This transcript has been formatted with speaker identifications based on the provided city official list and contextual clues within the dialogue. **Note:** As the original transcript did not contain timestamps, `[00:00:00]` placeholders are used, or they are omitted if preferred; however, per your request for the format `[Timestamp] Speaker Name: <Dialogue>`, I have included logical markers. *** [00:00:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: GOOD EVENING EVERYONE AND WELCOME. I LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING OF THE BLOOMINGTON CITY COUNCIL TO ORDER. IT IS MONDAY JANUARY 23RD, 2023. THANKS EVERYONE FOR JOINING US HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND WATCHING ONLINE. WE WILL BEGIN OUR MEETING AS WE ALWAYS DO IF YOU COULD PLEASE STAND AND JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH I STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [00:00:45] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS COUNCIL IS TO ADOPT OUR AGENDA. OUR AGENDA THIS EVENING INCLUDES THREE DIFFERENT THINGS IN OUR INTRODUCTORY ITEMS: THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE, INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES, AND THEN AN UPDATE ON THE WELCOME TO BLOOMINGTON DESIGN GROUP WHICH I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEARING. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS OUR CONSENT BUSINESS TONIGHT AND WE'VE GOT NINE ITEMS ON THE CONSENT AGENDA. UNDER HEARINGS AND RESOLUTIONS, WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITIES: WE'VE GOT A 4.1 WHICH IS A PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY REGARDING THE BLOOMINGTON SALES TAX RESOLUTION, AND THEN ITEM 4.2 IS AN ACTUAL PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO OUR EARNED SICK AND SAFE LEAVE ORDINANCE. UNDER ITEM FIVE, ORGANIZATIONAL BUSINESS, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT OUR SIGN ORDINANCE—THAT WILL BE AN UPDATE, KIND OF A STUDY ITEM ISSUE—AND THEN WE'LL WRAP UP THE EVENING AS WE ALWAYS DO WITH ITEM 5.2, OUR CITY COUNCIL POLICY ISSUE UPDATE. COUNCIL, ANY CHANGES, ADDITIONS OR SUBTRACTIONS FROM THE TIMES AGENDA? HEARING NONE I WOULD MOVE APPROVAL OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA. [00:01:30] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: SECOND. [00:01:32] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOTION AND A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA. NO FURTHER COUNCIL DISCUSSION ON THIS. AND JUST SO YOU KNOW, COUNCILMEMBER CARTER IS JOINING US REMOTELY THIS EVENING IN A PUBLIC LOCATION. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO ALL OF OUR VOTES VIA ROLL CALL AGAIN. SO WE'VE GOT A MOTION IN A SECOND TO APPROVE TONIGHT'S AGENDA. [00:01:50] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER CARTER? MR. MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, COUNCILMEMBER CARTER IS HAVING AUDIO DIFFICULTIES HEARING AND I WILL USE THE CHAT FEATURE TO NOTIFY HER WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO VOTE. AND MAYOR, SHE SAID SHE'LL CALL INTO THE NUMBER BUT SHE WILL STAY ON THE VIDEO SO SHE'LL BE DOING AUDIO SEPARATELY I BELIEVE. [00:02:10] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. [00:02:12] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER D'ALESANDRO? [00:02:14] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: AYE. [00:02:15] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON (Martin)? [00:02:16] **Danielle Robertson, Councilmember**: AYE. [00:02:17] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? [00:02:18] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: AYE. [00:02:19] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN? [00:02:20] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: AYE. [00:02:21] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: MAYOR BUSSE? [00:02:22] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: AYE. MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA IS THE APPOINTMENT OF A NEW COUNCILMEMBER AT LARGE BECAUSE WE HAVE AN AUDIO ISSUE. COUNCIL, NOW THAT WE'VE ADOPTED THE AGENDA, I'M GOING TO ADJUST THE AGENDA. I'D LIKE TO MOVE ON TO ITEM 2.2 IF WE COULD, AND EVEN IF NECESSARY 2.3, SO WE MAKE SURE THAT COUNCILMEMBER CARTER HAS HER AUDIO WORKING AND CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION AND THE ULTIMATE VOTING FOR THE COUNCIL MEMBER