Hey. Hey. It's 5:15 and I think we can we've got a quorum. So, I'll call the meeting to order. The first thing I was going to do on the on the >> described and summarized. >> Okay. Are we ready? >> Yes. That was a >> Okay. The first thing I was going to do, but we'll wait is just congratulate uh Commissioner Nelson on his re-election, but we'll wait till he comes in. So, the first item on the agenda then is we've got some minutes to approve. So, I would entertain motions for their approval. >> Mr. President, I move that the minutes of October 24th 21st, 2025 be adopted. >> Do we have a second? >> Have a motion made and second. And we have any further discussion or corrections? Not all in favor, please signal by saying I. I. >> Opposed? Motion carries. 50. The next one is then kind of a fun one, which is resolution accepting a youth at work competitive grant. So Warson's going to do that. >> We always are happy to have you talk about bringing money to us. Warson, >> is this on? Can you can everybody hear me? Good evening, U President Eric Ericson and members of the commission. My name is Waren. I oversee our Blooming Bloomington Internship Program. And I'm just going to quickly um introduce um the resolution to accept the youth at work grant from the Minnesota Department of Econom of Employment and Economic Development. Um this grant is for entities or organizations that um promote career pathways that support summer and year-long internships. So that includes our Blooming Bloomington internship program. Um if you can go to the next slide. So, oh, can I can I do it? >> Oh, there we go. Thank you. Um, yeah, again, um, this is for our Bloom Bloomington internship program. We applied back in March and we're awarded, um, the grant, um, this past um, July, so July 1st. Um we applied the grant mainly to support administrative costs. Um so um the administrative duties specifically for my role um and like the more on the management side um as well as what they call direct support um for youth um for youth. So that is for staff that are overseeing the program again mainly for my role. So um the one-on- ones that I have uh with the interns over the summer um support for our employers who take interns and so on and so forth. And then we have some stuff for um youth wages as well as um support services. That's transportation. If you can go to the next slide. >> Oh, >> okay. Oh, there we go. Okay. Um so here is a breakdown of the annual um the like the annual total um for example for fiscal year 2026 that we applied for. Um the administrative costs are about $5,000. And then we um asked for um youth participant wages. Um so 50% of three interns. Um that is a total of $12,000. And then direct support services to youth. Again, the staff wages overseeing the program. Um as well as youth youth support services. So that's specifically transportation. One of the biggest barriers our entrance face is getting to and from work over the summer. So, we wanted to kind of um um ask for some support in that way. Again, the sample chart on here is for fiscal year 2026. Um but the same thing applies again for fiscal year 2027. So, the total would be 100 um $100,000 over two fiscal years. Um yeah, and today we're just asking for the since we're being awarded the grant, we're asking a motion to accept the award. Well, I I I think Warson, we're always happy to do that. Warson has been active in our Bloomington Rotary Club and is working to try to get some of us old codgers more up to date on communications and so we're very pleased to have her join us in that do that these internship programs. I mean, I've been a fan of them for years. One of the first things I did when I went to Super Valley and started the tax function is set up an internship program because it's just, you know, it's just a great way to get great people and move them along. So, questions or comments for Morrison? Rod? >> Yeah, I just have a quick When is this when do they work? They work for a year or six months or the summer or just when when do when does it happen? >> Yeah, so our internship programs over the summer. um the college or the young adult um interns do a 12-week program starting from end of May to mid August. Um and our high schoolers do an 8week internship. So starting end of June until mid August and they all conclude in the middle of August together. >> Great. Any other questions, comments? If not, we've got a motion. I would entertain the motion that's on page five of your package. >> [snorts] >> Mr. President, I'll move that we adopt the resolution accepting Youth at Work Competitive Grant. >> Second. >> Motion made a second. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, please statement by saying I. I >> opposed. Motion carries. 