All right, we have a quorum and it is 5:45. So, I'm going to call our city council listening session to order. It's Monday, May 5th, 5:45. Thanks very much for everybody who's here. So, here are the folks that I have prescheduled and raise your hand. Uh, Linda Wang, there's
Linda. Elizabeth Caroni, there she is. Y Pam, and then Parker, I don't see her here yet tonight. So, uh, why don't we get started? Linda, you're up first. And what I'm going to ask you to do is you come up. You can sign in after you finish up just so we make this move
along. Uh, we got five minutes and we'll maybe ask some questions. We'll try and engage a little bit and um what was I what else was I going to say? Oh, and just make sure you state your name as you start. State your name for the record so we have that as well.
So, okay. Hello, my name is Linda Lang 9125 in Bloomington and I grew up in Bloomington. I think Bloomington is great and it's wonderful to see the city council people and the staff here. I did mail in my comments. We don't want to
read them to you. Um, I'll go over the highlights briefly and I have a couple other points and I don't think I'll take the entire five minutes. Um, I did attend activities with my mother and my parents bought
bought their house in 1963 that I'm now owning and u before that we lived in East Bloomington and they bought that in 19 built that also in 1955 and I was born in 1956. So, you kind of see where
that's all going. Um, I did go to the creek side activities with my mother and intend to go more now that I myself older. Um, I did work as an orthopedic nurse. I have a registered nurse license. I volunteered at local nursing
homes for years and pushed a lot of wheelchairs, helped a lot of disabled people both as a nurse and a volunteer. And I've recently had both my hips replaced. So, I'm now bionic. Um, parking at the main entrance. Just
to make my ideas, if the world was perfect, you would do all of these things. So, parking at the main entrance. Um, I would request that the handicap parking uh be across the front of the long longest
entryway that so if this is the door and this is curb and the sidewalk that all of the parking starts there. Okay? so that you get out of your car, you get to the sidewalk in the winter with the snow, sleep ice, you can make your way
to the door and then in my perfect world, we'd replicate that backwards for handicapped people. And we'd have a lot of them because able-bodied people in America need to walk, but it's harder for handicapped people with wheelchairs
and walkers. Um, I I think you can't have enough handicaps. Entrance doors. Um, it's hard to always find where the little button is. Push the door. Um, pushing the
wheelchair, you stop, park the wheelchair, walk over. If you're in the wheelchair, the walker, you make your way over. The doors are heavy. If we have auto auto open motion detectors, at least for the main entrance where all of
the parking is, you just walk up with whatever able-bodied people and disabled body people, you know, flick it open and walk right through. Uh women's bathrooms.
Um, in my perfect world, all of the women's bathrooms would be handicap accessible. They're bigger. Um, they give you the ability to hold on, move around. And in in that stall, I would
make sure that it's well lit and not not light that's coming from over there to over here. And most women in the winter time wear coats and have purses and it's very
inconvenient to do what you need to do with your coat, wearing your coat. So, we need some kind of heavy hook for both. My purse a lot of times weighs more than my um the lunchroom at Creekide. I noticed
that it was very very popular to come for lunch when there was entertainment and then what then it was very difficult to actually get if you weren't on the internet um if you didn't read and after a while Bloomington did away with a flyer as a
cost savings thing and then you have to pick them up so it became more and more difficult for my mother to keep track of well I'd like to go see these people these people these people she didn't go every for every Friday. So, um there were people who
were turned away. So, I'm hoping that in the new building that if there's that sort of entertainment for retired people um that the room be big enough to allow as many people as possible. And I did know and speak to a lot of people in Richfield
who thought it was fun and you know they bumped up my mother and she knew this because she saw she talked previously. So it was her fault. Um the elevator I'm hoping that if if it's two
stories which I assume that it is that there'll be one here because wheelchairs and handicap equipment they take up more room. Fewer people can go in. have to wait. Even if you're on a walk or you're standing there, you're not have the
energy that you normally a normal body person would have. And then the coat racks. Um I think my memory is correct that Creekide has little hooks outside in the hall for everybody. It's the coolest thing since sliced bread. And I would do that inside students in the new
building. And then if you have rooms that can hold a lot more than you really have books for if you can have in the closet jacks that we can roll in. So that's the end of my remarks and I have a couple other things. We we we're at five minutes. I'm sorry. Am I? Yep, you
are. Can I 30 seconds? 30 seconds. Go. We have archery 12 courses Bloomington and and uh Bloomington fields of her back field uh three foot fields. I understand those are with the schools. Um I think the 800
pound gorilla in the room is that seniors in Bloomington are going to get a bill that is going to be shared with other populations and they are going to feel that they're pushed aside. I think that the city council needs to deal
directly with that and make make the seniors feel like they didn't give anything up that they really gained a better building and a better program. Thank you. Thank you much.
