This transcript has been formatted and speaker-identified based on the provided city official list and contextual clues within the dialogue. Please note that "Councilmember Martin" and "Councilmember Moore" in the raw text correspond to **Danielle Robertson** and **Victor Rivas** respectively, and "Mr. Ballard/Willard" corresponds to **Priyanka Rai** (Council Secretary). Phonetic errors like "Mayor Hrabowski" have been corrected to **Tim Busse**. *** **[00:00] Tim Busse:** GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND WELCOME. I WILL CALL TO ORDER THIS BUSINESS MEETING OF THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH, 2023. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING BOTH HERE IN CHAMBERS AND ONLINE. WE WILL START OUR MEETING AS WE ALWAYS DO. IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. **(Pledge of Allegiance)** **[00:01] Tim Busse:** ONCE AGAIN, GOOD EVENING TO EVERYONE AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I SEE WE HAVE SOME SCOUTS IN THE AUDIENCE. GOOD EVENING, GENTLEMEN. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. GLAD TO SEE YOU. WE DO HAVE COUNCILMEMBER CARTER JOINING US REMOTELY FROM I BELIEVE D.C. THIS EVENING AND SO WE WILL CALL THE ROLL CALL OF THE COUNCIL AND WE'LL BE HAVING TO CALL THE ROLL EVERY TIME WE DO A VOTE AS WELL. SO, MS. RAI, IF YOU COULD CALL THE ROLL CALL COUNCIL PLEASE. **[00:02] Priyanka Rai:** Councilmember Carter? (Present). Councilmember Rivas? (Present). Councilmember Lowman? (Present). Councilmember Nelson? (Present). Councilmember Robertson? (Present). Councilmember Dallessandro? (Present). Mayor Busse? (Here). Record shows all seven members of the Bloomington City Council are present at this time. **[00:02] Tim Busse:** OUR FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA. WE'VE GOT AN AGENDA THIS EVENING THAT INCLUDES IN OUR INTRODUCTORY ITEMS AN INTRODUCTION OF SOME NEW EMPLOYEES HERE AT THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. WE'RE GOING TO GET AN UPDATE FROM OUR PARTNERS AT THE THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT ABOUT THE HIGHLAND GREENS GOLF COURSE AND THE WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. WE'RE GOING TO HEAR THE REPORT ON THE 2023 WORKPLAN FOR THE HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION AND THAT WILL WRAP UP OUR INTRODUCTORY ITEMS. WE HAVE 18 ITEMS ON OUR CONSENT BUSINESS. COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO HAS OUR CONSENT AGENDA THIS EVENING. UNDER ITEM 4, OUR HEARINGS, RESOLUTIONS, AND ORDINANCES, WE'VE GOT A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE DEVCO HOST APPROVAL AND ECONOMY SCHOLER FROM OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT WILL BE LEADING US THROUGH THAT. A PUBLIC HEARING ON A NEW ON-SALE INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION FOR FOGO GAUCHO. A PUBLIC HEARING ALSO REGARDING THE BOARD OF REVIEW ELIGIBILITY ORDINANCE. WE WILL BE MAKING APPOINTMENTS TO OUR BLOOMINGTON BOARD OF REVIEW AND THEN A PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE MINNESOTA INVESTMENT FUND AND JOB CREATION FUND APPLICATION THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED BY POLAR SEMICONDUCTOR. UNDER ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS, WE HAVE A LICENSE CODE UPDATE DISCUSSION, AN UPDATE ON OUR RANKED CHOICE VOTING, A DISCUSSION ALSO OF OUR HEALTH NEAR-TERM FACILITY NEEDS, AND OF COURSE, WE WILL WRAP UP THE EVENING WITH ITEM 5.4, OUR CITY COUNCIL POLICY AND ISSUE UPDATE. COUNCIL, ANY CORRECTIONS, ADDITIONS, ANYTHING WE WANT TO DISCUSS ON THIS? HEARING NONE, I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA. **[00:03] Dwayne Lowman:** SECOND. **[00:03] Tim Busse:** WE GOT A MOTION AND A SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN TO ACCEPT TONIGHT'S AGENDA. NO FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS. MS. RAI? **[00:03] Priyanka Rai:** Carter? (Aye). Rivas? (Aye). Lowman? (Aye). Nelson? (Aye). Robertson? (Aye). Dallessandro? (Aye). Mayor Busse? (Aye). Motion carries seven-zero and we have an agenda. **[00:04] Tim Busse:** OUR FIRST ITEM OF THE EVENING IS INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES. WE DO THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS HERE AT OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT AS WE GET NEW EMPLOYEES ON STAFF AT THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM HERE IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE NEW EMPLOYEES INTRODUCE THEMSELVES ON CAMERA TO THE CITY AT LARGE. I'M SEEING THREE NEW EMPLOYEES THAT WE ARE GOING TO INTRODUCE. ANYBODY CAN FACILITATE THIS? **[00:04] Ann Kattreh:** Mayor, City Manager, and Council, I would like to introduce Ian Brekky, who is the new Center for the Arts Manager. He started two weeks ago, so he got a real decent crash course in canceling events last week and he's still here, so he came back. So if Ian would like to join me at the podium. This is Ian Brekky, the new Center for the Arts Manager. **[00:05] Ian Brekky:** Good evening and welcome. Thank you so much for your time allowing me to speak with you all. Just a little background on me: I grew up in Minnesota but recently moved back here from California. I had a six-year run out there; started with school and then led to a decade-long teaching career out there, actually. I was most recently a tenured college professor in the Bay Area for a music department, was actually the music department chair for five years there. I moved back here for family, essentially. I found this position and I was very excited for the opportunity, not just for the job itself, but learning more about Bloomington. It became very clear to me that there have been multiple decades where this Council has supported the arts over and over. I don't think you can actually separate art and culture from one another. They are one and the same, and just the fact that City Council chambers are in the Center for the Arts is telling to me. So that to me was all the more reason to be excited for this position. I'm sincerely looking forward to the opportunity to continue to collaborate on serving this community to further the arts. Thank you so much for your time. **[00:06] Tim Busse:** WELL, THANK YOU AND THANKS FOR BEING WITH US THIS EVENING TO COME AND SAY HELLO. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THE TRIP BACK FROM THE WEST COAST TO MIDDLE AMERICA. WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND HAPPY TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. APPRECIATE IT. **[00:06] Ann Kattreh:** Welcome, Mayor and Council Members. I am here to present two new employees in the Parks and Recreation department. We have two Recreation Program Coordinators that are part-time. They both started a little less than a month ago. First, we have Matt Colwell. I would like to happily announce that he is one of NRPA's "30 Under 30," and so we are very lucky to have him here in Bloomington, but I will let him introduce himself more to you. **[00:07] Matt Colwell:** Hello, Mayor, members of the Council. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to come up and introduce myself here formally. As Ann said, my name is Matt. I grew up in Ham Lake, Minnesota, but I currently live in South Minneapolis. I have about four years of experience working in Parks and Recreation. Before coming to Bloomington, I was working for the City of Mendota Heights. I'm really excited to be here in Bloomington because, among Parks and Recreation professionals, Bloomington has a reputation for not only being a great place to work but also for offering some of the most high-quality and diverse recreation programming of anywhere in the state. So to be able to be here and to be part of that and to be working with such a great team is something I'm really excited about. Thank you very much for your time. **[00:07] Tim Busse:** WELL, THANK YOU. THANKS FOR COMING THIS EVENING. THANKS FOR JOINING THE CREW HERE. EXCITED TO SEE WHAT IS ON TAP FOR THE SPRING AND SUMMER ESPECIALLY IN OUR PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT. SO WELCOME ABOARD, WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH. **[00:08] Ann Kattreh:** Last but not least, I have Anthony Dibella. He is another Program Coordinator here part-time working for us, and he is assisting with adult sports, ice rinks, and anything in between. He is the guy to go to, but I'll let him tell you more himself. **[00:08] Anthony Dibella:** Good evening, Mayor, Council members. I was born in Bloomington and still live in Bloomington, actually. I recently moved back, and my parents are close to the house I grew up in. I'm excited to be here and to work for the city that I grew up in. I have experience in other Parks and Recreation departments such as Saint Cloud and Minneapolis, so I'm excited to showcase my skills and abilities for the residents of Bloomington. Happy to be here, and excited to serve the residents and the city I live and grew up in. **[00:09] Tim Busse:** WELL, THAT'S VERY COOL. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. I ALWAYS THINK IT'S COOL WHEN PEOPLE BUY THE HOUSE THEY GREW UP IN. WELCOME ABOARD. **[00:09] Zach Walker:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Council members, I am so pleased to introduce our new Port Authority Administrator, Holly Masek. Born in New Hampshire, spent a lot of time in Boston because she holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Boston University and a Master’s in Urban Planning from Harvard University. She has a background in urban design, redevelopment, real estate, and public space consulting. She's the former Executive Director from the Rochester Alliance. In her free time, she loves travel, spending time outdoors, and she said she's a "failed" Master Gardener because she couldn't commit to the required hours. So I told her, Mr. Mayor, that you may be able to help her in that arena. So, Holly. **[00:10] Holly Masek:** Good evening, Mayor and Council and City teammates. Nice to meet you all. Thank you for having me. I can be your East Coast representative. I came most recently from Rochester where I did my last decade of work. Bloomington has a reputation for excellence. I've seen so much already and I'm excited to work with the Port Authority team. I also am, yes, a "failed" Master Gardener. Those Master Gardeners are a very intense crew, so I do like plants a lot, but I just can't commit 50 hours of volunteer time to them. So if anybody has perennials they want to split with me, give me a call. **[00:11] Tim Busse:** ALL RIGHT. I AM RIGHT THERE WITH YOU. I CAN'T STACK UP TO THE MASTER GARDENERS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, BUT I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO GARDEN. WE CAN DO SOME AMATEUR GARDENING TOGETHER IF YOU WANT. THE COUNCIL HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF WELCOMING HOLLY AT OUR PORT AUTHORITY MEETING LAST WEEK, AND SO WE'RE HAPPY TO MAKE THAT INTRODUCTION. WE ALL KNOW YOU HAVE A BIG JOB AND A LOT AHEAD OF YOU. I'M VERY EXCITED TO SEE WHERE THE PORT AUTHORITY TAKES US OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS HERE IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU TO LEAD THAT EFFORT. **[00:12] Zach Walker:** I just want to add one thing, Mr. Mayor. Last year when we were on that CLV trip, Stephanie Brown, who is the Director of the Urban Land Institute for the State of Minnesota, said if we had any positions to send them her way. I did when this position became vacant, and she recommended Holly. So Holly wasn't looking for a position, but that trip got us our next Port Administrator. **[00:13] Tim Busse:** WELL, THANK YOU. HOLLY AND ANTHONY AND MATT, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. WELCOME. WE'RE VERY GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR NEW EMPLOYEES. NEXT UP ON OUR AGENDA IS ITEM 2.2, AN UPDATE ON THE HIGHLAND GREENS GOLF COURSE AND OUR PARTNERS AT THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, THE CITY WENT INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT TO TURN OVER THE OPERATION OF HIGHLAND GREENS. THESE FOLKS KNOW HOW TO RUN A PAR-THREE GOLF COURSE AND THEY DO AN EXCELLENT JOB WITH IT. WE WERE SO FORTUNATE TO GET INTO THIS STRONG PARTNERSHIP. I'D LIKE TO CALL FORWARD THE CHAIR OF THE THREE RIVERS PARK DISTRICT, MR. JOHN GIBBS, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT, BEAU CARLSON. GENTLEMEN, GOOD EVENING. **[00:14] John Gibbs:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor. John Gibbs here. I am honored to be able to chair the Three Rivers District, but more pleased with the opportunity of being able to represent Bloomington, Richfield, and Eden Prairie. One of the hallmarks of this era of Three Rivers are partnerships and alignments—really trying to stay focused on what we think we do best: natural resources management, operating regional parks, skiing, and golfing. Bloomington is clearly a very meaningful partner. We wanted to share our perspective on how it's going after two years. To do this correctly, our Superintendent is going to give this report. **[00:15] Tim Busse:** WELL, THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER GIBBS, FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. WE APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU DO FOR BLOOMINGTON. MR. CARLSON? **[00:16] Beau Carlson:** Good evening, Mr. Mayor, Council members. Bloomington and the Park District entered an agreement for Highland Greens back in 2021. This will be our third year of operation and an opportunity to assess its success. We did 24,000 rounds last year—that's up from about 20,000 in 2021. We had about 20,000 range visits which netted $120,000 in revenue. We also replaced the bentgrass with a ryegrass that’s much more durable, which golfers prefer over hitting off mats. Lesson revenue is the big success. Through our First Tee program targeted toward kids, we did $57,000 in revenue, up from about $8,000 the year prior. We host two high school teams—Kennedy and Jefferson—and a junior high team from Richfield. Overall, we hit about $650,000 in revenue, an increase from $475,000 the year prior. Efficiency is key; we run this in partnership with Glen Lake in Minnetonka/Eden Prairie and share staff. Bottom line: we were able to net about $65,000. **[00:18] Beau Carlson:** Regarding improvements: in 2021 we did carpet, paint, walls, and windows in the sunroom. We took the kiosk and moved it to the parking lot to create a patio seating area where people can watch the first tee. We rebuilt every sand trap on the course. However, we have challenges. We have an Emerald Ash Borer issue. We've removed about 75 infested trees and need to remove 75 more. The irrigation pump and control system are 50 or 60 years old and need replacement (approx. $150,000). The maintenance facility and clubhouse both need roof replacements and HVAC work. We also need better signage on Normandale Boulevard and the perimeter fence is a bit of an eyesore. Long-term sustainability requires investing back into the operation. **[00:20] Tim Busse:** THANK YOU, MR. CARLSON. COUNSEL, ANY QUESTIONS? COUNCILMEMBER CARTER? **[00:20] Jenna Carter:** I don't actually have a question. I just want to say I’ve heard a lot of positive feedback from residents. I took the women’s golf lessons last summer and they were fantastic. Let’s be real, I need more lessons. I'm glad the partnership is working out so well. **[00:21] Shawn Nelson:** Thank you, Mayor. I'd like to thank Mr. Gibbs, who is in my district and reached out proactively about the ash trees so I could help residents. Regarding the trees, are you going to replace them at least one-for-one? **[00:22] Beau Carlson:** Mr. Mayor, Councilmember Nelson, that is our intent. We grow our own plant material in our nursery—about a couple hundred thousand trees a year—so 150 trees is easy to replace. In golf, trees provide separation and protection, so we’ll likely plant more than one-to-one to meet those architectural needs. **[00:23] Shawn Nelson:** Regarding the building: any consideration of doing something completely different or just improving the existing one? **[00:23] Beau Carlson:** There are ADA accessibility challenges. We’re looking at a roof-mounted HVAC replacement or potentially "mini-splits" which would be more economical for a seasonal operation and allow us to fix the roof, which currently has leaking and mold issues in the basement. **[00:24] Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate the focus on customer service. Is the concern about young people’s interest in golf still a factor, or are we immune to that here? **[00:25] Beau Carlson:** COVID brought people out to golf and skiing in droves. We had record years in 2020, 2021, and 2022. Our niche is junior golf and seniors. 25,000 rounds for a par-three is impressive. **[00:26] Dwayne Lowman:** One question for the Manager: are we still looking at the Golf Museum or PGA/Midwest partnership? **[00:26] Zach Walker:** Councilmember, those conversations got put on the back burner during COVID, but I just had a conversation with them in the last month to see if there's still interest. **[00:27] Lona Dallessandro:** Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I enjoy Highland thoroughly. It's accessible for women and a par-three isn't daunting. Also, the Porta-Potties out there are amazing—you guys are nailing it. On a fiscal note, do we have an obligation as the owner for capital projects? And when do we talk about the next term of the agreement? **[00:28] Zach Walker:** Mr. Mayor, Councilmember