5-0. Thank you, Orson. All right. The next one we've got is the Hatch Bloomington competition winner. That's kind of fun, too. So, so good evening, uh, President Ericson and commissioners. My name is Sean Lundy. I am the special projects and initiatives manager with the Department of Community Development here with the city. I don't have any slides. I'm sorry. I apologize about that. Um, I stand before you to present a resolution um recognizing the Hatch 2025 competition winner and uh request to authorize financial assistance to that winner. So, just as a a brief overview, the Hatch Bloomington Pitch Competition is an annual business pitch competition hosted by the city of Bloomington. Um, it is it is a competition that offers ambitious entrepreneurs the opportunity to open a brickandmortar retail business here in the city of Bloomington. Um, part of it is an effort to revitalize economic nodes, which is why I'm standing before the port commission and I'm working closely with the port to do this program. um but also increase the visibility of the work that we're trying to do with small businesses and entrepreneurs in the city. Um the second year of the program just wrapped up back in September. We have uh a winner. Uh Council Member Nelson is actually a judge on the panel, so he was part of that process. Um and the winner was Twilight Deng and her um business proposal called Bookmother, which is a bookstore, retail bookstore in the city. Um, so I'm here to um discuss with you and answer any questions about the Hatch 2025 program and request that you approve the dispersement of the award money. >> Well, I think this program's created a lot of excitement and so that that's great. So, questions, comments? Commissioner Nelson, since you seem to be aware of this or something. >> Yeah, thank you very much. I it's fantastic. I mean, we had so many great companies again this year. Uh, the program, uh, continues to improve every year. So, thank you for your great work on that. Uh, uh, Bookmother and, uh, looks like it's going to be a great company in there. And so, I definitely support releasing the funds. I know that, uh, the funds will be released based on progress payments, not just a check. So, um, I, yeah, I it's great. It's a great program. It's building huge excitement. I think it's putting uh Bloomington in a position uh you know to get uh public relations and I think the first year winner we got like $5 million of basically free press >> uh 5 million in earned media from scrambling eggs specifically but 11.5 total over the two years in earn media. >> It's it's fantastic. It it really is is making sure people know that Bloomington is a place to do business. It's a place to start your business, grow your business, and so I wholeheartedly support this. >> Well, you know, it's really a very tangible way of saying we we want you and we want you to succeed. And so it's a great [sighs] Other questions or comments? If not, Commissioner Nelson, do you want to move the motion on page seven? >> I will do that. [snorts] Um, I move to approve a resolution recognizing the 2025 Hatch Bloomington winner and authorizing financial assistance to the >> Do we have a second? >> Second by Commissioner LZ. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, please signify saying I. >> I. >> Opposed. >> Motion carries 6. Well, now I'm going to do what I was going to do when we first started the meeting. I was going to do it even before the minutes and just congratulate you on your reelection. I I was thinking, you know, if if since you got 66% of the votes, if 50% of the votes is a C, 66% must be an A or something like that. >> Well, when I was in college, I think you had to get into the 90s for an A. But, [laughter] um, what I will say is, um, I thank you to the community that has supported me. Um, I'm also very um aware of the fact that [snorts] 33% of the people elected or voted for somebody else. And I I want to make sure that I represent and listen to them as well. Uh because it's it's very important that we have all those voices in our decisions and what we're doing. And at the end of the day, I mean, some people are not going to agree with the decisions we make or what we do. But I think what I have seen in my uh years involved in Bloomington is uh the people that are that are here that are on the council that are on our commissions are here for very good reasons and they're they're here to serve the public and make the best decision they possibly can for our community. And so I again just I thank the community for trusting me again for another four years. and um I hope I continue to live up to uh their expectations and and doing uh the good work of Bloomington. >> Mr. Lance, >> so when are we going to get piggy ate my pizza open? It's taking forever. >> Um as a general contractor, a licensed building contractor, I can't comment on that. So, >> Commissioner Lens, I think we might actually have an answer to that. >> [snorts] >> We're expecting it to open on December 14th. >> So, do opening. >> Y >> I also believe there is an item. >> Okay. Now, it may have been on the council agenda last night uh that to approve the liquor license there, which is usually one of the last steps that we have um going forward with them. So, that that's hopeful. I'm I'm looking forward to going there um and and enjoying it. So, And it is such a better use for that spot >> than than has been there. So, um >> it's a higher and better use. Definitely. >> Yeah. Yeah. And it's it's what we want to do in our commercial nodes and we've done it uh throughout the community. It's great to see on the far west side that we're getting that in there. And there's there's other great places. You got Zeke's there that's been there for a long time. Obviously, uh Westside Perk if you want coffee and and things like that. So, it's just it's becoming a really nice commercial node. I still think there could be improvements. I still think there could be other things to be done, but >> access could be improved. >> Agreed. >> Okay. So, the