00:00:04.767 --> 00:00:06.500 comment in response provides an opportunity for the public to 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:09.634 address the EDA and items which are not on the agenda, public 00:00:09.634 --> 00:00:14.900 comment will be limited to, um, 15 minutes if no one is in 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:16.567 attendance for public time at the regular meeting may begin, 00:00:16.567 --> 00:00:19.367 and it may not be used to make personal attacks to your 00:00:19.367 --> 00:00:22.000 personal grievances to make political endorsements or 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:24.734 political campaign purposes. I know that we have a fair amount 00:00:24.734 --> 00:00:28.867 of people we often extend. We have extended it past the 15. 00:00:28.867 --> 00:00:31.667 Um, questions from the EDA will be for clarification only, 00:00:31.667 --> 00:00:33.800 public comment will not be used as a time for problem solving 00:00:33.800 --> 00:00:36.767 or reacting. the comments made, but rather for hearing from 00:00:36.767 --> 00:00:40.634 members of the public for informational purposes only. I 00:00:40.634 --> 00:00:46.033 know I received, uh, Uh, so I know we can start with, uh, 00:00:46.033 --> 00:00:49.100 response to prior prior public comment. Mr. President, there 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:53.367 were no public comments at the last meeting. Right. Are there 00:00:53.367 --> 00:00:56.266 any forms? Did anybody fill out any forms or they’re filling 00:00:56.266 --> 00:01:06.767 them out right now. Did you fill it out? Oh, I go, OK. The 00:01:06.767 --> 00:01:20.266 This Yeah. OK Oh, I think this is Doctor Soli. So if you could, 00:01:20.266 --> 00:01:25.166 uh, go and and just state your relationship with the city, or 00:01:25.166 --> 00:01:28.634 state, um, and then limit it to 2 to 3 minutes, that’d be very 00:01:28.634 --> 00:01:31.266 much appreciated. Thank you. 00:01:31.266 --> 00:01:33.467 Are you able to hear clearly? 00:01:33.467 --> 00:01:38.767 Uh, you might, you need to bring it up? How about now? Yes. 00:01:38.767 --> 00:01:42.000 Yes, just representing myself, Doctor Soli, so chiropractic 00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:46.767 Brooklyn Park, Brook 7240 Brooklyn Boulevard, um, pushing 00:01:46.767 --> 00:01:51.000 in favor of allowing the mayor to Require the funds that are 00:01:51.000 --> 00:01:56.033 necessary to go to Nigeria, go to Liberia. Uh, I have this 00:01:56.033 --> 00:02:00.367 jacket on for a reason. 15 years ago I met a man called 00:02:00.367 --> 00:02:05.667 Imam Muhammaduli. Some people may know him. He is actually 00:02:05.667 --> 00:02:08.800 going to be the ambassador of Liberia to Dubai, but he lived 00:02:08.800 --> 00:02:11.867 in Brooklyn Park for 25 years. 00:02:11.867 --> 00:02:15.100 Met him 15 years ago, I received this jacket a few 00:02:15.100 --> 00:02:20.900 months from him. 15 years of relation. Eventually led to 00:02:20.900 --> 00:02:24.734 this jacket, which means a lot. 00:02:24.734 --> 00:02:26.634 I’m saying the meetings that the mayor will meet and the 00:02:26.634 --> 00:02:30.567 people he will meet in Nigeria, Liberia. All that’s going to 00:02:30.567 --> 00:02:34.300 come back here. Those are our sister cities. Those people 00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:37.200 will know that Broken Park is their sister city. Where do you 00:02:37.200 --> 00:02:39.634 think they’re gonna sell their families. Where do you think 00:02:39.634 --> 00:02:41.500 they’re going to be taxpayers? 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:45.667 Where do you think the future physicians, astronauts, police 00:02:45.667 --> 00:02:46.467 officers are going to come from. 00:02:46.467 --> 00:02:50.300 Those sister cities. I’m from a town called Langdon, North 00:02:50.300 --> 00:02:54.300 Dakota. Our sister city, Bergen, Norway. We have people from 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:59.900 Norway move in. Some of them became physicians. Pilots 00:02:59.900 --> 00:03:04.734 Because of the association of a sister city. Again, this jacket 00:03:04.734 --> 00:03:10.734 represents the connection. And I’ll say Imam Mohammadukali is 00:03:10.734 --> 00:03:14.867 the 18th of January. Part of Brooklyn Park from now on. And 00:03:14.867 --> 00:03:18.734 you never know who he was gonna bring from Dubai here to maybe 00:03:18.734 --> 00:03:21.734 invest in Broken Park. You don’t know where these things 00:03:21.734 --> 00:03:26.834 will lead. Not in 48 hours, not 72 hours, but they’re going to 00:03:26.834 --> 00:03:32.000 lead somewhere. Now is the time to take the venture. I’m a 00:03:32.000 --> 00:03:34.266 business owner. If I didn’t take a venture, if I didn’t 00:03:34.266 --> 00:03:40.000 take a gamble. I wouldn’t be a business owner. And I’m 00:03:40.000 --> 00:03:43.233 successful at it because I believe in taking chances. And 00:03:43.233 --> 00:03:46.900 doing things now to make the future move forward. Thank you 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:50.367 for listening to me and have a good night. Can I do point of 00:03:50.367 --> 00:03:54.000 order? Are we in EDA meeting or council, and I’m sorry, I just 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:58.734 don’t know. So we are in an EDA meeting, but there’s an 00:03:58.734 --> 00:04:03.000 economic component to the trip to Nigeria and Liberia, and 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:05.367 also I think, I don’t know if I want people to wait another 00:04:05.367 --> 00:04:10.000 hour, hour and a half to have to go, I’m fine with that, but 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:13.133 for procedure when we do public comment for the next meeting is 00:04:13.133 --> 00:04:16.834 that when we Just for procedure. 