Dallessandro, we’ll start those discussions later this year before the next season. It's reasonable to expect an operator would want to know the future for facility improvements. **[00:30] Shawn Nelson:** As we get into discussions, I hope we talk about the vacant acres out there and winter uses to make it a year-round location. **[00:31] Tim Busse:** MR. CARLSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE. OUR FINAL INTRODUCTORY ITEM IS 2.3, THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT AND 2023 WORKPLAN FOR OUR HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION. JOINING US IS MOLLY BOSU, CHAIR OF THE HRC. **[00:32] Molly Bosu:** Good evening, Mayor Busse and Council members. I’m here to share our 2022 report and 2023 workplan. We have nine members, seven adults and two youth. Highlights from 2022: we donated over 200 DEI-focused books to the Bloomington Public Schools. We worked on community education regarding racially restrictive covenants—we’ve had 86 requests for discharge. We hosted the "Come As You Are" art exhibition and the second annual Pride celebration, which saw over 3,000 community members. We also held our first joint meeting of board and commission chairs. **[00:35] Molly Bosu:** For 2023, our plan is structured into Annual Initiatives (Proclamations and the Omar Bonderud Award), Work Group Initiatives (Just Deeds, Housing/Homelessness, and LGBTQ+ Equity), and Partnerships. Our two youth commissioners are heavily involved in the LGBTQ+ work group. **[00:37] Dwayne Lowman:** Thank you for your work. I saw the Human Rights Campaign score of 84 in the appendix. I’d love to see that higher. **[00:38] Zach Walker:** Councilmember, when I started in 2015, that score was in the 20s. Moving to 84 is a credit to the HRC and staff. **[00:39] Jenna Carter:** Quick question: how does the HRC work with the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (OREIB)? **[00:40] Molly Bosu:** We’ve collaborated in the past, such as inviting Faith Jackson to our meetings. We definitely desire a closer relationship and see it as a growth opportunity. **[00:41] Tim Busse:** IF THERE IS NOTHING ELSE, I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE HRC 2023 WORK PLAN. **[00:41] Danielle Robertson:** SO MOVED. **[00:41] Lona Dallessandro:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[00:42] Tim Busse:** ITEM 3 IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER DALLESSANDRO? **[00:43] Lona Dallessandro:** THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. I WILL MOVE TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 3.1 THROUGH 3.17, HOLDING 3.18. **[00:43] Dwayne Lowman:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[00:44] Lona Dallessandro:** ITEM 3.18 WAS HELD BY COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN. **[00:44] Dwayne Lowman:** I want to abstain on this one as it involves the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Assistant City Attorneys Unit. **[00:45] Lona Dallessandro:** I have a question for the City Manager. Can you provide an overview of the changes? **[00:45] Zach Walker:** This was an item where there was agreement previously but it was left out of the final document. The union preferred to reopen the agreement and have Council ratify it again rather than just doing a memorandum of understanding. **[00:46] Lona Dallessandro:** I MOVE TO AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS TO EXECUTE THE AMENDED 2022-2023 LABOR AGREEMENT WITH AFSCME COUNCIL 5. **[00:46] Danielle Robertson:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 6-0-1 with Lowman abstaining)** **[00:47] Tim Busse:** ITEM 4.1 IS A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE DEVCO HOST APPROVAL. ECONOMY SCHOLER IS HERE TO EXPLAIN. **[00:48] Economy Scholer:** Host approval is required under federal tax rules when another entity is issuing tax-exempt bonds for a project in our city. Devco is a non-profit. The City of Minnetonka is issuing the bonds, but some proceeds will be spent on 50 townhomes in Bloomington. These will remain affordable rental units under Section 8. **[00:49] Shawn Nelson:** Is there any cost to the City of Bloomington? **[00:49] Julie Long:** (Bond Attorney): No cost to Bloomington. Devco pays the fees and the bond attorney costs. The units will have 30 years of affordability at 60% AMI. **[00:50] Tim