Hello. Back. Good evening. Evening. Okay. So, uh my name is Elizabeth Cambon and I'm back here today representing my family and many of my neighbors. Um, I'm here to address the lack of neighborhood engagement surrounding the new community health and wellness
center. In a city council meeting on August 26, 2024, Councilman Laha asked, this is a quote, "Have we had the communication with the neighborhood?" I asked that because I drove around the neighborhood the other day and it is rather quiet and with a facility like
this, it will become just busier, right? So, when does that conversation happen with the neighbors to make sure they're on board online and knowing what's going to happen in their backyard? End quote. In direct response to this question, Miss Ann
Katri, sorry, confidently said, quote, "We also tend to have meeting intend to have meetings with the neighbors specifically. We plan to bring HDA and our construction manager into that conversation so that they're sure to understand what to expect through the
entire process from the time that Creekide comes down to the time construction starts throughout the entire process. So I can assure you we will be engaging significantly with the neighbors. End quote. This has not happened and even if it does happen, it
sounds like it will be an information session, not a survey or engagement. She also spoke of a planned kickoff for a community engagement event that was planned for September of 2024 that the neighbors could come to. I want to point out that this in the city newspaper,
this was advertised as simply an event to celebrate and see what's been done. There was no invitation to ask questions or give feedback. Some of us in the neighborhood did not attend this event because of that reason. Some of us did attend this event, but didn't see an option for giving feedback. and one of
my neighbors attended this event, voiced their concerns to one of you here, and was completely brushed off. So, I'm here to say that it's already nine months later, and we have absolutely not been considered. We have not been informed.
There has been no engagement. There have been no servants in our mailbox or knocks on our doors. The only way we've stayed informed is by reading the Sun Current or watching the city council meetings on YouTube. for a project that is quite literally happening in our
backyards. We know nothing more than anyone else with access to the internet and we had to go searching and digging for that information. Whose job was it to follow through on Councilmen Councilman MOA's
concern for us? MUA, sorry, excuse me. And why hasn't it been done? I was here last week bringing you alarming concerns about traffic studies and the health and safety issues coming from our neighborhood. All of those issues are still outstanding. Uh the mayor assured me that I would be connected with the
right people. I have not been connected. The only email I have received was not even addressed to me. I was carboncopied on an email that was in response to someone else's question. Uh the email and that email only explain the process
of what a traffic study is. The pl the the site plans and the public hearing. I know this process and I did not ask about it. So why am I back already just one week later? Why the urgency? There is urgency because from
August of 2024 through March of 2025, our neighborhood believed the city intended on buying eight of our homes to make a parking lot. It has been barely six weeks since we've learned that you plan to cram over 400 parking spaces and a large facility on the modest creek
side lot. It's barely been six weeks since we learned that you plan on sending 600 or more cars a day down our safe and quiet streets. Traffic from early morning through late evening, seven days a week.
