WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.760 - >> Hello, good evening. 00:00:02.760 --> 00:00:08.200 - I am Mayor Carey and we are so glad to have you here, 00:00:08.200 --> 00:00:13.160 - and I understand that we're up on a stage and you're down on the floor, 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:15.680 - which is not our favorite setup. 00:00:15.680 --> 00:00:21.240 - But we are going to stay up here because BCAT's all set up and let's hear it for BCAT. 00:00:21.240 --> 00:00:25.040 - We're so grateful to have community access, 00:00:25.040 --> 00:00:29.960 - television that bring people into our town hall even when they can't be with us. 00:00:29.960 --> 00:00:34.560 - In person, I have with me tonight, 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.880 - Jane Coopersmith, who is our Director of Economic and Sustainable Development at 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:44.360 - the City of Bloomington and the President of your City Council, 00:00:44.360 --> 00:00:50.160 - Hopi Stossberg, who is also your district representative here. 00:00:50.160 --> 00:00:53.640 - So the way we do this because gratefully, 00:00:53.640 --> 00:00:56.680 - we see some new faces here, lots of new faces. 00:00:56.680 --> 00:01:04.560 - We each will give an update on what we're thinking about and what is top of mind for 00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:09.840 - us at the city right now and then what we really love is 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:15.760 - your questions that help steer the things that you really want to know about. 00:01:15.760 --> 00:01:17.800 - We had some early birds here, 00:01:17.800 --> 00:01:20.120 - so I asked them what they were interested in hearing about. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:26.040 - So they've already worked in to my comments a couple of questions, 00:01:26.040 --> 00:01:28.600 - but we do be thinking about questions 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:32.800 - because the best part of this is when you all tell us what you really want to know. 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:37.680 - I just want to start by saying thank you to each of you for showing up tonight. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:41.780 - This is something we do every other month. 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:43.280 - We do these big town halls. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:45.400 - We travel throughout the city, 00:01:45.400 --> 00:01:51.080 - always invite the council representative from that district. 00:01:51.080 --> 00:01:53.800 - Then the months that we're not doing these big town halls, 00:01:53.800 --> 00:01:59.240 - I do traveling office hours and so that's a way to just get some one-on-one time with me. 00:01:59.240 --> 00:02:05.180 - If you have an issue or concern that you really want some more focused attention on 00:02:05.180 --> 00:02:08.760 - or don't really want to talk about in a big public setting. 00:02:08.760 --> 00:02:19.560 - So let me just share with you a couple of really recent things that I think are pretty awesome. 00:02:19.560 --> 00:02:23.960 - Just today, we swore in 11 new police officers. 00:02:23.960 --> 00:02:33.120 - So my commitment when I was running for mayor and through my term in office so far, 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:40.680 - is to really get our public safety operating at full capacity and with policing, 00:02:40.680 --> 00:02:42.860 - of course, get back to community policing. 00:02:42.860 --> 00:02:47.820 - So that's when they're doing something other than just responding to emergencies, 00:02:47.820 --> 00:02:50.380 - they're really friends in the neighborhood, 00:02:50.380 --> 00:02:56.240 - they get to know people and can provide community safety that way. 00:02:56.240 --> 00:03:00.160 - We're getting very close to being fully staffed at our police department, 00:03:00.160 --> 00:03:05.280 - and I shouldn't say this because then somebody will retire or get injured, 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:09.120 - but our fire is in great shape, that's what I'll say. 00:03:09.120 --> 00:03:14.680 - So we really have made great strides in the last 18 months on both fronts. 00:03:14.680 --> 00:03:22.420 - I also want to highlight the new transportation that we have going on downtown, 00:03:22.420 --> 00:03:25.880 - and people are confused about that, that makes sense. 00:03:25.880 --> 00:03:30.040 - So it's like a little minibus, 00:03:30.040 --> 00:03:34.960 - and it's branded with our Blink Bloomington Transit logo, 00:03:34.960 --> 00:03:37.240 - and that will be circulating, 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:40.480 - so it will be going on a set route. 00:03:40.480 --> 00:03:47.000 - But if it's not busy, it also can be called like an Uber. 00:03:47.000 --> 00:03:50.840 - So you can say, "This is where I am, come pick me up." 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:53.280 - So that is really exciting. 00:03:53.280 --> 00:04:00.840 - It's free, and it is an effort to really maximize parking in our parking garages and elsewhere, 00:04:00.840 --> 00:04:03.840 - and to make shopping downtown easier, 00:04:03.840 --> 00:04:06.240 - especially if you're mobility limited. 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:10.560 - So you want to park a couple blocks away and go to a few shops, 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:13.160 - and then go all the way back to your car. 00:04:13.160 --> 00:04:15.480 - Blink can help with that. 00:04:15.480 --> 00:04:21.040 - So other bigger but longer-term things. 00:04:21.040 --> 00:04:25.760 - We are working on a complete website rebuild. 00:04:25.760 --> 00:04:27.600 - Desiree is in the back, 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:29.520 - our fabulous communications director. 00:04:29.520 --> 00:04:32.120 - She is heading up that charge, 00:04:32.120 --> 00:04:36.440 - and we're really excited about doing that, 00:04:36.440 --> 00:04:40.280 - not because website design or rebuilding is fun, 00:04:40.280 --> 00:04:45.360 - but because it's really a barrier to communication and transparency. 00:04:45.360 --> 00:04:47.460 - If you've been on the city's website, 00:04:47.460 --> 00:04:51.680 - you know that it's a website that's been added onto over many years, 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:53.600 - and nobody can find anything. 00:04:53.600 --> 00:04:55.320 - Even I can't find things. 00:04:55.320 --> 00:05:00.080 - So we're really looking forward to an easy-to-navigate website 00:05:00.080 --> 00:05:03.160 - that gets our residents what they need to know when they need to know it. 00:05:03.160 --> 00:05:04.640 - Make some audience nods. 00:05:04.640 --> 00:05:06.760 - Nods, yes. 00:05:06.760 --> 00:05:13.080 - Everybody, yes. It's like a next year thing. 00:05:13.080 --> 00:05:15.920 - Yeah, it's going to be a minute. 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.440 - The question was, when do you expect to launch it? 00:05:18.440 --> 00:05:20.440 - You-all can feel free to remind me. 00:05:20.440 --> 00:05:26.080 - I have to repeat your questions into a microphone for folks on CATS. 00:05:26.080 --> 00:05:34.160 - So, we also have our friends at Civic Brand who have been working very hard, 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:38.960 - and I'm going to tip my things over. 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:43.520 - There are some postcards that look like this in the back. 00:05:43.520 --> 00:05:47.520 - And on the back is a website. 00:05:47.520 --> 00:05:49.360 - You can go by QR code. 00:05:49.360 --> 00:05:56.520 - It is a survey that will take you through a questionnaire 00:05:56.520 --> 00:06:00.560 - about what makes Bloomington special for you. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:04.520 - This is a branding effort that we're doing. 00:06:04.520 --> 00:06:09.480 - We took the old wage growth study off the shelf. 00:06:09.480 --> 00:06:12.720 - We decided to actually implement the wage growth study. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:18.320 - And one of the first things it said was you really need to have a clear way 00:06:18.320 --> 00:06:23.800 - of talking about what's great about Bloomington because wages are all going 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:29.640 - to be driven by the kind of businesses that we can attract and retain here 00:06:29.640 --> 00:06:35.080 - and getting those top-level jobs, the mid-level jobs, et cetera. 