Good evening everyone. It's uh 5:45. I will call this Bloomington City Council listening session to order. We have uh two speakers this evening who are signed up. Uh Jonathan Minkx and Trina STO. And what we'll do uh with two speakers, everybody gets five minutes. And uh there might be back and forth with the
council. Uh you've been here before. I think you know the drill. So uh Jonathan, why don't we start with you? Good evening. Welcome. >> My name is Jonathan Minkx. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight, council and city staff. Uh, I wanted to talk about something
that goes beyond one vote or one appointment. I want to talk about the difference between disrespect and what looks a lot like punishment. When council member Victor Rivas was not appointed to the HA, it raised real concerns not about experience, but about
consistency because he had more relevant relevant experience than another council member who was appointed to that same board. Instead, the reasoning we heard focused on something else. That he voted no and that he referred to the HA as a rubber
stamp. So, we have to ask, is this really about qualifications or is this about a disagreement? Because voting no is not misconduct. Voting no is literally part of the job. You cannot say you value perspectives,
different perspectives, and then penalize someone for having one. Now, let's talk about the word disrespect because that was used. Council member Rivas has referred to the H as a rubber stamping that may have not been liked,
>> but it wasn't said in a vacuum. At a community connect meeting at the end of 2025, something very important happened. But it wasn't residents speaking. It was board members and commission members themselves who voiced a consistent
concern. They said they fi felt left out. They said they feel like decisions are already made. And they said their role is reduced to yes, rubber stamping. And here's the problem. Much of the city
leadership that was present at the start of that meeting left within just a few minutes, which means they were not there to hear what was arguably the most important feedback of the entire session. So when that same concern is later expressed by a council member, it should
be treated at it shouldn't be treated as disrespect. It should be treated as feedback even if it's uncomfortable. What was disrespectful, however, was how it was handled publicly. Calling out a fe fellow council member in that setting
instead of having a direct conversation offline doesn't build trust, it erodess it. talking over someone, dismissing their questions, or implying incompetence, especially when they're asking about something as important as how public funds are being vetted. That
sends the wrong message to the public. Because let's be clear, asking how money is distri distributed is not disruption. That is responsibility. And we have a real example of why that accountability matters. when the
$400,000 was allocated to VEP, council member Rivas asked straightforward questions, how would those funds be vetted and distributed? And the response from Mayor Busussy was essentially, you can go down there yourself and check. That's not the tone the public expects
in this setting. And more importantly, it doesn't answer the question. So, we followed up with VEP and contacted them directly and we were told that there was no formal vetting process that checks would simply be written to landlords.
That's exactly the concern. This isn't about criticism for the sake of it. This is about ensuring public dollars are allocated properly with integrity and fiscally responsible way. And in that moment, the question that was dismissed actually proved to be valid. And from
the outside looking in, this starts to feel less like accountability and more like control. Because when certain voices are consistently challenged, dismissed, or excluded, whether from boards, conversations, or tone, what you
create isn't collaboration. You create group think. And when boards and commissions are filled in the way that reflects only one perspective, then the concern raised at the connect meeting becomes reality. So I'll end with this. If we truly value different voices, then
we have to make space for them even when they challenge us. If we truly value respect, then it has to go both ways, not just when someone agrees. And if this decision was truly about qualifications, then apply that standard consistently.
But if disagreement played any role at that, then let's be honest about that because the public can tell the difference. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. MS. Council, any questions, comments? >> I recall the council's discussion regarding council member Reebos. Council
member Reebos suggested that the HR shouldn't exist, that it should be disbanded. And in the same way that I wouldn't apply a flat-earther to the sustainability commission, I don't think someone who speaks in favor of eliminating a border commission should be appointed to that border commission.
