. >> GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND WELCOME I WILL CALL THIS BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING TO ORDER TONIGHT IS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH, 2026. THIS IS OFFICIALLY A STUDY SESSION SO NO OFFICIAL VOTES OR DECISIONS ON ANYTHING. IT'S BASICALLY STAFF PRESENTATIONS AND GIVING THEM POLICY DIRECTION ON A COUPLE OF ITEMS. WE DO HAVE AN AGENDA IN FRONT OF US AND TO APPROVE THE AGENDA WE HAVE THREE ITEMS UNDER ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS ACTUALLY FOUR ITEMS EXCUSE ME ITEM 5.1 IS A PRESENTATION REGARDING THE ANIMAL SHELTER AND WHAT SOME POSSIBLE MOVES FORWARD ON THAT ITEM 5.2 STUDY INFORMATION ON RAILROAD QUIET ZONES AND IN 5.3 WE'LL GET AN UPDATE REGARDING THE OPERATION METRO SURGE AND ITEM 5.4 OUR CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND ISSUE UPDATE. THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE FOR OUR AGENDA AND IF TWO UNLESS THERE ARE ANY CHANGES I WILL MOVE APPROVAL OF THAT AGENDA MOTION IN A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA AS STATED NO FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO WE WILL GO ON ITEM 5.1 A PRESENTATION REGARDING ANIMAL SHELTER OUR DEPUTY CHIEF HUMAN BITTEN IS GOING TO GIVE US THE RUNDOWN ON THE ANIMAL SHELTER . NO WE DON'T DURING STUDY MEETINGS WE DON'T DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. YEAH. SO I'M NOT IS IT ON THE AGENDA? OKAY, WE TYPICALLY DON'T DO A PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE DURING THE THE STUDY SESSIONS BUT IF WE'VE GOT IT ON THE AGENDA I DON'T SEE IT ON MINE BUT IF YOU WOULD ALL RISE AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION. I'M GLAD WE GOT THAT STRAIGHT. WE DID IT CORRECTLY. WE WILL MOVE ON AND ITEM 5.1 OUR ANIMAL SHELTER PRESENTATION DEPUTY CHIEF DAVID BITAN IS JOINING US THIS EVENING. WELCOME. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. I'M HERE CITY MANAGER CITY COUNCIL FOR SOME OF YOU SOME OF THE STUFF IS GOING TO BE REPEAT I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS ON AND OFF FOR SOME TIME. IT'S JUST THE FIRST TIME IN MY CURRENT ROLE THAT I'M BRINGING THIS FORWARD TO KIND OF GET SOME DIRECTION TO SAY HEY, WHERE ARE WE GOING? WHERE SHOULD WE BE GOING WITH THAT? AND ONE OF THE MAIN DRIVING FORCES OF THAT IS IS RIGHT NOW THE BUILDING IS SCHEDULED TO BE DEMOLITION IN 2028. SO WE NEED TO HAVE SOME DECISIONS ON THE SHELTER FACILITY THAT IS IT'S IN THE C I P PLAN AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF. SO AS WE MOVE FORWARD TO GET SOME DIRECTION FOR WHERE THIS COUNCIL WOULD LIKE THIS PROGRAM TO GO. SO I'M GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT. I KNOW LIKE I SAID SOME OF YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD THIS BUT COUNCILMAN ROBERTSON'S MAYBE FAIRLY NEW TO YOU SO I JUST WANT TO GET YOU UP TO SPEED AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WEREN'T COVERED IN THE PREVIOUS PRESENTATION THAT I CAN HOPEFULLY COVER TODAY. SO CURRENTLY THE MAIN ISSUE THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH IS THE FACILITY IT'S LONG OUTLIVED ITS LIFE CYCLE AND THANKS TO SUPERINTEND AND TIM BARRETT AND HIS STAFF THEY'VE KEPT IT UP AND RUNNING FOR US. THEY CONTINUE TO DO THINGS FOR US TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S OPERATIONAL BUT IT IS TRULY JUST PAST ITS LIFE AND IT DOESN'T SUIT THE NEEDS THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY. SOME THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO KIND OF LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT YOU MAY NOT HAVE HEARD IN THE PAST. OUR CURRENT PROGRAM IS KIND OF IN TWO SEPARATE THINGS, RIGHT? SO WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS THAT WORK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT GO OUT AND RESPOND TO ANIMAL CALLS. RIGHT? WE GET ABOUT JUST UNDER 2000 OF THOSE A YEAR OF THOSE THAT COMES INTO OUR ROUGHLY ABOUT 500 IMPOUNDED ANIMALS A YEAR. AND SO IT'S A CONSTANT DEMAND THAT WE HAVE THROUGHOUT MY TENURE HERE WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION IS THAT THERE'S A LOT OF ANIMAL CALLS AND THEN THERE'S ONES THAT ARE GOING INTO AN ANIMAL SHELTER. SO THE REASON THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY IS TO GET SOME DIRECTION HONESTLY FROM COUNCIL WE'VE HAD SOME THINGS THROUGHOUT THE YEARS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT. WE HAVE A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROPOSE WHICH IS BASICALLY WE KEEP OUR CURRENT STRUCTURE IN PLACE AS FAR AS THE RESPONSE AND THEN WHAT SHOULD WE DO WITH THE FACILITY RIGHT. THAT'S KIND OF THE BIG THING THAT EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT. WE HAVE SOME IDEAS THAT WE THINK WOULD BE VERY BENEFICIAL TO KEEP WITHIN OUR CITY AND I'LL TRY TO EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT. BUT THE MAIN THING IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE US TO GO BECAUSE IN THE PAST WE'VE COME BACK WITH STUDIES AND THIS KIND OF STUFF BROUGHT IT FORTH AND THEN WE JUST KIND OF HAVE SAT ON IT. SO THIS IS KIND OF TWO TO RENEW THOSE FOCUS. SO LIKE IT SAYS HERE AND I WON'T READ EVERYTHING TO YOU BUT SOME THINGS I JUST KIND OF WANT TO HIGHLIGHT. SO RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS COVERING 100% OF THE FACILITY COSTS AND ABOUT 93% OF THE STAFFING COSTS FOR IT'S LIKE THE HOURS THAT IT COSTS FOR THE INDIVIDUALS TO WORK IN THAT SHELTER AND WE OBVIOUSLY GENERATE THE MAJORITY OF THE USAGE BUT WE DO PARTNER WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND THEN LIKE IT SAYS THERE, THOSE AGENCIES ACCOUNT FOR ABOUT 32% BUT ONLY COVER ABOUT 12% OF THE REVENUE. AND SO OVER THE TIME WE HAVE INCREASED CERTAIN FEES AND THINGS BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY COVER THE STAFFING COSTS OR THE FACILITY COSTS THEY ACTUALLY MAINTAIN AND THAT KIND OF STUFF. AND SO THAT'S KIND OF WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GO WITH SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS HERE AND THAT'S WHY WE NEED YOUR DIRECTION TO HELP US WITH THAT . >> SO LIKE I SAID, THIS IS KIND OF AN OUTLINE OF WHAT WE DO WITH THE SHELTER. THE WE HAVE BOTH OUR ANIMAL CONTROL COORDINATOR AND THEN OUR CADETS THAT USED TO BE OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS THAT ACTUALLY DEAL WITH THE IMPOUND AND THE DAY TO DAY CARE OF THE FACILITY. BUT WE ALSO AT TIMES IF THEY'RE OFF DUE TO THE TIMING OF THE DAY WE EITHER HAVE OUR OUR RESERVE OFFICERS THAT ARE VOLUNTEER PEOPLE OR WE HAVE OFFICERS THAT RESPOND TO KIND OF TAKE CARE OF STUFF BUT NOT AS ACTUALLY LIKE DEALING WITH THE INS AND OUTS. THAT'S MAINLY THE STAFF OF THE COORDINATOR AND THE CADETS. AND THEN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY ALREADY DO IS BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED WELL WHAT TYPE OF PARTNERSHIPS YOU HAVE WE DO ALREADY CURRENTLY HAVE PARTNERSHIPS AS FAR AS LIKE WHEN WE TAKE AN ANIMAL IN AND WE CAN'T FIND SOMEONE TO TAKE IT FOR US ADOPT IT WHATEVER WE DO WORK WITH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES. OUR COORDINATOR JOHN CARLSON DOES AN AMAZING JOB WITH THAT AND HE WE DON'T TECHNICALLY HAVE IT CLASSIFIED THIS BUT SO THE STATE STATUTE AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S ABOUT FIVE DAYS THAT WE CAN HOLD AN ANIMAL AND THEN WE CAN DISPOSE OF IT. HOWEVER, THAT MAY MEAN WHETHER YOU SEND IT OUT OR YOU CAN PUT IT DOWN WE DON'T OPERATE THAT WE DO A SEVEN DAY AND THAT'S TO GIVE PEOPLE MORE TIME LIKE IF THEY'RE OUT OF TOWN OR WITH THOSE TYPES OF SELF. AND TO BE HONEST QUITE FRANKLY JOHN DOES AN AMAZING JOB OF EXTENDING THAT THE BEST WAY HE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ANIMALS CAN GET BACK TO THEIR OWNERS OR TO FIND A NEW HOME. AND SO THAT'S KIND OF THE STUFF THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH AND THAT'S WHERE THAT NO KILL SHELTER KIND OF THING COMES IN IS WE DON'T DO THAT OBVIOUSLY IN HOUSE BUT OUR GOAL IS TO ULTIMATELY FIND THAT ANIMAL TO GET TO SOMEONE ELSE'S HOME. FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE FACILITY WE HAVE JUST BEEN KIND OF MAKING DO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE IN HERE THAT ARE KIND OF THE KEYS THAT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE VENTILATION, THE CAPACITY, THE FACT THAT IF THERE WAS AN ANIMAL THAT WAS SICK, WE VERY LIMITED ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO KEEP THOSE THINGS SEPARATE. LIKE I SAID, JOHN DOESN'T AN AMAZING JOB TRYING TO REACH OUT TO OTHER ENTITIES THAT CAN TRY TO HELP BUT THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS THAT WE KIND OF DEAL WITH ON A DAY TO DAY BASIS. SO LIKE I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE GOAL THERE WOULD BE IS IF WE IF THE COUNCIL JUST DECIDES TO KEEP THE SHELTER, THE GOAL WOULD BE TO HAVE ONE THAT'S THAT'S MORE HUMANE. THAT IS A FORWARD THINKING THAT HAS DIFFERENT CAPABILITIES THAN WE CURRENTLY HAVE NOW. SO FOR THOSE THAT HAVEN'T BEEN OVER THERE WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE LIKE THIS LITTLE OUTSIDE AREA WHERE THE DOGS CAN COME OUT. WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT BEFORE DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY THINGS WOULD GO. WE'D LIKE TO HAVE A NICE AREA WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND BE REUNITED WITH THEIR ANIMALS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO DO A MAKESHIFT THING IN A PARKING LOT OR AN AREA THAT THEY GO OUTSIDE TO GO TO THE BATHROOM THOSE TYPES OF THINGS AND THEN THERE'S OTHER POSSIBILITIES. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CANINE AND THOSE TYPES OF STUFF AND THIS ISN'T A HUGE COMPONENT OF IT BUT RIGHT NOW WHEN WE WE HAVE FOR OUR CANINE HANDLERS IF THEY GO OUT OF TOWN WE BOARD THOSE ANIMALS, WE BRING THEM SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GET BOARDED. WE DON'T HAVE A FACILITY THAT CURRENTLY CAN HOUSE THOSE DOGS AND SO WE HAVEN'T REACHED OUT A TON TO OTHER AGENCIES BUT WE KNOW OTHER AGENCIES DO SIMILAR THINGS. THIS MAY BE A REGIONAL ASSET THAT WE CAN TRY TO FIND SOME OF THOSE TYPE OF STUFF DEPENDING ON HOW THIS THING PLAYS FOR GOING WITH YOUR DIRECTION. AND THEN WE DO CURRENTLY LIKE YOU'LL SEE HERE IN A SECOND WE CURRENTLY DO PARTNER WITH A HANDFUL OF AGENCIES BUT THERE MIGHT BE SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN BUILD UPON THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY DOING NOW DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNCIL. SO LIKE I WAS SAYING THE THE MAIN THING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW IS THE COSTS FOR THE FACILITY. NOW THE CHP PLAN WE ALREADY HAVE MONEY SET ASIDE FOR A NEW FACILITY DEPENDING ON WHERE THIS GOES IT COULD BE MORE THAN HALF MIGHT NOT BE ENOUGH FOR THOSE TYPE OF STUFF. BUT THE THE BIGGER THING COMES DOWN TO IS THE DAY TO DAY OPERATION OF THE SHELTER TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE AN EQUAL COMPARISON OR AS CLOSE AS WE CAN BASED ON USAGE WITH THE CURRENT AGENCIES THAT WE HAVE AND THEN DEPENDING ON WHAT WE HAVE BECAUSE SOME OTHER AGENCIES THEY GO TO PRIVATE BUSINESSES AND SOME OF THOSE THIS MIGHT BE A BETTER FACILITY FOR THEM DEPENDING ON HOW THIS ALL SHAKES OUT. SO CURRENTLY THE THIS IS KIND OF THE OPTIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH YOU KNOW, KEEP DOING WHAT WE'RE DOING WHICH IS KIND OF JUST AGAIN LIKE I SAID WITH SUPER TENANT BARRETT AND HIS STAFF JUST TRYING TO KEEP THAT THING AFLOAT AND THEN OUR PEOPLE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN TO OPERATE IT. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO NOT ONLY CONTINUE THE SERVICE BUT TRY TO FIGURE OUT A REGIONAL FACILITY THAT WOULD BE COST SHARING THAT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIT MORE MODERNIZED THAN WHAT WE HAVE NOW OR THE COUNCIL COULD SAY HEY LET'S REDUCE THE SERVICES THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE AND FIND ANOTHER OPTION DEPENDING ON WHICH DIRECTION YOU WANT US TO LOOK. SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT REVENUE CURRENTLY WE HAVE CONTRACT FEES WHEN PEOPLE PICK UP THEIR ANIMALS THERE'S THERE ARE SOME FEES THAT WE COLLECT WITH THAT SOMETIMES STUFF WITH ADOPTION AND LICENSING YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR LATER FROM SOME OTHER STAFF NOT INITIALLY TONIGHT BUT ABOUT THERE'S A CHARITABLE GAMBLING OPPORTUNITY THAT CAN POTENTIALLY PARTICIPATE IN US. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE FOUND PRIOR RESEARCH AND CURRENT RESEARCH THAT IS HUGE FOR THAT WE'VE EVEN HAD PEOPLE COME UP AND SPEAK TO ME PERSONALLY ABOUT WANTING TO VOLUNTEER IN THIS TYPE OF FACILITY THAT BE HAPPY TO HELP OUT TO CUT DOWN ON COSTS AND DO THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. SO THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO EXPLORE IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL OF SOME OF THOSE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WITH CANINES AND WHATNOT . SO THE LIKE WHEREAS THE GOAL FOR THIS IS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DIRECTION YOU WOULD LIKE US TO GO, WHAT SERVICE DEMANDS YOU WANT WHAT WITH BASED ON OUR FACILITY THAT HAS HAS LIMITATIONS BASED ON THE SPACE QUARANTINES, ALL THOSE TYPES OF STUFF AND THEN THE RISK OF JUST KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WHICH IS HONESTLY TO QUOTE COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN SOMETIMES JUST KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING TO THAT POINT WE CAN'T KICK IT ANY FURTHER ESPECIALLY IF THE BUILDING'S GOING TO GO AWAY. AND SO THAT'S WHY WE WANTED TO COME FORTH AND SAY HEY, WHAT DIRECTION WOULD YOU LIKE US TO HAVE? SO OUR RECOMMENDATION JUST TO KIND OF REPEAT IS THAT TO CONTINUE THE SERVICES THAT WE HAVE TO GET A MODERN FACILITY TO REDUCE THE COST THAT THE CITY CURRENTLY HAS BY SUBSIDIZING OUR EXCUSE ME BY USING SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE WITH THOSE OTHER ENTITIES TO REACH OUT TO THEM AND SAY HEY, HERE'S SOME THINGS THAT WE'D LIKE YOU TO DO FOR THOSE BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE TO FRONT THE THE MAJORITY OF THAT COST AND THEN USING VOLUNTEERS GRANTS, DIFFERENT PARTNERSHIPS, DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT WE CAN POTENTIALLY BRING TO THIS DEPENDING ON HOW THIS THING GOES. THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF THINGS AND AGAIN, LIKE THE MAYOR SAID IN THE BEGINNING, THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR LIKE A VOTE OR RESOLUTION. WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR SOME GUIDANCE AND SOME SUGGESTIONS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE US TO TAKE SO THAT WE CAN BRING BACK AT A FUTURE DATE TO SAY HERE'S WHAT YOU'VE ASKED US TO DO AND HERE'S WHERE WE'RE AT. AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I JUST SAID RIGHT THERE. ANY QUESTIONS? THANK YOU, DEPUTY CHIEF. APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR FRAMING IT UP IN THE WAY THAT YOU DID AND LOOKING AT THE THE DIFFERENT PATHS FORWARD. I'M SURE EVERYBODY A LOT OF A LOT OF QUESTIONS I'M SURE ONE THAT I WOULD HAVE JUST RIGHT AWAY YOU'VE MENTIONED A COUPLE OF TIMES IS THE REGIONAL PARTNERS THE OTHER CITIES THAT USE THOSE WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE AIRPORT RICHFIELD AND EDEN PRAIRIE THEY CURRENTLY PARTNER WITH US AND THEN AND I CAN ASSURE YOU HERE IN THIS YOU CAN KIND OF SEE A LITTLE BIT WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE. YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE DIFFERENT SPREAD OF KIND OF WHAT THEIR PERCENTAGE OF WHAT THEY PAY AND WHAT THEY USE AND SO LIKE THE AIRPORT VERY, VERY MINIMAL BUT THEY DO USE US OUR FACILITY IF THEY HAVE AN ANIMAL FROM TIME TO TIME. BUT LIKE I SAID, IT'S USUALLY LIKE ONE 2% OF THE ACTUAL USAGE. OKAY? AND SO IF I KNOW THE THIS IS A LIMITED SERVICE ACROSS THE SOUTH METRO JUST IN GENERAL, WHERE DO THE WHERE WHERE DOES THE DINER GO? WHERE DO WE GO TO OTHER CITY? WHAT ARE THE CITY SOUTH OF THE RIVER WHERE DO THEY GO? SO A LOT OF THEM STILL HAVE THE SAME SERVICE THAT WE DO SIMILAR LIKE THEY HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL OR MULTIPLE PEOPLE THAT RESPOND TO CALLS. A LOT OF THEM PARTNER WITH DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AND SO LIKE YOU KNOW SOME MIGHT DO WITH THE ANIME HUMANE SOCIETY, SOME MIGHT DO A PRIVATE BUSINESS, SOME MIGHT DO THOSE WELL THOSE ARE THE BASICALLY THE THE MAIN TWO. SO WHEN WE'VE REACHED OUT IN THE PAST AND SOME OF THE STUFF THAT WE'VE DONE NOW AND WE HAVEN'T GOT LIKE ALL THE RESPONSES BACK FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE REACHED OUT TO INSIDE THE CITY, OUR ISSUE THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH IS THE THE AMOUNT. SO AS AN EXAMPLE THERE MIGHT BE SOME THAT COULD SAY YEAH, WE CAN POTENTIALLY TAKE 500 ANIMALS A YEAR BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE UP IN GOLDEN VALLEY OR HOPKINS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. AND SO THE CONCERN AT THE TIME WAS DO WE WANT BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS DRIVING UP THERE DEALING WITH THOSE TYPES OF STUFF AND THEN SOME PEOPLE LIKE IF THEY DON'T HAVE THEIR OWN VEHICLE, HOW DO THEY GET UP THERE? CAN THEY TAKE THOSE TYPES OF STUFF? THE ONES THAT WE REACH TO AND AGAIN LIKE I SAID JUST FULL TRANSPARENCY. WE HAVEN'T HEARD BACK FROM EVERYBODY. THERE STILL MIGHT BE A PRIVATE ENTITY WITHIN THE CITY THAT WE JUST HAVEN'T HEARD FROM YET THAT CAN TAKE THAT CAPACITY. BUT SOME OF THE ONES THAT WE'VE REACHED OUT TO THAT GET BACK TO US SOME OF THE CONCERNS IN ADDITION TO LIMITATIONS WAS AS WELL. WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE WHAT VACCINES THE DOGS HAVE HERE. WE NEED TO KNOW THESE TYPES OF THINGS BECAUSE IF THEY'RE GOING TO COME INTO OUR BOARDING FACILY, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PAYING FOR THIS WE ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN PLACE FOR QUARANTINE OR UNKNOWN AND A NUMBER OF THOSE WE JUST DON'T KNOW. AND SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'VE RUN INTO IN THE PAST. BUT YOU KNOW THAT STUFF COULD STILL BE OUT THERE BUT THAT'S USUALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING. THANK YOU. COUNCIL ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR YOUR IDEAS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT DIRECTION WE SHOULD GO ON THIS YOU KNOW, ROLL THEM ALL INTO ONE BIG COMMENT THAT YOU'RE MAKING. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON YEAH. THANK YOU, MAYOR. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND KIND OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIFFERENT PARTS OF TAKING CARE OF AN ANIMAL SO YOU'VE GOT ANIMAL CONTROL, SOMEBODY CALLS YOU 2000 CALLS A YEAR WHERE MY DOG'S LOST HER. I THINK THERE'S PROBABLY OTHER CALLS OF, YOU KNOW, ANIMALS THAT MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT IN THEIR YARD AS WELL. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT THE SORT OF THE SHORT TERM HOLDING OF THOSE ANIMALS HOPEFULLY TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY THAT'S THAT'S MISSING THEM. AND THEN YOU'VE GOT MAYBE A LONGER TERM SHELTER CHAIN LIKE THE ANIMAL ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY THAT IS TRYING TO GET THEM ADOPTED AND GET THEM INTO ANOTHER HOME AND THEN YOU'VE GOT UP TO, YOU KNOW, SORT OF THE DAYCARE SITUATION AND OR LONGER TERM STAYS. CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND SORT OF THOSE DIFFERENT TIERS THAT AND WHERE WE PLAY IN AND WHERE MAYBE THE PRIVATE MARKET PLACE MIGHT BE A PARTNER ON DIFFERENT THINGS? YEAH. SO COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THE QUICK ANSWER THAT I CAN SUM UP AND BY MY BY NO MEANS OF MY OWN EXPERT I WOULD SAY IF OF THE FOUR THAT YOU SUGGESTED WE'RE AT LIKE 1 OR 2 RIGHT? SO LIKE THE HIGHER END SO LIKE AS AN EXAMPLE WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE IN THERE 24 HOURS A DAY. WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE SPECIFIC PLAYING WITH EVERY DOG FOR HOURS OR DOING THE YOU KNOW, THE PRIVATE SESSIONS OR WHATEVER. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE FED THAT THEY'RE WHAT THEY GET WATER THAT THEY GET OUTSIDE, GET TO PLAY A LITTLE BIT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS. BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT'S NOT THE SAME ENVIRONMENT AS A DAYCARE FACILITY LIKE YOU WOULD THAT MOST OF US WOULD WANT TO SAY HEY, IF I'M GOING TO GO BOARD A DOG THIS WOULDN'T BE YOUR FIRST OPTION IN THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT THAT THAT FACILITY IS IN MEMBER LIMIT THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE SOME MY MY COMMENTS ON THAT. I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER ABOUT KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD. A NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS UP HERE HAVE BROUGHT FORWARD AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TO REALLY WALK THROUGH THAT AND I WOW, THAT IS THOSE PICTURES LOOK MUCH BETTER THAN WHAT THAT WHAT IT IS THEY LOOK NICE ON THOSE PICTURES BUT REALLY WALKING THROUGH THAT'S HORRIBLE SO I KNOW WE'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, MAYOR TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION ON THIS. SO I WANT TO JUST KEEP IT BRIEF HERE SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO OTHER ITEMS, KEEP IT BRIEF AND I AND I WOULD SAY IF YOU'VE GOT AN OPINION ON WHAT DIRECTION TO GO YEAH I THINK THAT'S WHAT I'M JUST KIND OF QUICK AND EASY WE'RE WILLING TO HAVE THE POLICE GO WITH THIS. YEAH. SO I THINK MY MY CONCERN IS THAT THE LONGER TERM TALES ON THIS AND SO I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE A OPTION WHERE WE'RE REALLY ABLE TO REDUCE THAT THAT 32 AND 12% INPUT AND I'D LIKE TO SEE IF THERE'S A WAY TO EXPAND OUR CUSTOMER BASE SO THAT THEY CAN TAKE ON MORE OF THAT BURDEN. AND SO WHAT I WOULD LOOK AT IS YOU KNOW, MAYBE ONE THAT'S NOT EVEN ON HERE BUT I THINK THE OPTIONS TO AND OPTION THREE MAKE ALL THAT SENSE TO ME BECAUSE I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME REGIONALIZATION HERE. WE'VE GOT EXAMPLES OF WHERE WE'VE GOT THE POOL AND OTHER THINGS I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT THE IMPACTS I HAVE ON OUR ON OUR BUDGET LONG TERM AS WE COMMIT TO THIS DON'T WANT TO DO OPTION ONE BUT OPTION TWO AND THREE ARE MOVING IN THE DIRECTION WHICH I'M INTERESTED IN BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE A FOURTH OPTION THAT'S MORE ENTREPRENEURIAL AND MAYBE WORKING WITH PRIVATE BUSINESS SOME OF THAT CHARITABLE GAMBLING AND THAT TYPE OF THING OUT THERE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KIND OF REDUCE THAT THAT OVERALL IMPACT TO OUR OUR LEVY IN THE FUTURE YEARS. GET COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND THEN COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO. SO THANK YOU FOR THIS IS VERY, VERY HELPFUL. I HAVE SIMILAR FEELINGS I DEFINITELY NOT JUST A SERVICE REDUCTION. I DON'T WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH IF WE WERE TO GO DOWN JUST A SERVICE REDUCTION IT SOUNDS LIKE BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID LOCAL PROVIDERS NONPROFITS MORE I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY THE MAJORITY OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE KIND OF IN THIS AREA. I MEAN IT WOULDN'T SEEM LIKE THEY COULD ABSORB 500 ANIMALS NOT IN OUR AREA. I THINK IT'D BE VERY DIFFICULT CAUSE I THINK IF THEY DID AND AGAIN I'M NOT AN EXPERT ON IT BUT I THINK OTHER AGENCIES WOULD BE USING THEM AND HAVE THAT KIND OF STUFF AND I JUST THINK OUR CAPACITY IS THE THING THAT WE RAN INTO IN THE PAST AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE THE ISSUE WE GO UP AGAINST. YEAH OKAY. AND IS THE IDEA THEN THAT IF WE BUILT A KIND OF A BETTER A NEWER BIGGER OR BETTER FACILITY THAT WE MIGHT HAVE CONTRACTS WITH ADDITIONAL CITIES LIKE EDINA OR MENDOTA OR OTHERS IN THE REGION SO THAT WE COULD HAVE MORE REVENUE COMING INTO THE FACILITY? ABSOLUTELY. OKAY. SO YEAH, I, I AM IN SUPPORT OF MOVING FORWARD. I MEAN AGAIN, I KNOW I'M GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS. I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THE CHARITABLE GAMBLING POTENTIALLY BENEFITING THE ORGANIZATION OR THIS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AND THEN THE OTHER IS LEVERAGING VOLUNTEERS. I KNOW I'VE HEARD A LOT FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THIS AND PEOPLE WANTING TO BE ABLE TO HELP IN THE SHELTER. MY UNDERSTANDING IS IN THE PAST MAYBE THERE WERE SOME LEGAL CONCERNS AROUND LIABILITY AND THINGS LIKE THAT BUT I KIND OF FEEL LIKE IF NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS CAN OVERCOME THOSE CHALLENGES OF HAVING VOLUNTEERS HELP WITH THE ANIMALS, IT FEELS LIKE WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO. SO YEAH, I THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING PATH FORWARD. I'M ASSUMING OTHERS AGREE I'M GOING TO GUESS NOBODY'S GOING TO WANT TO DO THAT JUST COMPLETELY STAFF THE SERVICE REDUCTION. BUT YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THIS. THANK YOU. >> COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU DC FOR THE PRESENTATION. I WOULD SO I'D SAY THE THE WAY THAT I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS AND WHY I'VE ADVOCATED FOR EVEN THE SMALL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE MADE A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND EVERYTHING IS BECAUSE I THINK THERE'S A REAL ETHOS IN OUR CITY THAT I HAVE SEEN THROUGH ALL THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD AROUND YOU KNOW THAT THESE ANIMALS NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF CARE THAN WHAT WE CAN GIVE THEM RIGHT NOW NOT BECAUSE ANYBODY DOESN'T WANT TO BUT BECAUSE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES. AND SO WHAT I BE VERY INTERESTED IN IS UNDERSTANDING A KIND OF MORE A BIT OF A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH. AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS WHEN AN ANIMAL IS IN WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT LIKE WILD ANIMALS AND LIKE THE DIFFERENCE IN ANIMAL CONTROL FOR WILD ANIMALS OR YOU KNOW, NON DOMESTICATED ANIMALS. SO I WANT TO PUT A PIN IN THAT BECAUSE WE PROBABLY NEED TO CONSIDER THAT IN THIS DEBATE IN THIS CONVERSATION SIMPLY BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT SOMETIMES WE DO AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T DO. IT'S A LITTLE IFFY ON THE WAY THAT WE HANDLE THAT. AND SO I THINK SOME DIRECTION AND CONSISTENCY WILL BE USEFUL THERE. BUT LET'S SAY LET'S SAY FOR FOR THE CASE OF THE CONVERSATION I'M HAVING WITH YOU THAT THE THAT THE THE PROCESS IS ALL THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS LIKE LOST PETS, THE PETS GET OUT WHATEVER YOU KNOW THERE'S THIS LIKE 0 TO 5 DAY PLAN AND THERE'S THIS 5 TO 10 DAY PLAN AND THERE'S THIS POST TEN DAY PLAN IF YOU WILL. AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE IT FEELS LIKE IT FEELS LIKE NOT ALL OF THAT SHOULD FALL UNDER LIKE THE PURVIEW OF ANIMAL CONTROL AND THE POLICE. SO I ACTUALLY WOULD LOVE IT IF WE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE BROADLY BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT'S ALMOST BECOMES A COMMUNITY FUNCTION AND THE PUBLIC SAFETY PORTION OF IT AFTER DAY TEN KIND OF GETS TAKEN CARE OF. WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS THE ANIMALS ARE SHELTERED, THEY'RE SHELTERED MAYBE IN DAY 5 TO 10 OR 6 TO 10 THERE'S A VET VISIT AND A VACCINATION AND EVERYTHING. SO NOW YOU HAVE POTENTIALLY AN ADOPTABLE ANIMAL AT THE END OF TEN DAYS AND THAT DOESN'T THAT DOESN'T IN MY OPINION THAT CEASES TO BE A PUBLIC SAFETY PROBLEM THAT SEES THAT BECOMES ANOTHER KIND OF PROBLEM FOR WHICH WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF OF EXPERIENCE AS A COMMUNITY AT LARGE ESPECIALLY WITH THE ANIMAL HUMANE SOCIETY AND THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS THAT THEY GET EVERY YEAR AND STUFF LIKE THAT. SO I'M THINKING LIKE HEY, DO WE HAVE ANIMAL CONTROL? THE PURVIEW OF ANIMAL CONTROL IS X AND Y AND THEN WHEN IT GOES TO Z WE HAVE A PARTNER DOING THAT RIGHT? A PARTNER, A NONPROFIT PARTNER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. NOW IF WE IF WE DECIDED TO BUILD THE FACILITY TO HOUSE THAT AND THEY PAID RENT TO BE THERE AND WHATEVER THERE'S REVENUE OPPORTUNITY AND ALL KINDS OF OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT BUT YOU KNOW THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE I THINK WE HAVE TO GETTING VOLUNTEERS INTO THIS IS THEY THAT THAT THAT MOMENT OF TIME WHEN THE ANIMAL IS UNKNOWN TO US IN TERMS OF ITS VACCINATION STATUS AND ALL THOSE OTHER THINGS. AND SO MISSING FROM THE CONVERSATION IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL IS HOW THEY GO FROM BEING AN ANIMAL CONTROL PROBLEM TO BEING AN ADOPTABLE ANIMAL. AND SO I'D LIKE TO JUST MAKE SURE WE WE ADDRESS THAT AND I THINK THERE'S PARTNERS FOR THAT AND I CERTAINLY WOULD WANT US TO NOT TAKE THAT BURDEN ON OURSELVES COMPLETELY IN TERMS OF TRYING TO FUND THAT. SO FOR FOR ABSOLUTELY ELEVATING THE LEVEL OF OF OF SERVICE WE OFFER GETTING THAT PAID FOR AS MUCH AS WE CAN BY YOU KNOW WHETHER THAT'S GRANTS OR NONPROFIT PARTNERS OR WHATEVER AND USING VOLUNTEERS. BUT I THINK WE HAVE WE HAVE TO BE CONCERTED IN THAT THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF THAT TIME SPAN AND THE SERVICES WE OFFER IN EACH OF THOSE CASES. SO I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL. IT IS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER LANCE MEMBER RIVAS THANKS FOR THAT PRESENTATION. I JUST HAVE A QUICK COMMENT AND IT GOES ALONG THE LINES WITH SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO MADE. I'M ALL FOR THIS I'M EVEN CONSIDERING THE EXPENSE I THINK IS OVERDUE IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON AS A LARGE CITY NOT TO HAVE THE FACILITIES FOR ANIMALS THAT IT REQUIRED TO CARE. MY QUESTION IS THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTNERING WITH SOMEBODY TO PROVIDE IT VETERINARY SERVICES TO THE ANIMALS BECAUSE THAT IS A A REAL THING IF IT'S AN ANIMAL STAYS THERE FOR A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME AND IT'S NOT OWNERS ARE NOT CLAIMING IT OR YOU KNOW IT DOESN'T HAVE ANY OWNERS AND THAT ANIMAL CANNOT BE ADOPTED IN ANY WAY IF HE DOESN'T HAVE PROOF OF A CHARGE AND SOMETIMES EVEN HAD TO BE SPAYED OR YOU KNOW, FIXED IN ANY WAY. SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS IF WE TRIED TO PARTNER WITH SOMEBODY TO PROVIDE VETERINARY SERVICES THAT NEED SURGERY NOT JUST TO CHARGE BUT YOU KNOW, HAVING TO TO SPAYED AN ANIMAL THAT WAY WE DON'T PUT AN ANIMAL THAT COULD REPRODUCE OUT THERE AND DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH AND YOU KNOW, CREATE A BUNCH OF ANIMALS JUST RUNNING AROUND THE STREETS WHICH I'VE SEEN SOMETIMES IN OTHER PLACES . SO THAT'S MY QUESTION THE POSSIBILITY OF PARTNERING TO PROVIDE JUST THE VETERINARY SERVICES I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN AFFORD TO HAVE DIED IN A FACILITY AT THE CITY LEVEL. IT WOULD BE QUITE EXPENSIVE TO HAVE THAT SERVICE BUT I WILL BE ONE OF THE FIRST VOLUNTEERS TO WALK IN THERE AND I'M ALL WILLING TO DO THAT. THAT'S ALL I GOT. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER HE SAID WHAT THEY NEEDED TO SAY THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ROBERTSON AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON THANK YOU MAYOR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M REALLY MAYBE NOT EXCITED IS THE RIGHT WORD BUT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT. AND JUST TO BE VERY CLEAR, I CERTAINLY DO SUPPORT OPTION TWO AS WELL RIGHT WHEN I HEAR THAT A FACILITY HAS LONG OUTLIVED ITS USEFUL LIFE THAT SOUNDS LIKE A LIABILITY CONCERN TO ME AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ANIMALS ARE NOT IN THE BEST POSSIBLE PLACE THEY COULD BE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE CONSIDERING THAT. AND JUST TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVAS HAVE SAID, I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERS. I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE CITY WHO HAVE GIVEN THE PROPER TRAINING AND ALL THOSE THINGS CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO HELP AND THEN YES, PARTNERING PARTNERING EXCUSE ME WITH A NONPROFIT OR AN ALREADY EXISTING VETERINARY OFFICE I THINK WOULD BE A REALLY COOL THING AND I REALLY LOOKING I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING WORK SO THANKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MEMBER NELSON YEAH. A QUICK QUESTION THEN A COUPLE OF COMMENTS. DOES THE CITY HAVE CAPACITY CURRENTLY IF SOMEONE EXPERIENCES A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN NO LONGER TAKE CARE OF THEIR ANIMAL THAT THEY CAN DROP DROP IT OFF WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON OR IS THAT NOT AN OPTION RIGHT NOW? SO THE QUICK ANSWER IS WE'LL FIND A WAY AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT RUNS IT WHICH IS JOHN CARLSON NOW THAT WE'VE SAID IT PUBLICLY, WE THERE'S A CAPACITY RIGHT AT SOME POINT BUT HE HAS DONE EVERYTHING IN HIS POWER TO MAKE SURE THAT IF SOMEONE COMES AND NEEDS SOMETHING HE'S GOING TO DO WHATEVER HE CAN TO TAKE CARE OF IT. SO WE'VE HAD ISSUES LIKE THAT IN THE PAST. I MEAN SO FAR THE DISTRICT TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, HE'S MADE PHONE CALLS TO PEOPLE IN TEXAS THAT HAVE DRIVEN UP TO HELP TAKE CARE OF ANIMALS BECAUSE THE ONLY OTHER OPTION WAS TO PUT HIM DOWN SO HE DOES NOT I MEAN HE GOES TO ALL EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS. BUT DOES OUR FACILITY HAVE THE CAPACITY? NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE TIME AND WE NEED TO EXPAND THAT CAPACITY. BUT I APPRECIATE JOHN'S EFFORTS BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A REAL PROBLEM FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. THEY