISCUSSION MONDAY ABOUT PARKING REQUIREMENTS, THE  MINIMUM SIZE OF ROOMS, WHERE SROS CAN BE LOCATED,   [4:28] AND REQUIREMENTS FOR COMMON AREAS. LIKE EVERYTHING WE DO, THE GOAL IS   [4:32] TO FIND A BALANCE. HOW DOES THE CITY FACILITATE  AND INCENTIVIZE THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS DEEPLY   [4:39] AFFORDABLE HOUSING TYPE INTO BLOOMINGTON’S  HOUSING CONTINUUM, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME   [4:43] PROTECTING THE HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE OF  THE LARGER COMMUNITY? THAT’S THE ON-GOING AND   [4:49] VERY THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION THAT THE COUNCIL, THE  PLANNING COMMISSION, THE HRA BOARD, AND STAFF HAVE   [4:55] BEEN HAVING. AND IT’S A CONVERSATION THAT YOU CAN  BE PART OF. THERE IS A LET’S TALK BLOOMINGTON PAGE   [5:00] DEDICATED TO THIS TOPIC, AND PUBLIC HEARINGS AT  BOTH THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND THE CITY COUNCIL   [5:05] ARE TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH AND APRIL. FINALLY TODAY, ON MONDAY THE COUNCIL HEARD   [5:10] AN UPDATE FROM THE BLOOMINGTON PORT  AUTHORITY STAFF ABOUT THE WORK UNDERWAY   [5:14] TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES IN BLOOMINGTON. BLOOMINGTON HAS ALWAYS HAD A STRONG BUSINESS   [5:18] COMMUNITY, BUT GENERALLY THE CITY TOOK A HANDS-OFF  ROLE WHEN IT CAME TO DIRECT SUPPORT OF BUSINESSES   [5:24] ESPECIALLY SMALL BUSINESSES. LIKE A LOT OF THINGS,  THAT CHANGED DURING THE PANDEMIC. IN 2020 THE CITY   [5:31] USED COVID RESPONSE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL CARES  ACT TO OFFER FORGIVABLE LOANS TO INDEPENDENT   [5:36] CONTRACTORS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT INCREASED  CONNECTION TO AND AWARENESS OF SMALL BUSINESS   [5:42] NEEDS REALLY GOT THE BALL ROLLING ON THIS. SINCE  THEN, THE PORT AUTHORITY UNDERWENT AN ECONOMIC   [5:48] DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS AND IT WAS  CLEAR THAT SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP   [5:53] SHOULD BE KEY FOCUS AREAS FOR THE WORK OF THE  PORT AUTHORITY. AND THEY HAVE REALLY BEEN WORKING.  [5:58] THE GOALS OF THEIR WORK ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD  AND SOUND. THE PORT IS WORKING TO BUILD   [6:02] RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST; REDUCE DISPARITIES;  CHANGE PERCEPTIONS ABOUT BLOOMINGTON;   [6:07] CONNECT BUSINESSES WITH RESOURCES AND EACH OTHER;  AND OF COURSE, TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN BUSINESS,   [6:13] AND GROW BLOOMINGTON’S TAX BASE AND EMPLOYMENT. THEY’RE DOING THIS IN A LOT OF WAYS. THE CITY NOW   [6:18] HAS A STAFF MEMBER WORKING AS A DIRECT POINT OF  CONTACT FOR THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. EACH MONTH,   [6:22] STAFF GETS OUT AND VISITS BLOOMINGTON BUSINESSES,  I’VE HAD THE CHANCE TO TAG ALONG ON A COUPLE OF   [6:27] THOSE VISITS AND THE BENEFITS ARE UNDENIABLE.  THE CITY NOW HELPS BUSINESSES CELEBRATE BIG   [6:32] ACHIEVEMENTS LIKE GROUND BREAKINGS AND RIBBON  CUTTINGS. AND CITY STAFF FROM PLANNING, PORT,   [6:37] AND OUR DESIGN REVIEW COMMITTEE HAVE FORMALIZED  A PROCESS TO IDENTIFY REGULATIONS THAT LIMIT   [6:43] SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND THEY LOOK  FOR OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT.  [6:47] BLOOMINGTON IS ALSO OFFERING A VARIETY OF DIRECT  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO BUSINESSES THROUGH   [6:52] PROGRAMS LIKE THE SITE AND FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT  PROGRAM AND OF COURSE HATCH BLOOMINGTON. AND,   [6:57] WE’RE NOT DOING THIS ALONE. BLOOMINGTON HAS STRONG  PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS REGIONAL CHAMBER   [7:02] OF COMMERCE, HENNEPIN COUNTY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT  OF EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THE   [7:07] MINNESOTA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER. FROM A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE,   [7:12] THE PORT IS ALSO DRIVING THE BLOOM IN BLOOMINGTON  INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. AND THAT’S A NICE SEGUE TO   [7:17] TELL YOU THAT APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN FOR  THE BLOOM IN BLOOMINGTON INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.   [7:22] THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR OF BLOOM IN BLOOMINGTON,  AND THE BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL THIS YEAR IS TO   [7:27] MORE THAN TRIPLE THE NUMBER OF INTERNS PLACED  COMPARED TO THE PROGRAM’S FIRST YEAR. BLOOM   [7:32] IS A FANTASTIC PROGRAM DESIGNED TO EQUIP YOUNG  PEOPLE WITH VALUABLE LEADERSHIP SKILLS, REAL-WORLD   [7:37] EXPERIENCES, AND CONNECTIONS TO LOCAL EMPLOYERS.  THE PROGRAM IS OPEN TO YOUNG PEOPLE AGES 16 TO 24,   [7:44] AND IT’S A PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.  APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN NOW; GO TO THE BLOOM WEBSITE   [7:50] FOR MORE INFORMATION. AND IF YOU’RE AN EMPLOYER  INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THIS GREAT PROGRAM,   [7:56] CONTACT THE FOLKS IN OUR PORT AUTHORITY. THAT WILL DO IT FOR THIS WEEK’S COUNCIL   [8:00] MINUTE. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN  ME. UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY SAFE BLOOMINGTON.