00:06:35.080 --> 00:06:41.160 - And, you know, I talk a lot, if you've heard me talk ever, about housing. 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:46.320 - Housing is both a supply problem but it's also an affordability problem. 00:06:46.320 --> 00:06:50.800 - Part of the reason it's not affordable is because our wages are very low here. 00:06:50.800 --> 00:06:56.520 - And so this is all part of a bigger economic development picture 00:06:56.520 --> 00:06:59.520 - that Jane's going to talk more about, I'm sure. 00:06:59.520 --> 00:07:05.640 - Tied to that housing work, we are doing a full audit of our permitting process. 00:07:05.640 --> 00:07:08.240 - Housing permits have been way too slow. 00:07:08.240 --> 00:07:13.880 - And that actually impacts the cost of housing here in Bloomington. 00:07:13.880 --> 00:07:16.600 - And so we really want to make those efficient. 00:07:16.600 --> 00:07:23.480 - We want to make sure that we can get our I's dotted and T's crossed, 00:07:23.480 --> 00:07:27.880 - make sure everybody's in compliance and then get that permit out the door. 00:07:27.880 --> 00:07:33.360 - And tied to that but separate work, we are going to be doing some revisions 00:07:33.360 --> 00:07:35.400 - to our unified development ordinance. 00:07:35.400 --> 00:07:41.600 - That is the code which used to be about 20 pages long just 50 years ago. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:46.840 - It's now 564 pages long, imagine navigating that. 00:07:46.840 --> 00:07:52.080 - And we need to do some very targeted revisions to make sure 00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:57.080 - that we actually are getting housing that is targeted 00:07:57.080 --> 00:08:00.560 - at people who work here in Bloomington. 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:07.560 - So we've really had a lot of student housing development over the past few years. 00:08:07.560 --> 00:08:12.000 - We haven't had very much housing for our longer term residents. 00:08:12.000 --> 00:08:19.520 - And that is concerning and it has to do, it is impacting our population retention, 00:08:19.520 --> 00:08:26.960 - our population growth, and of course how far people have to commute to be able to work here. 00:08:26.960 --> 00:08:30.520 - A couple of things that I'm going to highlight really quickly, 00:08:30.520 --> 00:08:33.280 - we're in the middle of a parks master plan. 00:08:33.280 --> 00:08:36.520 - That is all focused on sustainability. 00:08:36.520 --> 00:08:43.000 - We have a lot of parks here, they cost a lot to maintain, they're beautiful, 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.080 - they're award winning, so when we talk about parks master plan, 00:08:47.080 --> 00:08:50.360 - that doesn't mean we're planning to build a bunch of new parks. 00:08:50.360 --> 00:08:55.240 - It means that we want to effectively and efficiently care very well for the parks 00:08:55.240 --> 00:08:59.480 - that we have and so that's the focus of that parks master plan. 00:08:59.480 --> 00:09:01.520 - We also have a parking study underway. 00:09:01.520 --> 00:09:04.040 - Is the survey still live for that Desiree? 00:09:04.040 --> 00:09:09.120 - Yes, okay, so if you have thoughts about parking and I'll just say, 00:09:09.120 --> 00:09:13.440 - I have never met a resident in Bloomington that doesn't have thoughts about parking, 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:15.800 - please go take our parking survey. 00:09:15.800 --> 00:09:17.480 - It only takes about five minutes. 00:09:17.480 --> 00:09:21.080 - We really need all kinds of people to take that parking survey. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.760 - We want to know why you're not parking downtown. 00:09:23.760 --> 00:09:29.560 - If you are not parking downtown, why you do park downtown, 00:09:29.560 --> 00:09:34.520 - what other modes you're using to not take up a parking spot, 00:09:34.520 --> 00:09:35.880 - all kinds of people, 00:09:35.880 --> 00:09:38.560 - we would love to hear from you on that. 00:09:38.560 --> 00:09:46.040 - We also have capital projects planning happening for a new police headquarters. 00:09:46.040 --> 00:09:50.400 - The intent right now is to put that at 714. 00:09:50.400 --> 00:09:52.720 - You can't hear? You can? 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:55.920 - Yeah, 714 South Roger Street. 00:09:57.920 --> 00:10:02.960 - We also need a new public works facility eventually. 00:10:02.960 --> 00:10:07.760 - I'm going to talk really high level. 00:10:07.760 --> 00:10:13.760 - I think many people have been reading in the news about the bill that was passed in 00:10:13.760 --> 00:10:21.520 - our state house that really is limiting funding to local municipalities. 00:10:21.520 --> 00:10:23.960 - We are concerned about that and we're 00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:30.720 - concerned about how that's going to limit our budget very directly and very quickly. 00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:37.000 - That of course comes at a time when there's significant federal funding cuts. 00:10:37.000 --> 00:10:39.680 - We are concerned. 00:10:39.680 --> 00:10:45.280 - We are going to be very creative about how we make ends meet. 00:10:45.280 --> 00:10:49.360 - But I also just want to communicate to the public, 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:54.340 - the budget that you're going to see rolled out in August is not going to have a lot of special 00:10:54.340 --> 00:10:55.160 - projects in it. 00:10:55.160 --> 00:10:57.520 - It's not going to have a lot of new initiatives. 00:10:57.520 --> 00:11:01.520 - We really need to focus on basic city services. 00:11:01.520 --> 00:11:04.640 - Make sure your water is clean and safe. 00:11:04.640 --> 00:11:10.040 - Your streets are plowed and they're well-maintained. 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:12.800 - Your parks are maintained, etc. 00:11:12.800 --> 00:11:18.920 - This is not going to be a budget where you're going to hear us talking about big new initiatives. 00:11:18.920 --> 00:11:20.960 - This is not the year for that. 00:11:20.960 --> 00:11:23.200 - So that's what you can expect. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:27.760 - Budget season, of course, is in August at the city of Bloomington, 00:11:27.760 --> 00:11:32.080 - and we'll have some hard decisions to make. 00:11:32.080 --> 00:11:40.080 - But I just want to really get the public used to hearing that we're going to be back to basics 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:41.400 - budgeting here, 00:11:41.400 --> 00:11:47.640 - because I'm really committed to doing what we can with what we already have. 00:11:47.640 --> 00:11:54.900 - The state legislature would like us to increase local taxes significantly and that's how they 00:11:54.900 --> 00:11:57.440 - expect us to make ends meet. 00:11:57.440 --> 00:12:02.480 - I'll just tell you, I talked to plenty of residents who are on a fixed or limited income and the 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:04.160 - taxes really impact people. 00:12:04.160 --> 00:12:10.520 - And so we're not going to do that unless we think it's absolutely necessary and we will do it in a 00:12:10.520 --> 00:12:11.480 - limited way. 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:14.000 - So that's our approach. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.000 - And now on to Jane. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:19.040 - You cover a lot of territory there. 00:12:19.040 --> 00:12:24.390 - So yeah, I'm Jane Cooper-Smith, I'm the Director of Economic and Sustainable Development for the 00:12:24.390 --> 00:12:24.760 - city. 00:12:24.760 --> 00:12:29.360 - And our city is unique in that we put sustainability with economic development. 00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:34.120 - We actually place arts and small business in the same context as well. 00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:41.640 - We believe that these areas mutually inform one another and create a stronger economy when they're 00:12:41.640 --> 00:12:43.080 - placed in the same context. 00:12:43.080 --> 00:12:48.800 - So we want our small businesses to have access to the people who are facilitating arts and events. 00:12:48.800 --> 00:12:55.200 - And we want our small businesses and our artists and our major economic development practitioners. 00:12:55.200 --> 00:12:57.800 - We want everyone to have access to sustainability. 00:12:57.800 --> 00:13:01.120 - Sustainability is a huge priority for the city of Bloomington. