HELLO BLOOMINGTON. I’M MAYOR TIM BUSSE, AND THIS IS THE COUNCIL MINUTE FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23. THIS WEEK, WE CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE IMPACTS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THE ANNOUNCED DRAW DOWN OF FEDERAL AGENTS AS I’VE SHARED PREVIOUSLY, BLOOMINGTON HAS JOINED OTHER METRO CITIES INSISTING ON CONSTITUTIONAL, LAWFUL ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES THAT DO NOT UNDERMINE PUBLIC SAFETY OR DESTABILIZE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SERVICES.OUR PRIORITY REMAINS CLEAR: WE WANT ALL RESIDENTS TO FEEL SAFE CALLING 911, SENDING THEIR KIDS TO SCHOOL, ACCESSING CITY SERVICES, GOING TO WORK, SEEING THEIR DOCTOR, GETTING GROCERIES – IN SHORT, LIVING THEIR LIVES. WHILE WE DON’T YET KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OPERATION METRO SURGE, WE DO KNOW THAT BUSINESSES ACROSS BLOOMINGTON HAVE BEEN AFFECTED. STAFF HAVE MADE SITE VISITS TO MORE THAN 30 BUSINESSES IN RECENT WEEKS AND HAVE HEARD MANY EXAMPLES OF LOST REVENUE DUE TO STAFFING CHALLENGES, REDUCED CUSTOMER TRAFFIC, OR TEMPORARY CLOSURES. LAST WEEK, THE BLOOMINGTON PORT AUTHORITY AUTHORIZED UP TO $400,000 IN ASSISTANCE FOR BLOOMINGTON SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY AND THE BROADER ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY. THE FUNDS ARE ALREADY PART OF THE PORT BUDGET, AND WILL BE REALLOCATED FROM EXISTING BUSINESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS. THE PORT WILL PARTNER WITH BLOOMINGTON-BASED NON-PROFIT NEXTSTAGE TO DESIGN AND DEPLOY AN INITIAL $200,000 GRANT PROGRAM. WE CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF ENSURING THAT THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE IS SOUND, THAT THE CRITERIA FOR DISTRIBUTING FUNDS ARE TRANSPARENT AND EQUITABLE, AND THAT VERIFICATION AND NECESSARY FOLLOW-UP ARE ABSOLUTE MUSTS.THESE ONE-TIME, $10,000 GRANTS ARE NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION. THE GOAL IS TO PROVIDE A BRIDGE TO HELP BUSINESSES GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS CRISIS. SIMILARLY, THE $350,000 THE CITY ALLOCATED FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND THE $250,000 THE CITY MADE AVAILABLE FOR FOOD ASSISTANCE AREN’T GOING TO SOLVE THOSE ISSUES EITHER. THIS IS A CRISIS NOT OF OUR OWN DOING. IT’S GOING TO TAKE RESOURCES, HARD WORK, AND TIME TO OVERCOME THE CHAOS, THE IGNORING OF CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, AND THE CRUELTY BROUGHT DOWN ON MINNESOTA BY OUR OWN FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT’S GOING TO TAKE THIS COMMUNITY CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER. I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT BLOOMINGTON IS UP TO THE TASK. AT OUR MEETING ON MONDAY NIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEWED A PROPOSAL TO REDEVELOP SIX PROPERTIES JUST SOUTH OF THE 98 STREET AND LYNDALE AVENUE INTERSECTION INTO A NEW FOUR-STORY, 180-UNIT AFFORDABLE APARTMENT BUILDING. IF YOU’RE TRYING TO PLACE THAT IN YOUR MIND, IT INCLUDES THE SITE OF THE NOW-CLOSED WIXON JEWELERS STORE AND PROPERTIES TO THE SOUTH. THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR A MIX OF 36 ONE-BEDROOM UNITS, 104 TWO-BEDROOM UNITS, AND 40 THREE-BEDROOM UNITS. THE PROJECT WOULD PROVIDE A RANGE OF AFFORDABILITY LEVELS, FROM 30 PERCENT OF AREA MEDIAN INCOME, UP TO 70 PERCENT AMI. THE PROJECT INCLUDES