[0:16] Hello, and

thanks for tuning in to Bloomington today.

[0:18] Let's take a look at the latest news

in Bloomington.

[0:21] Share your feedback on the 2026 budget.

[0:24] Each year, the city council approves

a budget to fund city services

[0:28] including police, fire, public works,

parks and recreation, and more.

[0:32] Share your thoughts on

what the City Council should consider

[0:35] when setting the 2026 property Tax Levy.

[0:38] You can share your thoughts in person

about the property

[0:41] tax levy and budget with the City Council

on November 24th at 6:30 p.m.

[0:46] or December 8th at 6:30 p.m.

[0:48] in the Council Chambers at Civic Plaza,

or provide feedback online at

[0:53] blm.mn/budgetfeedback.

[0:56] On November 4th

[0:57] Bloomington voters

cast their ballots for the At-Large

[1:00] district one and district

two seats on the City Council.

[1:03] Bloomington voters elected

Danielle Robertson to the At-Large seat.

[1:07] Dwayne Lowman to represent district one and

Shawn Nelson to represent district two.

[1:13] Each will serve a four year term

beginning in January 2026.

[1:16] For complete election results,

visit

[1:18] blm.mn/vote

[1:20] The City of Bloomington

[1:21] is taking action to ensure that residents

who rely on essential food programs

[1:26] have access to food support

during the federal government shutdown.

[1:30] Nearly 8000 Bloomington residents

rely on these programs

[1:33] to help feed their families.

[1:35] Due to a lack of funding

caused by the shutdown, food benefits

[1:38] through Snap and Minnesota

Family Investment Program are uncertain.

[1:42] On October 27th,

the Bloomington City Council allocated

[1:45] $250,000 of Strategic Priorities

funding to make grants

[1:50] to nonprofit organizations

for their food assistance programs

[1:53] in November. The Bloomington police

and fire departments

[1:56] are also collecting food donations

at sites throughout Bloomington.

[2:00] To learn more about the city's response

and how you can help, visit

[2:03] the link on your screen.

[2:05] Changes may be coming to Bloomington

garbage rates in 2026.

[2:09] The city's pay as you throw system will

stay in place, but the price differences

[2:13] between cart sizes may increase,

meaning smaller carts could cost less.

[2:18] A new, lower priced every other week

pickup option may also be offered

[2:22] for households with the smallest cart

and very little trash.

[2:25] These proposed updates, shaped

by a detailed rate study and resident

[2:29] feedback, aim to keep service

affordable and encourage waste reduction.

[2:33] Preliminary rates

were presented to the council in July,

[2:36] with final proposed

rates shared on October 20th.

[2:39] The council is expected to consider

adoption after the November 17th

[2:43] public hearing.

[2:44] Stay tuned to this fall for details

on how to choose your cart size

[2:48] and service level.

[2:49] If these changes are approved.

A recent City Council meeting

[2:52] celebrated the city's

public engagement success. On October 27th

[2:56] Communications

Administrator Janine Hill presented recent

[2:59] communications

and engagement awards to the City Council.

[3:03] One highlight was a national

first place award for resident engagement

[3:07] in the Nine

Mile Creek Corridor Renewal Project.

[3:10] The award was presented by the city,

County Communications

[3:13] and Marketing Association for the city's

transparent communications.

[3:17] Active listening and consistent outreach

with the community.

[3:21] The effort also received a second place

award

[3:23] from the Minnesota

Association of Government Communicators.

[3:27] A group of residents from the Restore

[3:28] the Nine Group came

to share their gratitude for the work.

[3:31] As a grassroots organization.

[3:33] Passionate about this cause,

[3:35] we felt it was essential

to vigorously engage community members.

[3:39] So thank you for acknowledging our work

[3:42] and engaging with us in creative ways.

[3:45] You fostered a positive resident

government relationship

[3:49] that ultimately help bridge gaps

and promote constructive dialog.

[3:55] With this in mind, we are happy again

to celebrate this national award

[3:59] with the communication

and park and Recreation departments.

[4:03] Thank you.

[4:04] Bloomington based Concerto Dance

invites you to their upcoming performance.

[4:08] The program features

a dynamic new work set to a jazz

[4:11] arrangement of Fiddler on the roof,

creating a gallery of human portraits

[4:15] that explores themes of tradition, family,

community and change.

[4:19] The program ends with the Swinging

Nutcracker Suite, a fun twist on a holiday

[4:23] gift giving tradition set to live music

arranged by Duke Ellington.

[4:28] The family friendly performances

are happening at Bloomington's

[4:30] Center

for the Arts on November 20th and 21st

[4:34] at 7 p.m.,

with a Friday matinee at 12:30 p.m..

[4:37] Learn more by scanning the QR code

on your screen.

[4:40] That's a wrap on this week's buzz.

[4:42] If you would like to see more features

highlighting people, places and projects

[4:46] in Bloomington.

[4:47] Watch other videos

right here on our YouTube channel.

[4:50] Thanks for watching.