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:07.000 - When Kerry talked about, you know, the local income tax impacts, Bloomington has already made a 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:11.000 - commitment to sustainability through its economic development local income tax. 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:15.240 - So we have a really significant budget for this already. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:17.520 - And it serves us in a number of ways. 00:13:17.520 --> 00:13:20.400 - This isn't the direction I was planning to go, but we'll just go with it. 00:13:20.400 --> 00:13:21.840 - So it serves us in a number of ways. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:28.470 - It helps us be more efficient as an institution with, you know, what how we're operating, what 00:13:28.470 --> 00:13:30.480 - kinds of fixtures we have in our buildings, 00:13:30.480 --> 00:13:37.000 - are our buildings all weather properly weatherized and what kinds of vehicles we're driving. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.760 - It helps us with all those sorts of practical efficiencies. 00:13:39.760 --> 00:13:44.680 - And then it helps us as a community deliver those same types of opportunities. 00:13:44.680 --> 00:13:48.920 - So we have BGHIP, which is the Bloomington Green Home Improvement Program, 00:13:48.920 --> 00:13:55.160 - which offers sorry, incentives for improvements that you make at home. 00:13:55.160 --> 00:13:58.440 - If you're income qualified, you might get grant funding for them. 00:13:58.440 --> 00:14:04.360 - If you're not income qualified, you can get really cheap financing for these projects. 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:10.480 - And then we offer a ton of resources, so if you're putting a heat pump in your house, 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:15.960 - you can see what that might cost you to install and then what are the laundry lists 00:14:15.960 --> 00:14:18.880 - of tax benefits you can get with that. 00:14:18.880 --> 00:14:21.840 - And those tax benefits are still there. 00:14:21.840 --> 00:14:25.360 - We know they're there through 2025 and depending on what happens 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:29.240 - with this federal budget, they may also be there in 2026. 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:32.880 - So there's a lot of speculation that the federal budget won't actually get approved, 00:14:32.880 --> 00:14:35.320 - which would mean that we just have a continuation. 00:14:35.320 --> 00:14:41.000 - So there are some benefits to that, including the retention of these tax incentives. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:44.440 - Yeah, so sustainability is really, really significant and that investment 00:14:44.440 --> 00:14:47.400 - that our community, that you all have made in sustainability, 00:14:47.400 --> 00:14:49.800 - is why we get national attention. 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:55.120 - Desiree just issued a press release today that talked about our being named, 00:14:55.120 --> 00:15:00.280 - I can't remember what the official title was, but one of the most, or it was a, 00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:07.120 - it was a grade A for sustainability of 112 cities across the globe. 00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:11.280 - There were 112 A's across the globe and only 29 in the US. 00:15:11.280 --> 00:15:14.280 - So we really fight above our weight in this category. 00:15:14.280 --> 00:15:22.120 - The last thing I'll say about sustainability is that we're moving our efforts from, 00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:25.360 - well, we're just expanding our efforts to include not just sustainability 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:28.600 - and greenhouse gas reduction, but really to think about climate resilience 00:15:28.600 --> 00:15:30.560 - and the safety of our residents. 00:15:30.560 --> 00:15:36.440 - So as summer hits, we're really concerned about people who have, you know, 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:40.400 - don't have access to air conditioning and who maybe have health, 00:15:40.400 --> 00:15:43.760 - some kind of comorbidities that place them at greater health risks. 00:15:43.760 --> 00:15:49.240 - So we have a low income air conditioner distribution program 00:15:49.240 --> 00:15:53.920 - where if people are income qualified, they can get a free window unit installed 00:15:53.920 --> 00:15:56.800 - in their house and they can potentially get a new window 00:15:56.800 --> 00:16:00.320 - if the window frame isn't solid enough to install that. 00:16:00.320 --> 00:16:03.560 - And that's anyone, renters or owners who live here. 00:16:03.560 --> 00:16:04.800 - So we're thinking about that. 00:16:04.800 --> 00:16:10.680 - We're helping install cooling stations across the community and we are trying 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:16.040 - to help people get to the swimming pool through the high heat, I can't remember, 00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:19.520 - stay cool is what the program's called, the high heat days program. 00:16:19.520 --> 00:16:24.360 - So if you're low income, if you qualify as a low income household, 00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:28.760 - you can get access to those pools throughout the whole year. 00:16:28.760 --> 00:16:32.080 - And then if you're not qualified in that way, 00:16:32.080 --> 00:16:38.200 - when the temperature hits a certain amount, it's a level three high heat day, 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:42.880 - then we can all go swimming and just kind of try to decompress in that way. 00:16:42.880 --> 00:16:46.640 - So those are some of our climate resilience initiatives. 00:16:46.640 --> 00:16:49.720 - But we think a lot about placemaking. 00:16:49.720 --> 00:16:52.960 - So our big swings for economic development, 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:55.120 - we want to grow our workforce population. 00:16:55.120 --> 00:16:57.320 - We know that our population has declined. 00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:59.660 - We know that our population is aging, 00:16:59.660 --> 00:17:02.520 - which isn't bad in and of itself. 00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:05.400 - We love retirees, they're a critical part of our community. 00:17:05.400 --> 00:17:07.840 - But when our population becomes imbalanced, 00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:10.080 - then the fabric can become a little weaker. 00:17:10.080 --> 00:17:14.960 - So we need people represented at all parts of the life cycle. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:18.000 - And so we know that we're missing that workforce piece. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:20.360 - We know that people have been leaving Bloomington for 00:17:20.360 --> 00:17:22.620 - places that are a little more affordable to live in. 00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:26.780 - And so most of our initiatives are really, 00:17:26.780 --> 00:17:31.560 - or many of our initiatives are working on just bringing those people back to Bloomington. 00:17:31.560 --> 00:17:34.000 - So grow workforce population. 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.800 - We want to grow wages like Mayor Kerry mentioned, 00:17:36.800 --> 00:17:39.200 - and we want to reinforce our economic base. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:41.840 - And with these three major pillars, 00:17:41.840 --> 00:17:47.440 - we have some pretty practical categories of activity underneath them. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:53.080 - But I would say housing and childcare are probably the key of 00:17:53.080 --> 00:17:56.140 - key importance under growing the workforce population. 00:17:56.140 --> 00:18:02.440 - And everything really is driven toward reducing that housing constraint. 00:18:02.440 --> 00:18:04.700 - So when we're talking about economic development, 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:08.320 - we're really thinking about Hopewell and what's happening there. 00:18:08.320 --> 00:18:11.160 - And to Kerry's point about the development process, 00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:15.000 - how can we reduce the barriers to construction in Bloomington? 