[00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: WELCOME. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL. IT IS WEDNESDAY NIGHT JANUARY FOURTH AND WE ARE HERE THIS EVENING TO INTERVIEW OUR FIRST GROUP OF APPLICANTS WHO HAVE APPLIED TO FILL THE VACANCY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR AT-LARGE COUNCIL SEAT SINCE THE ELECTION OF COUNCILMEMBER NATHAN COULTER TO THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. SO WE ARE GOING TO BE INTERVIEWING I BELIEVE NINE PEOPLE TONIGHT. WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP OF FOLKS WE'RE GOING TO BE INTERVIEWING ON SATURDAY MORNING. AND JUST TO GIVE EVERYBODY KIND OF A RUNDOWN AS TO HOW THIS IS WORKING TO FOLKS WATCHING AT HOME. EACH OF THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TIME TO SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL. WE ARE GOING TO ASK THE SAME FOUR QUESTIONS OF EACH OF THE APPLICANTS. THEY'LL HAVE A TOTAL OF 8 MINUTES TO ANSWER THOSE FOUR QUESTIONS AND IN ADDITION TO THE INTERVIEW THAT WE HAVE, WE'VE ASKED EACH OF THEM TO SUBMIT A RESUME AND A COVER LETTER AND ANSWER SOME BASIC INTRODUCTORY QUESTIONS ON AN APPLICATION. BASICALLY WHAT YOU WOULD SEND IN IF YOU WERE APPLYING FOR A JOB WHICH THESE FOLKS ARE—THEY'RE APPLYING FOR A JOB—THIS IS BASICALLY A JOB INTERVIEW FOR THE APPOINTMENT TO THE OPEN AT-LARGE SEAT. AND AS WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IN THE PAST, THIS AT-LARGE SEAT THEN WILL BE UP FOR ELECTION. IT WILL BE PART OF A SPECIAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER AT THE REGULAR ELECTION. THE CITY ELECTIONS THAT WE HAVE AS I SAID, WE'VE GOT I THINK 19 PEOPLE TO INTERVIEW OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF DAYS. WE'LL TALK TO THEM BOTH TONIGHT AND SATURDAY AND THEN AT OUR MONDAY MEETING. WE WILL DO LIKE WE HAVE DONE IN THE PAST TO NARROW DOWN FOLKS FOR OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER HEARING FROM 19 PEOPLE EVERYONE WILL BE ABLE TO VOTE FOR FIVE PEOPLE AND WE WILL TALLY UP THOSE FIVE PEOPLE, LOOK AT THE TOTALS AND FIGURE OUT FIRST OF ALL FOLKS WHO HAVE MORE THAN FOUR BUT THEN ALSO SO THEY HAVE A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL BUT THEN ALSO FOLKS WHO HAVE THE MOST VOTES AND RISE TO THE TOP. AND SO THAT NUMBER COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM I GUESS A COUPLE IF JUST A FEW PEOPLE KIND OF RISE TO THE TOP TO FIVE OR SIX OR POSSIBLY EVEN SEVEN AND WE'LL BRING THOSE FOLKS BACK FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW ON A SUBSEQUENT SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL. COUNCIL, ARE WE CLEAR ON THAT? ANY QUESTIONS ON THAT? NO, I THINK IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I THINK WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO TALK TO EVERYBODY I THINK IS AN IMPORTANT ONE. I DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE 20 APPLICANTS, 22 APPLICANTS AND THEN TO MAKE CUTS BASED ON THEIR RESUMÉ AND THEIR COVER LETTER. I KNOW THAT'S TYPICAL IN A JOB INTERVIEW OR A JOB INTERVIEW PROCESS BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET AND TO TALK TO AND AT LEAST HEAR FROM ALL OF THE APPLICANTS FOR THIS OPEN POSITION. ANY QUESTIONS, COUNCIL? VERY GOOD. WHY DON'T WE START BRINGING FOLKS IN AND WE'VE GOT A HANDFUL OF FOLKS HERE BEFORE WE'LL GET TO A BREAK AND I BELIEVE 8:10 OR SO WE'LL GET TO A BREAK AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO CATCH OUR BREATH AND STRETCH OUR LEGS A LITTLE BIT SO. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME RIGHT HERE PLEASE. YES, GOOD EVENING, MR. LOCKHART. WELCOME. AND I'M TIM BUSSE, THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. THIS IS THE REST OF OUR CITY COUNCIL. VERY HAPPY TO HAVE YOU HERE THIS EVENING. JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU A QUICK RUNDOWN OF HOW WE'RE GOING TO WORK THIS. WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU. ALL RIGHT. A TOTAL OF FOUR QUESTIONS AND WE'RE TRYING TO FIT EVERYBODY INTO 8 MINUTES SO THE CLOCK IS RIGHT UP THERE ON YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER IF YOU COULD PLEASE JUST KIND OF PACE YOURSELF AND TIME YOURSELF MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK AND ANSWER ALL FOUR QUESTIONS WITHIN THOSE 8 MINUTES. OKAY. BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH A STICKLER WITH THE EIGHT MINUTE TIME LIMIT BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S FAIR AND EVEN FOR EVERYBODY THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL HERE. VERY GOOD. ALL RIGHT. ARE WE READY TO START, FOLKS? WE'RE JUST GOING TO WAIT AND WORK OUR WAY DOWN TO THE DAIS HERE WITH THE QUESTIONS AND WE WILL GET STARTED RIGHT NOW. COUNCILMEMBER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: GOOD EVENING. SO THE FIRST QUESTION: CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER? [00:00] Mr. Lockhart: WELL, I WANT TO FIRST START OFF MAYOR BUSSE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME. I AM ULTIMATELY SENSITIVE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, INTERVIEWING 20 PEOPLE. BUILDING TEAMS AS A DIRECTOR, I’VE DONE IT A LOT OF TIMES AND I KNOW HOW IMPORTANT A SELECTION PROCESS IS BUT HOW TIME CONSUMING. SO YOU KNOW YOU'LL BE HERE TILL TEN, WHATEVER, 11, AND YOU'LL BE BACK ON SATURDAY. IT'S NO SMALL UNDERTAKING SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME. I'D LIKE TO SAY FIRST OFF I'M A BLOOMINGTON RESIDENT AND I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH A HEALTHY AND HAPPY FAMILY—SPOUSE, FOUR CHILDREN AND FIVE GRANDCHILDREN. IN HIGHER EDUCATION, I INCLUDE ONE UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE IN ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND THREE MASTER'S DEGREES. THE ONE HIGHLIGHT IS INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS WHICH CAN HELP ME KEEP BLOOMINGTON AS AN INTERNATIONAL FINAL DESTINATION CITY WHICH IS ONE OF YOUR GOALS HERE THAT YOU'VE STATED RECENTLY. I'M EMPLOYED RIGHT HERE IN BLOOMINGTON AS AN ENGINEER WE CALL ARCHITECTING AVIONICS SOLUTIONS OVER ON 88TH AND QUEEN. BUT I'VE ALSO BEEN EMPLOYED INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR OVER 40 YEARS IN BOTH SMALL AND LARGE COMPANIES AND I CURRENTLY HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS RIGHT HERE IN BLOOMINGTON. ONE WORK EXPERIENCE I WANT TO ELABORATE ON IS THE TIME I SPENT IN THE DETROIT AUTO INDUSTRY. I SPENT SEVERAL YEARS THERE WHERE I SAW A DYING INDUSTRY AND A DYING CITY AS A RESULT. SO THAT SHAPES MY THINKING AND HOW I WILL SERVE ON THE COUNCIL. I'VE SERVED OUR GREAT COUNTRY IN THE UNITED STATES MILITARY FOR OVER 30 YEARS BOTH ACTIVE AND RESERVE DUTY AND I FULLY RETIRE THIS MONTH WHICH EXPLAINS THE BURLY BEARD. FROM MY CONSTITUTION OF DUTY, HONOR AND COUNTRY, I'LL ADD TO THAT DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY AND DUTY TO THE CITY. AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A RESPECTED AND ACTIVE COMMUNITY LEADER, BEGINNING FROM THE TIME I TOOK MY NOW 31 YEAR OLD SON WHO WAS A SCOUT AT THE TIME ALONG WITH HIS TROOP AND WE VISITED THE CITY COUNCIL OF MY TOWN OF NO MORE THAN 2000 TO SEE WHAT A CITY COUNCIL DOES SO HE COULD EARN HIS CIVIC MERIT BADGE. BUT PRESENTLY I SERVE IN MANY CAPACITIES IN BLOOMINGTON WHERE I VOLUNTEER INCLUDING MY PLACE OF WORSHIP. MY FUNDAMENTAL PROPOSITION TO THE CITY COUNCIL BY FILLING THIS VACANCY IS THAT I WILL PROVIDE VISION, DIRECTION, INSPIRATION AND BALANCE TO THE CITY COUNCIL. I BELIEVE THAT CITY COUNCILS WILL BE MOST EFFECTIVE IF THEY'RE WELL BALANCED AND WE HIT THE SWEET SPOT SO THAT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVE DIVERSITY IN BACKGROUNDS, ETHNICITY, DISABILITIES AND MOST IMPORTANTLY DIVERSITY IN THINKING IN SOLVING PROBLEMS. SO THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: THANK YOU. WHAT PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE AS MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED? AND WHY? [00:00] Mr. Lockhart: WELL, THE FIRST ONE IS SNOW REMOVAL AND UTILITIES. WHILE IT TOOK ME 3 HOURS STARTING AT 5 A.M. TO GET OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY, ONCE I'M ON THE ROADS IN BLOOMINGTON, I'M ALWAYS THERE. I ONLY SAY THAT PARTLY TONGUE IN CHEEK. BUT THE SECOND ONE, AND I'LL BE BRIEF, IS THE LISTENING SESSIONS. I'M VERY ALIGNED WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL ITSELF RECOGNIZES: THE MEMBERS THAT WE SERVE, THE RESIDENTS OF BLOOMINGTON, AND THAT SUCH REPRESENTATION BEGINS WITH LISTENING. AND I AGREE WITH THE RECENTLY ADOPTED NEW LISTENING SESSION FORMATS HELD BEFORE THE COUNCIL MEETINGS. THERE ARE CLEAR OUTWARD SIGNS THAT MANY RESIDENTS STILL DON'T FEEL THEY'RE BEING HEARD NOR BEST REPRESENTED BY THEIR NEEDS AND THEIR WANTS FOR QUALITY CITY SERVICES. THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: EXCELLENT. SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN A DECADE THAT WILL MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Mr. Lockhart: WELL, I REALLY BELIEVE THAT BLOOMINGTON NEEDS TO ARREST AND THEN REVERSE WHAT I SEE AS OUTWARD SIGNS AND APPEARANCE OF A CITY IN DECLINE AND NOT FULLY ACCOUNTABLE TO ITS CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS. THE DECLINE IN POPULATION, RESIDENTIAL EXITS, UNRESPONSIVENESS TO RESIDENTS AND BASIC EXPECTATIONS FOR QUALITY SERVICES—WE NEED TO ENSURE BLOOMINGTON REMAINS AS AND EVEN RE-ESTABLISHES ITSELF IN ITS REPUTATION AS A GROWING, VIBRANT AND ATTRACTIVE CITY WHERE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL WANT TO LIVE. I THINK WE HAVE TO RESTORE OUR REPUTATION AS A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE TO LIVE. WHAT WE'RE KNOWN FOR NOW ARE THE AL-FAROUQ MOSQUE BOMBINGS FOR EXAMPLE, OR OVER AT PENN LAKE WHERE I BARBER AT BRUCE BARBERSHOP. THERE'S NOT BEEN JUST ONE BUT TWO SHOOTINGS. THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS A KILLING AND LESS THAN TWO YEARS BEFORE THERE WAS A SECOND. AT CHRISTMAS WE TALKED ABOUT THE MALL. WHEN I WAS AWAY I SAW THE MALL OF AMERICA ON NATIONAL NEWS AND THE SHOOTINGS THERE. SO MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE A SAFE AND SECURE PLACE. AND THEN FINALLY I THINK WE NEED TO RESTORE OUR REPUTATION AS A FRIENDLY PLACE TO DO BUSINESS BOTH TO START, REMAIN AND CONDUCT BUSINESS. YOU KNOW, AGAIN, I GO TO MY BARBER ON BRUCE AND PENN BECAUSE IF YOU WANT TO GET THE PULSE OF A COMMUNITY, WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN THE BARBERSHOP? BUT YOU KNOW, HE LAMENTS TO ME—AS I TOLD HIM I HAVE MY 10 MINUTES IN THE SUNSHINE WITH Y'ALL—THAT HE GOT AN ADDITIONAL $4 A MONTH ON BOTH HIS UTILITY BILLS FROM BLOOMINGTON, UNEXPLAINED, UNANNOUNCED, AND THIS IS A PARTICULARLY HARD BUSINESS THAT GOT HIT BY THE PANDEMIC AND SHUT DOWN. AND NOW HE'S GETTING HIT WITH INFLATION AND SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS MAKE IT LESS FRIENDLY. SO THAT WOULD INFLUENCE MY THINKING AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO SEE US BE IN TEN YEARS. THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: FINAL QUESTION HERE. WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES? AND PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD. [00:00] Mr. Lockhart: THANK YOU. VERY GOOD QUESTION. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT I THINK PARTICULARLY VOLUNTEERISM IS LIKE A HALLMARK OR A MEASURE OF THE CRITICAL FOUNDATION OF THE VIBRANCY OF A CITY. SO FOR OUR GEM OF THE CITY, NORMANDALE CORPORATE PARK AND NORMANDALE LAKE—THAT USED TO BE A FORMER ICON WITH YEAR-ROUND BEAUTY AND DRAW BUT I HAVE VOLUNTEERED, YOU KNOW, RECENT TIMES NOT THE CASE. I HAVE VOLUNTEERED SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF TIME WITH THE MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY AS A CITIZEN SCIENTIST WHERE I SPEND NUMEROUS HOURS ON THE WATER TAKING POLLUTION SAMPLES AS WELL AS SPENDING SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME WITH ALL FIVE AGENCIES THAT CONTROL WATER IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. BUT SPECIFICALLY NINE MILE WATER DISTRICT BOARD CHAIRMAN BOTH FOR OVERSIGHT AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF HOW THAT $1 MILLION LEVY IS SPENT AND WHETHER OR NOT IT'S BEEN EFFECTIVE IN THAT SPENDING AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF THOSE FEW RECREATIONAL USERS THAT STILL WANT TO USE THAT BODY OF WATER. SECONDLY, VOLUNTEERISM—I VOLUNTEER WITH THE CHURCH, POLITICAL PARTIES AND NOTABLY THE VETERANS AT BLOOMINGTON ARE A FOND INTEREST OF MINE. I'VE CREATED THE VETERANS LEADERSHIP COUNCIL FOR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THREE WHERE I'VE TEAMED WITH CONGRESSMAN PHILLIPS AND HENNEPIN COUNTY VSO WHICH DIRECTLY BENEFITS VETERANS HERE IN OUR CITY. THE BIGGEST BENEFIT I THINK I'LL PROVIDE IS DIVERSITY AND BACKGROUND, ETHNICITY, DISABILITY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY REPRESENT DIVERSITY IN THOUGHT AND PROBLEM SOLVING. SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. AND THOSE ARE FOUR QUESTIONS. MR. LOCKHART, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH. [00:00] Mr. Lockhart: THANK YOU. I JUST WANT TO CONCLUDE, I APPRECIATE YOU TAKING THE TIME. I KNOW HOW ARDUOUS IT IS TO SHUFFLE THIS ALL THROUGH AT 10 MINUTES A CYCLE BUT AS A FULLY QUALIFIED CANDIDATE FOR THE VACANT AT-LARGE SEAT OF THE CITY COUNCIL I DO LOOK FORWARD TO DIGGING DEEPER. 10 MINUTES IS NOT MUCH TIME TO EXPLAIN HOW THE THINKING AND HOW AN OPERATION ON THE COUNCIL WOULD GO. THANK YOU FOR IT. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: THANK YOU MUCH. MR. COCHRAN. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF COUNCIL. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT. OUR FORMAT THIS EVENING IS WE HAVE A TOTAL OF 8 MINUTES PER CANDIDATE. THE CLOCK UP ABOVE YOUR RIGHT SHOULDER THERE KIND OF GIVES YOU THE BREAKDOWN AS TO HOW MUCH TIME YOU'LL HAVE. WE'RE ASKING A TOTAL OF FOUR QUESTIONS SO MAKE SURE YOU TIME YOURSELF ADEQUATELY SO YOU CAN FIT THE ANSWERS TO THOSE FOUR QUESTIONS WITHIN THE 8 MINUTES. WE WON'T BE DOING FOLLOW UPS OR PROBING QUESTIONS. IT'S JUST A MATTER OF ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS THIS EVENING AND WE'LL BE MOVING ON FROM THERE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. VERY GOOD. OUR FIRST QUESTION—WE'RE JUST GOING TO WORK OUR WAY RIGHT DOWN THE DAIS HERE. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: THANK YOU, MAYOR. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT. [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: YOU'RE WELCOME. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: THANK YOU, COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. I AM A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER LICENSED IN THE STATE OF MINNESOTA. I WORK AS A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER. I'M A CONSULTANT TO MSP AIRPORTS WHERE I DESIGN TERMINAL EXPANSIONS AND THE LIKE OVER PRIMARILY AT TERMINAL ONE. I ALSO AM MORE KNOWN HERE AT CITY HALL AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER. I'M IN MY FIRST TERM, JUST ABOUT TO ROUND OUT YEAR THREE OF MY FIRST TERM AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER. I ALSO SERVE ON THE CITY'S RFP REVIEW BOARD WHICH IS OUR SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT REVIEWS RFPS SO THAT LIKE THE 700 AMERICAN THAT YOU RECENTLY HAD BEFORE YOU, I WAS ON THE—I THINK IT'S SIX OR SEVEN OF US—THAT REVIEW AS THE PROPOSAL GOES OUT AND THEN WHEN THE PROPOSAL COMES IN WE TALK TO THE DEVELOPERS AND GET A SENSE FOR WHAT THEIR PROPOSALS ARE AND MAKE SORT OF THE FIRST RECOMMENDATION AS TO WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH THE PROPOSALS THAT COME IN. AND I'M ALSO A PROUD GRADUATE OF THE BLOOMINGTON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM, I THINK IT WAS 2019. I'M A BIG, BIG SUPPORTER OF THE BLOOMINGTON LEADERSHIP PROGRAM. SO I THINK I'D MAKE A GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER. YOU KNOW, I THINK MY EXPERIENCE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION REALLY LENDS ITSELF WELL TO WHAT YOU ALL DO ON THE CITY COUNCIL. I MEAN THEY SAY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE POOR MAN'S PLANNING COMMISSION, RIGHT? I'M VERY USED TO REVIEWING APPLICATIONS AND GOING THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS, YOU KNOW, HOLDING PUBLIC HEARINGS AND THE LIKE. IT'S SOMETHING I'M VERY COMFORTABLE DOING, YOU KNOW, PUTTING IN THE STUDY TIME TO REVIEW THE APPLICATIONS AND WORKING MY WAY THROUGH THAT. AND I THINK AS AN ENGINEER AS WELL, I BRING SOMEWHAT OF AN ANALYTICAL, A CALCULATED APPROACH TO THE POSITION. THAT'S WHAT I'VE DONE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND I THINK IT LENDS ITSELF WELL, BEING ABLE TO DISCERN THE VERY LARGE PACKETS WE GET AND BE ABLE TO BOIL THAT DOWN INTO THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND THE RIGHT THINGS TO BE ASKING AND PAYING ATTENTION TO, WHETHER THAT'S FOLLOWING UP WITH CITY STAFF OR THE APPLICANTS, AND TAKING IN THAT PUBLIC FEEDBACK TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS WE CAN ON EVERY APPLICATION. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: SO WHAT PROJECT OR INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE AS MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: YOU KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN, I THINK THE THING THAT I FEEL CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE MOST OF WHERE BLOOMINGTON IS GOING IS ACTUALLY THE WATER PARK. WHEN I THINK OF BLOOMINGTON, I DON'T THINK OF US AS JUST A SUBURB OF MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL. I THINK WE ARE THE SUBURB OF MINNEAPOLIS AND SAINT PAUL, THE PREMIER SUBURB OF WHAT WE CAN BE IN THE TWIN CITIES. AND I THINK WE HAVE ASSETS THAT OTHER COMMUNITIES DON'T, WHETHER IT'S THE MALL OF AMERICA AND IKEA OR OFFICE TOWERS OR THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. WE HAVE ASSETS HERE AND I THINK WE NEED TO LEVERAGE THOSE ASSETS AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO BE A CITY THAT CELEBRATES ITSELF. WHEN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WAS HIRED HERE AT THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, CARLA HENDERSON, SHE CAME IN AND INTRODUCED HERSELF TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. WE HAD A LITTLE CONVERSATION BACK AND FORTH AND THE THING I TOLD CARLA WAS "KEEP BLOOMINGTON A DIFFERENTIATOR." WE'RE NOT JUST EVERY OTHER SUBURB. I'M SO DESPERATE FOR US TO NOT BE ANOTHER VANILLA SUBURB. WE HAVE THE ASSETS TO BE DIFFERENT. WE ARE DIFFERENT, WHETHER THAT'S THE OPPORTUNITY HOUSING ORDINANCE OR OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO FIRST AND BEST AND BETTER THAN ALL OF THE OTHER SUBURBS. I'M VERY SURE WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THAT AND STAND ALONE AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND YOU KNOW, LET'S LEVERAGE THAT TRIPLE-A CREDIT RATING. RIGHT. LET'S DO WHAT WE CAN TO STAY DIFFERENT AND NOT BE JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER SUBURBS. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. SO WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT'LL MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: YEAH, I THINK THE THING—AND IT GOES INTO THE FUTURE—IS WITH METRO TRANSIT AND THE MET COUNCIL. I'VE SPOKEN TO YOU ALL BEFORE ABOUT THE ISSUES WE'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE BLUE LINE AND JUST METRO TRANSIT IN GENERAL. I LIVE IN BLOOMINGTON CENTRAL STATION. I WORK IN DOWNTOWN MINNEAPOLIS. I TAKE THE BLUE LINE EVERY DAY TO GO TO WORK. BEFORE I TOOK THE BUS TO GO TO WORK. AND HONESTLY I FIND THAT METRO TRANSIT AND THE MET COUNCIL AREN'T HOLDING UP THEIR END OF THE DEAL. THE MET COUNCIL HAS GOALS FOR US, RIGHT, WITH AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. AND I THINK THE CITY IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB. WE'RE KILLING IT ON AFFORDABLE HOUSING. OUR TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT IS GOING WELL and WE CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS ON THE BLUE LINE. I WISH I COULD SAY THE BLUE LINE WAS BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO YOU. IT'S NOT; IF ANYTHING IT'S GOTTEN WORSE WHICH IS DISAPPOINTING. BUT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE DAILY EXPERIENCE. IT'S THE FIVE-WEEK CLOSURE THAT WE HAD OVER THE SUMMER OF THE BLUE LINE THAT SOMEHOW TURNED INTO 13 WEEKS. AND 13 WEEKS OF NO LIGHT RAIL SERVICE FOR SOMEONE WHO TAKES IT EVERY DAY TO GO TO WORK WAS BRUTAL. I DON'T KNOW HOW A FIVE-WEEK PROJECT CAN TURN INTO 13 WEEKS BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING. AND ANOTHER THING IS THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT LINE WE WERE GOING TO HAVE ALONG AMERICAN BOULEVARD THAT WAS IN THE LONG-TERM PLAN HAS NOW BEEN TAKEN OUT—AGAIN, DISAPPOINTING WHEN WE'RE HOLDING UP OUR END OF THE BARGAIN WITH THE MET COUNCIL AND THEY'RE NOT RETURNING THE FAVOR WITH METRO TRANSIT ON OUR SIDE. SO I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE AND SEE AN IMPROVEMENT FOR METRO TRANSIT TO BEST SERVE OUR RESIDENTS. WE'VE GOT REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS WITH THE ORANGE LINE AND THE BLUE LINE GOING THROUGH BLOOMINGTON CENTRAL STATION. WE HAVE REAL DEVELOPMENTS, REAL THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US THAT WE COUNT ON METRO TRANSIT FOR AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT RECIPROCATED FROM THE MET COUNCIL side. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: GOOD EVENING. NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN. FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU: WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES AND PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD. [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: YEAH, THANKS COUNCILMEMBER D'ALESANDRO. SERVING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, I GET THE VERY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE. I'M ACTUALLY MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE SITTING WHERE YOU ARE THAN DOWN HERE. I GET TO SERVE 90,000 RESIDENTS AS A PLANNING COMMISSIONER. I'M VICE CHAIR OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION NOW AND IT'S BEEN AN EXCELLENT OPPORTUNITY. SO YOU WOULD THINK THAT THAT'S WHERE I'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACT BUT IT'S ACTUALLY NOT. I'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS TO BE A VOLUNTEER COACH AT NORMANDALE HILLS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, THE GREATEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ON THE PLANET. I LOVE NORMANDALE HILLS AND IT'S BEEN AN AWESOME EXPERIENCE. I COACH A PROGRAM CALLED GIRLS ON THE RUN. GIRLS ON THE RUN IS A NATIONAL PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE AT NORMANDALE HILLS AND SOME OTHER SCHOOLS. GIRLS ON THE RUN IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE GIRLS WHERE WE ENCAPSULATE RUNNING AND CRITICAL LIFE SKILLS. EVERY LESSON, EVERY PRACTICE WE RUN BUT WE INTEGRATE A LESSON AND WE TEACH LESSONS LIKE COURAGE AND CONFIDENCE AND LEADERSHIP. IT IS SPECIFICALLY TAILORED FOR THIRD THROUGH FIFTH GRADE GIRLS. YOU KNOW, I WENT TO ENGINEERING SCHOOL AND I GRADUATED WITH THREE WOMEN AND IT WAS DISAPPOINTING. I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND IT. I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT I COULD DO AND SO I WANTED TO WORK WITH GIRLS AND I FOUND THIS PROGRAM GIRLS ON THE RUN WHICH IS REALLY PERFECT FOR ME. SO I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE GIRLS WHEN THEY'RE YOUNGER AND SHOW THEM THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN'T DO AND THAT THEY SHOULD NEVER BE HELD BACK AND THAT THE POTENTIAL INSIDE OF THEM IS ALREADY THERE. IT'S LIMITLESS IF WE CAN JUST PULL IT OUT OF THEM. AND HELPING GIRLS FIND THEIR SELF-CONFIDENCE THAT'S ALREADY THERE IS SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME. AND SO IT'S FUNNY, YOU KNOW, I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE 90,000 RESIDENTS HERE AT CITY HALL BUT IT'S THE EIGHT GIRLS ON MY TEAM—IT'S THOSE EIGHT RESIDENTS THAT I TAKE THE MOST PRIDE IN SERVING. I KNOW I GOT TO COACH MAYOR BUSSE'S NIECE THERE FOR A FEW YEARS AND I REMEMBER THAT FONDLY AS WELL. SO THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY WORK WITH PEOPLE DIRECTLY AND HAVE THAT IMPACT IS REALLY SPECIAL TO ME. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. THOSE ARE THE FOUR QUESTIONS. APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE YOUR COMING IN THIS EVENING. THANK YOU, MR. COCHRAN. [00:00] Nicholas Cochran: THANK YOU. THANKS. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: GOOD EVENING MR. OLIVA. HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING? [00:00] Rick Oliva: I'M DOING WONDERFUL, STAYING WARM. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: GLAD TO HEAR IT. YEAH. OUR FORMAT THIS EVENING IS WE'VE GOT FOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU. YOU'VE BEEN PROVIDED THOSE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE AND WE'VE GOT A TOTAL OF 8 MINUTES SO THAT YOU KNOW WHERE THE SHOT CLOCK IS. YOU'VE SPOKEN TO US BEFORE AND WE ASK THAT YOU TIME YOURSELF SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE HAVE TIME TO ASK ALL FOUR QUESTIONS AND WE GET THEM WITHIN THE 8 MINUTES. [00:00] Rick Oliva: SURE. I REREAD ALL MY ANSWERS AND IT SHOULD ONLY TAKE ME 5 MINUTES TO ANSWER SO AS LONG AS YOUR QUESTIONS ARE LESS THAN THREE WE SHOULD BE GOOD. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: PERFECT. AND WE ARE JUST GOING TO WORK OUR WAY DOWN THE DAIS HERE ASKING THE QUESTIONS AND WE WILL GET STARTED NOW. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: THANK YOU, MAYOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. [00:00] Rick Oliva: THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: OUR FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] Rick Oliva: ALL RIGHT. WELL, I'LL JUST READ IT DOWN. GOOD EVENING, CITY COUNCIL, MAYOR AND CITY STAFF. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO INTERVIEW. I AM RICK OLIVA AND I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF BLOOMINGTON. THROUGHOUT MY LIFE I'VE DEDICATED MYSELF TO SERVING THIS COMMUNITY AND AS YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN CRITICAL OF MANY OF YOUR DECISIONS IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BUT I THINK THAT'S ACTUALLY WHAT MAKES ME A VALUABLE ADDITION TO THE CURRENT COUNCIL. AND HERE'S THE REASONING: DIVERSE VIEWPOINTS LEAD TO MORE CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS AND FOSTER TRUST AND CREDIBILITY IN THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS. AND ACCORDING TO THE CITY'S WEBSITE—AND I'M GOING TO EXCHANGE THE WORD "WORKFORCE" WITH "CITY COUNCIL"—A DIVERSE CITY COUNCIL INCREASES BLOOMINGTON'S CAPACITY TO SERVE AND PROTECT PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES OR BACKGROUNDS AND ENHANCES ITS ABILITY TO BE RECEPTIVE TO DIFFERENT TRADITIONS AND IDEAS. OVERALL HAVING DIVERSE OPINIONS ON A CITY COUNCIL IS ESSENTIAL FOR EFFECTIVE AND INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: WHAT PROJECT OR INITIATIVE IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE AS MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Rick Oliva: FOR THAT QUESTION, I SEE INITIATIVES SUCH AS EARNED SICK AND SAFE LEAVE, THE FLAVORED TOBACCO BAN AND THE RACIAL EQUITY PLAN AS INDICATIVE OF THE DIRECTION THE CITY IS GOING. AND I COMMEND THE COUNCIL FOR ASPIRING TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE AND HEALTHIER CITY. BUT I THINK WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL TO NOT INFRINGE ON PERSONAL CHOICE AND PUT UNDUE STRESS ON SMALL BUSINESSES ALREADY STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE. FOR EXAMPLE, AS DISGUSTING AS I PERSONALLY THINK SMOKING IS, I BELIEVE ADULTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO CHOOSE WHAT THEY PUT INTO THEIR OWN BODIES AND THE BAN HURTS SMALL BUSINESSES ESPECIALLY WHEN OWNERS TRY TO SELL AND RETIRE WHILE LEAVING LARGE CORPORATE-OWNED STORES RELATIVELY UNFAZED. FURTHERMORE, WHEN I LOOK AT SOME OF YOUR CURRENT INITIATIVES SURROUNDING EQUITY, SUCH AS THE PORTION OF THE PARK SYSTEM MASTER PLAN THAT USES RACE IN THE FORMULA FOR ALLOCATING FUNDS, I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHY MY WHITE FAMILY MEMBERS WOULD BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FROM A FUNDING STANDPOINT THAN MY BLACK RELATIVES IF THEY ALL MOVED HERE BUT LIVE IN DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS. I KNOW IT'S JUST A SMALL PART OF THE FORMULA BUT I BELIEVE IT SHOULDN'T BE THERE AT ALL AND MY HOPE IS I PROVIDE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE TO THESE TOPICS AND OTHERS AND WE CAN WORK TO FIND COMMON GROUND THAT WE CAN ALL MOSTLY AGREE ON. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT WILL MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Rick Oliva: WELL, MAYBE IT'S FROM HEARING STORIES ABOUT WHEN MY DAD FIRST CAME TO AMERICA. THERE WERE TIMES WHEN HE'D BE ON A ROAD TRIP AND THE BUS WOULD STOP AT A GAS STATION AND THE WHITE PASSENGERS COULD GO INSIDE AND USE THE RESTROOM AND BUY SNACKS AND HE AND THE OTHER BLACK PASSENGERS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT OUTSIDE OR GO IN THE DITCH TO RELIEVE THEMSELVES. IT MIGHT BE BECAUSE OF THAT IN MY UPBRINGING THAT I'M SO FOCUSED ON THE IDEA OF RACE AND EQUITY IN THE CITY. BUT WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS SORT OF RESTRUCTURE THE NARRATIVE IN THE CITY FROM WHAT I FEEL TO BE WHITE PEOPLE VERSUS EVERYBODY ELSE—BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT "BIPOC"—TO TRULY UNITING US AS "ONE BLOOMINGTON." FOR EXAMPLE, INSTEAD OF EXPLICITLY ENCOURAGING OUR BIPOC COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO APPLY FOR JOBS, WE COULD SIMPLY SAY WE DO NOT UNLAWFULLY DISCRIMINATE AND WE ENCOURAGE ALL QUALIFIED PERSONS TO APPLY. I BELIEVE YOUR HEARTS ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: LAST QUESTION FOR YOU MR. OLIVA. WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES? AND DESCRIBE FOR US HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD. [00:00] Rick Oliva: SURE. MY EXPERIENCE WHERE I FEEL I CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY IN THAT TIME CLOSEST TO CITY COUNCIL WORK WOULD BE AS A SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER. IN THOSE FOUR YEARS WE WERE ABLE TO PASS A REFERENDUM GETTING DEVICES IN THE HANDS OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS ON A DAY LIKE TODAY WHERE WE HAVE A BLIZZARD AND SCHOOLS ARE CLOSED, WE STILL HAVE LEARNING HAPPENING AT HOME. AND WHILE MY KIDS AREN'T TOO THRILLED WITH THAT—I GOT A TEXT MESSAGE LIKE "DAD, WE DON'T EVEN GET SNOW DAYS ANYMORE"—I THINK IT'S GREAT. PART OF THAT REFERENDUM THAT WE PASSED WAS ALSO FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY WHICH HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT. DURING MY TIME ON THE SCHOOL BOARD I SPENT TIME WORKING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION WITH THE UNIONS. BY SHIFTING STRATEGIES WE REDUCED THE TIME TO NEGOTIATE THE TEACHER CONTRACT DOWN FROM ABOUT 18 MONTHS. WHEN I WAS FIRST ELECTED THE CONTRACT WASN'T SETTLED FOR A REALLY LONG TIME. AFTER THAT WE SHIFTED STRATEGIES AND THE NEXT TIME THE TEACHER CONTRACT CAME UP WE SOLVED IT WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THAT WAS CERTAINLY A TEAM EFFORT. IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF ME BUT I FEEL LIKE I WAS PART OF THAT SHIFT. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S WORKING OUT FOR THEM NOW BUT I KNOW THAT THAT WAS HUGE BACK THEN THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT. ALSO AFTER THE 2016 ELECTION TENSIONS WERE HIGH AND AS SCHOOL BOARD CHAIR I WORKED WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO DRAFT A JOINT STATEMENT WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ADDRESSING IMMIGRATION SIGNED BY BOTH ME AND MAYOR GENE WINSTEAD AND THAT STATEMENT CAN STILL BE FOUND ON THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON WEBSITE. I WOULD LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED BY CONTINUING TO TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK AT ALL INITIATIVES AND ISSUES PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL, MAKING SURE WE BALANCE OUR WANTS VERSUS OUR NEEDS AND CONTINUE PRIORITIZING ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUCH AS POLICE, FIRE AND INFRASTRUCTURE WHILE ALSO RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF AMENITIES THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. AND FINALLY WHEN IT COMES TO EQUITY I WOULD STRIVE TO CREATE A WELCOMING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL AND ALLOCATE RESOURCES BASED ON NEED RATHER THAN RACE. AND THIS MEANS REJECTING ANY FORM OF UNLAWFUL DISCRIMINATION AND WORKING TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER RATHER THAN DIVIDING THEM. SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: THANK YOU MR. OLIVA. I APPRECIATE YOU AS WELL. GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME. I WANT TO MAKE SURE I PRONOUNCE YOUR LAST NAME CORRECTLY. IT IS... STORE? [00:00] Ms. Store: STORE. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT IT WAS. MR. STORE, GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT. GREATLY APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR APPLYING. WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK YOU THIS EVENING. WE HAVE AN EIGHT MINUTE TIME LIMIT AND THE CLOCK IS UP ON THE WALL TO YOUR RIGHT. SO WE ASK THAT YOU JUST PACE YOURSELF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET ALL FOUR QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED IN THOSE 8 MINUTES. [00:00] Ms. Store: I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. AND WE ARE GOING TO JUST WORK OUR WAY DOWN HERE AND EVERYBODY ASKING YOU A QUESTION AND OFF WE GO. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: ALL RIGHT. WELL WELCOME. THE FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] Ms. Store: OKAY. WELL, I'M A QUICK STUDY, FIRST OF ALL. I CAN PRETTY MUCH WALK INTO ANY BUSINESS AND ASSESS WHAT IT NEEDS AND TAKE CARE OF IT AND MAKE IT WORK. LITERALLY MY FIRST JOB OUT OF COLLEGE I WAS PUT INTO AN ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT THAT I HAD NEVER BEEN IN BEFORE AND WITHIN SIX MONTHS I HAD MASTERED IT AND HAD GOTTEN A PROMOTION. SO THAT HAS BEEN THE COURSE OF MY LIFE FOREVER. BUT SERIOUSLY MOST OF MY WORK LIFE HAS BEEN BASED IN EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR THE BENEFIT OF WHATEVER I'M WORKING IN. WHETHER IT IS AT THE INTERNATIONAL WOLF CENTER—IT WAS BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR THE CAUSE OF LEARNING ABOUT WOLVES, WHETHER THEY THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD OR BAD. IT WAS VERY DIPLOMATIC IN THAT RESPECT. WHETHER IT WAS WHERE I AM NOW—IT'S FOOD AND BEVERAGE AND EVENTS AND HOW WE CAN MAKE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN PEOPLE'S LIVES BETTER AND EDUCATING THEM ABOUT THEM AND BRINGING THEM TOGETHER. SO MAKING SOMETHING FOR EVENT PLANNERS EVEN MORE SPECIAL BECAUSE THEY PUT ON EVENTS FOR PEOPLE AND WE PUT ON EVENTS FOR EVENT PLANNERS, WE GOT TO MAKE IT REALLY GREAT. SO IT'S ALL ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER. AND WHAT ELSE... I GUESS THAT'S IT. WE'LL CUT IT OFF RIGHT THERE BECAUSE WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT FOR THIS. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: ALL RIGHT. WHAT PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON'S HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Ms. Store: I THINK THAT'S A REALLY LOADED QUESTION QUITE HONESTLY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR DIRECTION IS. SO IF YOUR DIRECTION WAS FOR EXAMPLE DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION I THINK YOU'VE GOT A GOOD START THERE. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING HERE IN THE COMMUNITY DESPITE LOOKING A LITTLE BIT DIVISIVE—I DROVE THROUGH A VERY DIVISIVE COMMUNITY EVENT THIS PAST SUMMER—I THINK IT'S GOING REALLY WELL AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT IT'S A VERY BIG INITIATIVE AND THE POSITION THAT I HOLD RIGHT NOW LOVES THAT. IF YOUR DIRECTION IS BECOMING A MORE GLOBAL PRESENCE IN THE WORLD, THEN WHAT YOU'RE DOING TO TRY AND BRING THE WORLD EXPO HERE IS VERY IMPORTANT AND I CAN SEE THAT THAT WOULD BE AN INITIATIVE THAT IS GREAT. I WAS LOOKING AT THE DATA SHEET THAT WAS PUT OUT AND EVERYWHERE I LOOKED WITHIN THAT DATA SHEET IT SAID "COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT," "COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT," "COMMUNITY DIVERSITY," "COMMUNITY." THE WORD COMMUNITY WAS EVERYWHERE THERE. SO I CAN'T SAY... THIS IS A TOUGH CITY BECAUSE IT'S SO BIG AND SO SPRAWLING. SO HOW DO YOU BUILD THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD NOOKS AND THOSE... I'M NOT SEEING IT YET BUT I THINK THAT I SEE THE BEGINNINGS OF ALL OF THAT AND I APPRECIATE THAT. SO IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: OKAY. WE BETTER GO ON. SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT WOULD MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Ms. Store: AGAIN, I'M REALLY ON BOARD WITH A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES SURROUNDING ADDING MORE NEIGHBORHOOD GATHERING SPACES. I TALKED TO SOME OF MY FRIENDS WHO HAVE LIVED IN THIS COMMUNITY FOR A LONG TIME AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME KINDS OF THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD OR READ OFF THAT DATA THING: "WE'RE TIRED OF THE CHAIN RESTAURANTS, WE WANT MORE FAMILY AND PRIVATELY OWNED RESTAURANTS." WE WANT TO SEE THOSE NATURAL SPACES MORE EMBRACED AND BROUGHT TO THE FOREFRONT. I HAVE BEEN COMING TO BLOOMINGTON FOR A LONG, LONG TIME SINCE THE EIGHTIES TO THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE. THE MINNESOTA RIVER VALLEY WILDLIFE REFUGE—I JUST WENT OVER THERE ON NEW YEAR'S DAY BECAUSE I KNOW THE TURKEYS ARE THERE AND I BRING MY SECRET BAG OF CORN—OR THE CEDAR BRIDGE. AND WHEN I WAS DOWN THERE MY HUSBAND SAID, "DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN WE USED TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE ACROSS THAT BRIDGE?" AND WE COULD. BUT IT'S SO WONDERFULLY REBUILT NOW AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU'VE DONE ARE JUST LOVELY AND APPRECIATED. AND THERE IS A CONCERN OF COURSE THAT WITH ALL OF THE APARTMENT COMPLEXES GOING UP AND THE CONDOS, HOW ARE WE GOING TO PRESERVE THESE SPACES? GOING DOWN TO THE PONDS AND WHEN YOU CAN HEAR BUILDINGS BREATHE, THE NATURALISTS—PEOPLE LIKE ME—THINK... YOU KNOW, YOU GET CONCERNS. SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS WITH THE COMMUNITY, THE GIVE AND TAKE OF ALL OF THIS. SO THAT'S THE NATURAL WORLD ALONG WITH THE THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BUILD TO REMAIN A VIABLE BIG CITY—THOSE ARE THE THINGS YEARS TO THE FUTURE WE'RE GOING TO SEE AS WE WORK ON TODAY. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: ALL RIGHT. WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES AND COULD YOU DESCRIBE FOR US HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY GOING FORWARD? [00:00] Ms. Store: OKAY. SO I AM PROBABLY YOUR NEWEST; I'VE ONLY BEEN LIVING HERE ABOUT TWO AND A HALF YEARS. I GREW UP IN EDINA AND I LIVED IN MINNEAPOLIS SO I HAVE MOST CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR FARMER'S MARKET THROUGH MY POCKET OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS. BUT I'M A FREQUENT VISITOR HERE. RICHARDSON NATURE CENTER WHERE I USED TO VOLUNTEER WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. AND I GUESS WHAT I'D HAVE TO SAY... I CAN PROJECT PRETTY WELL, I WAS A THEATER MAJOR... IS THAT I'M HERE. HERE'S THE THING: A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME OVER THE PAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS WHAT DO YOU THINK OF BLOOMINGTON BECAUSE YOU JUST MOVED HERE? AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY RESPONSE HAS BEEN TEPID AND SLIGHTLY APATHETIC. I HAVEN'T BEEN IMPRESSED. MAYBE IT'S THE PANDEMIC AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A WAY TO REALLY REACH OUT AND BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT I HAVE FELT PART OF THE COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN MINNEAPOLIS. OH MY GOSH, I REGRET MOVING FROM MINNEAPOLIS SO MUCH BECAUSE THERE WERE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL NODES AND SIGNAGE AND INVOLVEMENT. AND I THINK THE ONLY WAY THAT I CAN BECOME A PART OF THIS COMMUNITY IS BEING ON THIS COUNCIL. I JUST GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO FEEL INVOLVED. HIRE ME. I REALLY FEEL LIKE IF I DON'T DO SOMETHING BIG IN THIS COMMUNITY I'M GOING TO MOVE. I GOT TO SEE SOME CHANGE AND I’M THE PERSON TO DO IT. SEVEN, SIX, FIVE... THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, MS. STORE. THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. AND IT'S RYAN. RYAN SIMON? [00:00] Ryan Simon: YES SIR. OH, I GOT IT RIGHT. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. YOUR APPLICATION TONIGHT IS GREATLY APPRECIATEED. WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU. WE HAVE AN EIGHT MINUTE TIME SLOT THAT WE'RE GOING TO FILL AND THE SHOT CLOCK IS JUST UP TO YOUR RIGHT THERE. SO WE ASK THAT YOU ANSWER THE QUESTIONS AND PACE YOURSELF TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET IN ALL FOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN OUR EIGHT MINUTE TIME SLOT. [00:00] Ryan Simon: YES SIR. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. WE'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE OUR WAY RIGHT ON DOWN THE RUNNING DOWN THE DESK HERE. DIFFERENT FOLKS ASKING DIFFERENT QUESTIONS. AND WE'RE GOING TO START WITH COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. SO OFF WE GO. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] Ryan Simon: SO MY NAME'S RYAN. I GREW UP IN A VERY SMALL TOWN IN KIND OF CENTRAL WISCONSIN. SO I GREW UP IN A COMMUNITY WHERE KIND OF EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYBODY AND I'VE BEEN GONE FOR 25 OR MORE YEARS AND I CAN STILL WALK DOWN THE STREET AND KNOW MOST OF THE PEOPLE. AND I HAD A CHANCE A FEW YEARS AGO TO SERVE ON A CITY COUNCIL WHERE I RAN AND GOT ELECTED. IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN INTERVIEWING FOR AN APPOINTMENT BUT REALLY GOT TO SEE HOW THE PROCESS WORKS AND HOW EVERYBODY COMES TOGETHER, LOOKS AT WHAT THE POPULATION OF THE CITY OR THE CONSTITUENTS ARE LOOKING TO DO AND THEN KIND OF WORK THOSE PROBLEMS OUT OR JUST DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE COMMUNITY. AND SO I THINK I'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AS I DO HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE HAVING SERVED ON A COUNCIL BEFORE. I CAME TO BLOOMINGTON ORIGINALLY IN 2012 AT THE BEHEST OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT. I OPENED AN ENVELOPE IN SAN DIEGO WITH ORDERS TO AT THE TIME THE RECRUITING COMMAND FOR THE MARINE CORPS. AND WHEN I CHECKED INTO THE HEADQUARTERS WHICH IS BASED OUT OF FORT SNELLING, I GOT SENT TO THE BLOOMINGTON OFFICE WHERE I KIND OF FELL IN LOVE WITH THE COMMUNITY. SO WHEN I LEFT ACTIVE DUTY—I’VE BEEN BACK A FEW TIMES SINCE—IT CAME TIME TO LIKE, HEY, WHERE ARE WE GOING TO LIVE? WHERE ARE WE GOING TO MOVE? AND WE CAME BACK HERE. I'M A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. I'M A PART-TIME FIREFIGHTER FOR THE CITY. MY GIRLFRIEND WORKS IN THIS BUILDING. OUR KIDS GO TO SCHOOL HERE AND WE JUST REALLY WANT TO BE INVOLVED. AND I THINK THAT ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR A CITY COUNCIL IS CARE ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY. AND WHEN YOU HAVE CHILDREN, AS I'M SURE MOST OF US DO, THAT'S WHY YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED AS BEST YOU CAN. MOST OF MY LIFE HAS BEEN ABOUT SERVICE. I'VE BEEN A MARINE FOR JUST OVER 23 YEARS—148 DAYS LEFT, NOT THAT WE'RE COUNTING. I'VE BEEN A POLICE OFFICER. LIKE I SAID, I'M A VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTER HERE IN THE CITY. I'VE DONE CITY COUNCIL. I'VE DONE SOME MENTORING WITH YOUTH COACHING AND STUFF SO I JUST WOULD LIKE TO BE INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY. MOST OF IT REVOLVES AROUND THE KIDS. I WANT TO HAVE A SAY BUT I WANT TO KIND OF MEANDER AROUND AND BE INVOLVED IN THAT AND KIND OF GUIDE THEM AS BEST I CAN. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: WHAT PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE AS MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON'S HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Ryan Simon: ALL RIGHT. SO I KNOW THE QUESTION SAYS IN THE LAST YEAR BUT THE ADVENT OF THE RACIAL EQUITY COORDINATOR—I KNOW WE STARTED WITH THE MISSION STATEMENT THERE IN LIKE 2017, THE POSITION CAME IN 2019 AND THEN THIS WONDERFUL THING IN 2020 HAPPENED WHERE THE WORLD KIND OF SHUT DOWN AND WE DIDN'T GET TO TALK TO EACH OTHER. SO I THINK THE ADVENT OF THAT POSITION AND THEN LATER ON THE RACIAL EQUITY BUSINESS PLAN IN OCTOBER OF 2020... WHILE 2020 WAS HAPPENING WE DIDN'T GET TO COME FACE TO FACE. WE DIDN'T GET TO KIND OF INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER. AND SUCH A BIG PROJECT LIKE THAT TO GET MORE DIVERSITY, MORE INCLUSIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND NEIGHBORHOODS... AND NOW THAT WE'VE KIND OF OPENED UP FOR PROBABLY THE LAST YEAR OR SO, WE REALLY START TO SEE THAT TAKE OFF WITH THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTION TEAMS, THE BUSINESS PLAN AND REALLY GETTING THOSE INVOLVED. AND WE'VE HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT AMONG SOME SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS AND EVEN AT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. YOU WANT TO HAVE MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE REPRESENTATIVE OF YOUR COMMUNITY. AND I THINK INDIVIDUAL BIASES, WHETHER THEY'RE KNOWN OR NOT, CAN OVERSHADOW THAT A LITTLE BIT. SO HAVING A DESIGNATED PERSON IN A DESIGNATED TEAM TO KIND OF ADDRESS THOSE THINGS REALLY BRINGS THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER MORE AND THEN THAT JUST HELPS EVERYBODY. IT HELPS OTHER SMALL BUSINESSES, HELPS THE COMMUNITY, BRINGS US CLOSER TOGETHER AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. SO THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING FOR ME. JUST ON THE RACIAL EQUITY ACTION TEAMS, TALKING ABOUT INTEGRATING RACE AND EQUITY PRINCIPLES IN ALL OF THE CITY'S OPERATIONS AND PLANNING AND SERVICES. AND AGAIN JUST REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE THE CITY'S DEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE POPULATION OF THE CITY, NOT NECESSARILY THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF A LARGER CONGLOMERATE. YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE THE EXACT SAME DEMOGRAPHICS IN BLOOMINGTON AS THEY DO IN MINNEAPOLIS, SAINT PAUL ETC. SO IT'S NICE TO SEE WE'RE MOVING IN A DIRECTION WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT HERE IN THE SMALLER CITY OF BLOOMINGTON THAN IN THE BIGGER CITIES. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE HERE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL YEARS LATER. SO WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT WILL MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Ryan Simon: OH THIS IS THE ONE QUESTION WE LOOKED AT AND I WAS LIKE "8 MINUTES I COULD TALK ABOUT THIS ONE I THINK." BUT I MEAN IF WE ALL LIVE IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON SO I'LL TRY TO KEEP IT DOWN SO I CAN SAVE A LITTLE BIT FOR THE LAST QUESTION. I THINK IN TERMS OF LIVING AGAIN BEING A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER AND HAVING YOUR KIDS HERE YOU WANT TO HAVE YOUR COMMUNITY PROSPER. SO I THINK IF WE'RE LOOKING AT WHAT DO I WANT TO SEE IN TEN YEARS... WE'RE THINKING 2020 TO 10 YEARS IS 2032 RIGHT, AND THE HALFWAY POINT IS 2027. SO I'M SURE WE'RE ALL THINKING MAYBE FINGERS CROSSED IN JUNE THAT WE GET THE WORLD'S FAIR WHICH IS ONLY GOING TO BE AMAZING FOR COMMERCE, MORE JOBS, AND IT'S GOING TO BRING AN INFLUX OF MORE TOURISM AND VISITORS TO THE AREA. I THINK MY VISION FOR THAT IS IDEALLY FIRST OFF THAT WE'D GET THE WORLD'S FAIR IN BLOOMINGTON. IT'D BE AMAZING. AND THEN WHAT YOU SEE A LOT OF TIMES IN CITIES THAT HOST THE WORLD'S FAIR OR THE OLYMPICS FOR EXAMPLE IS THEN AFTER THAT WHAT HAPPENS TO ALL THE THINGS THAT WERE BUILT, ALL THOSE THINGS THAT HAPPENED FOR THAT ONE EVENT? HAVE THE CITY AND COMMUNITY KIND OF TAKE AND RUN WITH THAT AND NOT LET IT FALL BY THE WAYSIDE AND BECOME DILAPIDATED OR UNUSED. BUILD ON THOSE AND HAVE A PLAN MAYBE HERE IN THE COUNCIL ON WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THOSE PROJECTS AND PLACES THAT ARE BUILT AFTER THE WORLD'S FAIR. AND THEN I'LL JUST TOUCH ON REAL QUICK I THINK THE WATER PARK PROJECT WITH THE TAX INCREMENT FUNDING—TIFF'S GREAT BECAUSE IF WE'RE INVESTING IN THE WATER PARK PROJECT OUR PROPERTY TAXES GO DOWN AND EVERYBODY LIKES THAT. SO THAT'S JUST ONE LARGE PROJECT BECAUSE AGAIN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM ARE A HUGE PART OF THE CITY'S REVENUE. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO INVEST IN THAT. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU. THANKS AGAIN FOR BEING HERE. WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST OF THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES AND PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD. [00:00] Ryan Simon: ALL RIGHT. I HAVEN'T BEEN IN BLOOMINGTON AS LONG AS SOME OTHERS. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR A FEW YEARS AS A HOMEOWNER. MOST OF MY INVOLVEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY IS SOME CHARITABLE STUFF AND JUST COMMUNITY SERVICE. I'M PRETTY BIG IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN MY SMALLER LITTLE VERY QUIET CUL-DE-SAC AREA OF THE WORLD. AND I JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT... AS PART OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WE JUST RECENTLY WERE AWARDED THE SAFER GRANT. I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS AT LEAST THE THIRD TIME THE DEPARTMENT GOT THAT, WE FINALLY GOT IT. AND SO THE DEPARTMENT IS MOVING TOWARDS THAT FULL-TIME MODEL AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE MORE EFFORTS FOR GRANTS OF THAT NATURE FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS TO HELP THE CITY'S SERVICES IMPROVE. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: PERFECT. WELL THEN THIS IS MY HONEST THANKS MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION. THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH THIS EVENING. [00:00] Ryan Simon: I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR HAVING ME. I APPRECIATE IT and DRIVE CAREFULLY OUT THERE, IT IS MUCH SLICKER ON THE WAY HERE THAN IT WAS GOING TO WORK THIS MORNING. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. THANK YOU MUCH. COUNSEL, OUR NEXT CANDIDATE IS OFFICIALLY AT 8:15 AND SO I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A TEN MINUTE BREAK HERE AND WE'LL RECONVENE AT ABOUT 8:15 AND WE'LL CONTINUE WITH OUR INTERVIEW SET. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL GO TO A TEN MINUTE RECESS. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: WE ARE BACK FROM OUR RECESS AND THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING. WE ARE ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THIS EVENING'S PROCEEDINGS. MR. COLLINS, WELCOME. GOOD EVENING. [00:00] Mr. Collins: THANK YOU. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS FOR YOU TONIGHT AND WE HAVE AN EIGHT MINUTE TIME SLOT TO FILL THOSE. I WOULD ASK YOU TO KIND OF PACE YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN FIT ALL FOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS INTO THAT EIGHT MINUTE TIME PERIOD. WE'RE GOING TO GET IT STARTED. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: THANK YOU. MAYOR WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] Mr. Collins: THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY DO AN INTERVIEW WITH YOU. FIRST THING I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT MYSELF IS MY EDUCATION. I WENT TO HAMLINE UNIVERSITY FOR POLITICAL SCIENCE. I GOT A BACHELOR'S IN THAT AND I PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION. THEY HAVE A MAJOR CALLED PUBLIC SERVICE SO YOU GO INTO CITY PLANNING AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AND THEN I'M CURRENTLY IN MY LAST SEMESTER OVER AT THE HUMPHREY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS GETTING MY MASTER'S IN PUBLIC POLICY, FOCUSING ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS. I PRIMARILY CHOSE THAT TO ACTUALLY LOOK AT HOW LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND STATE GOVERNMENT CAN KIND OF INTERACT BETTER TO ACTUALLY PROMOTE GOOD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN CITIES AND ESPECIALLY IN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT HAVE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AND HOW TO PROPERLY DEVELOP THEM SO THAT WAY YOU'RE NOT GENTRIFYING THEM IN ANY WAY. AND ONE REASON WHY I WOULD THINK I'M A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IS PRIMARILY MY PASSION FOR THE CITY. I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 20 SOME ODD YEARS—EVEN THOUGH MY FACE DOES NOT SHOW THAT. I DO HAVE A PASSION. THE CITY HAS GRANTED ME A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES LIKE VOLUNTEERING ON THE PARKS AND REC WHEN I WAS A YOUNG KID AND WHEN I WAS IN EIGHTH AND NINTH GRADE, ALL THE WAY TO ACTUALLY REPRESENTING ON THE PARKS AND REC COMMISSION. AND FROM THERE ON OUT I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE CITY AND I WANT TO ACTUALLY MAKE THIS MY LIFELONG HOME. THAT SEEMS LIKE A COMMON THREAD HERE IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON AND I WANT TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY. THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: WHAT PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE AS MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION THAT BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Mr. Collins: SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A COUPLE PROJECTS THAT I HAVE NOTICED THAT THE CITY HAS DONE THAT I ADAMANTLY AGREE WITH. I WOULD SAY THERE IS ONE THAT WAS ACTUALLY RELEASED KIND OF TODAY: THE SMALL BUSINESS COMMUNITY CENTER THAT IS SLOWLY GOING TO BE PUT INTO PLACE. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT IDEA BECAUSE ONE ASPECT IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS WE HAVE A NICE MIX OF BUSINESSES. WE HAVE THE BIG HUGE BUSINESSES LIKE THE MALL OF AMERICA OR DONALDSON'S AND SO FORTH, AND WE ALSO HAVE THE SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE LUNA DELUNA. AND THAT'S WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THE SMALL BUSINESS CENTER—IT BRINGS THE CITY TO ACTUALLY INVEST IN MORE SMALL BUSINESSES. AND IN DOING SO, YOUR SMALL BUSINESSES OF TODAY ARE NOT ONLY THE BACKBONE OF YOUR ECONOMY BUT THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE BIG FUTURE BUSINESSES THAT BRING IN MORE INVESTMENT AND MORE JOBS INTO YOUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU GET ANOTHER COMPANY LIKE TORO THAT STARTS OUT SMALL, WHY WOULD YOU NOT WANT THAT TO HAPPEN IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON? THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT WILL MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Mr. Collins: SO I MENTIONED THE SMALL BUSINESS IMPACT BECAUSE THAT DOES HAVE COMPOUNDING EFFECTS GOING ON IN THE FUTURE. ESPECIALLY SINCE SMALL BUSINESSES TEND TO HIRE MORE LIKELY FROM YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD. THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WHEN THEY ARE GROWING, YOU WON'T SEE THAT IMPACT FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. AND OTHER IMPACTS LIKE THE HOUSING MARKET IN BLOOMINGTON... IT IS PRETTY HIGH. EVEN THOUGH EVERYBODY WANTS TO HAVE THEIR SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE HERE WILL NOT BE IMPACTED UNTIL LATER ON DOWN THE LINE. IT TAKES A BIT TO ACTUALLY BUILD HOUSING UNITS AND RENTAL UNITS TO ACTUALLY MAKE IT AFFORDABLE FOR EVERYBODY IN THE LONG TERM. AND THE SECOND THING IS I WANT TO SEE A BLOOMINGTON THAT IS THRIVING AND GROWING BUT NOT ONLY JUST FOR JOBS OR FOR TOURIST ATTRACTIONS BUT ALSO BRINGING PEOPLE IN. ONE STAT THAT I FIND INTERESTING IS THAT THERE'S MORE THAN 100,000 JOBS IN BLOOMINGTON BUT OUR POPULATION IS ONLY 90,000. SO I SEE THAT AS A POPULATION DEFICIT TO ME WHERE THOSE PEOPLE ARE THEN LEAVING THEIR JOBS, GOING TO THEIR HOME COMMUNITY AND SPENDING THEIR MONEY THERE INSTEAD OF HERE IN BLOOMINGTON WHICH WILL OVERALL BENEFIT US IF WE KEEP THOSE PEOPLE HERE. SO THANK YOU. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU. WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES AND DESCRIBE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED IN THE FUTURE? [00:00] Mr. Collins: YEAH, SO THE ONE AREA THAT I HAVE CONTRIBUTED A LOT TO THE CITY SUCCESSES IS ACTUALLY MY TIME ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION. DURING THE TIME WHEN I BECAME COMMISSIONER, WE WERE REDEVELOPING ALL THE PLAYGROUNDS IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. WE WERE DOING I BELIEVE A COUPLE OF DOZEN AT THAT TIME. ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PLAYGROUND I COULD THINK OF, I HAVE ACTUALLY LOOKED AT THEM LIKE, "YEAH, WE SPENT A PRETTY PENNY ON THAT." I SEE KIDS ARE ENJOYING IT AND THAT FILLS MY HEART. OTHER THINGS INCLUDE THE INITIAL PLANNING OF THE BLOOMINGTON ICE GARDENS AND SEEING THAT COME INTO FRUITION. EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T ON THE COMMISSION AT THE TIME, STARTING OUT AND HAVING THAT DISCUSSION AND DIALOGUE WITH THE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONERS REALLY HELPED OUT. ANOTHER THING IS THE COMMUNITY CENTER CONVERSATION GOING ON. EVEN THOUGH THAT HAS BEEN SHELVED, HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND DOING THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT HAS HELPED OUT A LOT AND I THINK HAS EDUCATED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE CITY ABOUT ACTUALLY HOW LOCAL GOVERNANCE WORKS. THE SECOND PORTION OF THE QUESTION IS IN HOW I WOULD HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD BY MAINLY FOCUSING ON COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. THE CITY HERE IS ACTUALLY VERY WELL SITUATED AND HAVING A GOOD CREDIT RATING OF A TRIPLE-A FROM ALL THREE CREDIT REPORTING AGENCIES... I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CONTINUE. HAVING GOOD FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY MEANS CITIES CAN ACTUALLY TAKE ON AMBITIOUS PROJECTS. YOU DON'T REALLY SEE MINNEAPOLIS TAKING BIG HUGE AMBITIOUS PROJECTS WITHOUT HELP FROM THE STATE WHEREAS IN BLOOMINGTON WE HAVE THAT POWER TO DO SO. AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS ACTUALLY VERY CRUCIAL TOWARDS THE CITY BECAUSE WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE A CITY THAT IS GROWING IN JOBS OR IN PEOPLE, IN MY OPINION IT'S KIND OF A DEAD CITY. ONCE YOUR POPULATION STARTS DECLINING, YOUR TAX BASE GETS SMALLER. AND THAT KIND OF PLAYS INTO FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE IF YOU INCREASE YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND YOUR ECONOMY YOU DON'T HAVE TO INCREASE YOUR TAXES AS MUCH BECAUSE YOUR TAX BASE GENERALLY GOT BIGGER. AND THEN FOR THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PART, IT'S ACTUALLY REALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES TO BE PLAYING INTO IT AND GOING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. SO AS A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER IF I WERE APPOINTED I WOULD ACTUALLY TRY TO GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY, INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, INTO THE PARK SPACES AND ACTUALLY TALK TO THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON WHAT THEY NEED AS THEIR REPRESENTATIVE AT LARGE AND TO SEE HOW I CAN TRY TO IMPLEMENT THAT GOING FORWARD. SO THANK YOU. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD. MR. COLLINS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR APPLICATION. GOOD EVENING, MR. CARVELL. HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING? [00:00] Adam Carvell: VERY GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: GOOD, THANK YOU. WE HAVE FOR QUESTIONS AND AN EIGHT MINUTE TIME SLOT TO FIT IT INTO. I ASK THAT YOU JUST TRY AND BALANCE YOUR TIME SO THAT WE CAN GET TO ALL FOUR QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS. AND AS YOU SPEAK IF YOU COULD SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE SO WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET YOU ON BROADCASTING THIS AS WELL. WE WILL GET STARTED. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: THANK YOU. WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. THE QUESTION IS: TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER? [00:00] Adam Carvell: YEAH, THANK YOU. THANKS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR FOR HAVING ME. MY NAME IS ADAM CARVELL. I MOVED INTO BLOOMINGTON ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO WITH OUR TWO KIDS AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT'S THE BEST PLACE THAT I'VE EVER LIVED. I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT HEALTH CARE WORKING HARD TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC MODELS FOR PATIENTS THAT HAVE NO ADVERSE EFFECTS ON PATIENT OUTCOMES. IT'S WORK THAT REQUIRES ME TO LOOK DEEPLY INTO DATA POINTS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF MY NORMAL PERSPECTIVE. I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES—EVALUATING MULTIPLE POINTS OF AN ARGUMENT AND TRYING TO COME UP WITH WHAT IS BEST WHEN ULTIMATELY THERE ISN'T ALWAYS AN EASY SOLUTION. AND SO I THINK THAT'S A PERSPECTIVE THAT I SHARE AND THAT I COULD BRING. IN MY WORK I'VE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED CUTTING-EDGE TOOLS USING DATA AND ANALYTICS TO HELP CLOSE HEALTH EQUITY GAPS AND CARE GAPS THAT ARE PERVASIVE IN OUR COMMUNITIES. THAT'S WORK THAT I WANT TO CONTINUE AND THAT I THINK GIVES ME A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE. PERSONALLY I'VE BEEN A TENANT, I'VE BEEN A LANDLORD, I'VE BEEN A CITIZEN, I'VE BEEN AN EMPLOYEE. I WANT TO BRING THAT DIVERSE PERSPECTIVE TO THE COUNCIL. I'M EXTREMELY DEDICATED TO SERVING COMMUNITIES. IN MY ROLE AS VICE PRESIDENT OF ANALYTICS FOR M HEALTH FAIRVIEW I'VE GOTTEN