uh next thing we have is item 2.36 property easements, which is awful lot of paper for really some fairly simple things. So, >> yes, good evening. >> You can elucidate us, >> President Commissioners. It is rather long, but I should be up here for a short period of time. Um, for those of you who I think everybody should be aware, phase two of the sick campus is just about wrapped up. Um, looking by the end of the year, they should be done. And if you've been by there recently, all the landscaping and site work is, um, nearly complete. So, it's looking pretty good out there. Now that we're at this point, um, construction just about done and we've determined the final locations for a lot of those site features. Uh, it's become necessary to formalize a few easements. Two of those are included in the packet this evening for your review. We have a 20 foot emergency and delivery access easement between 26th Avenue South and Winstead Way. That's over lot three and four. We obviously as the port own lot three. Sik owns lot four. So, it's sort of a reciprocal easement granting each party emergency access over the other as well as delivery access since does uh operate a um loading dock off of their new headquarters facility. would necessitate use of that drive lane. And that the uh little diagram is on page 18 of your packet if you'd like to see that. And then the second one tonight is a proposed storm sewer and maintenance easement and agreement for the storm sewer system located between lot three and four. It kind of straddles the boundary there. A little diagram of that is on page 24. Um as as we've gone through this process, both of these were envisioned from the very beginning have been part of all the planning documents. So, this is not uh anything unexpected, but we're really at the point of just formalizing this. Uh, so we've worked with Kennedy Graven to help us do that, and I'm happy to take any questions. >> Thank you. Questions? If not, there's a motion on page uh nine of your package that approving this, which I would entertain. >> I'll make that motion. Okay. >> You we can you can read it or whatever. What's your pleasure? >> Pleasure. page. Make a motion to approve resolution BPA-25 approving mutual storm sewer and maintenance easements and mutual emergency access and delivery access easements. >> You pass the test, Rob. >> Second. >> Motion made second. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Opposed. Motion carries 6. >> Okay. You know, I in looking through this, I I I sometimes wonder if the paperwork costs more than whatever. >> Yes. [laughter] >> You probably don't need it all. Okay. >> But whatever. Well, it has to be done. So, okay. So, Holly, is this a Holly show? [snorts] President Ericson and Commissioner, it's the Holly Show plus Mary Kay Heinen, the Port Authorities extremely accomplished accountant for whom we are very grateful. I'll just turn this around. All right, President Ericson and commissioners, this evening we have before you our final port budget and levy. You saw previously the port authorities preliminary budget and levy at our August meeting that also went to city council on the consent agenda and so we're here as the penultimate step to ask for your approval for the budget and levy and then it will go to council one more time before we file with Henipin County. >> We'll give you 25 points for using pendultimate. That's >> Thank you. [snorts] >> All right. As a quick reminder to set us in our goals, our work areas, our mission, and this is our new mission statement. The Port Authority cultivates community prosperity and quality development through bold vision and responsible public investments. We contribute to the growth and success of Bloomington's inclusive and resilient economy. And this is our fresh statement that we work together on throughout this year. We do our work through business assistance, creative placemaking, workforce development, and real estate and development. We are also in support of the city's Bloomington tomorrow together priorities of a connected and welcoming community and a community with equitable economic growth. And we now of course have our own adopted economic development strategic plan with eight priority areas of traded sectors. Those are our large employers, small business, innovation which are entrepreneurs, thriving places which covers our creative placemaking work, real estate and infrastructure, talent attraction and retention, wraparound services, and marketing and events. So, as we've worked on our budget, we do so within this framework as well. A quick refresher, you've all seen this before, but the port changed a lot over the last several years. In 2022, it was identified to as a goal for the port to move citywide beyond South Loop. It was able to do so in 2023 with the first transfer from the HR levy of 1.4 million. 2024, the port had its own first levy of 1.5 million. 