00:04:16.834 --> 00:04:22.734 Absolutely, yeah, er Page, there is not a public comment 00:04:22.734 --> 00:04:25.934 period during the special meeting after this meeting. Um, 00:04:25.934 --> 00:04:32.300 so, you know, well this generally the rule is something 00:04:32.300 --> 00:04:35.767 before the EDA must be at the EDA meeting, uh, because 00:04:35.767 --> 00:04:39.867 there’s both council and EDA components to this, um. We’re 00:04:39.867 --> 00:04:40.934 allowing comments on both. OK. 00:04:40.934 --> 00:04:50.367 Thank you. So, um, next Sunday, uh. Uh, is it Alaby? Yeah, you 00:04:50.367 --> 00:04:59.000 can, you can correct me up there. Thank you. Hm Uh, my 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:05.467 name is Sande Alabi and I wanna preface my Comment that I 00:05:05.467 --> 00:05:14.500 support. Our sister city. What I’m concerned about. is what 00:05:14.500 --> 00:05:21.467 actually is the agenda. And you know, I don’t want to talk 00:05:21.467 --> 00:05:23.000 about esoirical about cultural. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:27.834 Exchange What is the benefit? 00:05:27.834 --> 00:05:31.266 Financial benefit or the rate of return. And what is the 00:05:31.266 --> 00:05:35.400 agenda? Who are we going to talk to? I mean, are we doing 00:05:35.400 --> 00:05:40.634 this to establish. Business to business contact. Or what, who 00:05:40.634 --> 00:05:42.767 are we actually meeting with? 00:05:42.767 --> 00:05:46.467 But I’m support of Sister City, but the cost is what I need to 00:05:46.467 --> 00:05:49.166 understand. What is the benefit? 00:05:49.166 --> 00:05:54.467 I mean, how do I that live here or the uh the taxpayer broken 00:05:54.467 --> 00:06:01.500 back at the benefit. That’s, that’s my concern. But 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:07.867 conceptually, I support it. But I just don’t see. The financial 00:06:07.867 --> 00:06:11.200 benefit to us. I mean, uh property tax is going up. We, 00:06:11.200 --> 00:06:14.367 we can support some of our programs there for our youth or 00:06:14.367 --> 00:06:26.567 our senior citizen. So that’s my question. All right, thank 00:06:26.567 --> 00:06:30.367 you. So generally, we don’t answer questions during uh 00:06:30.367 --> 00:06:34.567 during this phase. We, we are having a portion of the meeting, 00:06:34.567 --> 00:06:37.834 uh, on this later, uh, but that will not be open for comment. 00:06:37.834 --> 00:06:55.900 Next, we have Danny Reynolds. 00:06:55.900 --> 00:07:08.233 Good evening, everyone. Um I am concerned. Oh The backlash of 00:07:08.233 --> 00:07:14.567 this trip to Africa from the council. I don’t understand if 00:07:14.567 --> 00:07:19.367 previous trips have been approved to go to Japan. And 00:07:19.367 --> 00:07:24.400 previous trips have been to Africa, why now? If Hollis has 00:07:24.400 --> 00:07:31.734 never So anything That doesn’t progress the city after all the, 00:07:31.734 --> 00:07:36.100 the, um, achievements he’s accomplished, uh, the boost the 00:07:36.100 --> 00:07:39.200 economy here in Brooklyn Park. 00:07:39.200 --> 00:07:42.000 Why are people questioning his motives when he’s already 00:07:42.000 --> 00:07:47.266 proved itself. I don’t understand where that 00:07:47.266 --> 00:07:54.100 underlying thing is coming from and it concerns me to my soul. 00:07:54.100 --> 00:07:57.634 I mean, he’s already have a proven track record and 00:07:57.634 --> 00:08:02.300 obviously You know, it’s gonna benefit everyone in the long 00:08:02.300 --> 00:08:04.133 run, so. Let’s get out there. 00:08:04.133 --> 00:08:29.400 Thank you. All right. Next we have Nia Wilson. OK, everybody, 00:08:29.400 --> 00:08:33.634 uh, thank you, um, I guess thank you because I’ve lived in 00:08:33.634 --> 00:08:36.867 Brooklyn Park for my whole entire life. This is my first 00:08:36.867 --> 00:08:41.100 city council meeting and mostly it’s due to some of the what I 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:44.367 find what was ridiculous on social media, the backlash, 00:08:44.367 --> 00:08:49.100 even hatred when it came to the mayor, um, so I guess thank you 00:08:49.100 --> 00:08:55.500 for bringing so many people out and activating us, um, so 00:08:55.500 --> 00:08:57.634 basically I don’t, um, what I saw on social media there was 00:08:57.634 --> 00:09:00.900 people saying that the trip is unnecessary that the mayor 00:09:00.900 --> 00:09:03.100 should focus on local issues. 00:09:03.100 --> 00:09:07.300 My response to that is that this is a local issue when it 00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:11.634 comes to economic development, economic development is local, 00:09:11.634 --> 00:09:14.367 uh, Nigeria and Liberia represent real trade partners 00:09:14.367 --> 00:09:21.300 and biotech we are a biotech, um. City with the new biotech 00:09:21.300 --> 00:09:24.900 that’s being built over there and so that connection can 00:09:24.900 --> 00:09:26.000 really help Brooklyn Park. 