I will call this Bloomington City Council listening session to order. Tonight is Monday, May 4th. Welcome to everybody here. We are going to jump right into it and begin with our first speaker. Good evening and welcome. >> Good evening. Um, Mayor Busy, council members, and city manager Walker. My
name is Sarah Kleiner Tan and I'm the executive director of the Bloomington Symphony Orchestra. I'm here tonight speaking on behalf of Bloomington seven resident arts organizations, the Angelica Cana Youth Choirs, Artistry, Bloomington Corral, Bloomington Symphony Orchestra, Continental Ballet Company,
Medalist Concert Band, and notable singers, many of whom have members here today um at this meeting. We are long-standing reliable partners consing consistent highquality arts experiences that residents expect and value.
Together, our organizations have served Bloomington for between 38 and 70 years. We collectively represent more than 760 artists, students, and members, many of whom live here, work here, and all of whom rehearse and perform here in the
city, contributing to the cultural life of this community every day. According to the REAO specific data we plugged into the arts and economic prosperity calculator which is referenced on page 29 of the situational analysis which is in the agenda packet today. The RAOS
have uh 68,740 audience members which leads to them spending $2.2 2 million in Bloomington and an estimated government revenue for the city of Bloomington of $148,000.
Each of our organizations is a separate 501c3 nonprofit with a distinct mission, audience, and operating model. We vary in size, staffing, and revenue streams. And yet, despite those differences, we have worked collaboratively for many years, both with both with each other
and in partnership with the city to create a thriving accessible arts ecosystem. The resident arts organizations collaborated to build Civic Plaza with the Center for the Arts as the cornerstone, rallying community support and fundraising, bringing that vision to
life. Since the building opened in 2003, we have filled it with performances, exhibitions, classes, and community programming that make it the vibrant, active space it is today. Our impact extends beyond the building itself. We rehearse and perform here. We represent Bloomington
throughout the region, appearing in parks, senior communities, schools, and major venues across Minnesota. In doing so, we expand the city's visibility and bring its cultural identity into the broader community. City support has been essential to the success. The
combination of general operating support and inind resources such as rehearsal, classroom, office, and performance space along with administrative support allows our organizations to function effectively and responsibly. That support also enables us to leverage
additional funding from corporate sponsors, foundations, state and regional arts councils, and individual donors. In other words, the city's investment multiplies, extending its impact far beyond the initial allocation. We take our responsibility to be
stewards of this investment very seriously. Each year, we provide detailed reporting of our finances, programming, and community impact. We share the city's commitment to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. We want this partnership to remain strong, stable,
and sustainable. We appreciate the city's efforts to examine how the Center for the Arts can be sustained and strengthened for the future and we share that goal. As the current study moves forward, we are approaching this process in good faith and with openness. For us, that means being willing to explore
changes when they are part of a clear, transparent framework that is developed in partnership and grounded and defined goals and criteria. We want to be active partners in shaping the future of the arts in Bloomington. Not simply participants in a process, but collaborators who can contribute
meaningful data, context, and experience. We are looking forward to being being part of web's clearly articulated process to see how the REO's engagement meetings in May and July will move from conversation into criteria, evaluation, and final recommendations.
We recognize that some potential changes under discussion would represent a fundamental shift in the city's long-standing partnership model. We believe that any consist consideration of structural changes should follow not precede the development of clear
expectations defined evaluation criteria and a consistent transparent process created in collaboration with the organizations it will affect and that sequencing matters. It ensures that any changes are thoughtful, equitable, and aligned with shared goals, and that they set both the city and its partners up
for long-term success. Ultimately, we want the same thing, a center for the arts that is vibrant, sustainable, and reflective of the community it serves. We believe the resident arts groups are an essential part of Bloomington and part of what makes it an enduring and remarkable community where people want to be. Thank you for your time, your
leadership, and your investment in the arts here in Well, >> thank you for your comments, Sarah. Uh, I will say we I I agree with what you have said. I mean, this is this is a uh the start of the conversation. What we're hearing tonight is the council's first bite of this conversation. And so, I'm looking forward to the conversation
and continuing to collaborate with our arts organizations as we move forward. >> Great. Thank you. >> Council, any questions on this? Very good. Thank you very much, >> Sally. Good evening. >> Thank you. Um asking the council they
should not support the proposed shared agreement shared use agreement with 82 and park from staff summary. Additional opportunities for alternative access and overflow parking benefit both properties. This statement is inaccurate. The city did not need
additional parking when it signed the agreement in 2015 and it still does not. Additionally, note that it states overflow parking. Gdarl Farooq has been relying on the Smith Park park parking lot every Friday and for 40ome days of
Ramadan. That is not overflow parking and the shared use agreement should include language addressing Darl Faruk's non-compliance with the current agreement. From the staff's summary, the city cannot determinate these rights without adversely affecting the existing conditional use permit. As such, the
shared access and parking provisions must remain. Daryl Fuk's use of the city's Smith Park park parking lot is non-compliant and can and should be addressed and it is inaccurate to state that shared access and parking provisions must remain. The only reason
shared parking should remain is if Darlq is compliant and the city benefits from the shared use. The city does not need additional parking but it does need the shared use of the football soccer field. From the staff
summary, formal park programming and activities no longer scheduled utilizing the football field located on the Darl Fruit property. This should not have happened. The field is a premium field that taxpayers invested in from the ground up to the lights and staff should not be able to