PRETTY GOOD AT IDENTIFYING THOSE VARIABLES THAT CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOMETHING BEING SUCCESSFUL AND SOMETHING THAT ISN'T AS ADVANTAGEOUS. I LIKE MAKING THOSE INFORMED DECISIONS AND I THINK BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER IS PROBABLY INCREDIBLY REWARDING BUT ALSO REALLY DIFFICULT. BEING ABLE TO OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION ACROSS THE POLITICAL SPECTRUM AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU GUYS HAVE TO MAKE SOME OF THE VERY DIFFICULT DECISIONS THAT YOU DO IS AN INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT SKILL THAT I COULD HELP BRING TO THE COUNCIL. I ALSO WANT TO HELP ROUND OUT SOUND FINANCIAL DECISIONS USING DATA TO DO SO AND HELP TO BUILD TOWARDS THE GOAL OF "ONE BLOOMINGTON." [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: THANK YOU. NEXT QUESTION: WHAT PROJECT OR INITIATIVE IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Adam Carvell: YEAH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I ACTUALLY THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL. PERSONALLY I THINK THE ONE THAT I SEE THE MOST ALIGNMENT WITH IS THE NATURAL RESOURCE RESTORATION PLAN. ONE OF THE REASONS MY FAMILY AND I MOVED TO BLOOMINGTON IS BECAUSE OF THE QUANTITY OF NATURAL SPACES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO US HERE. I'M REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THE COUNCIL IS COMMITTED TO BOTH ECONOMIC GROWTH AND CIVIL GROWTH WITHOUT LOSING SIGHT OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT THOSE NATURAL SPACES CAN BE. I ALSO APPLAUD THE CITY'S COMMUNITY-FIRST APPROACH TO THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN AND TO THE "BLOOMINGTON TOGETHER TOMORROW" WORK. I THOUGHT THAT THE WAY YOU GUYS DID THAT AND LISTENED AND REALLY INVOLVED THE COMMUNITY WAS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO MAKING OUR FELLOW CITIZENS FEEL HEARD. I THOUGHT WHAT WAS REALLY COOL WAS TAKING THE DATA AND APPLYING THAT AND SAYING HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO MEASURE BOTH THE PROCESS AND THE OUTCOMES OF EACH OF THE INITIATIVES. AND THEN FINALLY I THINK THE EXPO IS A REALLY COOL IDEA AND BLOOMINGTON SHOULD TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN BEING ONE OF THE FIVE INTERNATIONAL FINALISTS. I THINK THAT IF WE'RE ABLE TO SECURE THAT, IT WILL HELP THE COUNCIL AND BLOOMINGTON FOR DECADES TO COME IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT WOULD MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Adam Carvell: SURE. I DO THINK WE HAVE TO CONTINUE THAT INVESTMENT IN OUR NATURAL RESOURCES. I THINK WE'RE FORTUNATE TO BE CUSTODIANS OF SOME VERY BEAUTIFUL NATURAL SPACES AND I'D LIKE TO SEE US CONTINUE INVESTING IN THOSE. I WANT TO SEE US BUILD UP THE NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE ACROSS BLOOMINGTON. I WOULD ALSO SAY ATTRACTING THE NEXT GENERATION OF BUSINESSES AND CITIZENS IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT FOR WHAT WE LOOK LIKE A DECADE FROM NOW. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BIG DATA PACKET THAT CAME OUT OF THE FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN, YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR MEDIAN AGE DID INCREASE COMPARED TO THE COUNTY AND TO THE CITIES RIGHT AROUND US. WHILE THAT'S CERTAINLY NOT A BAD THING, I THINK YOU DO NEED TO CONTINUE TO GET THOSE INFUSIONS OF YOUTH IN TO BRING THAT PERSPECTIVE NOT JUST TO THE COUNCIL BUT TO OUR CITY AND OUR BUSINESSES AS WELL. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: LAST QUESTION FOR YOUR FELLOW DATA NERD: WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES IF YOU HAVE, AND PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED FORWARD. [00:00] Adam Carvell: THANKS COUNCILMEMBER. I APPRECIATE THE QUESTION. SO I'M RELATIVELY NEW TO BLOOMINGTON HAVING JUST BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BUT GIVING BACK TO MY COMMUNITY IS SOMETHING I AM INCREDIBLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. WE'RE SETTLED HERE FOR THE LONG HAUL. WITHIN A MONTH OF MOVING HERE WE JOINED THE IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE AND MY FAMILY AND I VOLUNTEER REGULARLY TO HELP CLEAN UP AROUND BUSH LAKE. I THINK THAT OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSTLING CITY IS SUCH A COOL UNIQUE THING. IN THE PAST I'VE ORGANIZED FOOD DRIVES. DURING THE HOLIDAYS WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME PACKAGING MEALS AND WRAPPING GIFTS FOR SENIORS. I'VE COACHED KIDS' SPORTS FOR EIGHT YEARS ACROSS SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL. I'M ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE MINNESOTA CHAPTER OF HIMSS WHICH IS THE HEALTH INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND SOCIETY. I SERVE AS THE STUDENT AMBASSADOR CHAIR FOR THAT ROLE AND I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT TAKING THE EMERGING MINDS OF TOMORROW AND GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND MENTORSHIP. AS I'VE MOVED UP AT FAIRVIEW, I'VE ALWAYS KEPT THE POPULATION HEALTH ANALYTICS AND TECHNOLOGY TEAM BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS INCREDIBLY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. WHETHER IT'S CULTIVATING COMMUNITY PARAMEDIC PROGRAMS OR IDENTIFYING FOOD DESERTS AND SHOWING COMMUNITY RESOURCES THAT CAN HELP MEET THOSE NEEDS, THAT'S WORK THAT REALLY JUST FILLS MY CUP. I'M ACCOUNTABLE FOR A LARGE PORTION OF THE BUDGET IN IT AT FAIRVIEW AND ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I CONTINUALLY REMIND MYSELF AND MY PEERS OF IS: "HOW DO THESE INVESTMENTS MAKE PATIENTS AND OUR COMMUNITIES HEALTHIER?" THOSE ARE HARD DECISIONS AND I THINK YOU GUYS MAKE THOSE DECISIONS NOT LIGHTLY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IS A SKILL OF MINE THAT I'D LIKE TO BRING TO THE CITY. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: MR. CARVELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. THANKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION. THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN THIS POSITION. [00:00] Adam Carvell: THANKS COUNCILMEMBERS. I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: MR. SPEARS, GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO ASK. WE'VE GOT AN EIGHT MINUTE TIME PERIOD TO FILL IT. WE ASK THAT YOU BUDGET YOUR TIME SO THAT WE CAN GET THROUGH THE FOUR QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: ALL RIGHT. WELCOME. SO THE FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] Adam Spears: EXCELLENT. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU THIS EVENING. MY NAME IS ADAM SPEARS. I WAS BORN AND RAISED JUST A FEW HOURS DOWN INTERSTATE 35 IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. I STILL MAKE THAT TREK ABOUT EVERY 4 TO 6 WEEKS TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH MY MOTHER, CATCH UP WITH SOME OLD FRIENDS... AND I HOPE YOU WON'T HOLD IT AGAINST ME BUT EVEN THOUGH THE VIKINGS ARE HAVING A WONDERFUL AND EXCITING SEASON, I'M STILL A DIEHARD KANSAS CITY CHIEFS FAN. CURRENTLY CLEARLY I LIVE IN BLOOMINGTON BUT I ALSO WORK HERE AS WELL. I'M COMING UP ON MY FIFTH ANNIVERSARY WITH QUALITY BICYCLE PRODUCTS—ALSO KNOWN AS QBP—OVER IN WEST BLOOMINGTON AS A GLOBAL SALES MANAGER FOR OUR PROPRIETARY PORTFOLIO OF BRANDS. I'M SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERED HERE IN BLOOMINGTON. I LAY THAT AS TO WHAT DREW ME HERE TO RELOCATE TO THE CITIES TO TAKE THAT ROLE WITH QBP—MANY OF THE SAME QUALITIES THAT I'VE DISCOVERED THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON HAS PLACED A PRIORITY ON AS WELL. ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY... WE HAVE FULL-TIME DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK ON THOSE VERY INITIATIVES. SO I FEEL LIKE THAT'S A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR WHAT WOULD MAKE ME A GOOD COUNCIL MEMBER. BUT I WANT TO EXPAND THAT EVEN FURTHER. I THINK OF MYSELF AS A GOOD LISTENER, CRITICAL THINKER AND SOMEONE THAT TAKES INTO ACCOUNT BOTH SIDES OF A DEBATE TO MAKE THOUGHTFUL AND MEANINGFUL DECISIONS WEIGHING THOSE OPTIONS ON WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THE KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN BOTH NEAR-TERM AND LONG-TERM. AND I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT THE LAST THREE YEARS HAS TAUGHT ME IS HOW TO BE MORE PATIENT, GIVE GRACE AND SHOW SOME EMPATHY TO OUR NEIGHBORS. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: WHAT PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE AS MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED AND WHY? [00:00] Adam Spears: YES. SO I THINK WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT HAS TO BE THE FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN THAT THE CORE PLANNING TEAM WORKED ON IN EARLY 2022 AND THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS ADOPTED. SOME OF THE PHRASES THAT REALLY STRUCK ME WERE TO "CULTIVATE AN ENDURING AND REMARKABLE COMMUNITY" AS WELL AS BE "WILLING TO TAKE RISKS, EMBRACE DIVERSITY AND SHOW EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY." THOSE ARE ALL VERY POWERFUL STATEMENTS TO ME. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS THAT WILL MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] Adam Spears: YEAH. SO FOR TEN YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, ONE THING THAT TO ME THAT I THINK A CONTINUED FOCUS SHOULD BE ON IS THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY. THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES USUALLY COME WITH LARGER PRICE TAGS AS WELL AS CONVINCING OR COACHING FOLKS TO CHANGE OLD WAYS AND ADOPT LEARN NEW ONES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORGANICS CARTS PROGRAM THAT WAS RECENTLY STARTED UP... THE BENEFITS MAY NOT BE MEASURABLE FOR YEARS TO COME BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT CAN REALLY MAKE AN IMPACT DOWN THE ROAD. ANOTHER EXAMPLE: I WAS RECENTLY IN CHAMBERS LISTENING TO A PRESENTATION ABOUT A ROAD PROJECT COMING UP OVER ON THE WEST SIDE. THREE OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED. THE FIRST ONE BEING KIND OF THE STATUS QUO, PROBABLY THE EASIEST TO EXECUTE. BUT TWO AND THREE WERE LIKELY TO COST MORE BUT WILL PROBABLY PAY OFF WITH A LARGER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DOWN THE ROAD, RECLAIMING SOME OF THAT ROAD SURFACE FOR A MORE NATURAL STATE. THOSE AREN'T EASY DECISIONS TO MAKE AND REQUIRE CAREFUL THOUGHT INTO TAKING INTO ACCOUNT WHAT TYPE OF CHANGE WOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET EVERYBODY ON BOARD. ANOTHER ONE REAL QUICKLY IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST THE WORLD EXPO IN 2027. WHAT A GREAT WAY TO SHOWCASE THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THAT THOSE RESOURCES THAT GO INTO THAT AND FACILITIES THAT MAY BE BUILT CAN BE UTILIZED FOR YEARS TO COME FOR BOTH THE CITIZENS IN BLOOMINGTON AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS IN THE FUTURE. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU: WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED MOST TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES IF ANY? AND PLEASE DESCRIBE HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD? [00:00] Adam Spears: SURE. UP TO THIS POINT, I'VE BEEN A GOOD RESIDENT NEIGHBOR ON WEST 107TH STREET, WORKING HERE, VOTING HERE WITH EACH ELECTION CYCLE AND WATCHING THE COUNCIL MINUTES EACH WEEK. MY WIFE AND I OFFICIALLY CLOSED ON OUR HOME VERY EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC AND WATCHING THE COUNCIL MINUTES WAS HOW I LEARNED MORE ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH THE COUNCIL AND THE CITY. SO IT WAS A VALUABLE RESOURCE. SO THAT'S A RELATIVELY MODEST START TO MY TENURE HERE BUT I'M READY TO TAKE ON NEW CHALLENGES AND MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP BOTH THE CITY AND THE CITY COUNCIL CONTINUE TO SUCCEED. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: VERY GOOD MR. SPEARS, THANKS MUCH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT. GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. MR. MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, THANKS FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. WE HAVE FOUR QUESTIONS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING YOU THIS EVENING AND WE'RE GOING TO FIT THEM ALL INTO AN EIGHT MINUTE TIME PERIOD. WE'RE JUST GOING TO ASK THE QUESTIONS HEAD RIGHT DOWN THE DAIS HERE. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER. [00:00] Councilmember Jenna Carter: ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THE FIRST QUESTION IS: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHY YOU THINK YOU'D MAKE A GOOD CITY COUNCIL MEMBER. [00:00] David Urban: YES. I'M DAVID URBAN. I'M THE DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH FOR A HOUSING ORGANIZATION WHICH MEANS MY PASSION IS HOUSING. HOWEVER, MY PASSIONS REALLY EXTEND TO TRANSPORTATION, GREEN SPACE, PEDESTRIAN WALKABILITY, CYCLING... JUST MAKING OUR CITY LESS LIKE A 1950S CAR SUBURB AND A LITTLE BIT MORE LEANING INTO THE FUTURE. I HAVE WORKED FOR THE FAMILY HOUSING FUND, FOR CURA (CENTER FOR URBAN AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS), THE GREATER METROPOLITAN HOUSING CORPORATION AND THE COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARM OF MINNEAPOLIS. MY PASSIONS INCLUDE MARKETS AND HOUSING AND A DRIVE FOR ONGOING IMPROVEMENT. BONUS POINTS—I HOPE I GET SOME—FOR HAVING A SENSE OF HUMOR AND CONSIDERING MYSELF PRETTY MUCH A MODERATE GUY. I THINK I'D BE A GREAT COUNCIL MEMBER BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT THE CITY, ITS PEOPLE, ITS FUTURE AND I WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO SERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE THEIR LIVES. I'VE STUDIED CITIES AND POLITICS. I CAN BUILD CONSENSUS. I'M READY TO GIVE BACK TO THE CITY I'VE LIVED IN FOR OVER TEN YEARS. [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: NEXT IS WHAT PROJECT OR INITIATIVE IN THE LAST YEAR DO YOU SEE MOST ALIGNED WITH THE DIRECTION BLOOMINGTON IS HEADED IN AND WHY? [00:00] David Urban: YEAH I LIKE THIS ONE A LOT. SO I WOULD SAY HANDS DOWN SERVING AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CREATIVE PLACEMAKING COMMISSION HERE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ALEJANDRA PELINKA. ACTIVATING FORGOTTEN SPACES WAS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DID. I SAW THE MAYOR AT THE WINTER LIGHTS EVENT—THERE WAS CIVIC PRIDE THERE AND THERE'S MAGIC THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEE AND FEEL THAT. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED MORE OF. WE'VE ALSO DONE A LOT OF DEI WORK (DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION). WE ACTUALLY ISSUED AN APOLOGY STATEMENT FOR THE PAST PRACTICES OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY—SOMETHING THAT WAS HARD TO DO BUT NECESSARY. PRETTY REGULARLY I TESTIFY TO THE LEGISLATURE ABOUT OUR AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS. I SERVED ON GOVERNOR DAYTON'S HOUSING TASK FORCE. AND I ALSO LEAD THE ANNUAL BLOOMINGTON REALTOR FORUM WHERE WE HELP REALTORS UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY PLANNING, PARKS PROGRAMS AND SO ON. IT’S A TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITY EVERY YEAR. [00:00] Councilmember Shawn Nelson: SO THE DECISIONS THAT WE MAKE OFTEN DON'T HAVE AN IMPACT UNTIL MANY YEARS LATER. WHAT ARE ONE OR TWO THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO SEE IN TEN YEARS TO MAKE THE COMMUNITY BETTER? [00:00] David Urban: SURE YES. HOW PEOPLE INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER IS THE ESSENCE OF COMMUNITY. BUT BLOOMINGTON WAS KIND OF BUILT FOR CARS IN THE 1950S AND IT STILL FEELS THAT WAY. THERE HAVE BEEN TREMENDOUS STRIDES, BUT I WANT BLOOMINGTON TO BE MORE FOR HUMANS—BIKERS, WALKERS, KIDS, STROLLERS... AND WILDLIFE. WE DO HAVE WORK TO DO. I THINK I'D START BY DOING A NEEDS ASSESSMENT FOR STREETS, NEIGHBORHOODS, AND SIDEWALKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY. THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOUTH LOOP WHICH IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT. LOOK AT IT NOW; YOU BARELY RECOGNIZE IT WITH THE NEW APARTMENTS AND BUSINESSES. BUT IT TAKES TIME TO COME TO FRUITION. ITEM NUMBER TWO: BLOOMINGTON CAN AND SHOULD LEAD RIGHT FROM A MUNICIPAL STANDPOINT BOTH IN THE STATE AND IN THE NATION. WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE WE BOTH ARE AND ARE NOT UNIQUE AT THE SAME TIME. THERE ARE TONS OF 1950S AND 60S SUBURBS ACROSS AMERICA GRAPPLING WITH THEIR PLACE IN THEIR METRO. WE CAN WORK WITH SMALL BUSINESSES, RESTAURANTS, MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES. WE CAN HAVE THE BEST PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT AND THE BEST SAFETY APPROACH IN THE NATION IF WE HAVE THE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY. IF I CAN BRIEFLY THROW IN ITEM NUMBER THREE, IT WOULD JUST BE INVESTING IN OUR PEOPLE. THAT'S THE BEST WAY TO SEE DIVIDENDS. [00:00] Councilmember Lona Dallessandro: FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU: WHERE HAVE YOU CONTRIBUTED TO THE CITY'S PAST SUCCESSES AND DESCRIBE FOR US HOW YOU'D LIKE TO HELP THE CITY SUCCEED GOING FORWARD. [00:00] David Urban: ANOTHER EXCELLENT QUESTION. SERVING AS THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE CREATIVE PLACEMAKING COMMISSION WAS THE SINGULAR THING I'VE DONE THAT REALLY HELPED GROW, IMPROVE AND ADVANCE THE CITY AND ITS APPROACH TO THE ARTS. LET'S NOT FORGET TRANSPORTATION AND PARKS. THE SECOND ONE WOULD BE LEADING THE BLOOMINGTON REALTOR FORUM AS A WAY TO GET PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE CITY AND WHAT'S HAPPENING FROM PLANNING TO THE PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (PMP). BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR BLOOMINGTON, ITS STAFF, ITS RESIDENTS AND ITS BUSINESSES... I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING A LEADER WITH YOU ALL. THANK YOU ALL. THIS IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO EVEN BE HERE. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: THANK YOU FOR YOUR APPLICATION. THANKS FOR BEING WITH US ON THIS SNOWY EVENING. COUNCIL, THAT CONCLUDES OUR LIST OF APPLICANTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE TALKING TO YOU THIS EVENING. WE WILL CONVENE AGAIN AT 9:00 ON SATURDAY MORNING AND TALK TO ANOTHER TEN FOLKS. AND FROM THERE WE WILL, AS PART OF OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON MONDAY THE NINTH, WINNOW THIS GROUP DOWN TO A MORE REASONABLE GROUP AND BRING THAT SECOND GROUP BACK FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW. I ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO WATCH AND TO EVALUATE AND TO TAKE A LOOK AND SEE WHO THESE FOLKS ARE WHO ARE STEPPING FORWARD TO APPLY FOR THIS OPEN SEAT AND JUST GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT OF THANKS AND GRATITUDE FOR BEING WILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE. THAT CONCLUDES OUR AGENDA FOR THIS EVENING. COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN, A QUESTION? [00:00] Councilmember Dwayne Lowman: YEAH MAYOR, I DON'T THINK WE TALKED ABOUT IT TODAY BUT IT WOULD BE WORTHWHILE KNOWING KIND OF WHAT THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE ONCE WE GET DONE WITH ALL OF THESE INTERVIEWS ON SATURDAY. MAYBE WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT AT THE END SO THE PUBLIC KIND OF KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT AS WE'RE WORKING OUR WAY TO A CONCLUSION. HOW ARE WE GOING TO MAKE THAT SELECTION? [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: WE CAN CERTAINLY TALK ABOUT THAT ON SATURDAY AND ON MONDAY THE NINTH. IT'S GOING TO BE VERY MUCH LIKE WE DO WITH OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS APPOINTMENTS. FOLKS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR FOUR OR FIVE TO TRY AND WINNOW THAT GROUP. THE EXPECTATION IS THAT TO BRING SOMEONE FORWARD, THEY WOULD NEED AT LEAST A MAJORITY OF THE COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND THEY BRING FORWARD. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS HERE? NONE. THAT COMPLETES OUR BUSINESS FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING. ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO ADJOURN. [00:00] Councilmember: SO MOVED. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: A MOTION AND A SECOND TO ADJOURN. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING "AYE." [00:00] Council: AYE. [00:00] Mayor Tim Busse: OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES FIVE-ZERO. THANKS SO MUCH FOR TUNING IN FOLKS. THANKS TO STAFF FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS; WENT FLAWLESSLY. EVERYBODY DRIVE SAFELY AND WE'LL SEE YOU ON SATURDAY MORNING. THANKS.