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:30.900 There’s a ton of reasons why, you know, people don’t, they 00:09:30.900 --> 00:09:35.133 travel from super far to go to Minnetonka, to Edina, to 00:09:35.133 --> 00:09:38.767 surrounding suburbs around the city, but they don’t travel to 00:09:38.767 --> 00:09:41.533 come to Brooklyn Park, so building those things up in 00:09:41.533 --> 00:09:47.300 Brooklyn Park. helps us, they spend money here, etc. um. 00:09:47.300 --> 00:09:50.634 Another thing that I wrote down, that’s on social media, that 00:09:50.634 --> 00:09:56.900 this is a waste of money. Um, And I, my count to that is that 00:09:56.900 --> 00:10:01.734 there is no personal financial gain here. It’s to this is 00:10:01.734 --> 00:10:03.900 about bringing back opportunities and not taking 00:10:03.900 --> 00:10:08.100 money from our community, but to invest in our community and 00:10:08.100 --> 00:10:12.934 bring money back, um, Brooklyn Park is very diverse with a 00:10:12.934 --> 00:10:17.734 black and African American, uh, African population and I think 00:10:17.734 --> 00:10:23.133 this will really help build the bridge and um Mayor Hollis, he 00:10:23.133 --> 00:10:28.367 is, um, a black man that Represents us we voted him in 00:10:28.367 --> 00:10:32.634 um to help bridge that gap in our community and um that’s one 00:10:32.634 --> 00:10:35.834 of the reasons why my family voted for him. My family 00:10:35.834 --> 00:10:38.634 doesn’t even really vote necessarily, but when it came 00:10:38.634 --> 00:10:41.266 to Hollis, they got out and they voted because of that 00:10:41.266 --> 00:10:46.000 because it’s important for us to build those relationships 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:48.867 internationally and here in Brooklyn Park, but we can’t do 00:10:48.867 --> 00:10:55.667 that alone. Um, next thing, this is my last one. Um Where 00:10:55.667 --> 00:11:03.133 is it? I’m saying. Um, and I don’t know, um, the other note 00:11:03.133 --> 00:11:07.900 I wanted to make was when I arrived to, I was handed like a 00:11:07.900 --> 00:11:12.100 piece of paper that was just Kind of bashing our leaders 00:11:12.100 --> 00:11:18.100 here. Um, and I think that that culture. In Brooklyn Park is 00:11:18.100 --> 00:11:20.100 very disgusting. To to be frank. 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:26.567 Um, when it comes to building up our communities, I think. 00:11:26.567 --> 00:11:31.467 That’s what we should be focusing on is building 00:11:31.467 --> 00:11:39.900 opportunities, um, not bashing people in disguising it as 00:11:39.900 --> 00:11:43.834 concern over the 3, but yeah, so I wanted to, to just, uh, so 00:11:43.834 --> 00:11:46.233 we have to have the next person, but you went over the 3, so we 00:11:46.233 --> 00:11:48.467 got to keep people within the 3. 00:11:48.467 --> 00:12:06.100 Thank you. All right, so we have next, uh, Rashad Imand. 00:12:06.100 --> 00:12:12.133 Mayor Winston, counsel. Chief, what’s up y’all? Um, I am up 00:12:12.133 --> 00:12:19.133 here because um Well, I just recently came from, uh, uh, 00:12:19.133 --> 00:12:22.634 Kenya. I went to, uh, Kenya. 00:12:22.634 --> 00:12:26.934 Nairobi specifically, um, my background technically states, 00:12:26.934 --> 00:12:29.767 um, I would never have been able to afford it. I’m more 00:12:29.767 --> 00:12:33.834 than likely would never have have had this opportunity, but 00:12:33.834 --> 00:12:37.133 because of my business ventures and, and working hard and doing 00:12:37.133 --> 00:12:42.367 what I do. Um, I was able to go there. And I was able to go 00:12:42.367 --> 00:12:47.233 there, not just for uh my own uh cultural experience, if you 00:12:47.233 --> 00:12:50.734 will, but I was actually also there to go there for business 00:12:50.734 --> 00:12:55.734 as well. Just business ventures and business opportunities, so 00:12:55.734 --> 00:13:01.734 I went there and. My experience blew my mind. Just not only the 00:13:01.734 --> 00:13:04.400 fact of just the cultural aspect of it all, but being 00:13:04.400 --> 00:13:07.533 able to talk with people and build these relationships, 00:13:07.533 --> 00:13:09.634 networking, and creating opportunity in terms of 00:13:09.634 --> 00:13:12.100 business and I’m just talking about me and my business and 00:13:12.100 --> 00:13:16.800 what I wanna do. Going over there, that experience and 00:13:16.800 --> 00:13:20.934 having that, that, uh, that, uh, uh, uh, collective 00:13:20.934 --> 00:13:24.567 understanding, if you will, gives not only uh Mayor Winston 00:13:24.567 --> 00:13:29.367 but also gives Brooklyn Park the opportunity to have those 00:13:29.367 --> 00:13:31.500 networking opportunities that one would never have thought of 00:13:31.500 --> 00:13:34.734 if you will. There’s so much more opportunity than than we 00:13:34.734 --> 00:13:38.500 think of. I think it’s more than just a personal thing. I 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:42.300 think it’s really just about opportunity. We have a strong 00:13:42.300 --> 00:13:45.367 opportunity for trade. We have a strong opportunity to. To 00:13:45.367 --> 00:13:50.300 bring something to Brooklyn Park that casts us into uh uh 00:13:50.300 --> 00:13:55.000 uh a dynamic that looks further than most cities do. We’re 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:57.133 coordinating our efforts in trade and business, 00:13:57.133 --> 00:14:00.367 economically or whatever that we would never have had this 00:14:00.367 --> 00:14:04.233 opportunity. Hollis has gone out to most of these, uh, um, 00:14:04.233 --> 00:14:08.934 most of these, uh, uh, um, um, cultural um events and things 00:14:08.934 --> 00:14:12.133 of that nature to purposely put himself out there to say, hey, 00:14:12.133 --> 00:14:14.567 we’re in this together. I’m a part of this. He’s purposely. 