00:18:15.000 --> 00:18:19.360 - When we think about big picture economic development in a lot of communities, 00:18:19.360 --> 00:18:22.880 - it's really just what resources, 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:26.720 - what dollars can the city provide to me and what type of incentive. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:29.000 - But in Bloomington, well and everywhere, 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:30.920 - there's the time value of money. 00:18:30.920 --> 00:18:35.800 - I see Tom here could talk about this much more intelligently than me. 00:18:35.800 --> 00:18:38.800 - But an equal type of support for 00:18:38.800 --> 00:18:41.600 - housing developers is just getting it done fast enough that they're not 00:18:41.600 --> 00:18:47.560 - carrying debt and having to pay interest rates that drive up the cost of housing even more. 00:18:47.560 --> 00:18:51.360 - So we're all really excited and motivated to be working on that. 00:18:51.360 --> 00:18:54.960 - I think I'll park it there and pass to Hopi. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:18:57.960 - There's a lot and we love questions. 00:18:57.960 --> 00:19:03.480 - Thank you. So I'm Hopi Stasberg and I'm the District 3 City Council person. 00:19:03.480 --> 00:19:07.320 - And as Mary Carey said, I'm also the President of City Council this year. 00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:12.060 - And I will give a much shorter introduction than either of the other two 00:19:12.060 --> 00:19:15.520 - because I would much rather just hear your questions. 00:19:15.520 --> 00:19:19.720 - But a lot of the things that have already been talked about are things of course that 00:19:19.720 --> 00:19:26.560 - City Council either already has dealt with or will have to also be involved with. 00:19:26.560 --> 00:19:30.560 - So UDO changes, that's the Unified Development Ordinance, 00:19:30.560 --> 00:19:34.400 - that will all end up coming through City Council at some point. 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:39.040 - And Mary Carey talked about a new police station, 00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:40.640 - talked about a new public works building, 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.540 - all of those things have to get worked into the budget. 00:19:42.540 --> 00:19:44.080 - We talked about the budget and right now, 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:47.520 - City Council and the city in general are really working on 00:19:47.520 --> 00:19:52.800 - a lot of budget things to help make the budget process more transparent and make 00:19:52.800 --> 00:20:00.040 - it more understandable with outcomes-based budgeting and helping make it clear, 00:20:00.040 --> 00:20:03.400 - not just what department we're spending money in, 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:07.800 - but what that department is actually doing and how it is serving Bloomington, 00:20:07.800 --> 00:20:09.760 - and how it is serving Bloomington residents. 00:20:09.760 --> 00:20:13.420 - And I think that a lot of the programs that we have, 00:20:13.420 --> 00:20:16.040 - if you look really at the programs, 00:20:16.040 --> 00:20:17.160 - you can kind of see that. 00:20:17.160 --> 00:20:19.680 - But if you incorporate that more into the budget process, 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:23.440 - then it's just easier to understand for everybody and it just makes it a little bit, 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:26.280 - a little bit more transparent, a little bit more accessible for everyone. 00:20:26.280 --> 00:20:31.080 - So and then the other thing that I wanted to 00:20:31.080 --> 00:20:34.480 - mention with regard to things that were already said, 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:40.680 - what Kerry said about the state property tax changes and how that is going to change, 00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:43.240 - how we as a municipality, I mean, 00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:47.680 - it's going to change our revenues and how we get revenue. 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:53.440 - And that's, I just want to say that I'm taking that very seriously as a council person, 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:55.520 - and I think that my colleagues are as well, 00:20:55.520 --> 00:20:59.680 - because it's taxation in general of residents is just, 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:03.560 - it's very serious, it's not a laughing matter, it's not a joke. 00:21:03.560 --> 00:21:06.520 - It is very, very serious and you have to think very, 00:21:06.520 --> 00:21:13.180 - very carefully about how what we do impacts you all as residents. 00:21:13.180 --> 00:21:16.960 - And so that is something that we are continuing, 00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:20.440 - I'm continuing to learn more about and see how that develops. 00:21:20.440 --> 00:21:25.180 - There's a lot of work going on behind the scenes with translating that bill from 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:29.160 - the state house and understanding how it's actually going to impact our budgets, 00:21:29.160 --> 00:21:36.120 - and what that means in a very practical, analytical, mathematical sort of way. 00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:38.960 - And then figuring out how we need to respond to that in terms of what 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:43.000 - our budgets for next year look like and what we're spending money on. 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:45.160 - And then of course with outcomes, 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:48.760 - what outcomes are we getting for what it is that we're spending money on. 00:21:48.760 --> 00:21:52.760 - And the last thing that I want to talk about is just other ways to access me. 00:21:52.760 --> 00:21:55.280 - Of course, you can email me anytime, 00:21:55.280 --> 00:21:59.040 - hopi.stossberg@boomington.in.gov. 00:21:59.040 --> 00:22:01.520 - And then I also have constituent meetings, 00:22:01.520 --> 00:22:05.200 - generally third Saturdays of the month at 11 o'clock. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:08.400 - And so the next one is June 21st. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:11.880 - And so we're getting ready for City Council recess. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:13.360 - Usually our meetings are Wednesday night. 00:22:13.360 --> 00:22:17.400 - This Wednesday in two days is our last meeting until the middle of July. 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:20.280 - City Council meetings are kind of on summer recess. 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:22.600 - That doesn't mean it's a vacation or a break. 00:22:22.600 --> 00:22:27.820 - It just means that our Wednesday meetings are on a little bit of a hiatus. 00:22:27.820 --> 00:22:30.800 - But I will still have my constituent meetings throughout the summer. 00:22:30.800 --> 00:22:32.880 - Usually I have those in person at City Hall. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:37.160 - But weather allowing, I've been kind of going out into the farmers market instead. 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:42.880 - But my website at the city will kind of have updated information about that. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:45.440 - So I think that that's everything for me right now, 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:47.720 - because I am very interested in hearing 00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:49.960 - your questions and what you guys are interested in tonight. 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:55.000 - So thank you for coming and where are our questions? 00:22:55.000 --> 00:22:59.080 - So Katz, do we need them to come to this microphone over there? 00:22:59.080 --> 00:23:01.080 - They can just ask for, okay. 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:05.240 - So if you have a question, 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:07.920 - just raise your hand or stand up. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:13.960 - Usually the great thing about these town halls is everybody has been very respectful. 00:23:13.960 --> 00:23:16.020 - So if two people stand up at the same time, 00:23:16.020 --> 00:23:19.560 - I'm sure we can figure out who can ask first. 00:23:19.560 --> 00:23:22.120 - While you're thinking about standing up, 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:24.520 - did you announce Grand Faloon? 