2025, we really began to grow. we increased our hiring and were able to be more active citywide and and began our 5-year plan process. So that was 2.5 million and in 2026 we are looking for a 2.9 million levy. That is below the amount we are able to levy. Um but that is the amount we think is appropriate to the projects that we will be doing next year. Our 2026 budget includes total budgeted revenue of 3,470,000 and budgeted expenses of 3,118,488 revenue less expenditures of 3 351,000 and we have that to build reserves for our operations as well as our future strategic acquisitions. So every year at your direction and adisement, we will be building up our our reserves so that if we wanted to make a future land purchase or other type of intervention in real estate, we could do so or take on a large project. This is funded by a transfer from the South Loop Development Fund to our general fund of 560,000 and then our levy request of 2.9 million. We also, as you heard from Warson, anticipate grants. Those grants are not currently incorporated into our budget because we need to make sure that we are actually going to receive them. Um, and so when we do receive them, we'll come back before you with a budget adjustment. >> Holly, do you have kind of an idea of how much that could be potentially? >> Well, the Yes, President Ericson and commissioners, the first one will be 50,000 for the Youth That Work Grant. And then we have in the past been lucky enough to get grants from Henipin County to support the facade improvement grant program, but we were so successful with that. We do not think they're going to do that again for us this year. So probably not that. Um perhaps up to 50,000 to support Hatch Bloomington though as well. The other grants that are project specific, those larger grants that come from Met Council that might be closer to millions of dollars, those would not be incorporated into this budget. These are more operational and programmatic. Okay. So, into our services that we'll be continuing or expanding. Services that you are familiar with include our development assistance assisting with the opportunity housing ordinance administration, business assistance including direct assistance programs, and I'll get deeper into those further on in the deck. citywide creative placemaking, marketing and promotion of Bloomington, and allocated funding to assist with development projects and studies citywide. And some of our new services will include new kinds of business outreach programs with targeted partners, new small business financial support programs. So, we're expanding. You've seen that the facade improvement grant program is very popular. So, we'll be adding some new types of programs. and then permanent staffing for Bloom and Bloomingtonworkforce development within the port. We are trying to make Warson's position into a permanent position to make sure that we can continue to grow the Bloom and Bloomington program. A quick refresher, we're having some fund name changes this year for so for those of you who've been with us for a very long time, what we used to call the port development fund, which is the port levy, will be called the general fund into 2026. And that's how we'll be talking about it in the budget. What used to be called the general fund, which was funded [snorts] um by hotel liquor and lodging tax, that is now going to be called a South Loop special revenue fund. Oh, I'm sorry. This one was interest earned on the South Loop Development Fund. I misspoke. Excuse me. And that will be called the South Loop Special Revenue Fund moving into the future. But we used to call that the general fund. So therein lies the confusion. You'll also, this is not a separate fund, but something to highlight. We'll now have an org code called business payment, which will live within the general fund, and that is money set aside specifically for direct assistance to businesses. All right, and I will hand it over to Mary Kay to go through the budget numbers. Uh, good evening. Um, so this is the combined general and south loop fund. We'll look at them individually in just a minute, but just to give you an overview of the budget being requested. Um, as Holly mentioned, the property tax levy request this year is 2.9 million, which is an increase of 400,000 from last year. The other revenues consists of the transfer for South Loop. Um, and that is actually going down by 334,000, a request of 560,000. Um, salaries and benefits are going up 229,000 compared to last year. Um, and before we move on, I'd like to explain why that is. Um, part of it is the addition of the Bloom facilitator position, but then part of it is also the other port funds. Tonight, we're only looking at the general and self funds because those are the only ones that have a budget. But in addition to those funds, there's also TIFF funds. So we have the Mall of America Tiff funds, Bloomington Central Station, American Square, and Rosa. And so what happens is every pay period staff allocates their time based on how it was actually spent. Um because we can only allocate time to tiff districts or South Loop if we actually spend time there. Um, but every May we estimate how we're going to spend our time for the following year as part of the budget process. And for the 2024 budget, we underestimated how much time was being spent on city-wide activities. Um, with the citywide activities being new to port, [snorts] um, the budget was too low. And so at the beginning of this year, we actually requested a budget adjustment going back to 2024 to reallocate some of the budget. Um, and so from that we kind of realized that the allocations we had for 2025 were probably too low for the citywide activities. And so we had to reallocate some of the um salaries from the tiff budgets to the citywide budgets. And so for instance in the 2025 budget we had about 0.8 FTE being