00:14:14.567 --> 00:14:17.634 Doing this, we see it all the time we see it in Liberian 00:14:17.634 --> 00:14:20.100 community, Nigerian community, etc. etc. It’s all over and 00:14:20.100 --> 00:14:23.367 this is just a continuation of that so I don’t really see why 00:14:23.367 --> 00:14:26.000 one would try to hold that particular effort, not just, 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:28.233 we’re not just talking about him. We’re actually talking 00:14:28.233 --> 00:14:30.867 about Brooklyn Park and the opportunity for Brooklyn Park 00:14:30.867 --> 00:14:34.033 to extend itself and grow and be a part of a growing uh 00:14:34.033 --> 00:14:36.800 sensation. There’s a lot of stuff and opportunity that’s 00:14:36.800 --> 00:14:39.834 happening in Africa just in general and for us to be a part 00:14:39.834 --> 00:14:43.567 of this growing effort, I think we ought to give it an ear. And 00:14:43.567 --> 00:14:46.800 I also, I, I think we ought to give it an opportunity as well, 00:14:46.800 --> 00:14:49.133 so I just think all of us should kind of open our eyes to 00:14:49.133 --> 00:14:52.100 kind of see the bigger picture instead of our personal 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:54.834 vendetta, whatever that may look like to just think about 00:14:54.834 --> 00:14:58.500 Brooklyn Park and and kind of growing that those efforts. 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:12.533 Thank you. Mamadi esse. Mama Daisy. Um, thank you very much. 00:15:12.533 --> 00:15:17.467 Again, my name is Mamadi Bangariisse, uh, I come from 00:15:17.467 --> 00:15:24.166 Liberia. I’ve been here for over Maybe 20 years now. And 00:15:24.166 --> 00:15:28.800 What The mayor is trying to do, I think we, another mayor did 00:15:28.800 --> 00:15:39.200 it before. They took uh A lot of Fire trucks. And so many 00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:44.533 different tenses that they took to Liberia. And create a truly 00:15:44.533 --> 00:15:50.834 sister in relationship with Kakata. I wish Uh, many of you 00:15:50.834 --> 00:15:56.734 sit up there today. could just take the opportunity. And just 00:15:56.734 --> 00:16:01.667 travel to Liberia and see the benefits he brought. The lives 00:16:01.667 --> 00:16:05.100 it saves the fire trucks. There are many places that don’t have 00:16:05.100 --> 00:16:10.200 it. The Brooklyn Pack did it and I think what the mayor is 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:14.100 trying to do is just to continue that. In our line and 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:22.467 uh Support him. To be able to do that. And also He’s not 00:16:22.467 --> 00:16:28.233 doing this because. I, I mean, I don’t know too much about how 00:16:28.233 --> 00:16:29.300 the political system goes but. 00:16:29.300 --> 00:16:35.734 Oh I believe that he’s very sincere in doing this. And also 00:16:35.734 --> 00:16:40.467 want to inform you that. If you walk And drive on Brooklyn 00:16:40.467 --> 00:16:48.000 Boulevard. Almost all The stores, Africans have open here 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.133 in the United States. So this is not just something to take 00:16:51.133 --> 00:16:55.500 away. This is something that the mayor have seen here. We 00:16:55.500 --> 00:17:00.233 are all benefiting from each other. So I hope That are 00:17:00.233 --> 00:17:07.367 support can be giving him To do what he wants to do. The sister 00:17:07.367 --> 00:17:12.500 share a relationship. It’s a very critical aspect in getting 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:15.767 to know each other even more. 00:17:15.767 --> 00:17:18.467 That anybody would think about. 00:17:18.467 --> 00:17:31.166 So I’m supporting him. In going to Liberia. And save. I just 00:17:31.166 --> 00:17:36.166 see life, but he’s basically we understand. A whole lot and 00:17:36.166 --> 00:17:39.233 bring that back to the city. 00:17:39.233 --> 00:17:45.100 Because I was city now Brooklyn Park. The diversity here. I 00:17:45.100 --> 00:17:48.000 mean, it’s just going to grow, it’s not going to diminish, 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:52.033 it’s gonna grow. And the only way we get to know each other 00:17:52.033 --> 00:17:55.533 is not just to stay here in the United States. But maybe just 00:17:55.533 --> 00:18:00.734 go out and see. What this is going to do. For the city and 00:18:00.734 --> 00:18:09.200 the people that He’s gonna Yeah So Again asked that you support 00:18:09.200 --> 00:18:14.000 him. This is not taking anything away from the city. Is 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:19.300 that awaiting the city. Thank you. All right, so I think 00:18:19.300 --> 00:18:22.500 we’ll do one more, um, we have a few more, but we’ll just do 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:41.767 the one more. So we’ll do, um, Ray, uh Meena. We live in uh 00:18:41.767 --> 00:18:47.100 