00:23:24.520 --> 00:23:25.880 - No, it was on my list. 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.360 - Okay. 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:30.880 - We just want to invite you all to Grand Faloon this weekend. 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:32.560 - Actually, it's going on all week, 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:37.200 - but Friday night, there's the 4th and Rogers block party at 4th and Rogers. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:42.600 - Then Saturday is the main stage concert which takes place on Kirkwood. 00:23:42.600 --> 00:23:46.760 - I believe the concert starts at eight and it's free. 00:23:46.760 --> 00:23:49.400 - Oh, what time? Four? 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:52.320 - Okay. The event starts at four. 00:23:52.320 --> 00:23:54.280 - But it's free, kid-friendly, 00:23:54.280 --> 00:23:55.960 - just a wonderful celebration. 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:58.800 - This event is supposed to be IU's love letter to Bloomington. 00:23:58.800 --> 00:24:04.160 - So they've really put it on with us and to celebrate us. 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:06.280 - While we're announcing events, 00:24:06.280 --> 00:24:09.000 - tomorrow is the groundbreaking of the Convention Center at 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:13.000 - 3.30 if anybody wants to also come to that groundbreaking. 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:19.680 - So that is an exciting culmination of a multi-year project. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:22.840 - The beginning of it anyway. 00:24:22.840 --> 00:24:24.720 - No, it is a culmination. 00:24:24.720 --> 00:24:27.240 - It's a culmination of part of it. 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:29.120 - But yeah, I know we're just going to keep on 00:24:29.120 --> 00:24:30.800 - talking until somebody stands up right now 00:24:30.800 --> 00:24:34.760 - because we're just a master at that. Go for it. 00:25:04.760 --> 00:25:26.360 - [ Silence ] 00:25:26.360 --> 00:25:34.600 - >> Yes, so the question, the comment initially was about good 00:25:34.600 --> 00:25:37.580 - that we have more police and then a comment 00:25:37.580 --> 00:25:42.400 - that there's been some drug activity in your neighborhood. 00:25:42.400 --> 00:25:52.700 - And let me just say that we want to do a great job, not an okay job. 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:56.000 - We do, of course, have to follow the law. 00:25:56.760 --> 00:26:07.000 - And so, and that, you know, there's a standard for getting a warrant, et cetera. 00:26:07.000 --> 00:26:11.940 - And so, there is a limit to what police can do. 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:19.540 - But I'm happy to talk to you afterwards about how we can improve and, you know, 00:26:19.540 --> 00:26:21.500 - take that back to the chief. 00:26:21.720 --> 00:26:29.880 - I think there's a lot of nuances that sometimes folks in the general public don't understand 00:26:29.880 --> 00:26:34.700 - about the process that the police department does have to follow. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:40.120 - Yeah. Yeah. 00:26:40.120 --> 00:27:04.760 - [ Pause ] 00:27:04.760 --> 00:27:06.440 - And it's been resolved now? 00:27:06.440 --> 00:27:08.900 - Okay. Okay. 00:27:08.980 --> 00:27:11.460 - Okay. Who else? 00:27:11.460 --> 00:27:18.460 - I'll take it. 00:27:18.460 --> 00:27:20.600 - Who else has a question? 00:27:20.600 --> 00:27:25.900 - Yes. That would be great. 00:27:25.900 --> 00:27:29.360 - You can introduce yourself if you'd like. 00:27:29.360 --> 00:27:34.020 - We always love to know who we're talking to. 00:27:34.020 --> 00:27:51.020 - [ Inaudible ] 00:27:51.020 --> 00:27:52.020 - Uh-huh. 00:27:52.020 --> 00:28:13.220 - [ Inaudible ] 00:28:13.220 --> 00:28:20.540 - Yeah. So the -- I won't be able to remember the whole question, but the root of the question is 00:28:20.540 --> 00:28:29.380 - that there's been some reporting in recent months about one particular sober-living organization 00:28:29.380 --> 00:28:35.960 - called Malibu House, and the question is how does the -- 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:40.500 - how can the city hold these organizations accountable for making sure 00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:46.060 - that they're providing safety to their residents and other residents? 00:28:46.200 --> 00:28:56.560 - And what we have learned in -- so that situation has been in the news for two different reasons, 00:28:56.560 --> 00:29:05.840 - and one of those reasons is that some of those houses, and they're -- 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:11.740 - the landlord is renting to Malibu House, so Malibu House doesn't own these properties, 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:21.000 - are not providing safe shelter, and so the city has gotten involved because there are -- 00:29:21.000 --> 00:29:28.600 - we, of course, have rental inspections, and we require safe, inhabitable living situations, 00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:38.400 - so that's one of the reasons, and so we have -- we did not just target the sober-living. 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:45.020 - There were multiple properties that came under that violation, and we are committed 00:29:45.020 --> 00:29:50.440 - in my administration to ensure that if you're renting in the city of Bloomington, 00:29:50.440 --> 00:29:57.780 - you will be providing safe, inhabitable housing, so that's one end of it. 00:29:57.780 --> 00:30:07.080 - The other end of things in terms of regulating sober-living institutions is actually done 00:30:07.080 --> 00:30:10.880 - at the state level, and there are protections there 00:30:10.880 --> 00:30:15.280 - that the city doesn't have jurisdiction over. 00:30:15.280 --> 00:30:22.000 - I will tell you that there are different certifications 00:30:22.000 --> 00:30:29.220 - for different sober-living institutions, and my feeling is that is important 00:30:29.540 --> 00:30:37.780 - to get real certifications that mean that they're providing safety 00:30:37.780 --> 00:30:45.980 - and a good environment to people who are in crisis, so that's where we are with that, yeah. 00:30:45.980 --> 00:30:48.640 - >> Thank you. 00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:56.820 - I also just want to add to that in terms of that specific house that was purchased and encouraged 00:30:56.820 --> 00:31:00.360 - to change as an organization, so Eastern Heights actually had a neighborhood beating. 00:31:00.360 --> 00:31:02.260 - Oh, boy, was it only last week? 00:31:02.260 --> 00:31:10.820 - I think, yeah, a week and a half, something like that, and the director of Courage to Change, 00:31:10.820 --> 00:31:18.000 - and the -- oh, the case manager who is actually going to be working with that house, 00:31:18.000 --> 00:31:24.400 - both attended, and they are -- first of all, as an organization, they are state licensed. 00:31:24.400 --> 00:31:33.480 - They are very concerned with maintaining a high quality of, I guess I'll say sobriety 00:31:33.480 --> 00:31:38.300 - of service to the residents of their houses, like as an organization, 00:31:38.300 --> 00:31:42.760 - and they're also very open to hearing from the community and talking to people, 00:31:42.760 --> 00:31:47.540 - especially neighbors who are then concerned and want to understand more 00:31:47.540 --> 00:31:51.760 - about the organization and who the new neighbors are. 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:56.980 - So, I can get you in touch with that person, if you would like that contact information. 00:32:56.980 --> 00:33:18.840 - Thank you for sharing those last parts because I think that that community meeting did help 00:33:18.840 --> 00:33:25.760 - at least most people kind of, you know, the unknown can always be a little bit scary, 00:33:25.760 --> 00:33:31.100 - so the more you know, the more comfortable we can all feel with what happens. 00:33:31.100 --> 00:33:54.300 - And what I see coming home all the time is all these poor students and small families 00:33:54.300 --> 00:34:02.200 - trying to get across 10th Street from both directions, you know, they're taking the bus 00:34:02.200 --> 00:34:06.200 - to get to school, and there's no safe way for them to cross 10th Street, and it's been 00:34:06.200 --> 00:34:13.200 - a major issue for a long time, and I've communicated with the city in the past and been told that 00:34:13.200 --> 00:34:27.120 - it's not, but it's a major issue, so I'm just making sure you all are aware of that, 00:34:27.120 --> 00:34:31.680 - and please, please, make it so the safe way for them to cross is true. 00:34:31.680 --> 00:34:32.680 - Thank you. 00:34:32.680 --> 00:34:34.240 - Yeah, thank you for mentioning that. 