quoted to Bloomington Central Station. Realistically, we dropped that down to 0.3 FTE based on how staff is actually spending their time. Um, Rosa and American Square, there just isn't activity there. So, we didn't budget any time um for staff going there. And the Mall of America in 2025, we budgeted about 93. So, almost a full FTE going for Mall of America. And for 2026, we dropped that to about 46. So when you add up those it's about like one and a third FTE that we used to have budgeted in the TIFF funds that just wasn't happening that staff is just spending more time on citywide activities. So this was um you know one of the first year you know because now that the port has been doing citywide activities we have a better idea of how they're spending time and that's what the is reflected here in the budget. So when you look at the increase of 229,000 in salaries, part of it is the bloom which is brand new, but then part of it is just how staff is allocating their time. >> Um, >> so in terms of headcount, you're going up one headcount in terms of FTE, I guess, is looking at it and and the rest of it is really just how we account for these things. I mean, you you're pulling it's it's where you're going to charge a person's time to this budget or that budget and the other one. So, okay. Well, that's very helpful. I I looked at it and I said, "Holly, we better have a little discussion on this number because it's it's a big increase." And and uh so, >> um and then overall, >> Commissioner Nelson. >> Yeah. Thank you. Uh just to clarify the the one FTE is already an existing FTE that's shared between different places. I mean it may be in this budget but I think some of that cost was in city budgets elsewhere. So we're not adding a person. The port is absorbing the cost of that person. I think to to your point on the allocation of time is that accurate? >> No. Um it was all within port because like the M of America TIF fund is still a port fund. It's just not presented here because the TIFF funds don't have approved budgets like the general fund. >> What about the balloon position? >> I can speak to that. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Um, thank you, Commissioner Nelson and Commissioners. That was partially paid by the city fund and then partially paid by a reallocation from some small business funds that we had available. So, this is the first time you're seeing that appear in our salary line item. Well, and if you if you look at this over the last three, four years, we've had quite a staff increase, but a lot of that's been transferred. People that used to be in the IR or HR are now port staff, for example, and things. So, I mean, again, it's it's it's hard to just keep track of the numbers, but I understand what you're doing when you talk about these things being paid for out of different budgets. Fund accounting drives me nuts. I mean, again, I just And one of the biggest issues I had at the University of Minnesota was trying to explain fund accounting to regions for example that primarily understand business accounting and you would look at it. It's I mean it's just enough to take and make your cringe but at any rate that's life. >> Mr. President, >> Commissioner Peterson, >> just one other comment on this and I think it's important, you know, when we're looking at like the the property tax levy here is that I always think of kind of this part of the process here is really in some ways you can look at us as like another city department who's building a budget and then effectively um between us and the HR and the city council, it's the city council's job to kind of make a decision. Is that budget the right budget for things? And so, you know, we certainly come with a request here, but um it all it all eventually ladders up to the elected officials to make the the final decision. And if the city council said, "We don't want you to have 2.9 million this year," we wouldn't have 2.9 million. We would have a different number. Um and so I think that's, you know, for the um from the process perspective, you know, we we sent a request and we're adopting this and so on, but um our we don't have an unconditional authority to raise money. our our authority to raise money is constrained by what the city council wants us to do. So, >> okay. Thank you. [laughter] >> Okay. Um and then overall material supplies and services are going up about 153,000. Um and [clears throat] internal charges which is like internal IT space and occupancy mail room is going up 22,000. Um and as Holly mentioned overall the revenue budget is 3.4 expense budget is 3.1 million. So the net difference is 351,000 which would go towards reserves. [snorts] Okay. Um just looking at just specifically the general fund. Um once again the property tax is 2.9 million. Um budgeting around 10,000 for investment earnings. um salaries and benefits um in this fund went up 326,000 or 60% and once again that's just um a better understanding of how staff is um actually spending their time. So for instance Holly's position used to budget about 08 in South Loop and 2 in citywide that actually flip-flopped for 2026 and so that's part of the huge increase in this fund. um the Bloom facilitator position is also in this fund and then also just some of the analysts have started coding time here too and so that's why this fund um has such a huge increase in salaries um looking at