Mayor and council members. Uh, my name is Aruwarime. And, uh I 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:52.900 know you saw me on Monday, but on Monday, I think I spoke a 00:18:52.900 --> 00:18:55.133 little bit differently because I didn’t really know there was 00:18:55.133 --> 00:19:02.033 contention like this. Um But I just want to start with is 00:19:02.033 --> 00:19:05.233 Before you oppose anything or you’re against anything. If you 00:19:05.233 --> 00:19:07.634 are a sincere person, you want to look at what are you 00:19:07.634 --> 00:19:14.767 opposing. Because if you go into the sister city 00:19:14.767 --> 00:19:18.900 documentation. Their objective, what the system is supposed to 00:19:18.900 --> 00:19:23.367 achieve. It’s clearly listed there. There’s a role for 00:19:23.367 --> 00:19:27.767 Brooklyn Park, there’s a role for the sister city. What we’re 00:19:27.767 --> 00:19:31.567 discussing right now about traveling to Africa. That’s 00:19:31.567 --> 00:19:34.634 what the objective is right there. So what is the argument? 00:19:34.634 --> 00:19:40.000 And not just that. This has happened before. So I’m like, 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:43.834 we’re doing something that he would not, would not 00:19:43.834 --> 00:19:46.467 reinventing anything. It has happened before. There was no 00:19:46.467 --> 00:19:50.033 problem. Why we have a problem now? Is it the person, the 00:19:50.033 --> 00:19:52.166 person that is the mayor, right? 00:19:52.166 --> 00:19:54.300 I don’t really understand. 00:19:54.300 --> 00:19:59.834 Because we have to separate uh personal feelings. And let the 00:19:59.834 --> 00:20:06.033 objective. Today in America, Because I didn’t want to go too 00:20:06.033 --> 00:20:08.634 much into the details because I thought it was unnecessary. 00:20:08.634 --> 00:20:15.100 Today in America. With the present government, They’ve 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:18.767 changed the African US policy. 00:20:18.767 --> 00:20:26.367 It’s no longer is. To Africa is not trade to Africa. If you’ll 00:20:26.367 --> 00:20:30.033 go back 23 weeks ago when the African presidents went to the 00:20:30.033 --> 00:20:35.367 White House. The infamous or famous? You know, noise that 00:20:35.367 --> 00:20:39.667 was being made about the president, our president, 00:20:39.667 --> 00:20:42.867 calling the asking the uh the Liberian president where he, 00:20:42.867 --> 00:20:44.467 you know, learned English from. 00:20:44.467 --> 00:20:46.634 There was something great that happened there that nobody’s, 00:20:46.634 --> 00:20:51.300 you know, of course, we like noise. I’m not, you know, I, I 00:20:51.300 --> 00:20:56.734 substance. What he said there from that meeting was. The 00:20:56.734 --> 00:21:01.634 policy of Africa and US has changed from 8. To trade. 00:21:01.634 --> 00:21:08.000 That’s where Brooklyn Park comes in. You don’t have any 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:12.834 city in in Minnesota that had One or two sister city 00:21:12.834 --> 00:21:14.367 relationship with Africa. 00:21:14.367 --> 00:21:22.400 Brooklyn have 3. So, where does the train start? Today as I 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:30.900 speak to you. American trade with Africa. As of 2020 2024 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:38.033 was less than $20 billion. Uh, sorry, was less than $2 billion. 00:21:38.033 --> 00:21:46.367 Why the threat of China with Africa is over $20 billion. 00:21:46.367 --> 00:21:48.000 That tells you the story. 00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:58.767 That’s why they changed. Thank, thank you. All right, so, uh, 00:21:58.767 --> 00:22:06.867 we’ll go ahead and move on. Um, to The public presentation 00:22:06.867 --> 00:22:09.734 portion, so if folks are, uh, maybe not everybody has the 00:22:09.734 --> 00:22:12.734 agenda in front of them, but if you’re here for that, that 00:22:12.734 --> 00:22:15.233 portion that comes after the EDA portion and then we’ll get 00:22:15.233 --> 00:22:16.634 into that other portion as well. 00:22:16.634 --> 00:22:19.734 Uh, but right now we’re gonna head into public presentations 00:22:19.734 --> 00:22:24.300 now. um, I think staff requested that we, uh, table. 00:22:24.300 --> 00:22:31.233 3C1. To the next EDA meeting. 00:22:31.233 --> 00:22:35.500 Are we comfortable as a council, especially in the interest of 00:22:35.500 --> 00:22:38.767 time, putting 3C1 back into pushing it back to the next EDA 00:22:38.767 --> 00:22:46.367 meeting. It’s the Brooklyn Park International Japan business 00:22:46.367 --> 00:22:48.500 spotlight. Yeah. Yeah, I’ll make a motion to push it back 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:51.500 to the next, uh, EDA meeting. 