AT-LARGE SEAT. SO WE'RE GONNA MOVE TO ITEM 2.2; WE'RE GOING TO JUMP TO THAT AND WE WILL COME BACK TO ITEM 2.1. ITEM 2.2 IS OUR INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES AND WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF NEW EMPLOYEES. WELCOME TO THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. THIS WEEK WE'VE GOT FOLKS FROM PARK REC, FROM FINANCE, AND FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. WHY DON'T WE START WITH PARK AND REC? I SEE FOLKS COMING FORWARD TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEES. [00:03:30] **Ann Kattreh, Parks and Recreation Director**: MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS, GOOD EVENING. [00:03:32] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ALISON, WELCOME. [00:03:34] **Ann Kattreh, Parks and Recreation Director**: THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE OUR NEWEST EMPLOYEE HERE, ANDY RANDALL, AND SHE IS OUR OFFICE SUPPORT SPECIALIST. I'LL LET HER TELL A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HERSELF, BUT WE ARE ALREADY VERY APPRECIATIVE OF HER EXCELLENT ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS, TECHNOLOGY APTITUDE, AND JUST HER POSITIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTITUDE. BUT THIS IS ANDY. [00:03:55] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: GOOD EVENING. WELCOME. [00:03:57] **Andy Randall, Staff**: HI. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I'M ANDY RANDALL. I'M FROM MAPLE GROVE ORIGINALLY; I LIVED THERE UNTIL I WENT TO SCHOOL IN EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN. STUDIED SOME SPANISH AND SOME MUSIC—SOME AREAS OF INTEREST TO ME. SINCE SCHOOL I WORKED IN A WIDE VARIETY, EVERYTHING FROM NONPROFIT VICTIM SERVICES, RETAIL MANAGEMENT, TO CLINICAL ADMINISTRATOR. AND NOW I'M VERY HAPPY TO BE LANDING HERE IN PARKS AND REC TO PUT ALL THAT EXPERIENCE TO GREAT WORK. [00:04:20] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: GREAT AND WELCOME. VOCAL MUSIC? [00:04:22] **Andy Randall, Staff**: INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC. [00:04:23] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: INSTRUMENTAL. VERY GOOD. WHAT ARE YOU PLAYING? [00:04:25] **Andy Randall, Staff**: FRENCH HORN IS MY PRIMARY ORCHESTRA. [00:04:27] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: OH, THAT'S COOL. WELL, WELCOME ABOARD. GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE TONIGHT AND NOW WELCOME ABOARD TO THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. [00:04:32] **Andy Randall, Staff**: THANK YOU SO MUCH. [00:04:34] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: AND IN OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT, WE'VE TWO NEW EMPLOYEES. LAURIE ECONOMY-SCHULLER, OUR CFO, IS GOING TO WELCOME AND SAY HELLO AND INTRODUCE A COUPLE OF EMPLOYEES TO US. [00:04:45] **Lori Economy-Schuller, CFO**: GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL. WITH ME TONIGHT ARE THESE TWO LOVELY LADIES. THE FIRST LADY I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE IS DAVINA ST. JAMES. DAVINA IS OUR NEWEST CASHIER. SHE IS A BREATH OF FRESH AIR GREETING CUSTOMERS BOTH ON THE PHONE AND IN PERSON. DAVINA HAS MULTIPLE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING FOR HENNEPIN COUNTY IN THE SOCIAL SERVICE AREA. HER MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE WAS FOR A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY WHERE SHE WORKED WITH VARIOUS RESIDENTS, CULTURES, AND LANGUAGES. WHEN DAVINA ISN'T HERE LEARNING AND HELPING IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT, SHE LIKES TO VOLUNTEER AND SPEND TIME WITH HER TWO WONDERFUL GRANDSONS. DAVINA? [00:05:20] **Davina St. James, Staff**: GOOD EVENING. HELLO. YES, LIKE SHE SAID I LOVE MY GRANDBABIES. I AM A RESIDENT OF BLOOMINGTON NOW. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. MY PASSION IS I.T., BUT I REALLY LOVE WORKING WITH NUMBERS. I AM IN FINANCE NOW AND I REALLY ENJOY IT HERE. EVERYBODY IS VERY WARM AND WELCOMING AND IT GIVES ME A SENSE OF INCLUSION HERE SO I AM PROUD TO BE HERE. VERY. [00:05:50] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: WELL, WELCOME. [00:05:52] **Lori Economy-Schuller, CFO**: SHE'S ALSO A VOLUNTEER SO WE WILL BE GETTING HER HOOKED UP WITH LOAVES AND FISHES. [00:05:55] **Davina St. James, Staff**: OH, I LOVE TO VOLUNTEER. YES, YES. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS DO WITH DIVERSITY HERE TOO BECAUSE I WAS A PROJECT MEMBER OF THE COUNTY AND A CHAIR SO I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE. [00:06:05] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: THE GRANDKIDS—HOW OLD ARE THEY? [00:06:07] **Davina St. James, Staff**: THEY ARE 7 AND 9. [00:06:09] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: 7 AND 9. GOOD FOR YOU. WELCOME. [00:06:11] **Lori Economy-Schuller, CFO**: COMING NEXT UP IS LENA [BE PAJIBA]. LENA WAS BORN AND GREW UP IN ETHIOPIA. SHE IS MULTILINGUAL. SHE GREW UP IN A TOWN WHERE THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION ARE MULTILINGUAL. SHE GREW UP HELPING HER FATHER WITH HIS ACCOUNTING BUSINESS SINCE SHE WAS 12, AND ON JANUARY OF THIS YEAR SHE STARTED IN THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT IN THE PURCHASING AREA AS AN ACCOUNTING ASSISTANT. ONE OF HER MAIN FUNCTIONS AS WE ARE TRANSITIONING IS SHE WILL BE IN CHARGE OF P-CARDS, SO YOU MAY BE GETTING EMAILS IN REGARDS TO P-CARDS AND JUST INFORMATION ON THAT AREA. SHE IS A MOTHER OF TWO BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN AND ONE OF THEM IS WITH HER THIS EVENING. IN HER FREE TIME SHE LOVES TO COOK, OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES, AND VOLUNTEERING IN HER COMMUNITY WITH SINGLE PARENTS AND CHILDREN OF VARIOUS NEEDS. [00:06:55] **Lena, Staff**: HELLO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME OVER TODAY. AS LORI MENTIONED, I AM FROM ETHIOPIA AND I'M HAPPY TO BE WITH THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. [00:07:05] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: WELL, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING. THANKS FOR JOINING THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. AND YOU HAVE TO INTRODUCE YOUR DAUGHTER. [00:07:12] **Lena, Staff**: MY DAUGHTER MIRIAM, COME ON. [00:07:14] **Miriam**: HI, I'M MIRIAM. I'M IN NINTH GRADE AND I GO TO JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL. [00:07:18] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: VERY GOOD. WELCOME. THANK YOU. GREAT YOU'RE HERE SUPPORTING YOUR MOM TONIGHT. GOOD JOB. WELCOME, GOOD TO SEE YOU. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. AND FINALLY, IT LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS IN OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. CARLA HENDERSON IS GOING TO INTRODUCE THEM TO US. [00:07:35] **Carla Henderson, Community Development**: GOOD EVENING MR. MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. WE USUALLY DO NOT INTRODUCE INTERNS BUT I WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE WORKING WITH THE CITIZENS LEAGUE, WHICH IS A NONPARTISAN THINK TANK. IN 2016 THEY STARTED A PROGRAM CALLED CAPITAL PATHWAYS, AND SO THEY TAKE BIPOC STUDENTS WHO ARE ATTENDING TWO AND FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES IN MINNESOTA AND OFFER PAID INTERNSHIPS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICES, NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS, AND LAW FIRMS TO GIVE THEM EXPOSURE TO CAREERS IN PUBLIC POLICY MAKING AND SERVICES. AND SO WITH THAT I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE OUR INTERN FROM CAPITAL PATHWAYS—THIS IS PRISCILLA MAYORGA. SHE STARTED ON JANUARY 3RD AND WE THOUGHT WHAT BETTER PROJECT FOR HER TO WORK ON IS ACTUALLY HELPING US CREATE AN INTERNSHIP IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON CALLED "BLOOM IN BLOOMINGTON" WHICH YOU WILL HEAR MORE ABOUT AT A LATER DATE. SHE IS CURRENTLY STUDYING CREATIVE PRACTICES MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT AT METRO STATE UNIVERSITY AND SHE ENJOYS SOLVING PROBLEMS AND DREAMING UP SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES. SHE ALSO LOVES ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND DOES CREATIVE WRITING IN HER FREE TIME. [00:08:45] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: GOOD EVENING PRISCILLA. [00:08:47] **Priscilla Mayorga, Intern**: HI. HELLO. IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. THIS IS VERY SCARY. [00:08:51] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: YOU'RE DOING GREAT. THANK YOU. WELCOME ABOARD. I HAD MENTIONED YOU'D LIKE TO DO CREATIVE WRITING IN YOUR FREE TIME. I DIDN'T HEAR A WHOLE LOT OF FREE TIME GIVEN EVERYTHING GOING ON RIGHT NOW. [00:09:00] **Priscilla Mayorga, Intern**: YEAH. SO MY FREE TIME IS MY TIME AND MY CREATIVE WRITING IS MY WORK. SO IT WORKS OUT. [00:09:05] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: OH GREAT. WELL GOOD, GLAD TO HAVE YOU ON BOARD. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. [00:09:09] **Carla Henderson, Community Development**: NEXT WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE DAN BAFFSKY WHO IS A COMMERCIAL PROPERTY APPRAISER IN OUR ASSESSING TEAM. HE JOINED US ON NOVEMBER 21ST AND PRIOR TO JOINING THE TEAM HE WAS A COMMERCIAL APPRAISER AT DAKOTA COUNTY FOR EIGHT YEARS. HE ALSO HAS TEN YEARS OF EXPERIENCE ON THE RESIDENTIAL SIDE OF ASSESSING AT SCOTT COUNTY. HE WILL PRIMARILY FOCUS ON LARGER INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, AUTO-RELATED PROPERTIES, FAST FOOD SHOPPING CENTERS, AND SMALLER APARTMENT BUILDINGS. DAN IS MARRIED TO SHEILA AND THEY LIVE IN LAKEVILLE WITH THEIR THREE DOGS. DAVID AND SHEILA LIKE TO TRAVEL AND RECENTLY VISITED MEMPHIS. [00:09:40] **Dan Baffsky, Staff**: THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. [00:09:43] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TONIGHT. [00:09:46] **Carla Henderson, Community Development**: NEXT WE'RE GOING TO INTRODUCE NYESHA LOCKWOOD WHO IS AN OFFICE SUPPORT SPECIALIST IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. SHE ALSO JOINED US ON JANUARY 3RD. SHE HAS EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RESOLVING COMPLEX COMPLAINT CASEWORK FROM 13 YEARS AT WELLS FARGO MORTGAGE. SHE IS THE PROUD MOTHER OF THREE AND HAS LIVED IN MINNESOTA FOR 20 YEARS. [00:10:05] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: GOOD EVENING, NYESHA. WELCOME. [00:10:07] **Nyesha Lockwood, Staff**: GOOD EVENING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME. [00:10:09] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: WHAT MADE YOU MAKE THE CHANGE FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO THE PUBLIC SECTOR? [00:10:12] **Nyesha Lockwood, Staff**: I WANTED TO DEAL WITH MORE PEOPLE. [00:10:14] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: YOU'LL BE DEALING WITH PEOPLE. WELCOME. WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. [00:10:18] **Carla Henderson, Community Development**: AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, WE HAVE MICHELLE LINCOLN WHO IS OUR NEWEST PLANNER BUT ALSO WILL BE SPENDING 20% OF HER TIME WITH THE HRA WORKING ON HOUSING. SHE JUST JOINED US ON JANUARY 9TH AND SHE'S OUR NEWEST LONG-RANGE PLANNER. MICHELLE GREW UP IN CALIFORNIA AND ARIZONA. SHE HAS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE FROM BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY AND SHE HAS TWO MASTER'S DEGREES FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN—ONE IN URBAN PLANNING AND ONE IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. PRIOR TO JOINING US SHE WORKED AT THE MINNEHAHA CREEK WATERSHED DISTRICT. [00:10:48] **Michelle Lincoln, Staff**: HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WELCOMING ME TO THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. I'M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE. [00:10:54] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I'M GLAD TO HAVE YOU AND I'M INTERESTED TO HEAR HOW IT'S GOING TO WORK SPLITTING THE TIME BETWEEN PLANNING AND THE WORK WITH HRA. BRINGING THOSE TWO TOGETHER IS GOING TO BE IMPORTANT SO I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ONE FOOT IN EACH WORLD THERE. [00:11:05] **Michelle Lincoln, Staff**: ME TOO. I LIKE HOUSING A LOT SO THIS IS PERFECT. [00:11:08] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: WELCOME. THANKS FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ANDY, DAVINA, LENA, NYESHA, DAN, MICHELLE, AND PRISCILLA. WELCOME. SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE AT THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. WE'RE GOING TO DO A QUICK MIC CHECK. COUNCILMEMBER CARTER, CAN YOU HEAR ME AND CAN WE HEAR YOU? [00:11:30] **Jenna Carter, Councilmember**: CAN YOU HEAR ME? [00:11:32] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: YES, WE CAN. VERY GOOD. THANK FOR YOUR PATIENCE. NOW THAT WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER CARTER BACK, WE'RE GOING TO DOUBLE BACK IN OUR AGENDA TO ITEM 2.1 WHICH IS THE APPOINTMENT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE. AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE HAD I THINK 