Busse:** I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. (No speakers). I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. **[00:51] Dwayne Lowman:** SO MOVED. **[00:51] Lona Dallessandro:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[00:52] Dwayne Lowman:** I MOVE TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION GRANTING HOST CITY APPROVAL TO THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS BY THE CITY OF MINNETONKA. **[00:52] Shawn Nelson:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[00:53] Tim Busse:** ITEM 4.2 IS A NEW ON-SALE INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSE FOR FOGO GAUCHO. MR. JUNKER? **[00:54] Nick Junker:** This is for the Brazilian Steakhouse over off Killebrew and 77. Everything has checked out and they are ready to open once this is filed with the state. **[00:55] Tim Busse:** I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. (No speakers). MOTION TO CLOSE? **[00:56] Danielle Robertson:** SO MOVED. **[00:56] Victor Rivas:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[00:57] Danielle Robertson:** I MOVE WE APPROVE THE ON-SALE INTOXICATING LIQUOR LICENSE FOR FOGO GAUCHO. **[00:57] Victor Rivas:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[00:58] Tim Busse:** ITEM 4.3 IS THE PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING THE BOARD OF REVIEW ELIGIBILITY ORDINANCE. MR. BULGER? **[00:59] Tim Bulger:** We are asking to amend the language requiring two members to have commercial/industrial experience, changing that number to one. Over the last 20 years, 91% of our appeals have been residential. Savvy commercial owners usually go straight to tax court. This change better aligns the board's expertise with the actual workload. **[01:02] Lona Dallessandro:** Does having only one commercial member create a point of failure if they are the only ones providing an opinion on those rare cases? **[01:03] Tim Bulger:** Most commercial cases are resolved informally before the meeting. If not, they usually go to the County Board or Tax Court, which are better equipped for high-value commercial analysis. **[01:05] Tim Busse:** I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. (No speakers). MOTION TO CLOSE? **[01:06] Dwayne Lowman:** SO MOVED. **[01:06] Danielle Robertson:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[01:07] Dwayne Lowman:** I MOVE TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE MODIFYING THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BOARD OF REVIEW. **[01:07] Shawn Nelson:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[01:08] Tim Busse:** ITEM 4.4 IS THE APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD. **[01:08] Tim Bulger:** We recommend Lee Krueger. He was the St. Paul Port Authority President and has decades of commercial real estate experience. **[01:10] Lona Dallessandro:** I MOVE TO APPOINT LEE KRUEGER TO THE BLOOMINGTON BOARD OF REVIEW. **[01:10] Dwayne Lowman:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[01:11] Tim Busse:** ITEM 4.5 REGARDS POLAR SEMICONDUCTOR. GIVEN MY ASSOCIATION WITH POLAR, I WILL RECUSE MYSELF AND HAND THE GAVEL TO ACTING MAYOR NELSON. **(Tim Busse exits)** **[01:12] Shawn Nelson:** I WILL CALL ITEM 4.5. MR. SCHMIDT? **[01:13] Jason Schmidt:** Polar is looking to apply for the Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) and Job Creation Fund (JCF). The City acts as a pass-through. Polar plans to build out their "Fab 3" facility and create 73 new jobs. We are asking for up to $4.4 million in state assistance. **[01:15] Lona Dallessandro:** Is there any liability on the City’s side for repayment? **[01:15] Jason Schmidt:** No. The City is just a pass-through for verification of invoices and job creation. **[01:17] Jenna Carter:** What is the average salary for these 73 new positions? **[01:18] Jason Schmidt:** They are above a livable wage, and I can have Polar representatives provide specifics if needed. **[01:19] Danielle Robertson:** Is this parallel with federal CHIPS Act funding? **[01:20] Jason Schmidt:** Yes, state/local contributions are often used as leverage for federal CHIPS dollars. **[01:21] Shawn Nelson:** I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. (No speakers). MOTION TO CLOSE? **[01:22] Dwayne Lowman:** SO MOVED. **[01:22] Lona Dallessandro:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 6-0)** **[01:23] Lona