00:22:51.500 --> 00:22:55.266 All right. So, uh, motion was made by myself, President 00:22:55.266 --> 00:22:58.634 Winston, seconded by commissioner Kanowski. Uh, I 00:22:58.634 --> 00:23:02.767 think we have everybody here, so. That’s correct because 00:23:02.767 --> 00:23:05.100 there’s no remote participation, you can, you no longer do roll 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:11.400 call. So all those in favor say aye, a, any nas? Any 00:23:11.400 --> 00:23:15.033 abstentions? All right, the eyes, the eyes have it. Uh, so 00:23:15.033 --> 00:23:22.000 next we will go to um Let’s see Uh, reviewing, reviewing the 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:25.266 enhancing Brooklyn Park Economic Development Report, uh, 00:23:25.266 --> 00:23:32.100 made by Patio, uh, Jude, uh, Nadi, founder and CEO. We also 00:23:32.100 --> 00:23:34.834 have Malcolm Hicks, economic development and housing 00:23:34.834 --> 00:23:41.100 director. Good evening, President Winston and 00:23:41.100 --> 00:23:43.834 commissioners. Uh, my name is Malcolm Hicks, economic 00:23:43.834 --> 00:23:46.500 development and housing director and I’m here with you 00:23:46.500 --> 00:23:51.000 90, CEO and founder of Patio, to present on the findings of 00:23:51.000 --> 00:23:54.033 the enhancing the Brooklyn Park economic development and 00:23:54.033 --> 00:23:57.934 community services project. To give a brief overview, uh, this 00:23:57.934 --> 00:24:00.467 was a city led initiative, um. 00:24:00.467 --> 00:24:05.767 And it was launched in response to the 2023 Minnesota state 00:24:05.767 --> 00:24:09.500 budget allocations supporting small business group, which is 00:24:09.500 --> 00:24:13.734 often overlooked in traditional programs, patio consulting was 00:24:13.734 --> 00:24:16.467 engaged to advocate, track funding and connect Brooklyn 00:24:16.467 --> 00:24:20.767 Park businesses with new resources, um. focus area was 00:24:20.767 --> 00:24:25.667 equity, access, and long-term growth. Listed here are some of 00:24:25.667 --> 00:24:28.800 the deliverables that were brought within that project, uh, 00:24:28.800 --> 00:24:32.467 all of these are highly detailed within your package 00:24:32.467 --> 00:24:35.767 and so I will move forward in letting you come and let us 00:24:35.767 --> 00:24:38.467 focus on what we learned and what he’s recommending for us 00:24:38.467 --> 00:24:48.634 to move forward. Thank you, uh, Malcolm. Thank you, President 00:24:48.634 --> 00:24:51.266 Wilson and commissioners. Uh, my name is Jude Nadi, founder 00:24:51.266 --> 00:24:55.000 of Pao Consultant, as Malcolm stated, we had a project last 2 00:24:55.000 --> 00:24:59.734 years, um, because of the surplus we had um and in the 00:24:59.734 --> 00:25:05.000 state level, um, over $17.5 billion and there was over a 00:25:05.000 --> 00:25:08.233 billion dollars allocated to Community Development statewide. 00:25:08.233 --> 00:25:12.100 So it was imperative to for the city to tap into that 00:25:12.100 --> 00:25:14.834 opportunity and connect the dots some of the funders who 00:25:14.834 --> 00:25:19.900 received funding at that time, which was the key thing for the 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:23.734 um for the uh project. So, um, going through the projects, 00:25:23.734 --> 00:25:28.000 some of the lessons were learned, uh, was, you know, 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:32.300 we’re able to map out funding uh to the, you know, map out 00:25:32.300 --> 00:25:35.934 funding that’s tied to the city goods and businesses and uh 00:25:35.934 --> 00:25:40.934 we’re able to do that through effective outreach and the 00:25:40.934 --> 00:25:43.467 community engagement. Um, and also we found out that 00:25:43.467 --> 00:25:48.767 engagement matters, you know, strong funding ties with big 00:25:48.767 --> 00:25:53.033 organizations like NDC, MIDA, and other, um. Other 00:25:53.033 --> 00:25:56.233 organizations that got funding were able to bring them close 00:25:56.233 --> 00:26:01.100 to Brigham Park here and had a meeting with them also with the 00:26:01.100 --> 00:26:05.834 uh C EDA as well as Brook Parker Small Business Center, 00:26:05.834 --> 00:26:09.200 and um other stakeholders as well. So, and then we also 00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:14.000 found out that there are strong barriers when it comes to um 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.734 access to capital, um, there is need for financial literacy, 00:26:18.734 --> 00:26:21.467 especially for small businesses for them to understand some of 00:26:21.467 --> 00:26:23.000 the needs and requirement. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:26.734 requirements for funding and access to capital. And one 00:26:26.734 --> 00:26:30.166 example is um a credit education because as Brookham 00:26:30.166 --> 00:26:33.200 Park, a very diverse city, uh, some of us who came from 00:26:33.200 --> 00:26:36.867 different parts of the world, didn’t have that and um that 00:26:36.867 --> 00:26:41.100 can actually uh hamper some of the businesses. And the the 00:26:41.100 --> 00:26:45.467 other one is um access challenges, especially when it 00:26:45.467 --> 00:26:49.100 comes to engagement, uh, usual engagement is um from my 00:26:49.100 --> 00:26:54.500 experience, is always at the end of budget cut, but uh 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:59.233 because of the um the, you know, the diversity in the Brooklyn 00:26:59.233 --> 00:27:04.133 Park, engagement is not 11 heart fits all. It’s usually, 00:27:04.133 --> 00:27:08.000 it’s necessary to engage people in the way that they understand 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:12.667 and require some investment and also requires some of. For, um, 00:27:12.667 --> 00:27:15.834 some of the need for the city to prioritize that because 00:27:15.834 --> 00:27:18.200 without that that that grassroots engagement, some of 00:27:18.200 --> 00:27:22.734 the things we do here will not