There is urgency because the schematic design phase is now done and the design and development phase has started. According to the city newspaper, demolition starts in three months and construction shortly thereafter. Before more planning is done and more money is spent, I'm asking you
to follow through on your civic responsibility of representing the interest and well-being of your community. The number of homes in our neighborhood is relatively small, but our demographics are very diverse in race, income, gender, marital status,
age, and beliefs. We are your community, and we need you to take action to help us protect our well-being and the integrity of our neighborhood. Thank you again for your time and consideration. Thank you, council. Any comments, questions here? We have about a minute
or so. Uh, I will say I appreciate your comments. Uh, I will say as I look at this list here, we had staff pull together the in-person engagement opportunities from May of 2024 until now. And I'm seeing 15 or 20 opportunities. I mean,
including the farmers market, including the u the creek side community celebration that you referenced in September that there was a lot of folks there. I was there as well. Uh the indoor farmers markets and so on. So, uh, I I agree there there hasn't perhaps
been a door-to-door survey and and back and forth with the neighbors, but there has been a lot of opportunities to ask questions to provide feedback and to be part of this conversation. Yeah. So, as I said last week and I addressed it again today,
um, a lot of us engaged starting spring, maybe even before that with the first time you guys had like online surveys, a lot of us in our neighborhood were taking those and very involved and farmers markets, those type of things. But when we were approached in August
saying the city's interested in purchasing your homes for a parking lot, it was kind of a mute topic, right? So, a lot of us were kept saying, "Well, we still want the green space." We were reiterating what we had said in the spring, but we had no chance to really
bring up the 600 cars, the 400 car parking lot, the entrance and exit off of Newton Avenue. That that's it's just kind of a our hands were tied. So, as I said, we have only our neighborhood has only known about that for about six
weeks now. Um, so that's why I came last week representing our neighborhood and that's why I'm back here today. And it I just want to clarify that last week I was bringing the safety and wellness concerns and this week I'm specifically addressing the
um, you know, it you guys said you were going to reach out and communicate with us specifically in the neighborhood and that has not happened. and and and I and I would argue it has maybe not specifically but there's been those opportunities and for the four houses of those eight houses four were facing the
communities the proposed site for facing the other direction and so uh to say that we impacted the entire neighborhood by not reaching out to U8 or having U8 believe that you were going to have your No, you have to understand the whole neighborhood believed that
that was going to be a parking lot. So that would significantly change the way traffic flows in and out of the area and what would happen in that area by very quickly the I think there there's a so the the misunderstanding and I'm sorry
that this happened. Um first off I I do believe that an and team are planning on talking to you guys. I think in your own comments you mentioned that she's going to be working with you from the time that side comes down through the entire process. she was specifically answering that question around the construction, the demolition construction process. So,
we didn't have anything specific for the neighborhood related to design or or anything like that. So, and maybe we should have. I'm not saying we shouldn't have, but I I hearing her comments directly from you, she was very much both speaking about how is the construction of this going to disrupt
your neighborhood and how can we make sure you're clear on that. The more important thing though is when we first took the schematics for the the community center out to everybody, the parking lot was not a consideration. Your eight homes were not on the list to be bought or anything like that. All that we've done is because we couldn't
make that happen, we've gone back to our original diagram. Now, um what I'm getting at is um that should not have been a surprise. I mean, maybe we didn't do a good job of communicating, but the original diagram has been the original diagram since we first put this on the
ballot. And it includes the parking lot as part of where the soccer field is now, and no parking lot where you are. Um, and I'm on the record saying I didn't want to buy your homes from the get-go, and that's a different problem, but that was so, so I know that it preceded our engagement with you all.