the materials supplies and services um new for 2026 is some new business assistance so like microloans um and sack fee assistance is new so the microloans is budgeted around 200,000 um the sack fees around 75,000 Um, so that's included in the material supplies and services and then the internal charges went up 25,000. Um, any questions on this fund? >> Questions? >> Go ahead. >> Okay. And then looking at the South Loop fund, um because of the um reallocation of salaries, we actually need a smaller transfer from the city. So the requested budget is going from 894,000 last year to 560,000 this year or a drop of 334,000. Um and you can see the salaries dropped 96,000. Um once again that's just a huge part of that was actually Holly um and how she spends her time uh material supplies and services drop 239. Um the 2025 budget included um some professional services for the water park and other activity at the mall. Um upon further discussion we could use tip funds for some of those and so those came out of the budget here. Um and then internal charges is a lot of that is based on the FTE count and with the drop in FTE count the internal charges also drop 3,000. Um so overall the revenue request is 560,000 the budgeted expenditures is 550 um with just a net balance of about $9,000 difference. >> Commissioner Lutz. >> Yeah. Could you go over that? It's I didn't care. I didn't hear I didn't catch it right. You said something about money going for the water park out of this fund. Could you repeat that? >> Yeah. So, like >> and I have a add-on question to it. >> Sure. Um the 2025 budget, the material supplies and services was 272,000 last year for 2025. Um and when the 2025 budget was developed back in 2024, we thought there'd be more professional service expense for the water park because we didn't know >> special services. You said >> professional >> professional. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Um >> is that engineering design or >> um it could include everything from legal expense, consultants. >> Okay. >> Um yeah. >> And my followup then this says South Loop Fund under the new nomenclature. It's the South Loop Special Revenue Fund. >> Yep. And then when I look at the chart on page 36, it says general it it's use general port operations in South Loop area in support of real estate development. So that's not is that that restrictive? That's not business development. That's not um job creation development. That's strictly bricks and mortar, >> dirt, bricks and mortar. Um, >> and it says redevelopment work, which so I'm kind of wondering. >> I believe there is some studies that have been paid out of that fund. It's not necessarily just brick and mortar. Um, >> so the it's not just real estate then it's right >> for all business development. >> Y well commissioner lens and commissioners I would say the studies have been in support of the real estate work. So this fund has always been kind of the traditional port fund. You used to call it the general fund. So the levy, the general fund that we have now is the one that has much broader business assistance abilities. So generally if there's something that we're doing, even if it's in South Loop that is specifically business assistance, a grant program, etc., we would not pay it out of this fund. We would pay it out of the levy. >> It would not come out of here then. >> Correct. >> So this is correct. And it is just real estate >> that real estate and related activities. >> Yeah. I mean, if somebody's got a building they want to remodel or something quote unquote redevelop. >> Yes. Think about it as we are. This is the traditional work that the port used to do which was almost entirely about real estate redevelopment and a little bit about business attraction or business assistance for large business expansion. So, the types of projects you've done there um six expansion etc. that all came out of this fund. But projects that we're doing now that might have to do with workforce development, small business assistance, those come out of the levy. >> General general leies. >> Okay. Thanks. >> You're welcome. >> That's it. Back to me. All right. So, in response to a few questions that we received at our last presentation on the preliminary budget, we did want to break down the costs a bit for you so you could see how the 2026 budget is being utilized and which program area is using what percentage of the funds. I want to stress this is an estimate. We created a model based off the 2025 priority budgeting model. though it's not meant to be 100% perfect, but we think it's a good representation of the way that the funds are being expended. So this includes both direct strategic investment type funds that I will go through in a moment, but it also includes staff, our legal work, accounting, etc. And so going around the circle, you'll see that development and redevelopment assistance, that's kind of the traditional port work that's been done, is about 40% of the budget. Board support is about 2%. Small business and entrepreneurship is 33%. Bloom and Bloomington is 6%. Business retention work which is more of those large expansion projects is 11%. Also marketing as well. And then creative placemaking is 8%. I should say that creative placemaking number is only the transfer of the levy $240,000 into the creative placemaking's own budgeted fund. They have other money that is from, sorry to