translate into the value to the 00:27:22.734 --> 00:27:29.734 people of the city of Park. OK. 00:27:29.734 --> 00:27:34.033 OK, some of these uh recommendations at number one 00:27:34.033 --> 00:27:37.233 overall number one is relationship. So as I said it 00:27:37.233 --> 00:27:41.000 earlier, through this program we’re able to bring in some of 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:46.233 the uh big uh funders uh NDC they we are here. They came the, 00:27:46.233 --> 00:27:51.100 the, um, the CEO of of NDC came over here because of this 00:27:51.100 --> 00:27:56.900 project, and she actually brought in um 6 of her staff to 00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:59.467 meet us at the new Brooklyn Parks, um, as, um, business 00:27:59.467 --> 00:28:04.166 center. And we had that discussion with them, uh, about 00:28:04.166 --> 00:28:08.200 all the values that um Brooklyn Park presents, and after that, 00:28:08.200 --> 00:28:11.100 there are still a relationship that was cultivated from that 00:28:11.100 --> 00:28:15.133 moment last year up to now that NDC is providing training to 00:28:15.133 --> 00:28:18.300 businesses in Brooklyn Park. I just one example of the 00:28:18.300 --> 00:28:22.100 relationship, and there need to maintain this relationship 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:25.300 going forward because as we know, the state will be facing 00:28:25.300 --> 00:28:29.100 some budget cuts in the near biennium and uh with that this 00:28:29.100 --> 00:28:32.734 type of relationship this. The city will be able to continue 00:28:32.734 --> 00:28:39.100 to um get some resources and support small businesses. 00:28:39.100 --> 00:28:41.800 Another recommendation is readiness for small businesses, 00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:45.567 um, just as I mentioned before, literacy training, access to 00:28:45.567 --> 00:28:50.300 credit, credit, uh, building this all very valid, so there’s 00:28:50.300 --> 00:28:53.033 a business that actually they funded their business for the 00:28:53.033 --> 00:28:56.767 past 5 years, but when it came to accessing credits, they 00:28:56.767 --> 00:28:59.367 didn’t have, uh, there was something that popped up on 00:28:59.367 --> 00:29:02.266 their credit report and just denied them, you know, having 00:29:02.266 --> 00:29:04.367 credits even though they are doing pretty well, the cash 00:29:04.367 --> 00:29:09.100 flow is excellent, and other except something on the credit, 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:13.834 um, the other one is um um institutional support. So since 00:29:13.834 --> 00:29:18.734 we have a um the small business center, so for it to be a hub 00:29:18.734 --> 00:29:23.033 and then have some of these uh um. Grand center that we’ve 00:29:23.033 --> 00:29:26.266 been talking about our access to capital, well situated there 00:29:26.266 --> 00:29:30.000 that people will know they can go there to, you know, have 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:33.634 ques ask questions, connect with uh some of uh experts who 00:29:33.634 --> 00:29:38.367 will help them and currently we are running um um uh a program 00:29:38.367 --> 00:29:41.634 with a sans bank that actually they have one on one with Sense 00:29:41.634 --> 00:29:45.400 bank without going to the bank, the bank goes to them or they 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:49.133 can be virtual and talk to them, so, but being able to have this 00:29:49.133 --> 00:29:52.767 established in the in the in the um business center. would 00:29:52.767 --> 00:29:57.133 actually bring in the community to utilize that, so, um, the 00:29:57.133 --> 00:30:01.900 last, um, recommendation is for the city to tap into banks, 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:08.300 small banks, and CDFI, there is a um reinvestment, um uh act 00:30:08.300 --> 00:30:12.500 that actually this small banks need to invest in the community 00:30:12.500 --> 00:30:16.233 with low and medium income which uh Brooklyn Park falls 00:30:16.233 --> 00:30:19.467 into. So that’s the relationship actually the banks 00:30:19.467 --> 00:30:23.734 every year, they invest money in such. communities and for if 00:30:23.734 --> 00:30:27.934 the city is intentional about this actually the um the this 00:30:27.934 --> 00:30:30.266 can actually benefit small businesses. So that’s something 00:30:30.266 --> 00:30:32.367 we’re looking forward to continue to work with the city, 00:30:32.367 --> 00:30:36.500 and we’re grateful for the opportunity to work with you to 00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:38.367 serve our businesses and community in Brook Park. Thank 00:30:38.367 --> 00:30:53.867 you. And with that, um, we’ll end our public presentation for 00:30:53.867 --> 00:31:01.133 a summary of the um. Enhancing Brooklyn Park program. Um, 00:31:01.133 --> 00:31:06.634 executed by patio and Jude 90 CEO. Um I don’t know if we do 00:31:06.634 --> 00:31:13.834 questions during. public Presentations Even Yeah, no, I 00:31:13.834 --> 00:31:16.133 think we’re just gonna, I, I don’t see any questions, but 00:31:16.133 --> 00:31:19.233 we’ll just go ahead and receive the report. I do want to say 00:31:19.233 --> 00:31:23.033 thank you to Jude for, um, the work with Patio. I think it 00:31:23.033 --> 00:31:26.734 does help folks. Uh, I think sometimes getting access to 