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:39.280 - So that is a state road, and the state does have project plans, and I'm not gonna know 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:42.760 - all of the dates off the top of my head, but if you drive by there right now, you'll notice 00:34:42.760 --> 00:34:48.280 - that there are utility flags on the side of the road, and I mean, they should start construction 00:34:48.280 --> 00:34:49.280 - this year. 00:34:49.280 --> 00:34:50.440 - That is what is supposed to happen. 00:34:50.440 --> 00:34:52.480 - So this project is gonna be in two phases. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:57.960 - The first phase is gonna work from 10th Street to just past Pete Ellis, and then there's 00:34:57.960 --> 00:35:03.320 - gonna be a second phase that goes from where they stopped just past Pete Ellis to Russell 00:35:03.320 --> 00:35:11.520 - Road, and yes, there is a plan online, so I could get you that link, too, if you wanted. 00:35:11.520 --> 00:35:12.720 - So there is a plan online. 00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:18.600 - The state has that all drawn out already because now they're entering the construction phase, 00:35:18.600 --> 00:35:21.280 - and there will be better pedestrian... 00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:24.760 - It will honestly not take very much to be better pedestrian infrastructure at that corner 00:35:24.760 --> 00:35:28.260 - of Pete Ellis and 10th because there's literally no pedestrian infrastructure there right now. 00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:31.240 - So there will be pedestrian infrastructure there. 00:35:31.240 --> 00:35:36.120 - There will also be other improvements along that way, and ultimately, there will be pedestrian 00:35:36.120 --> 00:35:41.500 - access all the way from Pete Ellis to Russell Road, which is also an area that is just completely 00:35:41.500 --> 00:35:46.880 - lacking and devoid in terms of pedestrian infrastructure and also bicycle infrastructure. 00:35:46.880 --> 00:35:50.860 - I believe the plan right now has a multi-use path along... 00:35:50.860 --> 00:35:55.640 - I think it's gonna be along the north side of 10th Street all the way from the bypass 00:35:55.640 --> 00:36:00.640 - to Russell Road ultimately, and it's gonna take multiple years for that to happen. 00:36:00.640 --> 00:36:07.600 - And so I've heard from some people that it's just like, "Come on, let's make it go faster," 00:36:07.600 --> 00:36:14.040 - but it is at this point, I think, the fact that the ball is rolling and it is going because 00:36:14.040 --> 00:36:19.960 - it has really been a long time coming in terms of working with the state and trying to get 00:36:19.960 --> 00:36:25.880 - that project elevated to the level of it actually getting planned and completed. 00:36:25.880 --> 00:36:35.160 - So the city is gonna watch it and make sure that they do what they need to to make it 00:36:35.160 --> 00:36:36.160 - safe for people walking, right? 00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:37.360 - That's really in the planning phase. 00:36:37.360 --> 00:36:42.160 - So there was a public meeting about that first part from the bypass to just past Pete Ellis 00:36:42.160 --> 00:36:46.440 - and I think that it was actually about two years ago because I was not in office at that 00:36:46.440 --> 00:36:51.600 - time and there was a public meeting about it and they showed the project plans and it 00:36:51.600 --> 00:36:55.840 - was a whole public input thing and yes, there are pedestrian crossings there. 00:36:55.840 --> 00:37:00.200 - So it's the kind of thing like once it's in the plan, like that's the way that it should 00:37:00.200 --> 00:37:05.080 - be, but yeah, yeah. 00:37:05.080 --> 00:37:10.400 - And I just want to mention you can communicate directly with INDOT. 00:37:10.400 --> 00:37:22.760 - We do and we likely have a weightier voice than any other individual, but it's not as 00:37:22.760 --> 00:37:29.160 - significant as you might think and so it's also important that you use your voices there. 00:37:29.160 --> 00:37:36.600 - I did want to mention in this context that on the city's website we do have a live projects 00:37:36.600 --> 00:37:44.480 - map and even the projects that are not ours, anything that we know about, we'll highlight 00:37:44.480 --> 00:37:50.280 - them on there and you can click on them and get the links to, you know, it'll take you 00:37:50.280 --> 00:37:54.240 - right to INDOT, to the site for that particular project. 00:37:54.240 --> 00:37:59.540 - So if there's ever anything going on in your neighborhood or on your way to work, whatever 00:37:59.540 --> 00:38:03.520 - it is, if it's in the city of Bloomington, our intention is to have it on the map. 00:38:03.520 --> 00:38:10.200 - You can let us know if we're missing something, but our crew is pretty good at putting things 00:38:10.200 --> 00:38:15.440 - up on that map in real time and you can just click on it and get the various links that 00:38:15.440 --> 00:38:17.880 - you need to find out more information. 00:38:17.880 --> 00:38:21.720 - Who else has a question? 00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:34.120 - In light of the state putting pressure on the city to increase taxes, I guess in light 00:38:34.120 --> 00:38:45.520 - of the goal of not having to do that, is the city's budget healthy in moving through their 00:38:45.520 --> 00:38:51.860 - budget, do we feel like the city is going forward, even pushing back a little bit with 00:38:51.860 --> 00:38:58.920 - the state that the budget is healthy and in a good place for the next few years? 00:38:58.920 --> 00:39:08.040 - The question is, given the cuts that are coming, is our budget in a healthy place? 00:39:08.040 --> 00:39:09.880 - Yes and no. 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:23.360 - We moved to a system last year of doing these GO bonds to fund capital projects. 00:39:23.360 --> 00:39:29.500 - Our ability to do that now with the intention that we would do a new little one every year, 00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:37.520 - we can't do that because also in this bill you have to have a one-year break, no go bonds, 00:39:37.520 --> 00:39:48.460 - and our current one is a two-year bond, so the intention to do rolling GO bonds is no 00:39:48.460 --> 00:39:51.900 - longer going to work. 00:39:51.900 --> 00:39:59.760 - This gets into some complexities that perhaps the sort of mother goose version of this is 00:39:59.760 --> 00:40:08.520 - we're not there yet and we had been in a place of saying yes to everything that we wanted 00:40:08.520 --> 00:40:11.120 - to do for a lot of years. 00:40:11.120 --> 00:40:15.520 - Our budget was growing and growing and growing and we tried to sort of rein that in a bit 00:40:15.520 --> 00:40:19.200 - last year during my first year in office. 00:40:19.200 --> 00:40:24.180 - We're going to have to get used to saying no we can't do that this year. 00:40:24.180 --> 00:40:29.240 - It sounds like a great program or project, it's not a good year to do that and because 00:40:29.240 --> 00:40:36.680 - of the math on the income that's going to come to the city, it's going to limit our bond 00:40:36.680 --> 00:40:38.400 - capacity anyway. 00:40:38.400 --> 00:40:40.920 - So not only with go bonds. 00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:44.200 - So it's quite significant. 00:40:44.200 --> 00:40:51.560 - I know we had a lot of action at the state house and it was I can't imagine being a resident 00:40:51.560 --> 00:40:57.420 - with a full time job that is not at the city and paying attention to everything that happened 00:40:57.420 --> 00:40:59.280 - at the state house. 00:40:59.280 --> 00:41:03.160 - I will just say your voices really matter there. 00:41:03.160 --> 00:41:09.340 - I spent some days up at the state house advocating for our city. 00:41:09.340 --> 00:41:14.880 - We need residents to be calling because the whole approach was well if you don't have 00:41:14.880 --> 00:41:21.880 - enough money just put more local income tax together and you can get what you need or 00:41:21.880 --> 00:41:29.720 - we'll fix it later was the other answer it's going to be an uphill battle to fix it later. 