RUN INTO SITUATIONS AND THEN THAT LEADS TO SOME OF THOSE ANIMALS OUT ON THE STREET BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OTHER OPTION. CORRECT. AND SO AND THEN MY COMMENTS ARE ABSOLUTELY CHARITABLE GAMBLING. ABSOLUTELY VOLUNTEERING. ABSOLUTELY DONATIONS. YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN HERE A WHILE. I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT OTHER REVENUE SOURCES THAT ARE NOT TAX GENERATED OR WHATEVER YOU GUYS CAN DO. THEY'RE 100% SUPPORT THAT I SUPPORT CREATING A PLACE THAT IS ACCOMMODATING AND OBVIOUSLY AN UPGRADE FROM WHAT'S THERE. I DID THE TOUR THERE AND IT'S IT'S NOT PLEASANT AND NOT PLEASANT FOR THE ANIMALS BUT I ALSO WANT TO RESPECT IT'S NOT PLEASANT FOR THE STAFF YOU KNOW I WALKED IN AND YOU KNOW ONE OF THE DOGS WAS SCARED AND HAD YOU KNOW GONE THE BATHROOM AND IT DIDN'T SMELL GREAT AND IT HAD BEEN THERE FOR A BIT AND MAYBE YOU GUYS PLANTED THAT THERE FOR TWO OR SO. IT JUST MADE IT MADE IT WORSE . BUT NO I MEAN IT'S IT'S IT'S BOTH SIDES OF THAT YOU KNOW WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THESE ANIMALS RIGHT? GET THEM REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILY OR GET THEM TO A NEW FAMILY IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY . I ALSO THINK THAT THE PARTNERSHIPS ON THE NONPROFIT ON THE VETERINARY SIDE, ALL OF THAT MAKE A TON OF SENSE. EXPANDING THIS TO A POTENTIAL REGIONAL FACILITY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE BUT I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE ALL THOSE THINGS IN PLACE BEFORE WE MOVE FORWARD WITH IT. AND MY BIG, BIG FEAR IS THAT WE DRIVE HEADLONG INTO THAT AND THEN PARTNERS DROP OFF AND THEN WE'RE STUCK HOLDING THE BAG ON THE BACK SIDE OF IT AS OPPOSED TO US KEEPING LIKE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, I'D GONE THROUGH FOUR THINGS YOU SAID WE'RE KIND OF FOCUSED IN ONE AND TWO. LET'S MAKE SURE OUR FOCUS STAYS ON ONE AND TWO, LET'S IMPROVE THAT AND LET'S LOOK FOR OPPORTUNITIES, BRING PARTNERS IN FOR THREE AND FOUR FOR THE EXPANSION OF THOSE SERVICES. I MEAN I COULD SEE A FACILITY WHERE WE COULD DO THAT BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE THOSE PRIVATE PLACES AND THAT AT SOME POINT IF FOR WHATEVER REASON SOMEONE BACKS OUT THE CITY'S NOT LEFT HOLDING THE FINANCIAL BAG ON SERVICES BEYOND THE ANIMAL CONTROL PORTION OF IT AND I DON'T MEAN TO BE CALLOUS. I JUST WANT TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT THAT. NO, WE AGREE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THE DIRECTION FROM THE COUNCIL. I THINK THERE'S A PRETTY GOOD CONSENSUS HERE. THE ONLY THING THAT I MIGHT ADD IS I REALLY DO REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE CREATIVE IN YOUR THINKING. I MEAN WE'RE TALKING YOU MENTIONED A NEW FACILITY. IS THERE IS THERE A REUSE THAT COULD BE DONE SOMEWHERE THAT COULD DO THE SAME KIND OF THING TO KEEP COSTS DOWN? SO WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF ROOM HERE IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON BUT I THINK YOU'VE HEARD THE COUNCIL'S THOUGHTS ON THIS AND LOOK FORWARD TO THIS MOVING FORWARD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DEPUTY. AND IN 5.2 ON OUR AGENDA COUNCIL IS A DISCUSSION ON RAILROAD QUIET ZONES. WE'VE GOT KIRK ROBERTS AND JEREMY MEL QUEST UP FRONT WITH US TODAY. GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS JEREMY NORQUIST WITH ENGINEERING HERE TO DISCUSS RAILROAD QUIET ZONES. YOU JUST WAIT ON THE POWERPOINT. HERE IT IS. SO WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO RAILROAD COMPANIES THAT OPERATE IN BLOOMINGTON, C P K, C AND PROGRESSIVE RAILROAD. THE MAP ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE SCREEN THERE SHOWS THE TWO RAILROAD COMPANIES C P. C P K C OPERATES ON THE WEST SIDE IN RED THERE AND THEN PROGRESSIVE OPERATES IN THE BLUE AREA. SO IN TOTAL THERE'S 26 GRADE CROSSINGS. SO WHERE THE RAILROAD CROSSES A ROADWAY WE HAVE 26 LOCATIONS IN THE CITY AND THAT'S WHERE TRAINS ARE REQUIRED TO SOUND THEIR HORN BEFORE THEY CROSS THE ROADWAYS ON THE WEST SIDE OF BLOOMINGTON C C SINCE 2024 TRAINS HAVE BEEN OPERATING OVERNIGHT ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. WE HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY ANY RECENT COMPLAINTS OVER THE OVER THE WINTER BUT THE CITY HAS NO CONTROL OVER THE TRAIN OPERATIONS OR THE HOURS OF THE TRAINS. THE ONLY OPTION THE CITY HAS TO MITIGATE NOISE IS TO ESTABLISH A QUIET ZONE THAT MEETS FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. SO BACKGROUND BUT QUIET ZONES THEY WERE ESTABLISHED IN 2005 ELIMINATING THE TRAIN HORN IS CONSIDERED A REDUCTION IN SAFETY SO ADDITIONAL SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS ARE NEEDED AT EACH CROSSING TO COUNTERACT THE REMOVAL OF THE TRAIN HORN TRAIN HORNS ARE CONSIDERED A QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. SO WITH THAT THERE'S LIMITED FUNDING FROM THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SO LOCAL AGENCIES ARE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR MOST OF THESE CHANGES AND TO UPGRADE EACH CROSSING TO MEET ITS OWN ELIGIBILITY IS TYPICALLY IN THE RANGE OF 50 TO 400,000 PER CROSSING. HERE'S SOME OF THE EXAMPLE CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED TO UPGRADE EACH OF OF THE CROSSINGS TO BECOME QUITE QUITE ZONE ELIGIBLE. SO THE TOP TOP ONES ARE BASICALLY JUST TO PREVENT CARS FROM DRIVING AROUND THE GATES . THERE'S ALSO OPTIONS TO TO CLOSE THE ROADWAY AND ONLY ALLOW RAILROAD CROSSINGS. I DON'T FORESEE THAT BEING AN OPTION IN BLOOMINGTON BUT IT IS AN OPTION. SO THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS AN ACQUIRED ZONE IS TO PREPARE A RAILROAD CROSSING SAFETY STUDY AND WE NEED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO DO THAT WORK. THEY WOULD EVALUATE ALL THE 26 CROSSINGS IN BLOOMINGTON AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE COST WOULD BE TO UPGRADE EACH ONE OF THOSE TO BECOME QUIET SO AN ELIGIBLE THE COST FOR THAT STUDY WOULD BE 60 TO 85,000 AND WOULD TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE AND THEN ONCE EACH OF THE CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED THE FUTURE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED FOR THOSE THEY'RE LISTED. THE THREE ARE LISTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SLIDE THERE. SO THERE'S THE RAILROAD CROSSING ELIMINATION PROGRAM WHERE THERE'S FEDERAL ALLOCATION PRIMARILY FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE THE RAILROAD SIGNAL EQUIPMENT. BUT LOCAL FUNDS WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS. THERE'S REGIONAL SOLICITATION WHICH IS COMPETITIVE AND UNLIKELY TO SCORE WELL AND THEN THERE IS A BONDING REQUEST OPTION WHICH THERE HAS BEEN A FEW CITIES THAT HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH THAT. SHAKOPEE HAS APPLIED FOR 3 MILLION RECENTLY BUT THAT OUTCOME IS CURRENTLY UNKNOWN. WHAT ARE SOME OTHER NEARBY CITIES DOING THAT HAVE THIS EPIC LINE RUNNING THROUGH THEIR CITY? SO WE DINAH'S CURRENTLY HAS A QUIET ZONE STUDY UNDERWAY. ST LOUIS PARK HAS JUST COMPLETED THEIR QUIET ZONE STUDY AND THAT HAD RECOMMENDED 12 MILLION OF CROSSING IMPROVEMENTS AND THEN GOLDEN AND GOLDEN VALLEY HAS JUST ADVERTISED AN RFP FOR THEIR QUIET ZONE STUDY SO THE THREE CITIES NORTH OF BLOOMINGTON THAT HAD THE CASE LINE RUNNING THROUGH THEM HAVE EITHER STARTED A STUDY OR COMPLETED IT OR ARE GOING TO COMPLETE IT . AND WITH THAT I'LL PASS IT OVER TO KIRK COUNCILMEMBERS. JUST A COUPLE OF THINGS TO CONSIDER AS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD ON WHAT TO DO ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE FOR 2026 WE'VE GOT TWO MAJOR STUDIES THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL IS WE'VE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THAT'S FEDERAL FUNDING THAT NEEDS TO MOVE AHEAD AND UTILIZE THAT FUNDING. SO I DON'T SEE ANY CHANGES HERE. THE OTHER FUNDING THE STUDY THAT WE HAVE BUDGET FOR IS 84TH STREET. THIS ONE'S A LITTLE BIT UNIQUE. IT'S EXPECTED TO BE REPAVED NEXT YEAR AND SEE 84 STREET A NUMBER OF THINGS CONVERGE HERE. YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD FROM RESIDENTS ON STANLEY AVENUE OVER THE YEARS ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC THEY GET THROUGH. SO A LOT OF THINGS ARE CONVERGING RIGHT HERE. WE'VE GOT THE 494 CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY THAT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A LOT OF VOLUME OFF OF THIS STREET 84TH STREET BETWEEN NORMANDALE AND FRANCE IS A FOUR LANE UNDIVIDED ROADWAY. THERE'S AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THERE. THERE'S A COUPLE STOP CONTROLLED INTERSECTIONS. IT'S LONG BEEN THE SUBJECT OF STUDY BY THE CITY AND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS WITH ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMING TOGETHER THE FOUR AND ANY FOUR WORK TAKING PLACE WHICH OFFERS RELIEF FROM TRAFFIC WITH THE PAVEMENT WORK COMING UP IT'S TIME TO DEVELOP A LONG TERM PLAN FOR THAT ROADWAY. SOME THINGS THAT WILL MAKE THE ROADWAY SAFER MAKE THE AREA AROUND THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SAFER FOR THE KIDS GETTING TO SCHOOL, REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF CUT THROUGH TRAFFIC THAT WE SEE IN THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. SO WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KEEP THAT STUDY ON TRACK FOR THIS YEAR TO FINALLY BRING SOME RELIEF AND THAT'S BEEN A TOPIC FOR LONG BEFORE I WAS AT THE CITY TOO. SO I'D LIKE TO KEEP THAT STUDY ON TRACK NEXT YEAR. THE PLAN IS TO STUDY 102ND STREET AND THERE IS NO PAVEMENT WORK IMMINENT ON THAT. SO THAT'S ONE THAT WE COULD PUSH BACK. NO ONE LIKES THE WAY IT'S WORKING BUT IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS. IT'LL CONTINUE TO OPERATE IF WE PUSH THAT STUDY BACK IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO ADVANCE ON A RAILROAD CROSSING STUDY NOW WE'D JUST SEEK ADDITIONAL BUDGET TO DO THAT BECAUSE THAT WASN'T IN OUR WORK PLAN FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS. SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE SEEKING FROM THE COUNCIL SO WE COULD MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT BUT WE WILL SEE BUDGET TO DO SO AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS. THANK YOU BOTH. APPRECIATE IT AND THANKS FOR BEING HERE TONIGHT. QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER THANK YOU, MAYOR. SO I APPRECIATE SEEING THIS BACK IN FRONT OF US. I KNOW WE HAD A STUDY OUR LISTENING SESSION A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO WHERE THERE WERE QUITE A FEW NEIGHBORS WHO CAME IN AND WERE EXPRESSING CONCERNS. SO I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE UP TO THIS POINT. THIS KIND OF FEELS LIKE A STUPID QUESTION BUT WHAT EXACTLY WOULD BE THE OUTCOMES OF A STUDY LIKE WHAT WHAT INFORMATION WILL WE GET FROM THAT STUDY? WILL IT TELL US LIKE EXACTLY WHICH CROSSINGS IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO DO TO MAKE QUIET CROSSINGS AND EXACTLY HOW TO DO THAT? YES. COUNCILMEMBER COUNCILMEMBER CARTER, THIS WOULD BE YEAH, IT WOULD TELL US THE THE AREAS THAT WOULD BE I GUESS MOST COST EFFECTIVE TO IMPLEMENT A QUIET ZONE AND IT WOULD GIVE US DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON ON THAT AS WELL AS WHAT EACH CROSSING UPGRADE WOULD TAKE IN TERMS OF COST AND THE EXAMPLE SHOWN WHETHER YOU UPGRADE TO LIKE A FOUR QUADRANT OR ADDED JUST ADDING MEDIANS. SO YEAH I WOULD TELL US ALL THOSE THINGS AND IT WOULD BE FOR JUST THE STEP CASEY LINE OR WOULD IT BE FOR ALL THE RAILROAD STOPS, FOR ALL THE RAILROAD CROSSINGS, ALL THE 26 IN THE CITY? OKAY. AND THEN ONCE WE WOULD GET THE STUDY RESULTS IF WE SAID IF THERE WERE LIKE SIX CROSSINGS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED AS CANDIDATES, WOULD THEY THEN ALSO NEED FURTHER STUDY OR WOULD WE HAVE ALL OF THE INFORMATION WE NEED AT THAT POINT TO START FINDING FUNDING TO MAKE THOSE IMPROVEMENTS? SO THIS STUDY SHOULD GIVE US ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEED TO THEN IMPLEMENT THEM OR PUT THOSE INTO OUR C IP AND TRY TO GET FUNDING FOR THOSE. OKAY. AND IT WILL HELP US PRIORITIZE LIKE THAT. THERE ARE CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE MAYBE MORE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THAN OTHERS IT SHOULD THERE IS AN OPTION TO DO A NOISE ANALYSIS WITH THE STUDY TO DETERMINE WHICH WHICH AREAS ARE IMPACTED THE MOST. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. AND COUNCILMEMBER CARTER BRINGS UP A GOOD QUESTION. SO IS IS OUR RURAL QUIET ZONES ARE THERE AN ALL OR NOTHING KIND OF THING? IS THERE A BENEFIT TO ONLY DOING SOME BECAUSE I'VE GOT TO IMAGINE IF YOU QUIET CROSSING YOU KNOW A QUARTER MILE DOWN THE ROAD WHERE THERE'S A SECOND CROSSING AND IT'S NOT QUIET, IT'S PROBABLY NOT ALL THAT MUCH OF NOISE NOISES IT MITIGATED ALL THAT MUCH YOU MIGHT CORRECT IN THAT ORDER. MR. MAYOR, THE THE REQUIREMENTS ARE IT HAS TO AT LEAST BE A HALF MILE IN LENGTH . SO IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE CROSSINGS WITHIN THAT HALF MILE IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO REMOVE THE TRAIN NOISE FROM EITHER JUST ONE OR WHATEVER THE STUDY TELLS US. OKAY THAT WOULD BE OKAY. COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO THANKS. JUST WHERE CAN I GET THE THE MAP BACK? YEAH. NOT THAT ONE. SORRY. THE ONE WITH THE TWO TRAIL ARRAY RAIL LINES ON IT . SORRY. SHOULD SAID CAN YOU GO TO THE FRONT THERE. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY SO SO I DISTINGUISH THESE TWO LINES VERY MUCH IN TERMS OF THE IMPACT THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN THE CITY. THE THE CASE LINE IS THE ONE THAT'S CAUSING MOST OF THE CHALLENGES FOR THE RESIDENTS THAT I HEAR FROM. I'M SURE COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HEARS FROM THEM TOO. BUT YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT RUNS RIGHT THROUGH MY MY DISTRICT. SO I HEAR ABOUT A LOT AND RIGHTFULLY SO MY SO SO I AS I LOOK AT THIS I'M LOOKING AT 4 OR 5 CROSSINGS VERSUS 26 AND I'M WONDERING WHY WE CAN'T DO THE STUDY ON THE 4 OR 5 THAT ARE MOST IMPACTING RESIDENTS RIGHT NOW BECAUSE IT WOULD COST LESS, IT WOULD BE FASTER AND WE HAVE THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO MAKE DECISIONS. BUT I DON'T THAT WASN'T PRESENTED TO YOU BY YOU GUYS TONIGHT SO I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY. BUT IF I'M IF I'M LOOKING AT BOTH THE IMPACTED RESIDENTS AND ALSO THE NOISE THAT'S HAPPENING, IT'S HAPPENING ON THAT LINE. AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE EXPEDITING THE DECISION MAKING ON THAT LINE MAKES WAY MORE SENSE AND IT SHOULD BE A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE BECAUSE IT'S ONLY FOUR IF I'M IF THE DOTS EQUAL CROSSING THAT'S ONLY FOR IT'S ONLY FOUR CROSSING. SO I MEAN I FEEL LIKE WE COULD GET THAT EXPEDITED OR AT LEAST NOT NOT THAT YOU GUYS COULD DO THE WORK BUT YOU'RE HUNGRY CONSULTANT RIGHT SO THE CONSULTANT IS DOING THE WORK. WE COULD GET AT LEAST THAT PART OF THIS THING DONE IT FEELS LIKE SO WE HAVE THE INFORMATION AND WE MAYBE IT DOESN'T TAKE SIX MONTHS TO DO IT. I DON'T KNOW. I DON'T THROWN THAT OUT THERE IS A WAY TO COMPROMISE TO TRY TO EXPEDITE US GETTING SOME INFORMATION HERE. BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE BURDEN IS ON YOU ALL HIS STAFF I MEAN I WOULD THINK IF THE CONSULTANT IS THERE YOU HAVE LESS BURDEN. BUT YOU KNOW, HELP ME OUT AND HELP ME UNDERSTAND. YEAH. MR. MAYOR COUNCILMEMBER BILL SANDRO IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. SO UP UNTIL RECENTLY MOST OF OUR NOISE COMPLAINTS AND WE GET A FEW A YEAR COME FROM THE SEGMENT THAT'S UNDER THE PROGRESSIVE THE BLUE LINE THE LINE THAT RUNS ALONG OLD CHICOPEE ROAD AND WE GET A COUPLE OF COMPLAINTS A YEAR. THAT'S ALL WE EVER HEARD. WE NEVER GOT COMPLAINTS ON THE ON THE NORTH SOUTH ROUTE UNTIL RECENTLY WHEN THE KEEP CASEY DECIDED TO START RUNNING AT NIGHT. AND SO THEN WE GOT THIS RAFT OF COMPLAINTS THAT KICKED OFF THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION SINCE THAT TIME SEE, CASEY IS NOW NOT RUNNING AT NIGHT AGAIN AND SO THERE WE HAVEN'T HAD THE TRAIN NOISE AT NIGHT AND I DO LIVE SORT OF ALONG THE CORRIDOR NEAR OLD B ROAD AND SO I HAVE BEEN WOKEN BY THOSE SAME TRAIN HORNS AND IT'S IT'S LOVELY AT FOUR IN THE MORNING AND YEAH SO YOU COULD JUST DO THE NORTH SOUTH RUNNING SECTION AND YES YOU WOULD SAVE TIME AND SAVE AND SAVE MONEY AS WELL YOU JUST ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THAT MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES ALONG THIS OTHER SEGMENT THAT THE CITY WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDRESSED. SO YEAH, IT IS CERTAINLY AN OPTION. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK ABOUT THAT. YOU KNOW THE OTHER PIECE OF THIS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE IT BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY A POPULATION DENSITY AND AND IMPACTS STUDY THAT WE ALSO IN THAT STUDY SO MUCH BUT WE WOULD KNOW HOW MANY HOUSEHOLDS ARE IMPACTED ON EACH OF THESE LINES IN IT AND EVERYTHING ELSE GOOD GOOD POINT THAT YOU KNOW I DON'T HEAR ABOUT THE PROGRESSIVE LINE AS MUCH. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE HERE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT. TO ME THE ONES THAT RUN THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL KIND OF MORE INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF OUR CITY KIND OF MAKE SENSE THAT THEY THEY ARE WHAT THEY ARE. BUT I CERTAINLY WOULD UNDERSTAND IF THERE ARE RESIDENTS ALONG SOME OF THE PROGRESSIVE RAILROAD AREAS THAT NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. I ALSO FEEL LIKE WE COULD DO IT IN PARTS OF WE NEEDED TO BECAUSE ULTIMATELY WE'RE NOT GOING TO WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE A DECISION WE CAN ITERATE OUR WAY IS MY POINT IF WE HAVE SMALLER TAKE SMALLER BITES AT THE APPLE IF YOU WILL. SO I THROW THAT OUT THERE AS AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL TO JUST DOING THE SIX MONTH 26 STUDY BUT MAYBE WE DON'T GET ANY MORE WE DON'T GET A LOT OF BENEFIT OUT OF DOING IT SMALLER I DON'T KNOW. THANKS. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER MOMENT YEAH I'LL JUST PICK UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF. I'VE CERTAINLY HEARD OVER THE YEARS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM HER AND SECOND AT PENN AVENUE. IN FACT I'VE BEEN WOKEN UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FROM THAT AND I'VE TRIED TO TELL RESIDENTS YOU KNOW, LET'S HOLD OFF ON THIS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE JUST WEREN'T AT THAT POINT WE'RE READY TO DO IT. BUT I'VE GOT I HAVE A LIST OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY UPSET ABOUT THAT AND I'VE KIND OF HELD THEM BACK. BUT NOW THIS IS COMING FORWARD. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE THAT HER SECOND AND PENN AND I'VE ALSO HEARD, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ALL THE WAY DOWN INTO INTO YOUR DISTRICT, SEAN I'VE HEARD OF OTHER OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN AS YOU AS YOU KIND OF MOVE SOUTH. I DON'T HAVE ANY PURVIEW ON THE NORTHERN PART OTHER THAN I GREW UP IN THAT AREA AND UNDERSTAND EVEN FROM MY HOUSE WHICH WAS ALWAYS WHERE I COULD HEAR IT FROM THERE. BUT YOU KNOW IT'S SORT OF SOME OF THE FUN OF BEING IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF DIVERSITY THE QUESTION I REALLY WANT TO ASK THOUGH THAT KIND OF CONCERNS ME AND THEN I'VE GOT ONE LAST POINT AND I'LL BE DONE MAYOR IS WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A REDUCTION IN SAFETY AND I UNDERSTAND THE QUALITY OF LIFE COMPONENT OF IT, I JUST WIND UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW REALLY WHAT THAT MEANS. SO IF WE'RE IF WE YOU KNOW, MAKE THIS REDUCTION IN SAFETY, IS THAT FULLY AND COMPLETELY MITIGATED, YOU KNOW, GIVEN SOME OF THESE CORRIDORS GO THROUGH SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES AND PLACES WHERE A LOT OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE PLAY I WOULD HATE TO, YOU KNOW, FIX A NOISE PROBLEM AND THEN KILL SOMEBODY OR SAY I'M ASKING THEIR YEAH, YEAH COUNCIL MEMBER LOWMAN SO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ASSOCIATION DOES HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR WHEN YOU REMOVE A TRAIN HORN WHAT WHAT EXACTLY IS REQUIRED TO OFFSET THE REMOVING THE TRAIN HORNS SO IN TERMS OF IMPROVEMENTS IT'S BASICALLY TRYING TO MAKE MAKE SURE THAT CARS CAN'T DRIVE AROUND IT IN TERMS OF PEDESTRIANS ON SIDEWALKS THERE'S NO THERE'S NO DEFINED IMPROVEMENT THAT FOR FOR THOSE FOR SIDEWALKS THAT THAT WOULD BE DEFINED DURING THE ACTUAL FIELD DIAGNOSTIC MEETING AT EACH OF THE CROSSINGS BUT THERE ARE THERE ARE IMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE REQUIRED THAT WOULD OFFSET REMOVING THE TRAIN HORN AT THESE COST. SO THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE CAN HAVE A REDUCTION IN SAFETY BASICALLY WE'VE DONE WE'D HAVE TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION WOULD REQUIRE A CERTAIN THRESHOLD TO BE MET AND THAT'S THEY WOULD GO OVER THAT IN THE STUDY ONCE THAT'S COMPLETED. SO I THINK WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS LATER ON. THE LAST POINT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE IS IF I DO MY MATH RIGHT, IF WE WERE TO LOOK AT ALL 26 AND IT WAS ALL AT THE HIGH END WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TEN $10.4 MILLION WITH WHICH ADD ON THE STUDY. SO THAT'S KIND OF SOBERING AND OF COURSE ON THE BOTTOM AND IT COULD BE A LOT LESS THAN THAT. BUT BUT I JUST YOU KNOW, JUST AS WE WE KIND OF THINK ABOUT WHAT WE'VE GOT COMING UP HERE, I'M JUST VERY CONCERNED. YOU KNOW, WE JUST TALKED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITH THE ANIMAL SHELTER. WE GOT TWO POOLS. WE GOT THE FIRE STATIONS COMING ON ON BOARD AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS I JUST YOU KNOW, BIT BY BIT WE'RE WE'RE KIND OF, YOU KNOW, MAKING FOR A REALLY LARGE PRICE TAG AND I'M JUST CONCERNED AS WE KIND OF MOVE FORWARD NOW GRANTED I GET A QUALITY OF LIFE, YOU KNOW, PIECES AND CERTAINLY THE FOLKS THAT LIVED IN MY DISTRICT WANT TO SEE THESE CHANGES BUT I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT THAT. THE PRICE TAG SCARES ME A LITTLE BIT AND CERTAINLY IF WE WAIT IT COULD COST MORE. BUT I JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT IN MIND AS WE KIND OF OUR WAY FORWARD ON THIS. I OTHER THOUGHTS. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON YEAH. THANK YOU MAYOR QUICK QUESTION. I THINK YOU ALREADY PROBABLY ALLUDED TO IT BUT WE HAVE NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY OVER THIS SO EVEN WITH NOISE ORDINANCES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT AND I MEAN THE ANALOGY IN MY HEAD IS I CAN'T GO DRIVE DOWN OLD SHAKOPEE AND BLARE MY HORN AS I DRIVE THROUGH EVERY INTERSECTION AT SOME POINT I THINK ONE OF OUR ESTEEMED POLICE MEMBERS WILL MAYBE STOP ME AND ASK WHAT ARE YOU DOING MAN? SO BUT THEY CAN WE HAVE NO CHOICE. WE WE HAVE TO TREAT THOSE DIFFERENTLY. IS THAT ACCURATE? CORRECT. COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON THE CITY HAS NO AUTHORITY ON THE HOURS OF THE TRAINS OPERATE OR THEIR SCHEDULES. THE NUMBER OF TRAINS THAT ARE THAT ARE ON THE TRACKS WE HAVE THE THAT'S UP TO THE FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION. OKAY. THANK YOU. IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET A COPY OF THE DINAH AND ST LOUIS PARK STUDIES JUST SO WE CAN REVIEW WHAT THEY SAID AND WHAT THEY DID IS THAT PUBLIC? CAN I JUST GO TO THEIR WEBSITE AND GET IT? PROBABLY IF IT'S NOT AVAILABLE WE'RE AUGUST AND OVERCAST THOSE DAYS FOR THE COUNCIL. OKAY THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT. I APPRECIATE THE THE THAT THAT WE MAY NEED A CONSULTANT IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THIS WITH STAFF IF OBVIOUSLY IF WE PROBABLY DON'T DO IT IN THIS YEAR BUT IF WE LOOK AT THE OUT HERE IS IT POSSIBLE TO DO THIS WITH STAFF OR DO IT'S NOT HAVE THE SPECIFIC TECHNICAL EXPERTISE? YEAH. MR. MAYOR COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, THIS IS PROBABLY OUTSIDE THE PURVIEW OF TRAFFIC STAFF. WE DON'T DO THIS ENOUGH AND WOULDN'T BE YEAH DOING THIS CONSISTENTLY ENOUGH TO BE PROFICIENT AT IT AND A LOT OF THE WORK IS BRINGING FORWARD THE STATE AND THE RAILROAD AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY THE ONES THAT SET THE STANDARDS FOR WHAT HAPPENS. IT HAPPENS AT EACH CROSSING AND SO THEY'RE THE ONES THAT KIND OF MAKE THOSE DECISIONS AND THEN BRINGING THEM TOGETHER IS AS THE BULK OF THE WORK OF THE STUDY. OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN YOU'RE JUST TO CLARIFY YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO DO THIS IN 2027 AFTER THOSE OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND WAS PART OF THAT BASED ON THE FACT THAT FUNDING WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE LIKELY FOR A 3 TO 4 YEARS ANYWAYS IF WE DID THIS NEXT YEAR AND WE SUBMITTED TO GET FUNDING IT, IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN ANYWAYS. SO IS THAT DO I READ THAT CORRECTLY IN THE PACKET OR I MISUNDERSTAND AND I THINK I MIXED UP THE TERMS BETWEEN THE BUDGET AND THE FUNDING TO ACTUALLY BUILD THE CROSSINGS. I HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FUNDING TO DO THESE STUDIES AND FUNDING. I HAVE IT LIKE TO USE FOR 84TH STREET. I STILL THINK THAT'S THE PRIORITY. SO IF THE COUNCIL WANTS TO MAKE FUNDING AVAILABLE WE CAN DO THE STUDY AND THEN WE'D HAVE TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO PAY FOR THE ACTUAL PROJECTS TO GET BUILT THAT COME OUT OF THAT STUDY AND YEAH, THAT WOULD BE A MUCH LONGER CONVERSATION. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON OKAY. AND THEN YOU KNOW CAN YOU UPDATE ME I'M SORRY FOR SO MANY QUESTIONS. CAN YOU UPDATE SO YOU SAID THE WHAT I'M GOING TO CALL THE RUSSIAN ONE BECAUSE OF ALL THE CPE STUFF IS YOU KNOW IS THAT ONE THEY'RE NOT DOING OVERNIGHT ANYMORE? YEAH VERSUS AND IS PROGRESSIVE DOING OVERNIGHT MR. MAYOR COUNCILMEMBER NELSON I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SPIRITS THAT MOVE RAILROADS AND HOW THEY DO THEIR DELIVERY SCHEDULES AND ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW, YOU LIVE CLOSE TO THE TRACKS. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RUNNING AT TWO AND THREE AND FOUR IN THE MORNING LATELY. THEY'VE SWITCHED MORE TO EARLY MORNING OR THE MORNING HOURS OR DAYTIME DELIVERIES. AS FAR AS I UNDERSTAND IT THERE. AND WE DON'T I CAN'T MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS ABOUT HOW THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE IF THEY'RE GOING TO SWITCH BACK TO LATE NIGHT DELIVERIES. WE JUST THEY GIVE US NO INSIGHT INTO THAT. SO OKAY. I HAVE HEARD FROM PEOPLE ON THE PROGRESSIVE RAILROAD LINE. I LIVE ABOUT AS FAR AWAY FROM ONE OF THESE CROSSINGS AS AS MR. ROBERTS LIVES FROM A DIFFERENT CROSSING AND AND I SLEEP WELL. YOU KNOW, I SLEEP VERY SOUNDLY . I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE MY AT THE REST OF MY FAMILY AND IN PARTICULAR MY DOGS AND SO I YOU KNOW, I'VE HEARD FROM PEOPLE THAT LIVE CLOSE TO THESE YOU KNOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL AREAS ALONG BOTH OF THESE LINES. THERE'S SOME INDUSTRIAL AREAS ALONG THE PROGRESSIVE LINE IN PARTICULAR BUT A LITTLE BIT ALONG THE WHAT'S CALLED THE OTHER ONE. AND SO I YOU KNOW, I, I CANDIDLY I'M A LITTLE BIT AMBIVALENT ON THIS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE BUT IT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S A IT'S A NO. ONE THING IN IF WE DO THIS STUDY IF WE ACTUALLY WANT TO FIX IT, IT'S GOING TO COST US TO COUNCILMEMBER LOEHMANN'S POINT. YOU KNOW, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WHICH IS UNLIKELY TO BE PROVIDED BY ANYONE OTHER THAN US. AND SO I MEAN I THINK THE BIG QUESTION IN MY MIND IS IT A IS IT AN ISSUE OF ENOUGH IMPORTS TO YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE MAKE THAT $60,000 DECISION, ARE WE WILLING TO MAKE THE $510 MILLION DECISION? AND THAT'S THE PART THAT I STRUGGLE WITH THAT YOU KNOW, HONESTLY UNLESS THERE IS A BETTER FUNDING PATH FOR ALL OF THOSE ITEMS, I STRUGGLE TO SAY THAT THAT IT MAKES SENSE. YOU KNOW THE RAILROAD LINE HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND IT'S A NO. ONE THING AND YOU KNOW IT IT COULD BE BETTER CERTAINLY BUT IT'S NOT UNKNOWN TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY THEY MOVE INTO THE AREA, THEY BUY IT. I MEAN THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME PEOPLE THAT HAVE LIVED THERE POTENTIALLY LONG ENOUGH THAT USAGE PATTERNS HAVE CHANGED OBVIOUSLY. SO THAT'S THAT'S THE CONCERN I HAVE IS YOU KNOW, ARE WE REALLY WILLING TO GO ALL THE WAY IF WE AREN'T WHY DO THE STUDY? THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCIL MEMBER IS A QUICK YOU KNOW BECAUSE QUICK CLARIFYING GO AHEAD THANKS TO YOU DO WE KNOW ANY PATTERNS OF RAILROAD TRAFFIC HISTORICALLY THAT WE COULD LOOK AT TO UNDERSTAND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON'S POINT LIKE YOU KNOW, OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS OR SO HAS IT EBBED AND FLOWED IN TERMS OF NIGHTTIME TRAFFIC AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT? >> COULD WE GET THAT INFORMATION? AND I THINK TO MR. ROBERTS POINT EARLIER ON IN MY HISTORY WITH RAILROADS THEY DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. YEAH. YEAH. AND MR. MAYOR, COUNCILMEMBER ALESSANDRA, ONE OF THE ISSUES YOU RAISED IS REALLY VALID THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, YOU MADE THIS POINT TOO. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA AROUND THIS AND HOW WE MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THIS. IT'S AN AREA WHERE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ANY REGULATORY AUTHORITY YET WE ALL RECEIVE THE COMPLAINTS. AND SO ONE IDEA REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE DECISION HERE IS IS THAT WE'LL SET UP AND WE'VE GOT THE LET'S TALK BLOOMINGTON PLATFORM IS IS WILL SET UP REACHED OUT TO COMMUNICATIONS STAFF IS IS SOME SORT OF A REPORTING FORM AT LEAST SO WE CAN START COLLECTING THOSE DATA WHETHER IT'S JUST HEY THAT DARN TRAIN WOKE ME UP AT FOUR IN THE MORNING ALTHOUGH MY DOGS WERE THE REAL CULPRIT, YOU KNOW, JUST TO SORT OF START TRACKING SOME OF THESE COMPLAINTS, WE'RE LOOKING INTO WHAT INFORMATION THAT WE CAN EITHER COLLECT OR GET FROM THE RAILROAD TO BECAUSE IT'S IT'S TOUGH. I UNDERSTAND I'M VERY DATA DRIVEN. I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA. THE COUNCIL DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF DATA AND WE'RE COMING FORWARD ASKING YOU TO MAKE THIS DECISION. SO I DO UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION. COUNCILMEMBER RIVAS, YOU SAID A QUICK COMMENT. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. I'M I HAVE LEARNED SOME OF THE TIMES THAT THE TRAINS RUN WHILE I'M WITH THE BEST BLOOMINGTON'S BEST AND THEY TELL ME OH THESE THINK I'VE SEEN A 9 P.M. AT THIS CROSSING. IT'S KIND OF FUNNY. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS IN MY AREA AND SOMETIMES I HEAR THE TRAIN WHEN I WANT WHEN I TAKE MY DOGS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND I TAKE HIM TO THE BACKYARD AND YOU KNOW, I HEAR THE TRAIN BUT OTHERWISE I DON'T HEAR IT AT ALL. BUT YOU KNOW WHEN I HAVE BEEN RIDING WITH WITH PD, THE PD THEY KIND OF KNOW THE TIMES BETTER THAN ANY OF US I WOULD SAY BECAUSE THEY TELL ME OH YEAH, THIS IS NOT A GOOD IDEA TO BE IN THIS AT THIS INTERSECTION AT THIS TIME BECAUSE THE TRAIN HAD TO BE CROSSING THERE AND WE WERE WAITING FOR, YOU KNOW, ABOUT TEN MINUTES FOR IT TO MOVE. I WOULD IN MY OPINION I THINK IF THEY KEEP CHANGING THIS SCHEDULE IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME TO MAKE THE EXPENSE. YOU KNOW LIKE YOU MENTIONED SILVERBRIDGE THAT THAT YOU HAVEN'T HEARD ANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS IN THE C B C P C LINE AND THAT'S THE ONE THAT PROMPTED ALL THESE THING. I REMEMBER THE LADY COMING OVER TO OUR LISTENING STATION . I GOT INVOLVED BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WE COULD GET A GRANT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT IT WASN'T FOR THE MITIGATION OF NOISE USE OR SAFETY ISSUES. SO IN MY HUMBLE OPINION IF WE DON'T NEED TO DO IT, WHY EVEN BOTHER WITH IT? BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCE IS GREAT AND IF THEY KEEP CHANGING THIS CAGE AND THEN THEY'LL MOVE IT TO THE LATE AFTERNOON, EARLY EVENING AND WE DON'T NEED TO MITIGATE THE NOISE ANY MORE. WHY MAKE THE EXPENSE? SO THAT'S JUST A COMMON THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER THANKS FOR THE FEEDBACK. I GUESS MY MY THOUGHT TO YOUR POINT COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO ABOUT PASSING THIS OUT AND MAYBE DOING THIS PIECEMEAL OR BIT BY BIT I WOULD BE VERY HESITANT TO DO THAT IF WE'RE DOING A STUDY AND ULTIMATELY WORK I WOULD HATE TO PICK THE WINNERS AND THE LOSERS ONE SIDE OVER ANOTHER IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AND I WOULD ASSUME WE'VE YET THERE'S ECONOMIES OF SCALE I WOULD THINK TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE AS OPPOSED TO BREAK IT OUT BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT FOR CERTAIN. SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD THINK AND WHAT I WOULD THINK. WELL, I THINK MOST OF ALL FOR THE 10 OR $15 MILLION PRICE TAG THAT THIS WOULD TAKE THAT WE WE WE FIND 10 OR $15 MILLION AND WE BUY THE PROGRESSIVE RAILROAD AND TURN IT INTO A TRAIL FROM ONE END OF THE CITY TO THE NEXT. THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO WITH $15 MILLION AS OPPOSED TO TRYING TO QUIET DOWN A PROBLEM THAT AS COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS SAID HAS BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME AND AND IS INCONSISTENT AND IS NOT NOT IN ANY WAY SOMETHING WE CAN CONTROL. THOSE ARE MY THOUGHTS SO COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON, YOU WANT TO END ON THIS OR YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR. I JUST TO ECHO ALMOST EXACTLY WHAT YOU HAD JUST SAID, IF I JUST GIVEN THAT THE CITY HAS VIRTUALLY NO AUTHORITY OVER THE SPACE, I AM A LITTLE HESITANT TO WANT TO GO AHEAD AND SPEND A TON OF MONEY IF WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL THE OUTCOME ANYWAYS, I'M I'LL BE REAL HONEST WITH YOU I'M STILL REALLY ON THE FENCE AND I'M LEARNING A LOT BUT I REALLY LOVED WHAT THE MAYOR JUST SAID ABOUT SOMETHING RIGHT? IF WE'RE GOING INVEST 10 OR $15 MILLION I WONDER IF THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO SPEND IT AND TO SAY NOTHING OF YOUR WORK WHICH I'M SURE IS FANTASTIC. BUT YEAH, THAT'S WHERE I'M THAT'S WHERE I'M AT WITH IT RIGHT NOW. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. SO AT THE RISK OF KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD I'VE HEARD A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE AMBIVALENT OR QUITE NOT QUITE SURE I'VE HEARD THE REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION MAYBE WE COULD ASK FOR TO SEE THE STUDIES DONE BY ST LOUIS PARK ANY DINER AND MAYBE USE THAT AS A BIT OF A DATA POINT AND MAYBE BRING THIS BACK ONE OTHER TIME ONCE WE HAVE THAT AGAIN I HATE TO TO KEEP SAYING WELL LET'S THINK ABOUT IT SOME MORE BUT I THINK JUST A BIT MORE DATA MIGHT HELP PEOPLE AND CLARIFY THE THOUGHTS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IT MIGHT TAKE OR WHAT MIGHT BE THE THE CORRECT PATH FORWARD. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? COUNCIL COUNCILMEMBER CARTER THANK YOU, MAYOR. I'M WONDERING IF WE COULD DO THE LET'S TALK BLOOMINGTON PAGE AND YOU CAN JUST ASK SOME QUESTIONS OF THE COMMUNITY ABOUT HOW YOU KNOW WHETHER THEY THINK THIS IS A PRIORITY OR NOT. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIVE CLOSE TO RAILROADS WHO DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A PRIORITY. BUT EVEN IF WE ASK THEM IN LET'S TALK BLOOMINGTON KIND OF WHERE THEY ARE IN LOCATION TO THE RAILWAY, YOU KNOW, I WOULD JUST LOVE TO HAVE SOME COMMUNITY INPUT ON IT, YOU KNOW? ALL RIGHT. EXCELLENT. I THINK WE'VE GOT A PLAN. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANKS MUCH. BUT AND A 5.3 ON OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING IS AN UPDATE ON OPERATION METRO SURGE AND WE'RE GONNA HEAR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT FOLKS WE'LL HEAR FROM CHIEF HODGES HERE IS GOING TO KICK US OFF AND WE'RE GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR CITY MANAGER TO HEAR A FEW MORE DETAILS. CHIEF HODGES GOOD EVENING. GOOD EVENING. MAYOR CITY COUNCIL I'LL KEEP MY REMARKS BRIEF AND THEN TAKE SOME QUESTIONS. FIRST AND FOREMOST BEFORE I PUT ON THIS UNIFORM I WAS A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST A LONG TIME AGO AND ONE THING I'VE LEARNED IS THAT WHEN PEOPLE ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY SOMETHING THEY DEAL WITH THEM NOT OTHERS WHO MAY BE WELL-INTENTIONED BUT I'VE SPENT I'VE PROBABLY TALKED TO OVER 300 PEOPLE THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS OPERATION HERE. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO I KNOW WHO ARE MARRIED TO SOMEONE WHO YOU KNOW, DID EVERYTHING THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO AND NOW MAGICALLY WITH A SNAP OF A FINGER THEY'RE NO LONGER A LEGAL HERE AND THEY'RE DRIVING WITH THEIR SPOUSE UNDER BLANKETS IN THEIR VEHICLE SO NO ONE SEES THEM WHEN THEY'RE DRIVING. I KNOW PEOPLE HERE WHO ARE HIDING IN THEIR HOUSES AND IT'S SAD RIGHT AT THE END OF THE DAY IT'S SAD BUT I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T CONVEY WHAT HAS BEEN UNIVERSALLY SAID TO ME AND MEMBERS OF OUR DEPARTMENT. I CAN LEAVE TODAY IF THE LAW DOESN'T CHANGE, THESE PEOPLE ARE STILL GOING TO BE HIDING IN THEIR HOUSE. THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BE DRIVING WITH THEIR SPOUSE COVERED UP IN A BLANKET IN THE FRONT SEAT TRYING TO DRIVE THEM TO WORK. SO I'M AN EMPLOYER EVERYBODY AND AGAIN I DON'T DO POLITICS IN MY ROLE BUT THERE IS A LAW ENFORCEMENT ARGUMENT FOR ADVOCATING FOR A LAW CHANGED BECAUSE OF THIS LAW SO CONVOLUTED AND PEOPLE IT'S REALLY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO ENFORCE AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH OPERATION SEARCH. NOW I'M GOING TO SAY THIS AND I'M NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN BUT WE'VE MADE PLENTY OF VIDEOS AND IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT THAT'S COMPLETELY ON THEM. BUT MY ANSWER DOES NOT CHANGE . I'M IN CHARGE OF THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE DO NOT COOPERATE WITH ICE. WE DO NOT ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS. I DON'T CARE WHAT VIDEO IS OUT THERE THAT SOMEONE MAKES UP. I DON'T CARE WHAT WEBSITE SOMEONE HAS OUT THERE, SOMEONE'S CREATED A FAKE BLOOMINGTON POLICE WEBSITE. WE DON'T DO IT. SO IF YOU SEE US OUT THERE WITH THE PRESENCE OF HCI WE ARE NOT ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW. I DON'T CARE WHAT VIDEO SAYS OR WHO CALLS IT'S NOT HAPPENING. SO I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE ON 88TH AND IRVING. THIS WAS INVOLVING THE AIRPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY WERE WORKING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WHO DOES OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN IMMIGRATION. THIS WAS NOT AN IMMIGRATION LAW ENFORCEMENT ACTION. IT WASN'T IF WE GO OUT THERE YOU SEE THIS PATCH IN THIS BADGE I DON'T CARE WHO TELLS YOU ANYTHING WE DO NOT ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW AND I'M SORRY THAT I'M FRUSTRATED ABOUT THIS. BUT THE BEST THING THAT PEOPLE CAN DO IS TELL PEOPLE THE TRUTH BECAUSE WHAT WE'RE SEEING NOW IS AND AGAIN I'VE TALKED TO SO MANY OF THESE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE NOT WANTING TO CALL THE POLICE BECAUSE THEY'RE HEARING FROM OTHERS THAT WE'RE COOPERATING WITH ICE. SO TOMORROW WE'LL DO A PRESS CONFERENCE ON A PROSTITUTION STING. SEX WORKERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKING OPERATION THAT WE DID BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IS PEOPLE ARE NOW REALLY GOING MORE UNDERGROUND WITH THESE TYPES OF ACTIVITIES BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO CALL THE POLICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS REALLY OCCURRING IN COMMUNITIES AND PEOPLE AREN'T CALLING THE POLICE. RIGHT. SO AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VIDEOS WE CAN MAKE. WE DON'T COOPERATE WITH ICE PERIOD. WE'RE NOT AUTHORIZED TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I CAN SAY IT. PEOPLE BELIEVE WHAT THEY WANT TO BELIEVE BUT WE DON'T WE DON'T DO IT. AND THEN LASTLY I WILL SAY THIS BECAUSE THIS IS THE OTHER QUESTION THAT WE GET ASKED A LOT WHAT IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN THIS? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OBVIOUSLY IS IN CHARGE OF ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW AND AGAIN I'M SAYING LAW LAW THAT WAS PASSED A LAW THAT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW INTO LEGISLATIVE BY THE PRESIDENT UNITED STATES AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE HERE TO DO THE WAY THEY'RE GOING ABOUT DOING IT IS COMPLETELY RIDICULOUS IN MY OPINION AND WHY IS IT RIDICULOUS? BECAUSE A LOT OF THE TACTICS THAT THEY'RE USING WE STOP USING 20 SOMETHING YEARS AGO. RIGHT. AND AGAIN, I'M NOT TRYING TO OFFEND ANYBODY BUT WHEN YOU SEND PEOPLE UP HERE WHO HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO A JOB AND THEN YOU SEND THEM UP HERE AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN TRAINED AND THIS IS WHAT YOU GET RIGHT AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH NOW NOT PEOPLE HAVE SEEN AND IT'S BEEN PUBLICLY STATED THERE HAS BEEN A DRAWBACK BUT I'M GOING TO REITERATE A DRAWBACK IS FINE AND WE WANT PEOPLE WE WANT TO GET BACK TO SOME DEGREE OF NORMALCY BUT THEY LEAVE TODAY. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING BACK TO NORMALCY FOR A LOT OF THESE FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL HIDING IN THEIR HOUSE. LADIES FAMILIES THAT ARE STILL DRIVING WITH THEIR SPOUSE IN THEIR VEHICLE. WE'RE NOT GETTING BACK TO NORMALCY AND I'LL JUST CLOSE ON THIS AND YOU CAN ASK ME QUESTIONS ON BEHALF OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. I WANT PEOPLE JUST TO HAVE THE FACTS AND THE TRUTH WE DO NOT ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW. THIS IS TAXING OUR POLICE OFFICERS AS THE HEAD OF THIS ORGANIZATION. I'M CONVEYING THAT TO EVERYBODY HERE. RIGHT FOR LAST YEAR AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT IT IN MARCH. CRIME WAS DOWN 10% IN BLOOMINGTON. THAT'S PROBABLY THE LOWEST IT'S BEEN IN DECADES. THESE COPS ARE GOING OUT HERE AND DOING THEIR JOB THAT WE'VE ASKED THEM TO DO. RIGHT. AND THIS IS JUST THIS IS WORSE THAN GEORGE FLOYD FOR OUR PROFESSION. I'M JUST TELLING YOU THAT RIGHT NOW. AND YEAH, SO WITH THAT I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE THAT I MAY BE ABLE TO ANSWER. WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, CHIEF. THANKS FOR COMING TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR OBVIOUS PASSION. I'M SORRY FOR YOUR FRUSTRATION. I REALLY AM. AND I'M SORRY THAT YOUR OFFICERS AND THE MEMBERS OF YOUR DEPARTMENT ARE ARE FEELING THE PRESSURE THAT I KNOW THAT THE CITY CALLS ON THEM EVERY DAY AND AT THE SAME TIME QUESTIONS THEM MORE OFTEN THAN THEY SHOULD. AND SO I SHARE WITH YOUR OFFICERS OUR SUPPORT FOR THEM, MY SUPPORT FOR THEM THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK AND THE OUTSTANDING WORK OF CRIME IS DOWN 10%. THAT'S THAT'S OUTSTANDING WORK. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COUNCIL COMMENTS QUESTIONS COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO ASK THE QUESTION YOU ALREADY ANSWERED BUT LET ME LET ME GO AT IT THIS WAY IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PRACTICE OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS TO TO WORK BASED ON THE THINGS THAT THEY'RE TRAINED TO HANDLE. IS THAT A SUIT ASSUMPTION AND THEN ARE OFFICERS TRAINED TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW AT THE US LEVEL? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I MEAN JUST SORT OF PUBLIC IS CLEAR WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE SYSTEMS RIGHT? SO SAY FOR EXAMPLE AND THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED I WANT TO BE CRYSTAL CLEAR THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT SOMEONE TO TAKE THIS AND SPIN IT LIKE IT HAPPENED IF OUR OFFICERS THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WERE INVOLVED WITH SOMEONE IN THEIR SCREAMING AND SAYING THEY'RE BEING KIDNAPED, WE DON'T HAVE A WAY TO VERIFY IF THAT PERSON IS A U.S. CITIZEN OR NOT. WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATABASE. WE DON'T AND THAT'S SOMETHING I THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND. THIS IS LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS AGAIN NOT ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW. WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE IF SOMEONE IS A U.S. CITIZEN OR NOT. AND FINALLY, MY UNDERSTANDING THIS MAY NOT BE A QUESTION THAT'S LIVE FOR YOU, CHIEF, BUT MAYBE THIS IS FOR A CITY MANAGER AND THEIR MINORS STANDING IS THAT WE'RE NOT GETTING FUNDED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW AT ALL. NO, WE'RE NOT. AND IT'S BEEN PUBLIC IN THE PAPER WHERE THEY'VE OFFERED LIKE $2,500 A NIGHT FOR A BID . RIGHT. FOR JAILS WHICH IF WE TOOK WOULD BE $8 MILLION A YEAR. BUT WE'RE NOT DOING IT. BUT THAT'S THE PRICE THAT THEY PUT IN THE PAPER AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT. BUT NO, WE DO NOT RECEIVE MONEY TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAW. WELL, THAT DISTINCTION THAT YOU RAISED EARLIER IS, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT FOR FOLKS TO UNDERSTAND. YOU KNOW, THAT THERE MAY BE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE BEING DONE THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO IMMIGRATION LAW. SO I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY SOME RESIDENTS MAY LOOK AT THAT AND MISUNDERSTAND THAT. SO THAT'S ALL I'LL SAY HERE. COUNCILMEMBER RIVAS, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE GOING TO THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO BUT I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE ONE THING THAT I WANT TO CLARIFY TO YOU YOU KNOW THESE BUT I WANT TO MAKE SURE ALSO THAT THE PUBLIC HEARS THIS IS THAT THE MOMENT THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRESTS SOMEBODY AND THEIR NAME GOES ON TO THEIR COMPUTER, THE FEDS AT THAT EXACT TIME ARE FINDING OUT ALSO ABOUT IT. AND IF THAT PERSON DOESN'T HAVE DOCUMENTATION, LEGAL DOCUMENTATION AND THEY CAN SHOW UP TRYING TO PICK IT UP RIGHT HERE IF HE'S IN OUR JAIL I ALLOW PEOPLE I HAVE QUITE A FEW EMAILS RIGHT NOW ASKING AND ACCUSING YOUR DEPARTMENT. I WOULDN'T SAY THAT FREELY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING THAT YOU ARE COOPERATING BECAUSE OF THAT. BUT NO, THEY CAN ACTUALLY SHOW UP TEN 15 MINUTES AFTER SOMEBODY GETS ARRESTED TO OUR JAIL TO TRY TO PICK SOMEBODY UP THAT IS NOT THAT IS UNDOCUMENTED. AND I WANT THE PUBLIC TO HEAR THIS BECAUSE IT'S A FALSE ACCUSATION TO CLAIM THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS COOPERATING WITH THEM. THEY CAN FIND OUT IMMEDIATELY IT POPS UP IN THEIR COMPUTERS. THEY HAVE FACE RECOGNITION IN THEIR VEHICLES. THEY CAN PAY OUR PHONES. THEY HAVE A LOT OF STUFF IN THEIR VEHICLES THAT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE. SO YOU KNOW, IT IS RIDICULOUS FOR PEOPLE TO BE ACCUSING OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT OF DOING THINGS THAT REALLY THEY'RE NOT. AND I GET A LOT OF HEAT FOR SAYING WHAT I'M SAYING. IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER. IT'S A TRUTH. AND I KNOW THE THING IS WHEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS PARTICIPATED IN TRYING TO CONTROL CROWDS THAT IS NOT HELPING THE THE ICE AGENTS IS HELPING US TO MAINTAIN OUR SAFETY AND AND TO KEEP THE PEACE. AGAIN, THESE FIVE EMAILS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE ACCUSING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR PARTICIPATING IN CROWD CONTROL OF BEING FRIENDLY AND PARTICIPATING AND ASSISTING THE ICE AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR I'LL ADDRESS TWO OF THOSE THINGS. ONE LOCALLY WE DO NOT MAINTAIN FINGERPRINTS DATABASE THAT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO YOU KNOW YOU GO GET DRIVER'S ARE YOU GET A PASSPORT OR YOU GET ARRESTED. THOSE FINGERPRINTS GO TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THEN THEY'RE NOTIFIED BECAUSE AGAIN WE DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT DATABASE. ASIO OFFICERS DO GO OUT THERE TO TO KEEP THE PEACE. RIGHT. AND A LOT OF THIS TOO IS YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO PROTECT OUR CITIZENS AND BLOOMINGTON, YOU KNOW, WE SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. I DON'T WANT OUR PEOPLE GOING OUT HERE CITIZENS GETTING FEDERAL CHARGES AND FACIAL RECT JUST FOR SHOWING UP SOMEPLACE AND CAUSING A DISTURBANCE. SO IF WE CAN BE THERE IN THE MIDDLE TO PREVENT THAT OR TAKE SOME OF THAT HEAT NOW A LOT OF OUR OFFICERS OF COLOR HAVE BEEN RACIALLY BERATED IN THIS ON THIS STUFF, RIGHT. LIKE OUT HERE AND BEING WITH THESE PEOPLE SUPPOSEDLY CARING ABOUT IMMIGRANTS. RIGHT. BUT THEY BERATE OUR OFFICERS OF COLOR BUT IT'S LIKE THEY WE'RE WILLING TO TAKE THAT IF THAT PREVENTS SOMEBODY IN THE CROWD. ONE OF OUR STUDENTS IS FOR GETTING FACIAL WRECKED AND THE WHOLE NINE YARDS WITH THAT THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU. ME COUNCILMEMBER CARTER I THINK MAYOR SO FIRST I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT POLICE DEPARTMENT. I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS ARE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'T LET EVEN ON COUNCIL WE DON'T HAVE INSIGHT TO. SO OUR RESIDENTS YOU KNOW, THEY ALSO THEY DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE INSIGHT TO THOSE THINGS AND YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THERE'S A LOT MORE GOING ON AND OFFICERS ARE OUT ON THE ROAD THEN AND WE SEE SO I DO WANT TO JUST SAY BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU BROUGHT UP THE 88TH AND IRVING INCIDENT IN MY EXPERIENCE, YOU KNOW, ALMOST ACTUALLY ALL OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME SENDING VIDEOS, ASKING QUESTIONS, THEY REALLY HAVE BEEN ASKING QUESTIONS AND ACTUALLY SOME OF THE SEVERAL OF THE EMAILS THAT I HAVE GOTTEN PEOPLE HAVE SAID EXPLICITLY I APPRECIATE THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. I LOVE THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SO I FEEL LIKE WHAT I'M HEARING FROM RESIDENTS BUT THEN THE EXPERIENCE OBVIOUSLY THAT YOU GUYS ARE HAVING IS JUST SO DIFFERENT RIGHT? AND SO I GUESS I WANT YOU TO KNOW TOO THAT THERE ARE RESIDENTS OUT THERE AND WHENEVER I'M CALLING YOU OR TEXTING YOU OR EMAILING YOU AND ASKING QUESTIONS IT'S NOT BECAUSE I THINK VPD DID SOMETHING WRONG. IT'S BECAUSE I JUST NEED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE, RIGHT? SO IN THE 88TH AND IRVING INCIDENT YOU KNOW I GOT SENT VIDEOS THAT SHOWED BPD AND HSA RIGHT AND ONCE I WAS ABLE TO SAY OH THIS IS THAT'S IT MIGHT BE WITHIN HOMELAND SECURITY BUT IT'S NOT ICE, IT'S A DIFFERENT THING. AND I WAS ABLE TO GIVE PEOPLE THAT INFORMATION. THEY WERE LIKE OKAY THANKS. YOU KNOW AND SO I THINK I FEEL LIKE I FEEL LIKE I JUST SAID A LOT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WE HAVE TO JUST BE COMMUNICATING AND I KNOW IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU'RE LIKE I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WAYS I CAN SAY IT. I JUST THINK THAT THERE'S JUST YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE AT HEIGHTENED LEVELS OF STRESS. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE RELIVING TRAUMA THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE ENGAGING AT DIFFERENT TIMES SO THEY HEAR THINGS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SAT UP HERE AND WE'RE LIKE OH MY GOSH ,LIKE HOW CAN WE GET THIS COMMUNICATION OUT EVEN BETTER? RIGHT? WE DO WHEN WE DO BRIEFINGS WE DO LET'S TALK BLOOMINGTON. WE DO ALL WE MAIL, WE DO ALL THESE THINGS AND YET PEOPLE WILL BE LIKE I NEVER HEARD OF THAT. AND SO I KNOW IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR YOU GUYS. IT'S FRUSTRATING FOR US TOO. BUT I GUESS MY MY ONLY ASK IS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CONTINUE TO HAVE REALLY GOOD COMMUNICATION AND PLEASE KNOW THAT AT LEAST FOR ME MYSELF WHEN I AM ASKING QUESTIONS OR GIVING YOU CALL IT'S REALLY JUST TO GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS SO THAT I CAN COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMITTEE SO THAT THEY DO HAVE THE FACTS. AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR EXPERIENCES LIKE ON THE GROUND AT PROTESTS AND BUT BUT YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE APPRECIATIVE OF US BEING THERE AND I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR SOMETIMES WE CAN'T LIKE THE 38TH AND ERVIN THAT'S NOT OUR CASE. WE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. WE WENT OUT THERE BECAUSE A CROWD HAD GATHERED OBVIOUSLY THERE WAS A HELICOPTER FLYING AROUND FOR HOURS THAT DAY BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GET INTO THEIR CASE. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IMMIGRATION BUT IT WAS A SIGNIFICANT FEDERAL AND AIRPORT CASE. YES. AND WE CAME OUT THERE WHEN A CROWD CAME. YEAH. YOU HAVE TO LET LAW ENFORCEMENT WORK. RIGHT. AND AND WHEN WE TELL PEOPLE THAT MOST OF THEM UNDERSTAND I JUST THINK THAT RIGHT NOW IN THE SITUATION WE HAVE HERE IN THE TWIN CITIES I MEAN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ASSUME IMMEDIATELY LIKE AND IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT WE SAY DOESN'T MATTER, YOU KNOW AND ONCE WE CAN VERIFY AND JUST SAY HEY NO, THAT'S THEY'RE HERE FOR THIS REASON AT LEAST IN MY EXPERIENCE PEOPLE HAVE SAID OH OKAY, WELL THANK YOU. AND I THINK THEY UNDERSTAND BLOOMINGTON POLICE HAS TO SHOW UP FOR CROWD CONTROL. THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP DURING PROTESTS. THEY HAVE TO SHOW UP IF PROTESTERS GO TO HOTELS. I THINK THE MAJORITY OF BLOOMINGTON RESIDENTS ARE ARE VERY REASONABLE AND UNDERSTAND THAT AND I THINK APPRECIATE THE BLOOMINGTON PLEASE SO THANK YOU AGAIN AND I GUESS THAT'S WHAT I ALSO WANT TO SAY I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU THAT IMMIGRATION LAWS HAVE TO CHANGE AND IF THIS CITY COUNCIL COULD ADDRESS THOSE THAT WOULD BE FANTASTIC BECAUSE MAYBE WE COULD ACTUALLY GET SOMETHING DONE. BUT BUT NOW THAT'S NOT THE CASE. SO THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON THANK YOU, MAYOR TO ALMOST AGAIN COMPLETELY ECHO WHAT COUNCILMEMBERS CARTER HAD SAID. FIRST OF ALL TRULY THANK YOU. I CAN'T BEGIN TO PRETEND TO KNOW WHAT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT GO THROUGH. THIS MUST BE SO TERRIFYING TO TRY AND HAVE TO GET A KNOT IN THE MIDDLE RIGHT? BUT TRY AND KEEP OUR RESIDENTS SAFE WHILE DEALING WITH SO MANY UNKNOWNS HAS TO BE ABSOLUTELY UNREAL. SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR WHAT THEY DO AND ALSO I'VE ALSO GOTTEN EMAILS CERTAINLY SOME FOLKS ARE USING DIFFERENT LANGUAGE THAN OTHERS BUT I'VE DEFINITELY GOT SOME ON LIKE I'M LOOKING AT ONE RIGHT NOW SOMEONE YOU KNOW THEY THEY WANT TO THEY THEY SAID I KNOW BLOOMINGTON PD WANTS TO MAINTAIN GOOD COMMUNITY RELATIONS. I KNOW THAT THEY WANT TO HELP. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT VPD IN THEIR WORK COMBATING CRIME IN OUR CITY. RIGHT. AND SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU GUYS ARE HEARING THAT AS WELL THAT WE ARE HAVING FOLKS REACH OUT AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. >> BUT IT IS SCARY AND AS WE KNOW SOCIAL MEDIA GOES LIKE WILDFIRE. PEOPLE HEAR ONE TIDBIT OF ONE THING. THEY SEE ONE CLIP OF ONE VIDEO THAT FOR ALL WE KNOW IS ALIEN ISN'T EVEN REAL AND THEN IT BECOMES EVEN MORE UNSAFE. RIGHT? WE'RE ALREADY DEALING WITH SO MANY BAD VARIABLES. SO YEAH, I JUST I THINK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING A GREAT JOB. I DO THINK AND I KNOW THAT CHIEF HIJAZI ALREADY DOING VIDEOS ALL THE TIME AS MUCH COMMUNICATION AS WE POSSIBLY CAN GET. YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS PERSON REACHING OUT SAYING I UNDERSTAND THAT THE HELICOPTER WAS FOR A DIFFERENT REASON BUT WE WERE ALL SCARED AND WE WERE AT MY KID'S BUS STOP AND CERTAINLY I DON'T EXPECT TO BE GIVEN INFORMATION THAT COULD CAUSE, YOU KNOW, SECURITY CONCERNS FOR ANYONE. BUT THE MORE WE CAN COMMUNICATE TO FOLKS AND SAY HEY, YOU EMAILED ME ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE CHIEF TOLD ME SPECIFICALLY IT'S BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING A DIFFERENT ENFORCEMENT, YOU KNOW, NOT IMMIGRATION. SO YEAH, I THINK I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU ALL ARE GOING THROUGH. THIS HAS TO BE BEYOND COMPLICATED AND AND JUST TO ECHO AGAIN WHAT CARTER SAID, I WHOLEHEARTEDLY SUPPORT A COMPLETE REVAMP OF IMMIGRATION LAW BECAUSE IT MAKES EVERYONE'S JOBS MORE DIFFICULT ,MAKES EVERYONE UNSAFE. SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING. WE APPRECIATE IT. OUR RESIDENTS APPRECIATE IT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ALL OF US STAYING SAFE OUT THERE. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER PREMIER NELSON. THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU, CHIEF. APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING AND EVERYTHING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DOING. I APPRECIATE HEARING YOUR CANDOR AND AND THE IMPACT IT'S HAVING ON EVERYONE. SO LET THEM KNOW AT LEAST FOR ME AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM THE COUNCIL WERE WE SUPPORT YOU GUYS AND SO I'M GOING TO BE PRAGMATIC AND ASK YOU QUESTIONS. SO WE HAVE THIS SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT SURGE WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. IT'S CAUSING AN OBVIOUS PROBLEMS. YOU ADDRESS THAT WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE AS WE MOVE FORWARD ON THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS A COUNCIL, AS A CITY? YOU KNOW, WE'VE TAKEN A STRATEGY OF WORKING AND TALKING AND TRYING TO KEEP IT AS BEST WE CAN OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY. YOU KNOW, IS THAT STRATEGY STILL THE ONE YOU'D RECOMMEND? WOULD YOU RECOMMEND CHANGES TO BE MORE OR LESS AGGRESSIVE OR ANY SPECIFIC ITEMS ON THERE? WELL, I WANT TO KNOCK ON WOOD BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE IN BLOOMINGTON HAVE BEEN SUBJUGATED TO SOME OF THE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT OTHERS HAVE BEEN SUBJUGATED TO. SO LET ME JUST BE CLEAR ON THAT. I MEAN I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOU ALL TO DETERMINE WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. THE ONLY THING I WOULD ASK AND AGAIN I'M SOUND LIKE A BROKEN RECORD. I TELL PEOPLE WE DO NOT IT'S AGAINST OUR POLICY. WE LEGALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO ENFORCE FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW. WE DO NOT ASSIST ICE WITH ARRESTING PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS COUNTRY ILLEGALLY ILLEGALLY WE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE DATABASES. SO THE MORE AND MORE WE CAN GET THAT OUT THERE AND IT'S NOT JUST BLOOMINGTON, IT'S LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN GENERAL BECAUSE I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WE TALK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED IF WE GOT PEOPLE THAT ARE GETTING SEX TRAFFICKED HERE AND THEY CAN'T CALL THE POLICE. SO WE GOT PEOPLE HAVING DOMESTICS AND THEY'RE GETTING ASSAULTED AND THEY CAN'T CALL THE POLICE. RIGHT. THAT'S NOT I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ME AND MY FAMILY BEING ABLE TO CALL THE POLICE. RIGHT. AND I'M SURE MORE MAJORITY OF YOU UP HERE AREN'T WORRIED ABOUT YOUR FAMILIES BEING ABLE TO CALL THE POLICE. WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE THAT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT IN CHARGE OF ENFORCING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAW. WE DON'T SHARE A DATABASE WITH THEM. WE DON'T SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW, WE'VE DEALT WITH THESE PEOPLE HERE YOU GO. WE DON'T DO ANY OF THAT. SO THE MORE AND MORE WE CAN GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE ABOUT THE TRUE FACTS, THE BETTER I THINK WE'LL BE. AND JUST SO YOU ALL KNOW, THAT'S MY FRUSTRATION, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE MY FRUSTRATION IS I GET THERE'S A POLITICAL PIECE OF THIS. PEOPLE WANT TO DO WHATEVER BUT IT'S JUST WE NEED TO GET THE FACTS OUT THERE THAT WE DON'T . SO IF YOU SEE A BLOOMINGTON POLICE OFFICER OUT THERE WITH ICE AGENTS OR WHATEVER, WE'RE NOT ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAW. WE DON'T DO THAT. I'M GOING TO GO TO COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO AND WE CAN DOUBLE BACK FOR FOLKS AND COUNCILMEMBER DELGADO. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I HOPE YOU KNOW I'M A BIG FAN AND I WILL CONTINUE TO BE A BIG FAN AND I APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO COME BEFORE COUNCIL AND SHARE WITH US NOT JUST YOUR FRUSTRATIONS BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, CLARIFICATION ON THE MESSAGE BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE HAVE THAT CLARITY WE CAN BE A BETTER PARTNER TO YOU GUYS. SO MUCH APPRECIATED. THE ONE COMMENT I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO LAY IT OUT AS A AS A A FRAMEWORK JUST BECAUSE I DO WANT TO BE SURE THAT WE WE AREN'T PUTTING OURSELVES IN A WEIRD SPOT. SO I HEAR YOU SAY WE DON'T ENFORCE IMMIGRATION. I ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THAT. BELIEVE YOU 100%. YOU WANT PEOPLE TO CALL THE POLICE IF THEY'RE BEING TRAFFICKED, IF THEY'RE BEING, YOU KNOW, HELD AGAINST THEIR WILL IS THERE WHENEVER IF IF THEY HAPPEN TO BE VULNERABLE ALL BECAUSE OF IMMIGRATION STATUS AND THEY CALL YOU AND THEY GO TO THEY'RE PART OF A SITUATION AND TO COUNCILMAN RIVAS POINT, THE FEDS HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION NOW HOW DO YOU PREVENT THEM FROM BEING PICKED UP BY IMMIGRATION IT IN IN FIVE MINUTES TEN MINUTES A DAY LATER AND AND GO AND LITERALLY SUBJECTED TO THE THING THEY WERE AFRAID OF SO OUT OF THE FIRE INTO THE FRYING PAN WAY RIGHT THERE IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION OF SEX TRAFFICKING DRUG WHATEVER IT IS AND YET AT THE OTHER END THEY ARE VULNERABLE OR THEY PUT THEMSELVES IN A POSITION THAT THE FEDS WOULD COME AND DO WHATEVER THE FEDS DO. TO YOUR POINT, YOU'RE NOT HELPING THEM. RIGHT. SO LET ME BE CLEAR ON THIS A VICTIM THE FEDS WOULD NOT HAVE ACCESS TO VICTIM INFORMATION. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GET ARRESTED. RIGHT. SO LIKE IF SOMEONE CALLS THE POLICE TO SAY THEY'RE BEING SEX DRIVE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO RISK THAT PERSON. RIGHT. OR SOMEONE SAYS THEY'RE BEING A VICTIM OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WE'RE NOT GOING TO ARREST THAT PERSON. SO THE FEDS DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO OUR LOCAL DATABASES HERE. WE DON'T HAVE ANY SHARING AGREEMENTS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. SO IN YOUR CASE THEY CAN CALL ALL DAY AND THE FEDS WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT STUFF. >> OKAY. SO CLARIFICATION ON THAT IF THEY ARE IF THEY ARE IF IT'S SEX TRAFFICKING BUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE OR FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, IT LOOKS LIKE PROSTITUTE AND THEN THEY WOULD BE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO CHARGE THEM WITH PROSTITUTION BEFORE YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY IN THE SEX TRAFFICKING LIKE THEY'RE ACTUALLY BEING TRAFFICKED. >> RIGHT. WE VERY SELDOM JUST THE POSTURE THAT WE TAKE HERE WE VERY SELDOMLY ARRESTS SEX WORKERS. OKAY. VERY SELDOM. OKAY. NOW DON'T COME TO BLOOMINGTON. THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET AWAY WITH IT BUT NO, NO, NO. I GUESS NOBODY'S SAYING THAT. NO NO. I APPRECIATE THAT. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF EXPLICIT LIKE EXAMPLES THAT REALLY HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT BE BECAUSE FOR SOMEONE THAT COULD BE LIKE I'M IF I DO, IF I DON'T KIND OF SITUATION RIGHT. WE WANT THEM TO BE CLEAR THAT THAT'S NOT A SITUATION THAT'S GOING TO PUT THEM IN JEOPARDY IF THEY CALL THE POLICE. SO APPCIATE THE CLARIFICATION. THANKS. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER AND COUNCILMEMBER RIVAS, I SEE YOUR HAND UP EARLIER. I JUST LET'S TO MY RECORD A LITTLE REVERSE COUNCILMEMBER CARTER YEAH, THIS IS REALLY QUICK. I JUST WAS REFLECTING ON MY COMMENTS AND I WANTED TO JUST BE REALLY EXPLICIT AND CLEAR AND JUST SAY THAT I KNOW AND BELIEVE STRONGLY LIKE BELIEVE 100% THAT BPD IS NOT COOPERATING WITH ICE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO TELL RESIDENTS THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND AT THE SAME TIME WE GET LOTS OF QUESTIONS AND SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ASK YOU QUESTIONS. BUT I DID JUST WANT TO MAKE THAT SUPER, SUPER CLEAR BECAUSE I KNOW I TRUST YOU. I REALLY DO AND I TRUST OUR BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SO I THINK WE SAY LOTS AND LOTS OF WORDS UP HERE AND THEN AT SOME POINT IT'S LIKE WHAT ARE WE EVEN SAYING? BUT I JUST WANTED TO BE SUPER CLEAR THAT I KNOW WE'RE NOT I KNOW THE BPD IS NOT COOPERATING WITH ICE AND HASN'T AND NOR THAT WILL THEY AND I WILL CONTINUE TO TELL RESIDENTS THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOU BEING WILLING TO ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT GET THROWN OUR WAY. COUNCILMEMBER RIVAS, JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU. >> I I WAS JUST WONDERING WE USED TO GET TEXT MESSAGES FROM YOU IN THE PAST WHENEVER THERE WAS AN INCIDENT AND IF WE HAD ANY QUESTIONS WE HAD THE ABILITY TO ANSWER. I'M JUST WONDERING FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF THAT. I DON'T KNOW IF IT YOU KNOW, WHAT CHANGE OR WHAT BUT IT WAS VERY USE USEFUL WHENEVER YOU SEND US INFORMATION THAT YOU KNOW YOU HAVE ARRESTED SOMEBODY AND THE QUESTIONS CAME UP YOU KNOW WE COULD ANSWER RIGHT AWAY FROM WHAT WE KNEW BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OF OUR COMMUNICATION IN THE PAST. I THINK TYPICALLY THAT NOSOTROS CITY MANAGER AND OF THE BUS BUT I THINK TYPICALLY THAT WOULD COME FROM HIM I YEAH TO THAT'S MY QUESTION I THINK TOMORROW WE'RE MEETING RIGHT SO YEAH AND JUST SORT OF PUBLIC SOMETIMES IT TAKES US LIKE TIME TO GET THE INFORMATION LIKE THE HELICOPTERS FLYING UP THERE FOR HOURS AND IT TOOK ME A WHILE TO EVEN FIGURE OUT WHO TO CALL TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WHAT IT WAS DOING UP THERE BECAUSE OUR DISPATCH CENTER WAS GETTING CALLS, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S LIKE IF YOU I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FLY A HELICOPTER THAT LOW BY THE AIRPORT UNLESS YOU'RE THE GOVERNMENT FOR HOURS YOU CAN'T DO IT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A TAIL MARKER ON IT. SO YEAH, I FIGURED IT WAS SOMETHING BUT IT TOOK A WHILE TO FIGURE THAT ONE OUT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, COUNSEL. I'M THE MOVE US ON IN THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A SECOND HALF OF THE PRESENTATION MR. WALKER IS GOING TO BRING US THROUGH OUR LISTENING SESSION SUMMARY AND WHAT STAFF IS KIND OF PULLING TOGETHER AS POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS IN ALL THIS. CHIEF, ONCE AGAIN THANKS. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR. MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ZACK WALKER AND AS THE MAYOR SAID, I'M JUST GOING TO USE THIS TIME TO UPDATE THE COUNCIL ON WHAT WE HEARD FROM OUR LISTENING SESSION LAST WEEK. YOU MAY RECALL THIS LAST MONDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 2ND WE HAD 75 MINUTES SET ASIDE FOR SPEAKERS TO COME IN AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL ABOUT ALL MANNER OF THINGS RELATED TO OPERATION METRO SURGE. WE HAD 22 SPEAKERS IN TOTAL AND I WOULD SAY IT'S FAIR TO CHARACTERIZE THAT 21 OF THEM HIT ON SOME OF THE SAME KEY THEMES WHICH WERE WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS OF THIS ENFORCEMENT HAVING ON OUR COMMUNITY. A LOT OF FOLKS EXPRESSING FEAR, ANGER OR CONCERN FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS STORY OF NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS. BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES HERE TONIGHT, A LOT OF REQUESTS THAT WERE MADE TO THE COUNCIL FROM THE CITIZENS THAT SPOKE AND THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO USE SOME OF OUR TIME HERE THIS EVENING TO REALLY CLOSE THE LOOP SO THE COMMUNITY UNDERSTOOD NOT ONLY DID WE HEAR YOU BUT LET YOU KNOW THE STATUS OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WERE REFERENCED OR MENTIONED AND REALLY PROBABLY PUT THESE IN TWO BUCKETS OF CATEGORIES THAT WE HEARD. ONE OF THOSE BUCKETS I WOULD LABEL AS COMMUNITY RESOURCES. SO WE HEARD A REQUEST TO OUTLINE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE. THIS IS IMPACTING A LOT OF PEOPLE IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND FOR THOSE THAT NEED THAT SIDE OF HEALTH CARE ITEMIZING THOSE OUT WE HAVE DONE THAT. IF YOU GO TO THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON'S WEBSITE YOU'LL SEE AT THE TOP OF THE BANNER CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RESPONSE TO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND UNDER COMMUNITY RESOURCES THERE ARE 12 DIFFERENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT WE'VE ADDED TO THAT WEBSITE. WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED THAT REQUEST LAST WEEK VERY THOUGHTFUL REQUEST TO PROVIDE TRANSLATION SERVICES AND AGAIN AT THE TOP OF THE WEBSITE OVER IN THE RIGHT HAND CORNER YOU CAN CLICK THERE AND HAVE THE WEBSITE CONVERTED INTO ONE OF SIX DIFFERENT LANGUAGES BESIDES ENGLISH WHICH IS THE PRIMARY LANGUAGE THAT SHOWS UP ON THERE. SO APPRECIATED THOSE SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDED ASIANS AND HAPPY TO REPORT BOTH OF THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AWARENESS SO WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS WHEN ENGAGING WITH FEDERAL IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS. WE WE'VE ALSO DONE THAT SAME PLACE ON THE WEBSITE WE'VE ADDED A NO YOUR RIGHTS RESOURCES SECTION ON THERE THAT ALSO CONTAINS INFORMATION FROM THE IMMIGRANT LAW CENTER OF MINNESOTA ANSWERS A LOT OF THE COMMON OR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS I WOULD ALSO SHARE WITH THE COUNCIL AND WE'VE SHARED AT YOUR DYESS TONIGHT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT DOCUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SHARED INTERNALLY WITH OUR CITY STAFF. SO WE HAVE DEVELOPED AN INTERNAL RFQ FOR CITY EMPLOYEES TO ADVISE THEM ON HOW TO NAVIGATE ANY ENCOUNTERS WITH ANY FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS THAT MAY OCCUR DURING THE NORMAL COURSE OF THEIR BUSINESS WHEN THEY'RE EITHER OUT IN THE COMMUNITY OR IF THERE WERE VISITS TO ANY OF OUR CITY FACILITIES. SO I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR THAT TOO MUCH BUT TAKE TIME TO LOOK AT THOSE INTERNAL DOCUMENTS AND JUST KNOW THAT THOSE EXIST FOR OUR EMPLOYEES REPORTING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS THERE WAS A REQUEST TO OR A SUGGESTION TO ESTABLISH SOME KIND OF METHOD FOR REPORTING AND COLLECTING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. OUR THOUGHT ON THAT WAS RATHER THAN CREATE UNINTENDED CHAOS BY HAVING MULTIPLE PLACES TO GO DIRECT PEOPLE TO THE STATEWIDE REPOSITORY FOR THIS WHICH DOES EXIST AND THAT IS THROUGH THE MINNESOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S WEBSITE. SO ON THAT WEBSITE YOU CAN FIND A FEDERAL ACTION REPORTING FORM THE AG'S OFFICE VERY CLEARLY SAYS ON THE WEBSITE THAT THEY WANT TO COLLECT ANY OF THESE REPORTS. OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THE ONGOING LITIGATION THAT INVOLVES THE STATE AND MINNEAPOLIS AND ST PAUL THAT IS REFERENCED IN THERE THAT ANY OF THOSE STORIES THEY WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON AS THE AD GOES GROUP AND AGAIN JUST TRYING TO NOT CREATE TOO MUCH CHAOS BUT PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE BUCKET SO THAT THAT CAN BE PROPERLY FOLLOWED UP ON. SO NOT THAT WE DON'T TAKE THAT SUGGESTION SERIOUSLY BUT WE THINK THERE'S A BETTER MECHANISM TO DO IT AND YOU CAN FIND THAT THROUGH YOUR EGO'S WEBSITE. OKAY. EVICTION MORATORIUM THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT THE COUNCIL ADOPT A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR INSTITUTE AN EVICTION MORATORIUM. SO WE HAD SOME CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS AS STAFF AND AS BEST WE CAN TELL IN ORDER TO GET TO THAT POINT OF ISSUING AN EVICTION MORATORIUM THAT WOULD NEED TO BE INITIATED THROUGH AT FIRST A DECLARATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY JUST TO BE VERY BLUNT, SOMETHING WE'VE BEEN COGNIZANT OF STAFF AND TRYING TO BE THOUGHTFUL TO NEGOTIATE OR TO NAVIGATE IS THIS IDEA OF THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION INVOKING THE INSURRECTION ACT AND IF THERE ARE WORDS OUT THERE LIKE STATE OF EMERGENCY THAT MAY GIVE MORE POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY TO INVOKING THAT ACT. SO WE THINK THAT THIS COULD HAVE SOME CHALLENGE FOR FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ALSO JUST LIVED EXPERIENCE WITH COVID 19 AND THE EVICTION MORATORIUMS THAT WERE UTILIZED DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME. A LOT OF GOOD CAME FROM THAT BUT THERE WERE A LOT OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES TO UNDO AND SOME OF THE FOLKS WHO I WOULD SAY TOOK ADVANTAGE OF GOODWILL AND IT BECAME VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THOSE TENANTS IN THAT PERIOD OF TIME. SO GIVEN THOSE CHALLENGES WERE A LITTLE CONCERN TO STAFF ABOUT THE VIABILITY AND THE EXPERIENCE OF THIS OPTION BUT ALSO TRYING TO THINK THROUGH OKAY PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO MAY REALLY BE STRUGGLING WHAT ARE SOME POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES? ONE WE JUST WANT TO THROW OUT IS POTENTIALLY CONSIDERING A CITY ORDINANCE THAT WOULD EXTEND THE PRE EVICTION NOTICE REQUIREMENT FROM 14 DAYS TO 30 DAYS SO A LITTLE BIT LONGER LEAD TIME GIVE PEOPLE MORE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS WHATEVER ISSUES. I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT SOME OTHER CITIES HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THIS ACTION. WE SPECIFICALLY NOTED ST LOUIS PARK IN MINNEAPOLIS. BUT I DO WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN RESPONSE TO THE CURRENT FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. THOSE OF THOSE ACTIONS BY THOSE CITIES DID PREDATE THAT BUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COUNCIL IS INTERESTED IN, THAT IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING AS STAFF WE COULD WORK ON AND AT LEAST CREATE A LITTLE BIT MORE PROTECTIONS FOR TENANTS WHO MAY BE STRUGGLING IN OUR COMMUNITY UTILITY BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT AGAIN PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING ECONOMIC HARDSHIP MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY PAYING THEIR UTILITY BILL HERE IN BLOOMINGTON THROUGH THIS PROCESS AS A RELATIVELY NEW MANAGER I LEARNED THAT BLOOMINGTON STOPPED TERMINATING UTILITY SERVICE FOR NONPAYMENT BACK IN 2010. SO SINCE WE AREN'T DOING THOSE UTILITY SHUTOFFS WE HAVE NOT ALLOCATED FUNDING FOR BILL PAYMENT ASSISTANCE. BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK WE'D BE REMISS IF WE DIDN'T TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REITERATE HERE IS THERE IS A NUMBER ON YOUR BILL IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING WITH MAKING PAYMENT, THE VERY BEST THING YOU CAN DO IS CALL THAT NUMBER AND CONNECT WITH OUR UTILITY BILLING ACCOUNTANTS TO MAKE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS VERY I WOULD SAY ACCOMMODATING AND FLEXIBLE ON THAT. SO PLEASE DON'T LET YOURSELF FALL FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND. REACH OUT TO OUR ACCOUNTANTS AND LET'S ESTABLISH SOME KIND OF PAYMENT PLAN THAT WORKS FOR YOU. I ALSO WANT TO FOLLOW UP THAT WHILE WE'RE NOT YET AWARE OF ANY SPECIFIC ENTITIES THAT ARE PROVIDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR UTILITY FOR THE OTHER UTILITIES LIKE YOUR GAS BILL, ELECTRIC BILL ETC. AS WE IDENTIFY THOSE WE'LL CONTINUE TO ADD THOSE TO THE COMMUNITY RESOURCES SECTION OF THAT IMMIGRATION PAGE UPDATING THAT ALL THE TIME AND WE'RE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THIS. SO IF ANYONE IS AWARE OF ENTITIES OR AGENCIES THAT ARE DOING THAT, PLEASE LET OUR OFFICE KNOW SO WE CAN GET THAT WORD OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY. OKAY. SO THE OTHER BUCKET BESIDES COMMUNITY RESOURCES WOULD BE POLICY AND LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS THAT WE'RE SUGGESTED PARKING PROHIBITIONS. THIS WAS A COMMON THEME THAT WE HEARD LAST NIGHT ENCOURAGING THE COUNCIL TO ADOPT AN ORDINANCE TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY FOR CIVIL FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. LIKE A LOT OF YOU AS CITY STAFF WE LIKE TO ADOPT POLICIES AND ORDINANCES THAT HAVE ENFORCEABILITY AND IN THE CITIES THAT WE HAVE SPOKEN TO OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, WHAT WE HAVE FOUND IS THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE THESE EITHER BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT TO REQUIRE STAFF TO BE MONITORING THESE CITY FACILITIES OR CITY LOTS OR YOU'RE BASICALLY PUTTING YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE POSITION OF WRITING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CITATION. SO AS YOU WOULD GUESS, COMPLIANCE IS VERY UNEVEN IN THE CITIES THAT WE'VE SPOKEN TO. SO NOT THAT WE DON'T THINK THIS IS A THOUGHTFUL IDEA BUT AGAIN LOOKING FOR THINGS THAT ARE ENFORCEABLE AND WOULD HAVE A MEANINGFUL IMPACT. THIS ISN'T ONE THAT WE ARE PREPARED TO BRING ACTION ON BUT AGAIN IF THE COUNCIL DEEMS THAT THIS IS ADVISABLE AND WANTS TO GIVE DIRECTION, CERTAINLY THAT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS STAFF. BUT IS TO LET YOU AT LEAST KNOW WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION WAS THERE LIQUOR LICENSE SUSPENSION AND REVOCATION. SO IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD SUSPEND OR REVOKE A LIQUOR LICENSE FOR LODGING ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE HOSTING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION PERSONNEL. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR CITY CODE IT IS VERY CLEAR THERE ARE THREE ACTIONS FOR WHAT THE CITY HAS GROUNDS TO SUSPEND OR REVOKE A LICENSE HOSTING FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. FRANKLY HOSTING ANYBODY IS NOT GROUNDS FOR REVOKING A LIQUOR LICENSE. SO WE WOULD BE CREATING SOME VERY SERIOUS LEGAL LIABILITY FOR THE CITY HERE. AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT STAFF DOESN'T RECOMMEND PURSUING THIS SUGGESTION CONTRACT CANCELLATIONS. THE IDEA WAS THAT THE CITY SHOULD CANCEL ANY OF ITS CONTRACTS OR AGREEMENTS WITH ENTITIES THAT ARE ALSO DOING BUSINESS WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES INVOLVED IN THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. SO AGAIN WE AS THE CITY HAVE OUR OWN VERY STRICT PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES. WE ALSO FOLLOW MINUTES NOTICE MINNESOTA'S STATE STATUTES ON PROCUREMENT POLICY AND AGAIN SELECTED ADHERENCE TO THOSE POLICIES PUT THE CITY IN SOME SERIOUS LEGAL LIABILITY. AND SO FOR THAT REASON ONCE AGAIN WE'RE NOT RECOMMENDING PURSUING THIS SUGGESTION TO SELECTIVELY CHOOSE WHEN WE DO AND DON'T FOLLOW OUR OWN POLICIES OR STATE STATUTES REALLY CREATE SOME ISSUES FOR FOR THE CITY RELEASE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION. IT WAS ASKED THAT THE CITY CLARIFY POLICIES REGARDING THE RELEASE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION TO FEDERAL AUTHORITIES SO WHEN TO USE THIS OPPORTUNITY HERE TONIGHT TO SHARE THAT THE DATA THAT THE CITY DOES CLASSIFY AS PRIVATE UNDER STATE OR LOCAL LAW IS NOT SHARED WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT UNLESS THERE IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT TO DO SO. THE ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA TYPICALLY REQUIRES A VALID COURT ORDER A WARRANT, A SUBPOENA OR OTHER LEGAL AUTHORITY AND THOSE REQUESTS ARE REVIEWED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE BEFORE ANY INFORMATION IS RELEASED. SO I'M JUST REALLY WANTED TO MAKE CLEAR FOR THE COMMUNITY SINCE IT WAS REQUESTED TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING LAST WEEK THIS IS HOW THE CITY APPROACHES THAT IN OUR OUR PROCESS THAT WE FOLLOW. >> THEN THERE WERE A NUMBER OF SUGGESTIONS ABOUT PROHIBITING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT THINGS LIKE PREVENTING OFFICERS FROM WEARING MASKS, PROTECTING SENSITIVE LOCATION AND REQUIRING COORDINATION WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES . HERE'S WHAT I'M GOING TO SHARE TWO THINGS WITH YOU JUST UP FRONT FEDERAL AGENTS FOLLOW FEDERAL RULES NOT LOCAL POLICIES. HOWEVER AND I KNOW I SHARED THIS WITH THE COUNCIL BY EMAIL YESTERDAY THERE HAS BEEN A LETTER WRITTEN BY LEADERSHIP IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE AND SENATE TO THEIR COLLEAGUES THE SPEAKER AND THE MAJORITY LEADER IN THE SENATE RESPECTIVELY THAT WAS PREPARED ON FEBRUARY 4TH CALLING FOR THE VERY REFORMS THAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY LAST NIGHT. SO THIS WOULD BE CONGRESS ACTING ON THE THINGS THAT ARE DIRECTLY IN THEIR JURISDICTION TO CONTROL AND I WANT TO QUICKLY REVIEW THE TEN ITEMS THAT WERE SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THIS LETTER BY LEADERSHIP TO THEIR PEERS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE. SO IT WAS NOTED THAT TARGETED ENFORCEMENT NEEDS TO END. SO THE PRACTICE OF STOPPING ANYBODY INDISCRIMINATE ARRESTS, WARRANT PROCEDURES, ETC. ALL OF THAT NEEDS TO BE REFORMED AND CLEARLY FOLLOWED AND ADHERE TO THE LETTER OF SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED PROHIBITING OFFICERS FROM WEARING FACE COVERINGS REQUIRING OFFICERS TO DISPLAY THEIR AGENCY NAME THEIR UNIQUE ID NUMBER AND THEIR LAST NAME LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD SEE ON A BLOOMINGTON POLICE OFFICER'S UNIFORM. WE HEARD REQUESTS FOR GOING BACK TO PREVIOUS FEDERAL POLICY ABOUT PROTECTING SENSITIVE LOCATIONS THINGS LIKE SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, DAYCARES, ETC. THAT LETTER SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED PROHIBITING FUNDS FROM BEING USED TO CONDUCT ENFORCEMENT NEAR SENSITIVE LOCATIONS ENDING RACIAL PROFILING. SO NOT STOPPING SOMEBODY OR QUESTIONING THEM BASED ON THE LOCATION THEY'RE IN THE JOB TYPE OF WORK THEY DO THEIR RACE OR ETHNICITY OR THE WAY YOU KNOW, THE EITHER THE LANGUAGE THEY SPEAK OR THE ACCENT THAT THEY CARRY WHEN THEY SPEAK THEIR WAS A REQUEST IN THE LETTER TO UPHOLD USE OF FORCE STANDARD SO AN ACTING A REASONABLE USE OF FORCE POLICY UTILIZING BETTER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR OFFICERS AND PULLING OFFICERS OFF OF THE FRONT LINES SO OFF OF OFF THE STREETS WHO ARE INVOLVED IN THE USE OF FORCE INCIDENT UNTIL AN INVESTIGATION INTO THAT INCIDENT HAS BEEN COMPLETED ENSURING LOCAL AND STATE OVERSIGHT AND COORDINATION. YOU KNOW, WE DID HEAR THIS LAST WEEK ABOUT ALLOWING LOCAL AGENCIES TO INVESTIGATE OR AND OR PROSECUTE POTENTIAL CRIMES AND USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS THAT IS SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED IN THIS LETTER. BUILDING SAFEGUARDS INTO THE SYSTEM. THIS SPECIFICALLY WAS AROUND DETENTION CENTERS AND MAKING SURE THEY MEET MINIMUM STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR HOUSING DETAINEES, BODY CAMERAS REQUIRING THE USE OF BODY WORN CAMERAS WENT ON TO SAY IN THE LETTER SPECIFICALLY FOR MONITORING THE WORK DONE BY AGENTS NOT TO, YOU KNOW, USE FOR FACIAL RECOGNITION OF PEOPLE ENGAGING IN FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND NOT CREATING DATABASES OR TARGET LISTS AROUND THAT AND THEN COMING UP WITH STANDARDIZED UNIFORM TYPES AND EQUIPMENT CONSISTENT WITH OTHER FEDERAL ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. SO THERE'S NO PUN INTENDED UNIFORM UNIFORM THAT'S WORN. SO