18 OR 19 APPLICANTS FOR THIS OPEN POSITION—THE COUNCILMEMBER AT LARGE SEAT THAT COUNCILMEMBER COULTER SERVED UNTIL HE WAS ELECTED TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE. WE DID INITIAL INTERVIEWS WITH EACH OF THEM AND THEN CALLED FIVE BACK FOR SECOND INTERVIEWS. WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT OUR POOL OF CANDIDATES AND I WILL SAY WE HAVE AN OUTSTANDING POOL OF CANDIDATES TO CHOOSE FROM. I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO DID APPLY. THANK YOU FOR COMING FORWARD AND PUTTING YOURSELF OUT THERE. [00:12:15] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: OUR VOTING ORDER TONIGHT, MR. [RAI] WAS SHARP ENOUGH TO DO A RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR FOR US. THE WAY THE CITY CHARTER IS WRITTEN IS WE HAVE THREE SHOTS AT THIS. WE HAVE THREE CRACKS TO TRY TO GET TO A MAJORITY—GET TO FOUR VOTES. IF WE DON'T GET TO FOUR ON ANY OF THOSE THREE ROUNDS, THEN IT BECOMES AN APPOINTMENT OF THE MAYOR. SO, THE ORDER WILL BE COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON (Martin), LOWMAN, NELSON, D'ALESANDRO, CARTER, AND ME. ANYBODY CLEAR ON THAT? [00:12:55] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: SO MAYOR, IF A CANDIDATE HAS ONE VOTE AND ANOTHER HAS TWO, WE'D ELIMINATE THE ZERO AND ONE SO THEN WE'D HAVE JUST THE CANDIDATE WITH TWO LEFT OVER IN THE FIRST ROUND? [00:13:05] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: THAT IS CORRECT. MR. [RAI], IF YOU COULD CALL THE ROLL PLEASE. [00:13:10] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON (Martin)? [00:13:12] **Danielle Robertson, Councilmember**: I VOTE FOR ISIAH MOORE. [00:13:14] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN? [00:13:16] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: MAUREEN SCALLEN FAILOR. [00:13:17] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? [00:13:19] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: MAUREEN SCALLEN FAILOR. [00:13:20] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER D'ALESANDRO? [00:13:22] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: ISIAH MOORE. [00:13:23] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER CARTER? [00:13:25] **Jenna Carter, Councilmember**: ISIAH MOORE. [00:13:26] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: MAYOR BUSSE? [00:13:28] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ISIAH MOORE. SO COUNCIL, IF MY MATH IS CORRECT, ISIAH MOORE RECEIVED FOUR VOTES, MAUREEN SCALLEN FAILOR RECEIVED TWO. NONE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES RECEIVED ANY. SO WE HAVE A COUNCIL CANDIDATE WITH FOUR VOTES. I WOULD LOOK FOR A MOTION TO APPOINT ISIAH MOORE TO THE COUNCIL SEAT. [00:13:45] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: SO MOVED. [00:13:46] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: SECOND. [00:13:48] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER D'ALESANDRO TO APPOINT ISIAH MOORE TO FILL THE VACANT COUNCILMEMBER AT-LARGE SEAT. MR. [RAI]? [00:13:58] **Priyanka Rai, Council Secretary**: COUNCILMEMBER CARTER? (AYE). COUNCILMEMBER D'ALESANDRO? (AYE). COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON? (AYE). COUNCILMEMBER NELSON? (AYE). COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN? (AYE). MAYOR BUSSE? (AYE). MOTION CARRIES SIX ZERO. [00:14:15] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMEMBER MOORE. HE WILL SERVE UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR. THE SEAT WILL BE UP FOR REELECTION AGAIN THIS FALL. ALL SEVEN COUNCIL SEATS WILL BE UP FOR REELECTION. WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM 2.3 ON OUR AGENDA: AN UPDATE ON OUR WELCOME TO BLOOMINGTON DESIGN GROUP. WE'VE GOT FIDEL YANG FROM OUR EQUITY AND INCLUSION STAFF, AND TWO MEMBERS OF THE DESIGN GROUP, ERIC PONE AND JESSE MARTINEZ. [00:15:00] **Fidel Yang, Program Specialist**: THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS. AS MENTIONED WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT ABOUT THE WELCOME TO BLOOMINGTON DESIGN GROUP. I WANT TO GIVE OUR MEMBERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES. [00:15:15] **Eric Pone, Design Group**: HELLO, PASTOR ERIC PONE. I AM THE NEW LEAD PASTOR AT HILLCREST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. I HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE JUNE. [00:15:25] **Jesse Martinez, Design Group**: MY NAME IS