Whether or not it was rubber stamp or not, I thought we made it the correct decision based on some of his past comments. So, thank you. >> If I may, Mr. Mayor, >> council member,
>> just wait a second. >> Can you hear me? Yeah. Um, I don't have a recollection of ever saying to eliminate the H. Uh although uh when it comes to this particular issue, it's watered under the bridge for me
personally. I um you know although uh anybody can come in here and express their concerns about what they whatever they want to express them but I can say for my for my part I you know it's I even voted for her. I suggested Nelson
to vote for her also even though they wanted to support me. Um I you know I didn't want to make any big deal out of it. Uh at the time I had the disagreement once it took place is done and over. I just want to make that clear. But I do
I'm almost certain that I never suggested to get rid of that. The one thing that I I can categorically say that I wanted to get rid of of was uh the DEI part uh but not the H. I might disagree on how we do things, but I do
believe that there are people out there that need support and you know, Keith City has the means to do so. Uh, and everybody agrees with it. So be it. I have nothing against that. But again, I want to make it clear that I
never suggested to eliminate the H. I simply question the process. I do recall that. That's it. >> Thank you, Council Member Thank you, Mr. M. Uh, >> good evening. >> Identify yourself so we have you on the
record officially. >> Yes, I am Trina STO. Um, I was not going to talk tonight, but I just figured I should give everybody an update. Um, so ICE may still be here in smaller numbers. It might look different and our neighbors may be feeling comfortable to
come back into community, but I want to share some of the impact that their occupation has had on our city and its residents that hasn't disappeared yet. Um, since December, mutual aid efforts by Bloomington residents have continuously fed up to 300 Bloomington families in the hardest weeks and have
provided more than $600,000 in rental assistance. All of these families were in need because of the impact ICE had. They weren't families who had already had previous rent or food assistant needs. Um more than $800,000
has been raised at this point to continue supporting these families as they get back on their feet, at least financially. Of course, the mental health impact will be a much longer process. So tonight, I'm not here to ask for anything. I'm only here to share how the community of Bloomington has shown
up and continue to show up for our neighbors. And it has truly been individuals doing all of this work. >> Thank you much. Council questions, comments. >> Thanks for coming. We had a couple of other folks come in a little bit later.
We don't have anybody else scheduled to speak. Is there anybody who wishes to speak tonight? Amy, come on up. Hello, council. Banny th 54 year resident of Bloomington. I just wanted to talk to you guys a little bit about um I noticed this spring here. Um, a lot
of the sidewalks get uh not the sidewalks, so I should say the grass next to the sidewalks gets pretty tore up. I know that the the route drivers, you probably have like a lot of unfamiliar route drivers to the uh to their routes, I should say, right? So, sometimes the snow plows go off the off
the tracks, right? So, I did a little bit of research because I teach auto mechanics, you know, and there's a lot of um driver assist systems, you know, and I think I don't know if the city is aware of this, but I I was just kind of poking around the internet and I found there's a company called Tracknology
and Tracknology up comes the I I went on the website. I'm like, "Oh, cool. There's a city snowplow equipment, you know, on the website, you know, so I thought, well, I'll get a hold of them. You know, it sounds like you guys have one piece of equipment equipped with an
auto steer system right now. So, it actually they can learn it with GPS, you know. So, the idea is that you can go in there. But from what my understanding is that they have to learn this machine like over the summer, you know, to kind of get get it learning, but this is
implemented probably like a year or two ago and the machine like broke or something like that, you know, the actual machine broke. So, I just want to ask the council if you guys are considering adding this technology to say it's going to cost money up front like any technology, you know, but now
now the people who are brand new to a route can actually pick up a sidewalk and kind of run with it. And I think you guys know that the sidewalks get full of snow from the wings of the blades, you know, and so it's really hard to tell where these sidewalks are at. So, I guess I'm here in favor of seeing more
of the sidewalk machines kind of being implemented with auto steer, you know, from a from from a a standpoint of technology. And I think it's maybe around five or eight. It's it's not cheap. >> So, you're talking sidewalk plowing, not the street >> sidewalk plowing. Yeah. Yeah. Actually, I would love to see it on street