THAT IS THE RESPONSE TO THE LISTENING SESSION. BUT THERE'S A LOT THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THIS OPERATION BEGAN AND I THINK IT'S JUST A GOOD CHANCE FOR US TO QUICKLY RESET BOTH FOR US AS STAFF YOU AS A COUNCIL IN OUR COMMUNITY OF WHERE HAVE WE BEEN, WHAT HAVE WE DONE KIND OF WHERE ARE WE GOING? SO AROUND MESSAGING YOU ALL RECALL THE COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORTED A STATEMENT THAT WAS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC THE DAY THAT ALEX PRETI WAS KILLED. THE MAYOR ISSUED HIS OWN STATEMENT I KNOW MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS HAVE ALSO MADE YOUR OWN POSTS ON REFLECTING ON THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT. THE CITY HAS MADE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS SHARING INFORMATION, DIFFERENT VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS AND SEVERAL OF THE COUNCILMEN IT'S DONE BY THE MAYOR HAVE SHARED UPDATES TO EXPLAIN BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT ROLE SHARE MORE ABOUT THE CITY'S ONGOING EFFORTS REALLY JUST CONTINUING TO PRESS THE MESSAGE THERE. I'VE MENTIONED THIS WEBSITE SEVERAL TIMES TONIGHT PLEASE GO TO CITY OF BLOOMINGTON'S WEBSITE, LOOK AT THE TOP BANNER, CLICK ON IT. THERE'S A TON OF INFORMATION THERE BUT TO SAY THERE'S EVERYTHING THERE AS YOU SAW TONIGHT WE WE HEARD GOOD FEEDBACK LAST WEEK AND MODIFIED SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR MORE IDEAS AND THEN MULTIPLE MEDIA CONTACTS AND APPEARANCES THE CHIEF, THE MAYOR, OTHERS HAVE BEEN REACHED OUT TO SOUGHT AFTER TO SHARE BLOOMINGTON'S POSITION AND PERSPECTIVE ON OPERATION METRO SEARCH WILL ONCE AGAIN BLOOMINGTON BEING PROMINENTLY FEATURED IN OUR PERSPECTIVE BEING SHARED. SO SEARCH BRIEFINGS THIS IS AN INTERNAL WORK GROUP THAT I HAVE PULLED TOGETHER INVOLVING PERSONNEL FROM MULTIPLE CITY DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF KEY FOCUS AREAS LEGAL AND POLICY. WE'RE MONITORING THINGS LIKE THE AMICUS BRIEF THAT THE CITY HAS SIGNED ON TO OTHER FEDERAL ACTIONS THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN IN THEIR IMPACT THEY WOULD HAVE ON THE CITY REALLY JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT SO THAT THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS AT THE FRONT EDGE OF RESPONDING AND NOT REACTING AS BEST WE CAN TO THESE ISSUES. OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT IS MONITORING THE FISCAL IMPACTS OF THESE OPERATIONS AS YOU WOULD PROBABLY GUESS THIS IS REQUIRED A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME FROM OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WHICH MEANS OUR OVERTIME BUDGET HAS INCREASED EXPONENTIALLY. BUT ON THE REVENUE SIDE, WHAT IS THIS GOING TO DO TO OUR LODGING TAX IF TAX EXEMPT ENTITIES ARE NOT PAYING THE LODGING TAX? WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THINGS LIKE BUILDING PERMITS OR OTHER SERVICE INDUSTRY? IF WORKERS ARE AFRAID TO GO TO WORK AND WORK SLOWS DOWN NUMBER OF CITIES REPORTING THEY'RE SEEING DRAMATIC DECLINES IN THAT AREA SO WE ARE LOOKING TO SEE WHAT THIS IS DOING TO OUR BUDGET BOTH IN TERMS OF UNPLANNED EXPENSES AND REVENUE DECLINES SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO NAVIGATE THAT WATER COMMUNICATIONS AS WE ARE COLLECTING DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION BOTH INTERNALLY TO OUR STAFF AND EXTERNALLY TO OUR COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A SEPARATE COMMUNITY TASK FORCE OF INTERNAL OPERATIONS THAT ARE LOOKING TO COORDINATE CITY SERVICES AND CITY RESOURCES WITH NONPROFIT AND PRIVATE SECTOR GROUPS SO THAT WE CAN AGAIN PROVIDE THE ASSISTANCE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. AND THEN AS YOU HEARD FROM THE CHIEF, BOTH HE AND OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ARE CONTINUOUSLY MONITORING AND COORDINATING AND MAKING SURE THE CITY IS IN A POSITION TO RESPOND AS NEEDED IF NEEDED ON THE COMMUNITY OR EXTERNAL FACING SIDE. THE CITY'S FOR STAY SAFE AND STABLE COMMUNITIES WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL LAST WEEK. THIS IS A MULTI CITY ENTITY STARTED OFF AS HENNEPIN COUNTY CITIES BUT AS THE MAYOR SAID AT A MEETING TODAY THEY ARE NOW LOOKING TO EXPAND THAT TENT TO BRING OTHERS INTO THE GROUP STRENGTH. THE NUMBERS OF CITIES WHO CAN SPEAK WITH ONE VOICE IF Y WILL, ON THIS ISSUE EACH FRIDAY CITY MANAGERS ARE NOW DOING A CALLED SAME THING COORDINATING WHAT'S IMPACTS ON YOUR CITIES, WHAT ARE BEST PRACTICES? HOW ARE YOU HANDLING THIS SITUATION OR THAT SITUATION? SO WE'RE MAKING SURE THERE'S AS MUCH ALIGNMENT AND CONSISTENCY AMONG CITIES AS POSSIBLE. THERE IS NOT A MEETING YOU CAN GO TO WHERE THIS IS NOT BEING DISCUSSED WHETHER IT WAS TODAY'S REGIONAL COUNCIL OF MAYORS MEETING THE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES METRO CITIES ALL MANNER OF GROUPS AT ALL LEVELS ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND LOOKING TO COORDINATE EFFORTS ON THIS COUNCIL APPROVED AT YOUR LAST MEETING THE TRAVEL REQUEST THE MAYOR WAS IN WASHINGTON WHICH WE APPRECIATE THE END OF JANUARY WITH OTHER MAYORS FROM MINNESOTA MEETING IN CONGRESS WITH MEMBERS OF THE MINNESOTA DELEGATION SO THAT THEY COULD TALK STRAIGHT TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ABOUT HOW THIS IS IMPACTING THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE ASSISTANCE WE NEED. OF COURSE, HAD THIS SPECIAL LISTENING SESSION LAST WEEK. THERE IS A GROUP OF US FROM THE CITY SEVERAL ON THE COUNCIL AND A FEW STAFF WHO WILL BE GOING TO THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES CONGRESSIONAL CITIES CONFERENCE IN MARCH. AND IF THIS ISSUE IS STILL DIRECTLY IMPACTING US THEN YOU CAN PRETTY WELL GUESS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE USING OUR TIME FOR WHEN WE'RE MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. AND THEN THE COUNCIL OF COURSE HAD THE WISDOM TO APPROVE EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE UP TO $350,000 EARLIER THIS MONTH. WE'VE DEVELOPED THE STAFF FAQS. THOSE ARE AT YOUR PLACE. THOSE ARE INTENDED AGAIN TO HELP OUR STAFF KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY'RE WORKING IN THE FIELD OR IF THERE'S ANY KIND OF ENCOUNTER IN ANY OF OUR CITY FACILITIES. SO WANTING TO MAKE SURE OUR OUR STAFF IS AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THOSE ENVIRONMENTS BUT ALSO SUPPORTING OUR STAFF SAFETY AND AND WELLBEING CREATING SPACES THAT'S BOTH FOR CONVERSATION BUT ALSO PHYSICAL SPACES FOR REFLECTION AND RESPITE RESET WHATEVER YOU MIGHT WANT TO CALL THAT JUST SOME SOME WAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BE THOUGHTFUL AND SUPPORTIVE OF OUR STAFF AND NOW I JUST WANT TO END BECAUSE I HAD TO FOLLOW PUPPIES TRAINS AND THE POLICE. I WOULD LIKE TO END WITH SOMETHING POSITIVE. WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY SOME FEEDBACK ABOUT INTERACTING WITH THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE COURSE OF ALL OF THIS AND THESE ARE TWO NOTES THAT SPECIFICALLY CAME FROM FOLKS WHO WERE INVOLVED AT THE PROTEST AT THE AIRPORT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. AND WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THIS STATEMENT RIGHT HERE I WON'T READ ALL OF THAT TO YOU BUT THIS INDIVIDUAL REACHED OUT TO THANK THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR THEIR PROFESSIONALISM AND YOU KNOW, ENFORCING LAWS WHEN APPROPRIATE, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY. AND THEN THIS SAME SPEAKER MENTIONED THE SAME THING THAT YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD OF THE WOMEN AND MEN OF THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT THE WAY THEY WERE TREATED IN THAT INTERACTION WHEN THEY WERE AT THE DEMONSTRATION EVEN WENT OUT OF THEIR WAY TO SHAKE THE HANDS OF THREE OFFICERS SO THAT SOMEBODY'S BEING ARRESTED. I MEAN THAT'S THAT'S PRETTY REMARKABLE. SO VERY PROUD OF OUR DEPARTMENT AND THE WAY THEY'VE COMPORTED THEMSELVES IN THESE CHALLENGING SPACES, PROUD OF OUR STAFF FOR THE THOUGHTFULNESS, TRYING TO BE AS PROACTIVE AND A VERY FLUID AND DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENT AND GRATEFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT SHOWED UP AT THE LISTENING SESSION LAST WEEK GAVE US A CHANCE TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE'RE AT, PUT SOME OF THESE THINGS INTO PRACTICE ,HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATIONS WERE. A STAFF ON SOME OF THOSE OTHER ITEMS. SO WITH THAT MAYOR THAT KIND OF CONCLUDES THAT AND HAPPY TO TURN IT BACK OVER. THANK YOU MR. WALKER AND THANKS FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW AND THE THE STAFF'S TIME THAT LOOKING AT THE SUGGESTIONS AND THE DESIRES OF THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING A PRAGMATIC PRAGMATIC LOOK AT IT I THINK IS THE WAY TO DO IT AND TO REALLY KIND OF EVALUATE BASED ON LOGIC AND GOOD STEPS FORWARD AS OPPOSED TO THE EMOTION THAT WE'RE ALL FEELING AND UNDERSTANDABLY SO IN THIS SITUATION. COUNSEL ANY COMMENTS OR QUICK QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THIS? COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON THANK YOU MAYOR. I'M YES, I JUST WANTED TO THANK ALL EVERYONE OF THE CITY, ALL CITY STAFF FOR ALL THE THINGS YOU ALL ARE DOING BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THE WEBSITE AND THAT BANNER AT THE TOP. I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL AND I WAS REALLY PLEASED TO SEE THAT THAT WAS SO ACCESSIBLE FOR RESIDENTS. SO THANK YOU ALL BECAUSE I KNOW THIS IS AS I SAID TO CHIEF HODGES AS WELL THIS HAS TO BE STRESSFUL IN A WAY THAT I CAN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND. SO THANK YOU. SURE. THANK YOU. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER, THANK YOU MAYOR. YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THE THOROUGH FOLLOW UP. I KNOW THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATES IT AND I GREATLY APPRECIATE IT AS I KEEP TALKING ABOUT COMMUNICATION. SO THANK YOU. RIGHT. I DID ALSO JUST YOU KNOW, YOU TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EVICTION MORATORIUM AND THE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES AND I DO RECALL HAVING SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OF THE BIG AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDERS IN MINNESOTA AND THEY'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO HOW THAT CREATED A BIG CHALLENGE FOR THEM FINANCIALLY THAT THEY HAVEN'T RECOVERED FROM AND THEY ARE PROVIDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE. SO IT IS I ACTUALLY DID HAVE SOME THOSE CONCERNS WHEN THAT WAS BROUGHT UP SOME GOOD THAT THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS BEING EXPLORED. AND ON THAT SAME NOTE FOR UTILITIES, I THINK THE STATE HAS AN ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT PEOPLE CAN APPLY FOR AND THEN WE DO HAVE OUR LOCAL CAP AGENCIES. I THINK COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP UNFORTUNATELY I DID JUST LOOK ON THEIR WEBSITE AND THEY'RE NOW PROCESSING APPLICATIONS RECEIVED 60 DAYS AGO. SO I THINK THEY'RE VERY BACKED UP WITH REQUESTS SO BUT A COUPLE OF RESOURCES AT LEAST THAT I KNOW OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD AND HOPEFULLY THERE ARE MORE. SO THANK YOU INDEED. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL COUNCIL MEMBER NELSON YEAH THANKS. APPRECIATE THE FEDERAL REVIEW OF THINGS AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS. JUST ONE QUICK THING THAT SOMEONE WHO EMAILED ME JUST PRIOR TO THE MEETING WAS REGARDING ZONING THAT WOULD ALLOW A FEDERAL DETENTION FACILITY WITHIN BLOOMINGTON. MY GUESS IS THAT THE TIME FRAME OF DOING THAT BUYING THAT BUILDING IT OUT IS PROBABLY LENGTHY ENOUGH THAT IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT BUT JUST THEY WERE WONDERING I DON'T NEED AN ANSWER RIGHT NOW IF THAT'S POSSIBLE IN BLOOMINGTON AND IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN OUR ZONING CODE THAT MIGHT BE DONE. SO WE DIDN'T HAVE A FACILITY LIKE THIS HERE OR AT LEAST WE HAD RULES AND RESTRICTIONS ON IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, COUNCILMEMBER AND I KNOW ACTUALLY I'VE TALKED WITH THE MAYOR OF WOODBURY ABOUT THIS BECAUSE SOMETHING SIMILAR HAPPENED OR WAS PROPOSED IN WOODBURY AND ULTIMATELY THE THE PROPOSED SELLER OF THE FACILITY RECEIVED SUCH PUBLIC BACKLASH THAT THAT THEY THEY TURNED DOWN THE OFFER FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND I'VE GOT TO IMAGINE THERE WOULD BE SOMETHING SIMILAR BUT I THINK IT'S AT LEAST WORTH A LOOK TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE REQUIREMENTS WHAT THE ZONING REQUIREMENTS WOULD BE AND WHERE WE STAND HERE IN BLOOMINGTON. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU STAND FOR. YEAH, I AGREE. I AGREE IT DOES WARRANT AT LEAST A REVIEW OF OUR CODE. I WILL SAY THE COMMON THINGS I HAVE SEEN ARE EITHER LARGE INDUSTRIAL SPACES THAT ARE CURRENTLY VACANT OR GREEN SPACE THAT'S NOT YET BUILT OUT UPON BUT I DO THINK IT'S MERITORIOUS TO GIVE OUR CODE A REVIEW AND SEE WHAT KIND OF USE THAT WOULD FALL UNDER AND IF THERE'S ANY MODIFICATIONS. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU, MR. WALKER. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. OUR LAST AGENDA ITEM OF THE EVENING COUNCIL IS ITEM FIVE POINT FOR A CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND ISSUE UPDATE AND I HAVE NOTHING THIS EVENING. MR. WALKER, YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD? I HAVE NOTHING TO NIGHTMARE COUNCIL. ANYTHING TO ADD ON OR AND IN 5.4 TONIGHT, COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN I'LL I'LL BE VERY BRIEF I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND WITH A NUMBER OF STAFF MEMBERS THE PUBLIC FINANCE CONFERENCE AGAIN GREAT YOU KNOW FOCUS ON PUBLIC FINANCE YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT'S YOU KNOW WE TALK ABOUT IN BLOOMINGTON AS BEING OUR NUMBER ONE YOU KNOW, PRIORITY IN THE CITY AND AND I ALSO WANT TO JUST KIND OF HOLD UP OUR STAFF WE HAD A PRESENTATION ABOUT OUR OUR OUR HATCH PROGRAM AND JUST PHENOMENAL PEOPLE KIND OF SWARMING AROUND, YOU KNOW, STAFF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND KIND OF FROM OTHER CITIES HOW DOES THAT WORK? HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT AND HOW DO WE KIND OF DO THAT? SO JUST KNOW THAT OUR STAFF DOES WELL WITH RESPECT TO THAT THAT PROGRAM AND REALLY JUST REPRESENTED AND REALLY WERE THE EXPERTS IN THE ROOM ON A NUMBER OF A NUMBER OF TOPICS. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER IT DOESN'T SURPRISE ME AT ALL. COUNCILMEMBER RIVAS I JUST WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THE CLASS THAT WE ATTENDED ALSO I AM WONDERING AND I THINK I BROUGHT THIS UP LAST YEAR OR THE YEAR BEFORE ARE WE PREPARED FOR ANY NATURAL DISASTER OR LIKE YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF EMERGENCY WAS THERE AND I BELIEVE SOMEBODY DOWN SOUTH I DON'T RECALL THE NAME OF A CITY I WENT TO COLLEGE COLLEGE TOWN THAT I KNOW OF 169 I USED TO GO MY KID. YEAH. BECAUSE OF THE FLOODS THEY HAD LAST YEAR, YOU KNOW, SO IT MAKES ME WONDER ARE WE I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PREPARATIONS WITH THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE WENT TO SOME MEETING BEFORE RIGHT. BUT IT WAS IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH NATURAL DISASTERS. SO I WAS JUST WONDERING IF WE CAN PREPARE FOR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. WHAT I MIGHT DO IS ASK MR. WALKER TO ESPECIALLY HAVE ULI SEAL WHO IS OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE GUY IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON MAYBE PREPARE A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE THE THE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST YOU'RE RIGHT IT'S NOT JUST THE THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. IT'S THE FINANCIAL RESPONSE. IT'S THE LONG TERM. IT'S THE LONG TERM RECOVERY TO SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO YES, AND I DO KNOW THEY HAVE A NATURAL DISASTER PLAN OF SOME KIND. I CAN'T TELL YOU EXACTLY HOW EXTENSIVE IT IS BUT I THINK I KNOW ULI COULD HELP OUT WITH THAT. >> YEAH, IT WAS PRETTY INTERESTING AND A LOT OF GOOD INFORMATION CAME OUT OF IT SO ABSOLUTELY. >> THANK YOU MENTORS ANYTHING ELSE? COUNCIL IF NOT WE HAVE COMPLETED OUR BUSINESS TONIGHT COUNCIL I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN TONIGHT SO MOVED THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER LOWMAN SECOND BY COUNCIL MEMBER NEED US TO ADJOURN THIS EVENING NO FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING I OPPOSED MOTION CARRIES SEVEN ZERO. THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION. THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THE GREAT INFORMATION TONIGHT. IT REALLY WAS A LEARNING SESSION AND DO APPRECIATE IT. THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO TUNED IN AND JOINED US THIS EVENING. EVERYBODY HAVE A GREAT REST YOUR WEEK