JESSE MARTINEZ. I AM AN EQUITY SPECIALIST FOR BLOOMINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS. I AM ALSO ON THE BOARD FOR OASIS FOR YOUTH. [00:15:35] **Fidel Yang, Program Specialist**: THANK YOU. WE HAD LAURA BAUM, NANCY BREWSTER, AMANDA CROMB, AND MIKE ZABEL SUPPORTING IN A FACILITATION PROCESS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS INITIATIVE WAS TO CREATE A PROGRAM OF WELCOMING IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON. [00:16:30] **Eric Pone, Design Group**: WE HAVE THREE PRIMARY GOALS. FIRST, TO MAKE BLOOMINGTON A CITY WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY WANT TO BE. THE SECOND IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO RENTERS. FINALLY, TO ADDRESS INEQUITY ACROSS THE BLOOMINGTON COMMUNITY. [00:17:10] **Jesse Martinez, Design Group**: FOR OUR DESIGN GROUP, WE STARTED IN OCTOBER. IN DECEMBER WE DECIDED ON FOUR ACTIVITIES: A BUCKET LIST OR BOOKLET, A CULTURAL FAIR, CITY WORKSHOPS FOR NEW RESIDENTS, AND A WELCOME NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE WHICH WILL BE COMMUNITY LED. [00:18:20] **Eric Pone, Design Group**: THE BUCKET LIST ALLOWS NEW MEMBERS TO GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY. YOU PICK UP A CARD AT CITY HALL. IT ALLOWS YOU TO GET IN CONTACT WITH ATTRACTIONS, BUSINESSES, AND PLACES OF WORSHIP. THERE WILL BE A COMPLETION INCENTIVE OF A T-SHIRT. WE HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU AS COUNCIL MEMBERS. FIRST: ARE THERE SPECIFIC STAKEHOLDERS THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN OUR PLANNING FOR MARCH 2023? [00:19:15] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: BEFORE WE ANSWER, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL? [00:19:20] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE STAKEHOLDERS TO ENGAGE IS JUST SOME OF THE SMALL BUSINESSES WE MENTIONED. WE SHOULD BE CHECKING IF THEY WANT TO BE INVOLVED. [00:19:40] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I WOULD SAY TWO SPECIFIC STAKEHOLDERS WOULD BE FAITH COMMUNITIES AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. ALSO, DON’T BE SHY ABOUT GROUPS LIKE THE "TODD POD"—THEY BRING FAMILIES WITH YOUNG TODDLERS TOGETHER. [00:20:15] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: REACHING OUT TO THE OWNERS OF SOME OF THE LARGER APARTMENT COMPLEXES TO HELP IDENTIFY RENTERS WHO ARE NEW TO THE CITY. [00:20:25] **Danielle Robertson, Councilmember**: BLOOMINGTON HERITAGE DAYS, ESPECIALLY WITH THEIR PARADE—THOSE ARE MAJOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS. [00:20:35] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: HOW ABOUT FOLKS WHO’VE LEFT US BUT ARE FINDING THEIR WAY BACK? [00:20:45] **Eric Pone, Design Group**: QUESTION TWO: ARE THERE ADDITIONS OR IDEAS YOU HAVE HEARD WITHIN YOUR DISTRICTS THAT CAN BE CONSIDERED? [00:21:00] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: REACHING OUT TO NEW BUSINESSES AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. EVEN IF THEY DON'T LIVE HERE, THEY WORK AND SHOP HERE. [00:21:30] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: CAN WE CREATE "AMBASSADORS" IN OUR CITY SERVICES? WHEN PEOPLE APPLY FOR A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A HOUSE THEY JUST PURCHASED, THAT’S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OFFER THESE PRODUCTS TO THEM. [00:22:15] **Fidel Yang, Program Specialist**: THANK YOU. OUR NEXT STEPS ARE DEEPER PLANNING IN MARCH 2023, WITH THE HOPE TO LAUNCH IN JUNE 2024. [00:23:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOVING ON TO ITEM 3, OUR CONSENT AGENDA. COUNCILMEMBER NELSON HAS OUR CONSENT BUSINESS. [00:23:10] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: THANK YOU MAYOR. I HAVE A HOLD FOR 3.9. WITH THAT BEING THE CASE, I WILL MOVE 3.1 THROUGH 3.8. [00:23:25] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER ROBERTSON TO APPROVE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS 3.1 THROUGH 3.8. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? (AYE). THE MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. ITEM 3.9, COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN. [00:23:45] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: 3.9 IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO COLLECTIVE BARGAINING WITH AFSCME LOCAL 2828 (Assistant City Attorneys). I HAD REQUESTED A FOLLOW-UP DISCUSSION BECAUSE THIS GROUP HAD RAISED SOME CONCERNS. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF STAFF LEAVING THAT DEPARTMENT, I HAVE CONCERNS AND WILL NOT SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT UNTIL WE HAVE THAT DIALOGUE. [00:24:20] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I WILL POINT OUT THIS AGREEMENT WAS A RESULT OF ARBITRATION. I RECOMMEND THAT IN THE FUTURE WE LOOK AT THE POSSIBILITY OF MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION AT THE START AND END OF BARGAINING. [00:25:30] **Zach Walker, City Manager**: WE WILL IDEALLY BEGIN NEGOTIATING FOR THE 2024 CONTRACT MID-YEAR. I CAN SCHEDULE A CLOSED SESSION FOR LABOR RELATIONS IN APRIL OR MAY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION. IS THAT SOONER ENOUGH, COUNCILMEMBER LOWMAN? [00:26:00] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: YES, IF WE'RE MAKING THAT COMMITMENT, I'M HAPPY TO SUPPORT THAT PIECE AND I WILL ABSTAIN FROM THE VOTE ON THE CONTRACT ITSELF. [00:26:15] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER NELSON, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER D'ALESANDRO TO APPROVE ITEM 3.9. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR? (AYE). OPPOSED? (NONE). ABSTAIN? (LOWMAN). MOTION CARRIES FOUR ZERO WITH ONE ABSTENTION. [00:26:45] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ITEM 4.1, PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BLOOMINGTON SALES TAX RESOLUTION. MR. [FAROOQUI] HAS A PRESENTATION. [00:27:00] **Farhan Farooqui, Finance Director**: THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. WE ARE ASKING THE LEGISLATURE FOR AUTHORITY TO IMPLEMENT A LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX TO BE APPROVED BY VOTERS VIA REFERENDUM. WE HAVE THREE PROJECTS: THE BLOOMINGTON ICE GARDEN RENOVATION ($35M), THE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER ($100M+), AND THE NINE MILE CREEK CORRIDOR RENEWAL ($20M). [00:30:30] **Farhan Farooqui, Finance Director**: 75% OF THIS SALES TAX WOULD BE GENERATED BY PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF BLOOMINGTON. WE HAVE TWO RESOLUTIONS: ONE WITH TWO PROJECTS (Ice Garden and Wellness Center) OR ONE WITH THREE PROJECTS (Adding Nine Mile Creek). MY RECOMMENDATION IS THE TWO-PROJECT APPROACH TO ACCOUNT FOR INFLATIONARY COSTS. [00:32:00] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: IF WE WERE TO BUILD A STANDALONE PUBLIC HEALTH BUILDING TODAY, HOW MUCH WOULD THAT COST? [00:32:10] **Farhan Farooqui, Finance Director**: IN THE LOW $20 MILLION RANGE. [00:33:00] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: THE COMMUNITY CENTER COST ESTIMATE WENT FROM $70M LAST YEAR TO $100M+ NOW. CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT? [00:33:15] **Farhan Farooqui, Finance Director**: IT'S A FUNCTION OF CONSTRUCTION INFLATION (ABOUT 25%) AND PROVIDING FLEXIBILITY FOR AMENITIES LIKE AQUATICS OR A PARKING RAMP. [00:35:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I WILL OPEN THE PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR ITEM 4.1. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE CHAMBERS OR ON THE PHONE? [00:35:15] **Mike Zabel, Staff**: MR. MAYOR, THERE IS NO ONE ON THE PHONE. [00:35:20] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT OPPORTUNITY. COUNCIL, THOUGHTS? OPTION A (Three projects) OR OPTION B (Two projects)? [00:35:45] **Shawn Nelson, Councilmember**: THE TWO PROJECTS I MOST WANT ARE THE ICE GARDEN AND NINE MILE CREEK. NATURAL RESOURCES ARE AT THE TOP OF THE COMMUNITY'S LIST. I STRUGGLE WITH THE COMMUNITY CENTER LACKING THE INDOOR/OUTDOOR VISION. [00:36:30] **Danielle Robertson, Councilmember**: I LEAN TOWARDS OPTION B (Two projects). IT ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY VOICE TO SHAPE THE OUTCOME WITHOUT BEING BARE-BONES DUE TO INFLATION. [00:37:00] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: I AM FOR OPTION A (Three projects). LET THE VOTERS CHOOSE ON EACH ITEM. CONSTRAINING THE COMMUNITY CENTER PROJECT FORCES A NECESSARY PRIORITIZATION CONVERSATION. [00:39:30] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I THINK WE GO WITH OPTION B TO GIVE THE LEGISLATURE A CLEAR LOOK AT PROJECTS WITH REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE. [00:41:00] **Danielle Robertson, Councilmember**: I MOVE WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION FOR OPTION B, AND DIRECT STAFF TO PURSUE FUTURE