00:31:26.734 --> 00:31:30.467 those technical resources or kind of navigating how that 00:31:30.467 --> 00:31:33.100 whole small business ecosystem works can be incredibly 00:31:33.100 --> 00:31:35.934 difficult, but I do think that you are, uh, important to, 00:31:35.934 --> 00:31:38.533 especially given when you’re located within that small 00:31:38.533 --> 00:31:40.634 business center. I do think you are important to that and I’ve 00:31:40.634 --> 00:31:43.834 seen the work you’ve done with folks. So I, I Hope that we 00:31:43.834 --> 00:31:45.533 continue that relationship and I appreciate the work you’re 00:31:45.533 --> 00:31:48.634 doing. It’s not easy work, but it, it, it is helping folks out 00:31:48.634 --> 00:31:58.166 quite a bit. So thank you. All right. So moving on, are there 00:31:58.166 --> 00:32:07.834 any I didn’t, OK. Are there any public announcements? So saying 00:32:07.834 --> 00:32:11.634 there’s no public announcements, uh, we can go ahead to the 00:32:11.634 --> 00:32:16.300 consent agenda. Is there a motion to approve the consent 00:32:16.300 --> 00:32:21.300 agenda. All right, the motion was made by Commissioner 00:32:21.300 --> 00:32:24.367 Klinowski, seconded by Commissioner McGarvey, uh, all 00:32:24.367 --> 00:32:29.367 those in favor say aye. I, any, any abstentions. All right, the 00:32:29.367 --> 00:32:33.467 ayes have it. Uh, seeing there’s no public hearings, no 00:32:33.467 --> 00:32:36.266 general action items, uh, we can go ahead and head into 00:32:36.266 --> 00:32:40.900 discussion items in uh 7.1 leaves an EDA status update. 00:32:40.900 --> 00:32:43.800 Thank you, Mr. President. My the members of the commission, 00:32:43.800 --> 00:32:47.834 just two items I wanted to point out in the staff report 00:32:47.834 --> 00:32:51.667 or status update here today, uh, the first of which, uh, we did 00:32:51.667 --> 00:32:55.834 do a housing resource fair at Huntington Place, uh, that I 00:32:55.834 --> 00:32:59.133 think was very successful, good partnership, as we know that 00:32:59.133 --> 00:33:02.834 ownership changes, um, there’ll be some changes in tenant, um, 00:33:02.834 --> 00:33:05.500 makeup in that area, so we wanted to make sure that we 00:33:05.500 --> 00:33:08.300 continue to provide a safety net so there’s some more detail 00:33:08.300 --> 00:33:11.467 in there. Um, let us call out specifically Josie Tao. a lot 00:33:11.467 --> 00:33:15.100 of the leg work and pulling that together. By the way, that 00:33:15.100 --> 00:33:19.500 was the same week days apart as the summer in the Plaza series 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:22.634 too. So, a ton of work went into those two events all in 00:33:22.634 --> 00:33:25.000 one week, uh, so kudos to that. 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:28.467 And then finally, I’ll just note that the first of many, um, 00:33:28.467 --> 00:33:30.667 updates in the biotech innovation district, the 00:33:30.667 --> 00:33:33.767 consulting work and the steering committee are in the 00:33:33.767 --> 00:33:36.133 packet as well. You will see that as a new regular series in 00:33:36.133 --> 00:33:43.400 your packet. Thank you. All right, any verbal commissioner, 00:33:43.400 --> 00:33:49.200 uh, reports or announcements. 00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:54.667 All right, uh, Commissioner McGarvey. No, I got you. Point 00:33:54.667 --> 00:33:59.900 of clarification, Mr. President, are we going to have Uh council 00:33:59.900 --> 00:34:03.166 member comments after the special. Council meeting. 00:34:03.166 --> 00:34:07.900 Because I’ll wait till then. I don’t, I don’t think I didn’t 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.734 see anything on there for that. 00:34:08.734 --> 00:34:12.834 I think they kept it pretty lean. I’ll I’ll take the 00:34:12.834 --> 00:34:16.667 opportunity now then to just say thank you. Uh, first and 00:34:16.667 --> 00:34:23.500 foremost to the National, uh, disabled veterans wheelchair 00:34:23.500 --> 00:34:24.634 games for coming to Minnesota. 00:34:24.634 --> 00:34:27.767 They take place all over the country. This is the 00:34:27.767 --> 00:34:30.467 forty-fourth annual, and I didn’t realize this when I was 00:34:30.467 --> 00:34:34.100 preaching it for the last 6 months, but they’re all of the 00:34:34.100 --> 00:34:38.467 events were at the convention center in Minneapolis, except 00:34:38.467 --> 00:34:41.567 for bowling, uh, fishing and swimming, which bowling was 00:34:41.567 --> 00:34:45.100 here in Brooklyn Park, and it, I did have one person come up 00:34:45.100 --> 00:34:47.367 to me and say they were from Brooklyn Park. I don’t know if 00:34:47.367 --> 00:34:50.166 anybody else. volunteered, but thanks everyone who did. We had 00:34:50.166 --> 00:34:56.200 people from Wisconsin. Um, and Our US House of Representative 00:34:56.200 --> 00:34:59.834 for the 3rd congressional District, Kelly Morrison, uh, 00:34:59.834 --> 00:35:03.000 was there on Sunday morning just to cheer the athletes on. 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:06.233 It was a great time. Next time, believe me and come and 00:35:06.233 --> 00:35:13.634 volunteer. Thank you. All right, uh, saying there’s no further 00:35:13.634 --> 00:35:17.367 comments, uh, the EDA meeting is adjourned and we’re going to 00:35:17.367 --> 00:35:20.834 head into the special city council meeting agenda number 7.