plowing, too. But I know they could clear curb to curb more with I know there's technology that they can implement in the blades of the snow plows, too. But I know when you guys spend a lot of money like fixing, people get pissed up. I hear it every year. You know, people are like, "Oh, my my my grass is all tore up." And people love
their grass and bloom, you know. So, but I'm just I'm just here in favor of and I don't know if I don't know if you guys approve that through the public works, but I'd love to see the auto I'd love to see that any driver that hops in behind a sidewalk machine has some GPS. It' almost be like the Tesla taking you to
the store. I know right now the Tesla can pick you up right at the front front if you if you wanted to. You can just auto steer right to the right to the grocery store to the front and I was laughing. Talked to a couple people that do that right now. So, but uh you guys kind of know what I'm saying. You know, you get a lot of people that don't know
where the sidewalks are. Probably a lot of new people in the city and so I'd love to see some auto steer be implemented in the sidewalk equipment. I'd say the sidewalk equipment first, but it's going to cost some money, you know. and and we'll we'll share that with our our public works if you could. And I do know our our sidewalk clearing
equipment, a lot of it is custom made because we have different widths of sidewalks and so they've had to >> and custom make some of the stuff. >> Some of it's too wide. >> Some of it's too wide. Exactly. And so to uh to to retrofit them with GPS and with AI, it might be a trick, but I mean
we can certainly mention it. And of course, anything's done with enough money, right? >> Said I know we have at least one machine, possibly two with the technology already in place. And right now is the time to learn it. The the the ice and snow is off the sidewalk. So, I'm hopeful to see the city city kind of
move forward with some some auto steer for its sidewalk equipment. >> And it also tells me something that if we have it already and it's broken down, >> it wasn't it wasn't the equipment. It wasn't the GPS equipment. It was actually the machine that went down, >> but but it wasn't the auto steer. This stuff is actually pretty reliable, but
it's a kit that can be implemented into your existing equipment. So, they can put a motor on there. They can make the steering shaft. might even save injuries because if they're steering these things and trying to move the snowshoot at the same time, I can see them better being able to manipulate the the snowshoot. You know, if you don't have to steer it,
you can actually now you can direct the snow and not hit people's fences and stuff and wreck other stuff. >> We're headed into our budget discussions. So, we'll >> bring it into the budget. So, that's I'm just talking in favor of that. >> And and yes, and and Kathy just reminded me, of course, we we replace grass. If it's chewed up, we get out there and replace our grass.
>> I bet it gets busy. So, it does. >> Council member Lom, you got a quick question? Well, just more of a comment. Uh, and maybe it's more so directed to you, mayor. You know, I I I love the idea and the concept. I think it's a great idea, but just, you know, as we're thinking about this, I know that we have had just as a council some concern
about, you know, the the longevity of that program. So, I'd be concerned uh that we may be, you know, investing or putting money into something that we may not necessarily have it as as it is today uh moving forward. So, I just want to, you know, in full transparency,
that's one of my concerns. And I know Sean's not here, so I figured I'd make that comment on his behalf. >> Well, and I think our conversation was if we are going to continue doing it, we're going to invest in the equipment that makes it so we don't injure our our employees and that they can do a good job. And so, I mean, if that's the route we want to go, that that would be the
conversation we have to have. Yeah, I mean I'm say something to that in regards to the fact that just to his comments adding more expenses to the fact that you know the city was already considering eliminating
that we would rather pay for the damage cost. I don't ever call for the damage. It doesn't take much. I rather not have the city
on that. It's it's damage but it's not the end of the world. just food maybe it's less sometimes. Uh so you know I know the technology you're talking about you know
conference uh but the reality it is very expensive to keep >> that's my >> thank you Driverless Palo is coming to a city near you soon. So it's like I said it's crazy
about the changes in technology. Just want to bring the city as auto steer driverless cars are way. So >> absolutely >> things are things are changing quick. So >> thanks killed. >> Nobody else. >> All right, council. Nobody coming
forward. I look for a motion to adjurnn and head downstairs. >> Motion by council member Dlesandro. Second by council member Reebas to adjurnn. All in favor, please signify by saying I. Opposed. Motion carries. 5-0. We are adjourned. We'll see you downstairs.