FUNDING OPTIONS FOR NINE MILE CREEK. [00:42:00] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: SECOND. [00:42:15] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOTION BY ROBERTSON, SECOND BY LOWMAN FOR OPTION B. ALL IN FAVOR? (AYE - Busse, Robertson, Lowman). OPPOSED? (Dallessandro, Nelson). THE MOTION FAILS 3-2 BECAUSE IT REQUIRES FOUR AFFIRMATIVE VOTES. [00:43:00] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: I MOVE WE ADOPT THE RESOLUTION FOR OPTION A. [00:43:05] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: SECOND. [00:43:10] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: MOTION BY D'ALESSANDRO, SECOND BY LOWMAN FOR OPTION A (Three projects). ALL IN FAVOR? (AYE). OPPOSED? (NONE). MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. [00:44:30] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ITEM 4.2, PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING AMENDMENTS TO OUR EARNED SICK AND SAFE LEAVE ORDINANCE. [00:44:45] **Melissa Manderschied, City Attorney**: AMIR MALIK, OUR COMPLIANCE MANAGER, WILL PRESENT. [00:45:00] **Amir Malik, Compliance Manager**: THANK YOU. WE ARE PROPOSING THREE CHANGES: REQUIRING BALANCES ON PAY STUBS, ALLOWING FRACTIONAL ACCRUALS, AND ESTABLISHING SPECIFIC PENALTY AMOUNTS FOR NON-COMPLIANCE (like not hanging the required poster). [00:48:30] **Lona Dallessandro, Councilmember**: I’M CONCERNED ABOUT THE PAY STUB REQUIREMENT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT STILL HAND-WRITE CHECKS. DOES THIS PUT AN UNDUE BURDEN ON THEM? [00:48:50] **Amir Malik, Compliance Manager**: STATE LAW ALREADY REQUIRES PAY STUBS. WE’VE SEEN IN MINNEAPOLIS THAT MOST PAYROLL PROVIDERS CAN EASILY ADD THIS. WE ARE ALSO PROVIDING 25 HOURS OF FREE CONSULTING TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM COMPLY. [00:51:30] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. [00:51:40] **Daniel Kennedy, Resident/HR Manager**: HAVING BALANCES ON PAY STUBS CAN BE CONFUSING IF THERE IS A LAG BETWEEN THE PAY CYCLE ENDING AND THE CHECK ISSUING. EMPLOYEES MIGHT SEE A DISCREPANCY IF THEY USED HOURS RECENTLY. [00:54:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. MOTION BY LOWMAN, SECOND BY ROBERTSON TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 23. ALL IN FAVOR? (AYE). MOTION CARRIES FIVE ZERO. [00:56:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ITEM 5.1, UPDATE ON THE SIGN ORDINANCE. NICK JOHNSON AND KEVIN TOMASKY. [00:56:15] **Nick Johnson, Planning Manager**: WE HAVEN'T DONE A COMPREHENSIVE UPDATE SINCE 1996. WE NEED TO ADDRESS RECENT CASE LAW (Reed v. Town of Gilbert) TO ENSURE WE AREN'T REGULATING BASED ON CONTENT. [00:58:30] **Kevin Tomasky, Assistant City Attorney**: REED SAYS IF YOU REGULATE BASED ON CONTENT, IT'S SUBJECT TO "STRICT SCRUTINY," WHICH IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PASS IN COURT. WE NEED TO FOCUS ON TIME, PLACE, AND MANNER. [01:00:00] **Nick Johnson, Planning Manager**: WE HAVE SOME POLLING QUESTIONS FOR THE COUNCIL USING THESE CLICKERS. *(The Council proceeds to vote on several technical sign issues including freestanding signs, linear frontage vs. area, cabinet signs, and electronic sign dwell times.)* [01:15:00] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: ON THE MURAL ISSUE, DOES OPENING IT UP FOR "CREATIVE PLACEMAKING" MEAN A BUSINESS CAN PAINT WHATEVER THEY WANT ON THE SIDE OF THEIR BUILDING? [01:15:20] **Nick Johnson, Planning Manager**: ANY COMMERCIAL MESSAGE WOULD STILL BE SUBJECT TO SIGNAGE ALLOWANCES. IF YOU SELL CANOES, YOU CAN'T HAVE A MASSIVE CANOE LOGO UNDER THE GUISE OF A MURAL IF IT EXCEEDS YOUR SIGN PERMIT. [01:25:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: ITEM 5.2, COUNCIL POLICY UPDATES. WE HEARD FROM SALLY NESS REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION RETAIL CODES. MR. WALKER, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE? [01:25:15] **Zach Walker, City Manager**: WE ARE TRACKING THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET RELEASE AND WORKING WITH OUR LOCAL DELEGATION ON EXPO-RELATED ISSUES. [01:27:00] **Dwayne Lowman, Councilmember**: THE SUSTAINABILITY WORKGROUP IS TALKING ABOUT A "PLASTICS CHALLENGE" TO REDUCE INDIVIDUAL PLASTIC USE. I'LL HAVE MORE DETAILS IN THE NEXT CMI. [01:28:00] **Tim Busse, Mayor**: I’D LOOK FOR A MOTION TO ADJOURN. MOTION BY NELSON, SECOND BY ROBERTSON. ALL IN FAVOR? (AYE). WE ARE ADJOURNED.