Uh, I guess the question I would ask is what was it about the original design that you that we didn't hear about your concerns at that time? Now, not that we shouldn't have gotten them. I get it, right? I understand we should have been more proactive maybe, but that wasn't a before we made the decision to
potentially come out and ask you for your homes. That was the design. So, and we didn't hear from anybody. So, I'm get kind of curious about your Well, I will say I know myself and a lot of neighbors did engage in the online surveys and the farmers market. Uh, whether we did it anonymously or not, I don't know. Um,
and we valued things like green space and the quietness of the neighborhood. Uh, the safety of the area, I know, were big concerns for a lot of people when they engaged. Um, they probably have that information because you've entered that information into the record. I
don't understand if there's a way to track that. I don't need to cut this off, but we are well over five. So, I want to make sure everybody gets a chance. So, thank you. I'm Tim Palmer and as you know from the beginning, I've been very concerned about the seniors, true seniors that are
retired and that's their social outlet. They love metal and some other of the great neighbors over there. I originally was delighted that you guys chose not to buy it, which has not been public out for any reason why. Is there
any reason? Uh I think it's it's public. I don't know how public. I don't think we haven't made an announcement, but I think it's public. It's not secret thing after the city do what the council instructed and it was like whatever. So,
you know, if I didn't hear through other means and know them, I wouldn't know word. So, I was happy. Yes, we're not going to waste money and lose the tax revenue. And I realized what hell they're going through. and
um why you said last week that there was a traffic study, but now we have since learned through Denise that we're in the process of a traffic study now. Now, why not months ago? How could you
get this far in the design and all of that stuff and choosing all of the money and time without having a traffic study? And why are the entrance and exits on Newton Avenue on that quiet little
street? Something should be on 98th. Why not something on pin? you if take and as far as when she said your last last week at the meeting you said we will have so and so get I think it was Kirk Roberts get in touch with you
crickets nothing at all same with when she was talking about getting feedback or intake that isn't just going to the farmers market it sounded like they're going to be greatly affected more than I who live safely away they should have
had their own special meeting, not necessarily knocking on every door, but saying we're going to have a meeting at Creekide or whatever. Come over and talk to us. So, I don't understand why you didn't know or lied about that it was
already done when the traffic study is yet to be made. And um but then the other thing I was really insulted last week when Loner called me out for um your public
your public message. My public message? Yeah, it was public. I didn't call you out like identify you that you weren't actually the author of that article. I object and then we had a bunch of heated emails which you guys were all included in. My point is a couple of things. One,
um, senior programming doesn't begin at age 55 or you're still working and active. We're talking about senior programming side. Can I finish this? Remember this is a dialogue. Can you finish this? It's a dialogue that repres Let me interrupt for a minute. If
you found the table again, I'm going to ask you to leave. Okay. Okay. So, one thing is my fact. She has not pointed out a fact that I got wrong. I said seniors were feeling left out. If seniors are feeling left out, it's like
if a husband and wife are arguing, "No, no, you're not hurt. I can do this." Well, I'm feeling hurt. You know what I mean? It's how somebody is feeling. So, people at Creekide, many of them 70 and 80, not 55 because they have
jobs and other things to do, are feeling left out. I have heard from many. I spent this whole morning on the phone with people. Um all the people that showed up last week were because of my column. So when I don't like being called a liar,
uh the former mayor used to say, "We disagree on some things, but you always work to get the facts." And the fact is many seniors, retired people without jobs are feeling left out. So, um, and
again, another way that they're feeling left out is some of the programs will not continue. And also, seniors are all in, uh, multi-purpose rooms. Now, I did hear, I hope the rumor is correct, that
the boutique will have a little room. The boutique will have space. I'm not sure if it's a little room or it's a mobile kiosk. Somebody told me that they were being granted. I can't remember. I've talked to so many people. So anyway, the kiosk
is ridiculous for a whole that whole thing of theirs to be on a little kiosk. Certainly one of those multi-purpose rooms could be for the boutique. Yeah, I'll have to try to find my notes at home. So, it is a fact. It is a fact
that many seniors are feeling left out. I'm not saying there weren't engagements. same with what you said to her, but seniors themselves are feeling left out. And I when all this stuff came up, which has been for years, as you
know, I've traveled to a lot of other community centers, you walk into like Maple Grove. I mean, it is a hustling, bustling thing. And like Linda pointed out and I had my hip problems, you become very conscious of, oh my
goodness, how am I going to get to that door? We're we're almost six minutes now. So yeah. So and I'll just throw out last thing. Maybe I'll bring it up next meeting. The Veterans Memorial.