Dallessandro:** I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION REGARDING THE MIF AND JCF APPLICATION FOR POLAR SEMICONDUCTOR. **[01:23] Victor Rivas:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 6-0)** **(Tim Busse returns)** **[01:24] Tim Busse:** ITEM 5.1 IS THE LICENSE CODE UPDATE. MR. JUNKER? **[01:25] Nick Junker:** We're looking to streamline. For liquor licenses, we want to move from public hearings to the consent agenda. It saves about three weeks of advertising time. For massage, we want to move from public hearings to staff approval or consent. We also want a flat $50 fee for amusement devices and a flat $350 fee for laundromats. Finally, we recommend getting out of the taxicab licensing business. Uber/Lyft have decimated the industry; we haven’t had a local taxi license in years. **[01:28] Dwayne Lowman:** I'm supportive. What about driverless cars or UBER/LYFT regulations? **[01:29] Nick Junker:** Those are tough to regulate locally and are often handled at the state or MAC level, but it’s something to keep an eye on for the future. **[01:31] Danielle Robertson:** Why do we license amusement devices? **[01:32] Nick Junker:** Traditionally to check for illegal gambling devices. **[01:34] Lona Dallessandro:** I'm fine with consent for liquor, staff approval for massage, and dissolving taxi licensing. **[01:36] Tim Busse:** THANK YOU, MR. JUNKER. HEAD IN THAT DIRECTION. ITEM 5.2 IS RANKED CHOICE VOTING. MS. SCIPIONE? **[01:37] Christina Scipione:** We have three recommended changes for 2023: 1) Decrease candidate rankings on the ballot from six to three due to physical ballot space constraints. 2) Require write-in candidates to register seven days in advance. 3) Use the spreadsheet tabulation method instead of hand-counting to ensure we meet the 10-day canvassing deadline. **[01:40] Shawn Nelson:** I agree with these, especially the spreadsheet method for speed, provided the post-election audit is still in place. **[01:42] Tim Busse:** AGREE. THE UNDER-VOTE DATA SHOWS MOST PEOPLE ONLY RANK THREE ANYWAY. ITEM 5.3 IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITY. DR. KELLY? **[01:44] Nick Kelley:** Our building opened in 1981 and was built in the 60s with a 40-year life expectancy. It’s past its useful life. We have 57 staff in a space designed for much fewer. Mechanical systems are failing. We’re asking for approval to explore short-term leasing options (approx. 11,000 sq ft) while we wait for a long-term solution like the Community Health and Wellness Center (which is 4-5 years away). **[01:48] Zach Walker:** We have $500,000 in carryover funds to start this, but we will need more for the full lease and build-out. **[01:51] Shawn Nelson:** I’d like to see if we can remodel the existing building instead of a short-term lease "band-aid." **[01:52] Zach Walker:** It doesn't make fiscal sense to remodel it given the systemic failures. We need to find a way to serve our residents with the dignity they deserve. **[01:55] Tim Busse:** DR. KELLY, GO FORTH AND EXPLORE OPTIONS. ITEM 5.4 IS COUNCIL UPDATES. EARLIER TONIGHT WE HAD A LISTENING SESSION. WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL RESIDENTS ON CODE ENFORCEMENT, TOBACCO ZONING, SHORT-TERM RENTALS, AND A FUNDING REQUEST FROM CONTINENTAL BALLET. MR. WALKER, TRAVEL REQUEST? **[01:57] Zach Walker:** We need approval for the Mayor to travel to D.C. for meetings with the congressional delegation. Estimated cost is $1,000. **[01:58] Dwayne Lowman:** SO MOVED. **[01:58] Lona Dallessandro:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[01:59] Dwayne Lowman:** I’d like to revisit the Veterans Memorial location. With more programming on the lawn now, is it still the best spot? **[02:00] Tim Busse:** WE MADE A STRONG COMMITMENT TO THE BLOOMINGTON REMEMBERS VETERANS GROUP. I’D BE HESITANT TO BACKPEDAL, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT THE PROS AND CONS. **[02:02] Jenna Carter:** I have a Town Hall on March 11th. Also, I’ve been appointed as an alternate to the SCHAC executive committee. **[02:03] Lona Dallessandro:** I want to put in a plug for the Animal Control facility. They need about $100,000 for a fence and windows to improve conditions for the animals. **[02:05] Tim Busse:** THANK YOU, COUNCIL. MOTION TO ADJOURN? **[02:06] Dwayne Lowman:** SO MOVED. **[02:06] Shawn Nelson:** SECOND. **(Roll call vote: Passes 7-0)** **[02:06] Tim Busse:** WE ARE ADJOURNED.