confuse you all, but it's from um the South Loop development fund itself, which is the liquor and lodging tax, and that can only be used in South Loop. So, this 8% only represents 240,000 that can be used citywide. >> Sorry to ask so many questions, but could you give me an example what business retention? You said expansion. And if somebody needs to expand, we'll help them expand. But are there what what's example of that? >> So right now this is very staff timeheavy commissioner lens. So it would be if we get a site selection inquiry and we are asked to respond to it to create letters of support to help with grant applications like the Minnesota forward fund, Minnesota investment fund but it's also a little bit more of proactive marketing of the city. So, I guess in that way you could call it business attraction as well. So, um I I joined the Minnesota trade office this year when they went to Select USA to help work their booth with them to promote Minnesota and the city of Bloomington. So, an expense like that would come out of this fund. So if we looked over this over two or three or four year period, we never had much of any in the small business entrepreneurship bucket. >> In other words, that's something that we have grown very intentionally over the last several years. >> Yes. Um President Ericen, commissioners, absolutely. And you'll see as I go through the next set of slides, we have a um an org code. I'm tempted to call it a fund, but it's not a fund technically. Um, we do have a bucket available to us for direct small business assistance, which is we've had a little bit of that with the facade improvement grant program, but we are expanding that this year because we've seen that it's popular. The program is generally overs subscribed, and so we're developing other programs that relate to that. Well, I I just think relative to what Commissioner Nelson talked about about the importance like Hatch and Bloomington and these other things for years, I mean, we were pretty good at responding to the big players, but we really didn't do much for the smaller people, and this has been a conscious effort and work that Barb's done and other people to to really take and make it. And you can just see where just in terms of of making Bloomington attractive to people, if we're going out and saying we want to help them do it, you're not going to be successful with everybody. But the very fact that you're trying is good for the community, I think. So that's that's good. Also a reminder, I think you all understand that over the last few years, we've grown quite a lot. But just as a quick reminder as to how our staff breaks down now, we have two staff in creative placemaking, three and a half in real estate and development, two in business assistance, 1.75 between administrative support, finance and legal, and then one in workforce development. >> And how do you see that going in the future? Do you see big changes in that or areas that you think we need more growth in? >> President Ericson and commissioners, at this point, I think we'd we'd plan to stay steady for 2026 and then it will be a matter of really understanding what our needs are. If we decide we want to lean in on communications and marketing for the city, we might want to share a staff person with communications to help us in that space. If real estate development starts becoming very busy, then we may want to bring in staff people in that space. But right now, I think this is this is going to hold steady for at least a year or two. >> Thank you. >> So, moving on to those small business and entrepreneurship strategic investments I mentioned, we've allocated 100,000 for general programming. So, you'll probably hear about the Bloom and Grow program at some point. um we're considering getting an intern etc in this space but that is we will allocate those funds as the year goes on and opportunities present themselves and then the direct business assistance grant and loan programs add up to 500 570,000 that goes out to assist businesses that's 150,000 into facade improvement grants 75,000 into sack grants and that's for the new city sack 45,000 to keep building up our business retention fund and that is for businesses that are displaced by private development. We're building that fund 100,000 for Hatch Bloomington and then 200,000 in additional programs. At this point, we're thinking it will be microloans or micro grants. Um but we are going to be working a bit with our business community and banking community to get a sense of what would be most effective for us in this area. >> Commissioner Alen. [snorts] >> Thank you, [clears throat] President. Uh just one quick note on that. I mean those are the total overall numbers. I understand that you guys look for support on them. A as an example, Hatch Bloomington um you know generated a number of sponsorships that offset that $100,000 or a large portion of it. So that'll continue in the future, right? This isn't that we're going to spend that money necessarily. That's the total amounts and we'll do everything we can to get other partners and uh people on board. >> Commissioner Nelson and Commissioners, that's correct. We we are actively seeking additional sponsorship for Hatch. I believe we got $50,000 last year to defay these costs. Um we've had 50,000 at a time for the facade improvement grant program. I think we're victims of our success or