So let's save let's save that for the next meeting since we're already at six minutes. How about if you talk about talk about the Veterans Memorial next time? Okay, thank you. Parker, um I actually brought my sunglasses, but actually Noah loves the bright light.
I wonder can you answer though to why you thought No, she's teething like wild. So the key is there's a parking stud. I appreciate it. Why am I calling you the same thing? We already did it. Don't remember saying
that. All right. Go ahead, Parker. All right. So, it seems like what I'm saying is echoed in a lot of folks here today. Um the community is not the disabled community, the elder community, the intergenerational community is not at the table. There was that video that
went out that looked like propaganda where I had people telling me about what was going to happen. And that's how it's been since the beginning. Unfortunately, we live in a dominant society that doesn't welcome folks with disabilities. I'm multiple disable disables and so is my daughter. And you know, this
engagement sessions online is not where people are. You got to go to them. You got to go to the wood shop. You got to go to the artist's room. When we're talking about sensory friendly, it's not a room. It's a way of life. My neighbor, Linda Bartage, runs the seal room at
Oakrove Middle School. Maybe you don't know what that is. I'm learning because my daughter's starting at the inclusive preschool at the Bloomington public schools this fall. What it means, it's a room that's got dim light. It's a room that's got comfy places to be. It is filled with students and staff every
single day. People are wanting to have a place in which home, you know, is for them. and this new Creekide. I don't even know what's going on in your neighborhood, but I just know that a feebased place to go and have lunch and a place that to play pool that doesn't exist is not going to exist somewhere
else. Folks are not going to be able to pay a fee. We're already living in emergency like I brought up last time. You know, 55,000 of us are asking for for stuff that the public health does give that's probably going to weigh and that's food. We need we we we here in
the east side always seems to be the agenda of the community, right? There's space. There's so many baseball fields. How about we use some of what we're hearing in in this room here tonight and pay attention to us because we're not going away. And the truth is is like I
work in public health. I presented at that public health conference that met Maser Atson Boio and public health did and the thing that is the hardest for us is social isolation. You know, public health in this community started as inhome care and that's amazing. But the
public health has been going on in Creekide in every room for so long. And I just echo these folks that like we just need to be brought to the table. We need to be in that video that speaks to what's going on because otherwise you're hurting your community. I'm like, "Hey,
Mr. Mayor, I heard that we have someone in common." And that's Rachel Kroo. She's been an auntie and friend, an artist friend of mine. I'm an artist um for many many years and I know her programs that she does for kids and for adults are about our relationship to the natural world. There is revolutionary
work going on at the indigenous arburidum and I know that there's leadership in our school systems around that and education and I think we need to start listening to that because taking down old growth trees because that's what's on creek side are old growth trees. like why don't we instead
of taking everything down right now when we're in extreme emergency when we wonder if the waiverss that pay for me to take care of her that pay for her healthcare are going to go away or not and you're telling us that our community center is about to go away you know so
I'm going to stop talking and the rest of the time I thought we'd sing a song because my daughter's first language is dance and music and we have a lot a song we'd like to sing right you are my Sunshine my only daughter's hungry. She's super
tired. It's an honor to meet each and every one of you. I believe you're in my district. I don't know you, but you're seeing and feeling us. And I'm so grateful for your wisdom today. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make
me happy when skies are gray. You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Oh, please don't take my sunshine away. This is our beautiful Bloomington community and the creek size serves both
Bloomington Richfield and this whole beautiful space. All we're asking is to be part of the decisions at the table. So, thanks for listening today.
La came in. Yeah, you came in late. Were you hoping to speak? I'm just listening to Elizabeth's neighbor. So, I'm Sounds good. Thank you. Taking it in and going from there. All right. Well, thank you all for coming this evening. We are uh a
minute short of our time. So I think I would look for a a motion to adjurnn and we'll head downstairs for our regular meeting. So move second to adjourn our listening session this evening. All in favor signify by saying I. I motion carries 6. Thanks much for being here.
Thank you all. Thanks for your comments tonight.