00:41:29.720 --> 00:41:33.120 - So we're not in a great spot. 00:41:33.120 --> 00:41:42.200 - I do want to recognize that Dr. Markay Winston our wonderful superintendent of MCCSC has joined 00:41:42.200 --> 00:41:51.520 - us and just want to give a shout out to the amazing work she's doing very tough circumstances 00:41:51.520 --> 00:41:57.440 - because those cuts are going to have a bigger impact on the schools and they have no ability 00:41:57.440 --> 00:42:00.420 - to put in a local income tax. 00:42:00.420 --> 00:42:13.320 - So they are just dealing with the cuts so yeah I'm just going to say that the really short 00:42:13.320 --> 00:42:19.000 - story in terms of that is that the state is lowering property taxes lowering the revenues 00:42:19.000 --> 00:42:26.440 - that we can get from property taxes and then telling municipalities and county as well you 00:42:26.440 --> 00:42:30.680 - can raise income taxes in order to make up some of that shortfall I don't think that 00:42:30.680 --> 00:42:36.080 - it could even necessarily make up all of that shortfall but what that does is it just it 00:42:36.080 --> 00:42:39.960 - it just changes the tax liability it just says oh instead of these people over here 00:42:39.960 --> 00:42:44.320 - paying it we're gonna have these people over here pay something more and you know if you 00:42:44.320 --> 00:42:51.000 - think about people owning a home say or owning property right even if it's not the home that 00:42:51.000 --> 00:42:56.280 - they live on rental property or business property versus people who are just trying to make 00:42:56.280 --> 00:42:59.680 - ends meet working a job and all of a sudden those people are just making ends meet working 00:42:59.680 --> 00:43:04.000 - a job they're gonna get more tax liability through their income tax and so that's why 00:43:04.000 --> 00:43:09.800 - it's not this like clean and easy thing for like me as a council person Carrie as mayor 00:43:09.800 --> 00:43:13.640 - like us as a municipality or as a county to go oh well it's fine we'll just raise income 00:43:13.640 --> 00:43:21.160 - taxes because it's not like we can't that's that's not a good solution for residents for 00:43:21.160 --> 00:43:25.400 - the population and so that's kind of what makes it really hard and so then you're going 00:43:25.400 --> 00:43:32.560 - okay how are we gonna figure out losing revenue without necessarily being able to make up 00:43:32.560 --> 00:43:36.840 - all of that revenue because we don't want to do that to our residents so and and we 00:43:36.840 --> 00:43:39.880 - had an extra chair up here in the beginning I don't know if dr. Winston wants to come 00:43:39.880 --> 00:43:44.400 - up and be be in a hot seat but you should feel free to just sit out there and be anonymous 00:43:44.400 --> 00:43:52.840 - if you want to as well I fully support that okay can I come and join you I'm just anyway 00:43:52.840 --> 00:44:02.560 - thank you for that question who has another question come on you all came out here for 00:44:02.560 --> 00:44:23.580 - something I know quite a few people that are if not terrified close to it yeah I know a 00:44:23.580 --> 00:44:31.000 - lot of people are really scared about the immigration situation and we're working with 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:39.580 - all of our nonprofit partners and faith communities to make sure that the support that we that 00:44:39.580 --> 00:44:46.600 - can be offered is offered and Exodus is doing a great job I'll give them a shout out but 00:44:46.600 --> 00:44:52.440 - there are several other nonprofits that are really doing a great job we are you know that 00:44:52.440 --> 00:45:02.160 - the executive orders keep changing the policies keep shifting but my communication hopefully 00:45:02.160 --> 00:45:13.720 - has been clear that that we want to be supportive and welcoming in Bloomington and and I think 00:45:13.720 --> 00:45:22.520 - you know we have all kinds of people that are scared green card holders and naturalized 00:45:22.520 --> 00:45:30.960 - citizens now as well so I'll just encourage you all to support those great nonprofits faith 00:45:30.960 --> 00:45:39.640 - communities that are leading the way with that I will add to that that one of the other 00:45:39.640 --> 00:45:44.000 - things you can do is just listen to the people around you who might be in that situation 00:45:44.000 --> 00:45:50.480 - and I actually attended an event last night with it was it was a picnic it was a annual 00:45:50.480 --> 00:45:58.240 - refugee picnic that I have attended every year since its origin about four years ago 00:45:58.240 --> 00:46:02.960 - and it was really fun and family friendly and there were lots of people there having 00:46:02.960 --> 00:46:08.840 - a great time and in the midst of that there were also people that told me that they were 00:46:08.840 --> 00:46:15.040 - scared even though they are totally legal and they have all of their paperwork and and 00:46:15.040 --> 00:46:18.040 - so just hearing that from our neighbors and supporting them we'd also love to hear what 00:46:18.040 --> 00:46:19.040 - you're excited about this summer in Bloomington or anything else if you don't have questions 00:46:19.040 --> 00:46:39.640 - we would just love to hear from you yeah more of a statement it's exciting to see the new 00:46:39.640 --> 00:46:47.640 - convention center finally have their groundbreaking and all of that and I know as far as economic 00:46:47.640 --> 00:46:49.640 - issues that we're having right now it's supposed to be a boon but one of the things that our 00:46:49.640 --> 00:46:50.640 - current convention center is is a resource for local organizations to be able to go in 00:46:50.640 --> 00:46:51.640 - and have celebrations and things like that and I'm and over the last year couple years 00:46:51.640 --> 00:46:52.640 - their current convention center has the prices have gone up and they're starting to price 00:46:52.640 --> 00:46:53.640 - out some of the organizations and I'm really concerned about the new convention center 00:46:53.640 --> 00:46:54.640 - and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming 00:46:54.640 --> 00:47:09.640 - from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the 00:47:09.640 --> 00:47:16.640 - pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from out 00:47:16.640 --> 00:47:21.640 - of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing 00:47:21.640 --> 00:47:22.640 - is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town 00:47:22.640 --> 00:47:23.640 - and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be 00:47:23.640 --> 00:47:24.640 - like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really 00:47:24.640 --> 00:47:25.640 - concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there 00:47:25.640 --> 00:47:26.640 - because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned 00:47:26.640 --> 00:47:27.640 - about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because 00:47:27.640 --> 00:47:28.640 - obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the 00:47:28.640 --> 00:47:29.640 - new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously 00:47:29.640 --> 00:47:30.640 - I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:47:30.640 --> 00:47:31.640 - center and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business 00:47:31.640 --> 00:47:46.640 - is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town 00:47:46.640 --> 00:47:47.640 - and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be 00:47:47.640 --> 00:47:48.640 - like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really 00:47:48.640 --> 00:47:49.640 - concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there 00:47:49.640 --> 00:47:50.640 - because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned 00:47:50.640 --> 00:47:51.640 - about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because 00:47:51.640 --> 00:47:52.640 - obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about 00:47:52.640 --> 00:47:53.640 - the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously 00:47:53.640 --> 00:47:54.640 - I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:47:54.640 --> 00:47:55.640 - center and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business 00:47:55.640 --> 00:47:56.640 - is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and 00:47:56.640 --> 00:48:01.640 - what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming 00:48:01.640 --> 00:48:02.640 - from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the 00:48:02.640 --> 00:48:03.640 - pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from