Barb's success this year. She she got that grant a few times in a row and they specifically wrote us out of it this year. So um but we'll keep looking for other funds in that space as well. That's very good point. Bloom and Bloomington other than staff time is not a significantly expensive program to run. It's about 20,000 in programming and contract services and we are hoping to finalize that $50,000 that you just voted on earlier in the um year. But we are excited at how effective we can be. It's just really a time inensive staff highly highly staff intensive program. Creative placemaking we mentioned 240,000 gets transferred out in and that is to be used for the citywide creative placemaking work. Real estate and development. So we've set aside 200,000 for development related studies this year. I do expect that you'll see more activity around the commercial nodes redevelopment strategy and then another 200,000 for pre-development costs or development assistance. We want to be able to be opportunistic. If there is a project that comes forward that the city would really like to engage on, we'll have those funds available. And then 300,000 to build the strategic acquisitions fund. And then um as Mary Kay alluded to, when there are project specific expenses paid out of the TIFF accounts or 4,300, which is the South Loop development fund, that's not reflected here. Those are managed differently. And then for business retention, we have 51,000 in marketing. That's events like Select USA. Um other opportunities to work with communications to actually do a full marketing plan for the city. And then we have another 100,000 set aside in administrative funds for programs, studies, etc. And again, that's an opportunity to be opportunistic. We can work with partners like Greater MSP or we can if the council etc has special initiatives they would like us to pursue that's where that money would come from. And so with that that's a summary of our budget. Just as a quick reminder we've been through these steps. In August you approved the preliminary budget and levy. September it went to council. We filed with Henipin County. And now we are asking you to approve our final levy recommendation and budget tonight on November 18th so it can go to the council on December 8th and then be filed with Henipin County. So you have your motions in your packet as well as up here and I will stand for any other questions. >> Questions, comments? Well, if people uh want to move ahead, we have two motions that we have to have. Uh they're on page 25 of your package. One is is relating the final levy and then the other is the budget. So, I would entertain the first motion if somebody wants to make it. Commissioner Peterson. >> Thank you, Mr. President. I move we adopt the resolution approving the final levy for year 2026 pursuant to Minnesota statute section 469.053 053 subdivision 4 by the port authority of the city of Bloomington. >> Do we have a second? >> Second. >> Second by Commissioner [clears throat] Hunt. Any further discussion? If not, all in favor, please sign by saying I. >> I. >> Opposed? Motion carries 6. And we have a second motion. Commissioner Peterson, you're on a roll. >> Uh, Mr. President, I move that we adopt a resolution adopting the 2026 Port Authority general fund budget and South Loop special revenue fund budget. Second. >> Second by Commissioner Hunt. Any further discussion? Not. All in favor, please sign by saying I. >> I. >> I. >> Opposed. Motion carry 6. >> Good. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> All right. So, Holly, you've got administrator updates. >> Yes. Thank you, President Ericson. I have two very brief updates today. One is um you have all been invited to join us for the broker breakfast. That is our third annual and I'm pulling up the exact dates right now, but if Mart knows them off the top of her head, she can say them. >> December 3rd. >> Uh it's December. Thank you. Wednesday, December 3rd from 8 to 10 a.m. Please do RSVP. You have an email invitation. It helps us get a headcount and make sure we have a place for you to sit and we would like to know that you'll be able to join us. You'd be interacting with the real estate community. And then um our next Bloomington Economic Partnership meeting will be Thursday, December 4th, and that one will be focusing on workforce development, will be meeting from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. And our guest speakers will be DED, Henipin County, Normanddale Community College, and AON, which is an insurance company here that has a pretty unique apprenticeship program that they developed with Normandale. Um, and as a reminder for those of you not familiar, this particular program works with our large employers and our higher ed and training institutions to talk about how to attract business and talent to Bloomington and grow our jobs here. So, um, if anyone is interested in participating in that, we're taking on a different theme every quarter and we would love to have you. It just would be helpful for me to know if you're coming so I can make sure we order lunch for you and have a seat. And that's it. >> Okay. Well, if nothing else, we'll wish everybody happy Thanksgiving. >> We'll see you happy Thanksgiving >> December. >> Absolutely. >> And the next time you see me, I will have rolled over the odometer and gone from the 70s to the 80s. So, >> happy