ON-SITE AMENITIES, INCLUDING UNDERGROUND PARKING, FITNESS FACILITIES, A KID’S ACTIVITY ROOM, COMMUNITY ROOM, AND AN OUTDOOR COURTYARD WITH PLAYGROUND AND PATIO SPACE. TO MOVE FORWARD, THE PROJECT REQUIRED SEVERAL LAND USE ACTIONS, INCLUDING A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT, A REZONING, APPROVAL OF PRELIMINARY AND FINAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS; AND A PLAT TO COMBINE THE SIX PARCELS INTO ONE. THIS AREA HAS BEEN GUIDED AS HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL IN THE BLOOMINGTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN SINCE AT LEAST 2000. AND THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT MEETS A NUMBER OF GOALS OUTLINED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, INCLUDING INFILL DEVELOPMENT AND INTENSIFICATION, SUPPORT FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND COORDINATING LAND USE AND TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES. OFFICIALLY, THIS AREA IS OUTSIDE OF THE LYNDALE AVENUE RETROFIT PLAN, BUT IT FITS IN NICELY WITH THE GOALS OF A CONNECTED, WALKABLE, AND DYNAMIC BOULEVARD, ESPECIALLY NEAR THE LYNDLE-98TH STREET PRIORITY NODE. IF YOU PICTURE THE LOCATION IN YOUR MIND, YOU SEE THAT NATIVITY OF MARY CHURCH AND SCHOOL ARE TO THE WEST OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT, JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LYNDALE. REPRESENTATIVES OF NATIVITY BROUGHT FORWARD TRAFFIC SAFETY CONCERNS IN THE AREA, ESPECIALLY RELATED TO PEDESTRIANS WALKING TO OR FROM THE METRO TRANSIT ORANGE LINE STATION AT 98 STREET S. THEY RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT GAPS IN SIDEWALKS, CROSSWALKS, AND THE LIKLIHOOD OF PEDESTRAINS CUTTING THROUGH THEIR PROPERTY. COUNCIL DIRECTED STAFF TO CONTINUE WORKING WITH NATIVITY AND OTHER NEIGHBORS TO FIND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL WORK FOR EVERYONE.AND FINALLY TODAY, THE NEWLY RENOVATED BLOOMINGTON ICE GARDEN WAS ON FULL DISPLAY LAST WEEKEND AS BIG HOSTED BOTH THE 3AA AND 6AA BOYS SECTION SEMI-FINAL GAMES. FRIDAY’S GAMES INCLUDED ROSEMOUNT VS. EASTVIEW AND CRETIN-DERHAM HALL VS. ST. THOMAS ACADAMY AND SATURDAY GAMES WERE BETWEEN EDINA AND HOLY ANGELS AND ROGERS AND WAYZATA. BIG WAS AT OR NEAR CAPACITY FOR ALL FOUR GAMES. I WASN’T THERE – COULDN'T GET A TICKET – BUT BIG STAFF HEARD FROM PLAYERS, COACHES, MEDIA, AND SPECTATORS WHO WERE ALL IN AWE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS AT BIG AND LOVED THE RENOVATED FACILITY. POST GAME, PLAYERS LET STAFF KNOW THAT THE ICE WAS LIKELY THE BEST THEY SKATED ON ALL SEASON. COMPLIMENTS FROM FANS INCLUDED THE RESTROOMS, LARGER ARENA SPACE, ADA ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, NEW CONCESSIONS, AND VARIETY OF VIEWING OPTIONS INCLUDING STANDING RAILS AROUND THE ENTIRE ARENA. WHEN WE CUT THE RIBBON AT BIG AT THE START OF THE HOCKEY SEASON, I SAID THAT BLOOMINGTON ICE GARDEN WAS AN ICONIC HOCKEY VENUE IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA AND THAT IT DESERVES TO LOOK THE PART. IT DOES AND THE MINNESOTA HOCKEY COMMUNITY IS SEEING IT FIRSTHAND. AND IT LOOKS THAT WAY BECAUSE YOU, BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS, UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN OUR FUTURE, AND IN SOME CASES, IN OUR PAST. THANKS.THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK'S COUNCIL MINUTE. THANKS FOR WATCHING, AND UNTIL NEXT TIME, STAY SAFE BLOOMINGTON.