out 00:48:03.640 --> 00:48:04.640 - of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing 00:48:04.640 --> 00:48:05.640 - is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town 00:48:05.640 --> 00:48:06.640 - and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be 00:48:06.640 --> 00:48:07.640 - like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really 00:48:07.640 --> 00:48:08.640 - concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there 00:48:08.640 --> 00:48:09.640 - because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned 00:48:09.640 --> 00:48:10.640 - about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because 00:48:10.640 --> 00:48:11.640 - obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the 00:48:11.640 --> 00:48:26.640 - new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously 00:48:26.640 --> 00:48:32.640 - I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:48:32.640 --> 00:48:37.640 - center and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business 00:48:37.640 --> 00:48:42.640 - is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center 00:48:42.640 --> 00:48:43.640 - and what the pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming 00:48:43.640 --> 00:48:44.640 - from out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the 00:48:44.640 --> 00:48:45.640 - pricing is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from 00:48:45.640 --> 00:48:46.640 - out of town and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing 00:48:46.640 --> 00:48:47.640 - is going to be like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town 00:48:47.640 --> 00:48:48.640 - and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be 00:48:48.640 --> 00:48:49.640 - like there because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really 00:48:49.640 --> 00:48:50.640 - concerned about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there 00:48:50.640 --> 00:48:51.640 - because obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned 00:48:51.640 --> 00:48:52.640 - about the new convention center and what the pricing is going to be like there because 00:48:52.640 --> 00:49:17.960 - obviously I think business is coming from out of town and I'm really concerned about the 00:49:17.960 --> 00:49:41.520 - new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really 00:49:41.520 --> 00:49:54.080 - concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:49:54.080 --> 00:50:22.640 - center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned 00:50:22.640 --> 00:50:43.360 - about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and 00:50:43.360 --> 00:51:04.600 - I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new 00:51:04.600 --> 00:51:26.500 - convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really 00:51:26.500 --> 00:51:39.880 - concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:51:39.880 --> 00:52:01.000 - center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned 00:52:01.000 --> 00:52:21.340 - about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and 00:52:21.340 --> 00:52:41.860 - I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new 00:52:41.860 --> 00:53:06.400 - convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really 00:53:06.400 --> 00:53:21.280 - concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:53:21.280 --> 00:53:42.300 - center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned 00:53:42.300 --> 00:54:01.360 - about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and 00:54:01.360 --> 00:54:23.880 - I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new 00:54:23.880 --> 00:54:39.620 - convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really 00:54:39.620 --> 00:54:59.380 - concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention 00:54:59.380 --> 00:55:16.680 - center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and I'm really concerned 00:55:16.680 --> 00:55:35.880 - about the new convention center and I'm really concerned about the new convention center and 00:55:35.880 --> 00:55:44.540 - say what you actually are going to do. It's a list of what you'd love to see. And between 00:55:44.540 --> 00:55:56.700 - that master plan time and the time that it was time to move dirt on roads and other things, 00:55:56.700 --> 00:56:03.200 - there wasn't a whole lot of funding that was coming in and the construction prices were 00:56:03.200 --> 00:56:10.540 - going up and up and up. And so with a massive vision statement, which is the master plan, 00:56:10.540 --> 00:56:19.260 - and no tangible plan for how we'd actually achieve it, Hopewell has been an incredible 00:56:19.260 --> 00:56:28.080 - opportunity which is also to say it's been a challenge to get it to pencil. And you will 00:56:28.080 --> 00:56:39.500 - see housing there. My commitment and my goal is to get the people that we want living in 00:56:39.500 --> 00:56:50.180 - Bloomington. It would be easy to put Hopewell together for a student housing developer. 00:56:50.180 --> 00:56:58.920 - The multinational financing is there. It's open and shut. It is less easy to get a neighborhood 00:56:58.920 --> 00:57:04.900 - that we're really proud of that says this is Bloomington and that calls the people who 00:57:04.900 --> 00:57:11.260 - work in Bloomington to live there. And that's what we're going to get at Hopewell. And 00:57:11.260 --> 00:57:20.260 - so the details of how we're going to get there have taken some expertise to finagle. And 00:57:20.260 --> 00:57:31.740 - I think we're getting closer. But in all transparency, it's been a challenge. And I've been in 00:57:31.740 --> 00:57:32.100 - housing 00:57:32.100 --> 00:57:39.740 - a long time. It's not rocket science, but there are a lot of components that get interwoven 00:57:39.740 --> 00:57:50.860 - into it. And the easy way is usually not the way that we want to go. Because it's going 00:57:50.860 --> 00:57:58.140 - to get us what's easy to finance. And I think we have enough of that in Bloomington. And 00:57:58.140 --> 00:58:04.820 - unfortunately, the parents of the students that we want at MCCSC, they don't live in 00:58:04.820 --> 00:58:18.780 - those places. And the folks that are working at Novo and at Catalan and Cook and not Catalan, 00:58:18.780 --> 00:58:28.060 - Novo now, at Boston, etc., they don't live in those places either. We need the place, 00:58:28.060 --> 00:58:32.940 - the people who are going to walk to the university, who are going to be working at trades district, 00:58:32.940 --> 00:58:40.060 - who are going to go over to Cook. That's who we want living at Hopewell. And we want to 00:58:40.060 --> 00:58:50.140 - make that attainable for them. And attainable means reasonable for your income. So it's 00:58:50.140 --> 00:58:56.380 - not a great thing that we're not turning dirt on houses yet, but I also will say it is a 00:58:56.380 --> 00:59:01.140 - good thing because we're trying to protect Bloomington from the things we don't necessarily 00:59:01.140 --> 00:59:08.760 - need more of. We need to get it right and we only have one opportunity to do it. Yeah. 00:59:08.760 --> 00:59:15.220 - Two minutes. We're getting the two minute warning. Yeah. Anybody else have a burning 00:59:15.220 --> 00:59:18.940 - question or a comment that they want to make before we close things out? I'll hang out 00:59:18.940 --> 00:59:24.580 - for a little while afterwards, maybe. Hope you and Jane will for a few minutes too. Okay. 00:59:24.580 --> 00:59:28.860 - We're going to close out. I'm going to encourage you to go to Grand Faloon this weekend. Go 00:59:28.860 --> 00:59:37.540 - to the city pools and have fun meeting some new neighbors and think about how you might 00:59:37.540 --> 00:59:47.060 - like to contribute to your city through volunteering, contributing your treasure other ways. Thank 00:59:47.060 --> 00:59:54.580 - you for being here. Your voices matter to me and I know to Hopi and Jane as well and 00:59:54.580 --> 01:00:01.580 - this is how we build a city that really works for everyone. 01:00:31.580 --> 01:00:36.580 - ("Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar) 01:00:36.580 --> 01:00:41.580 - ("Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar) 01:00:41.580 --> 01:00:46.580 - ("Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar) 01:00:46.580 --> 01:00:51.580 - ("Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar) 01:00:51.580 --> 01:00:56.580 - ("Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar) 01:00:56.580 --> 01:01:01.580 - ("Pomp and Circumstance" by Edward Elgar) 01:01:01.580 --> 01:01:03.580 - [ Music ]