discontinue its use without taxpayer input. that staff no longer scheduled use of the field would be no different than if the staff put up a sign at Cedar Crest Park stating the city will no longer be utilizing the playground
splash pad and park after taxpayers invested in the property. From staff summary, the updated agreement retains the terms of the 2015 agreement for the tennis and basketball courts while the city and Alazari ultimately decide the future of these
facilities under a separate written agreement in the future. The city moved the pre previous courts and playground east so that a parking lot could be constructed for the large gym where parking was needed to be close for sanctioned athletic events. The
tennis and basketball courts should not be determined under a separate written agreement in the future. Darluk needs to continue the shared agreement for the parking stalls required for the conditional use permit and now is the time to ensure the future of the tennis
and basketball courts and the football soccer field. Staff states the updated and restated agreement addresses key priorities of parks and recreation staff. This is a concern because the park's priority would be to get residents out onto the fields,
especially a premium field. It would be parks priority to maintain what the city identifies as a park and to encourage residents to utilize the parks, including the fields, staff states, and is more reflective of the current use dynamics of Smith Park
area. This is a concern because Smith Park was designed for athletics on the south end and nature on the north end. And if games are not playing being played on the fields, that would be an error of parks not for not properly scheduling field use and that should not
result in the loss of a shared football soccer field. Staff states the updated agreement reduces the city's maintenance responsibilities without sacrificing the benefits of the shared access and parking to both properties. This is a concern because the city does not need
additional parking. But Darl Fuk's compliance with its conditional use permit does. Staff states the agreement also paves the way for future discussions on the best permanent solution for the tennis and basketball courts which still enjoy some level of
public use. This is a concern because a permanent solution should be determined before signing the shared agreement with Darl Fr because they need the agreement to be compliant with its conditional use permit. from a letter from the Darl Farooq attorney. The agreement amends
and restates the original agreement in its entirety and reflects the good faith negotiations. To state that the agreement amends and restates and that it reflects good faith negotiations misrepresents the agreement in that it removes the football soccer
field that the city invested in and needs does not provide permanency for the city's investment in the tennis and basketball courts but allows Darl to retain the shared parking that Darl needs but the city does not. Again, council should not support the proposed
use agreement with 821. Thank you, council. Any questions, comments on this? Very quick one, council member. Very quick one. >> All right. Yeah. Really quickly, you uh Hi, Sally. Nice to see you again. Um, you indicate that this is a premium field. What is your definition? Like,
how are you defining that as a premium field? Like, I didn't see anything in the in the statement that defined it that way. So, I'm curious what what you say is the reason that you call it that. It's a constructed high school football field and it is a premium field and if
they look at the requirements of use, it's limited to maintain the field and the um the it's it's got the proper um for the water to run off properly. It was
constructed at a high level just like a regular >> Okay, I understand. And that was back in what like 2011 or something like that. Is that what year? >> No, it was constructed probably 1998 2000. >> Gotcha. Helpful. Thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you, Sally. We should to sign in. Mary, good evening and welcome. Could you grab the mic and pull it as close as possible? We have a hard time picking up. Is that okay? >> Very good. Thank you. Okay, good. Thank you. >> Hi, Miss Delisandro. I left you a voicemail on Friday. M
Oh, no worries. Yeah, thanks. Um, so the reason I'm here, um, well, first myself. I'm Mary Katavville. I have lived in Bloomington for 33 years. I raised a son here by myself and I recently retired to take care of my mom. I cut my lawn and
still cut my lawn since I've lived there. I know my lawn and I've been having issues with one of my neighbors. The reason I'm here is that last year or this year, we had a 9% increase in our home taxes. I had a 22% increase in my
home insurance. And at this time in my life, I am not finding that I'm able to get any assistance from the civic or from this group to help me with my lawn situation for my neighbor. I called four years ago and I was told that um we
don't have um Oh, sorry. that district three does not have um anything that protects a homeowner from their neighbors trees and weeds growing into their yards. And I've
worked for many many years with my neighbor to ask her to trim her tree off my yard, which is now 60 to 70% covering my backyard. I've I've also had issues with her containing her weeds. Uh, I think uh I've had creeping Charlie
issues for over six years when I first identified them to her and she uh does not understand how invasive this is and what it's done to my property. I have tried several different remedies to get rid of it. Last year I spent $500 on a
company just to come in and get rid of the creeping charlie. Now it's growing coming into my front yard. This year again, it has come over from her yard and it even grows on top of mulch. So, I just spent about 20 bucks and three
hours of my own time pulling the weeds out of her fence that have come over to my yard and remulching just that area. But what happened in 2019 is that she um decided to remove the pool from her backyard and said that she might be in
my yard. She was well over 8 feet in my yard with a very tall and big piece of equipment that had to pull the pool out. And I lost about 12 feet of perennials at that time. And then the creeping Charlie last summer I at the end of last
summer I had to pay someone a couple hundred to remove another 12 feet of my flowers along the fence line. So I'm losing all my perennials. uh when she did the pool, I lost a hill to the side of my driveway that was not uh
refinished. And her idea of compensating me was to send me some pansies, a bottle of um liquid, you know, weed killer. And um I tried to explain to her that pansies are not the same as perennials. Those were perennials that
were there for uh over 20 years. Okay. So now I'm at the point where again, we're still in the same place. All these years later, we still don't have a have any plan to help a homeowner when their neighbors are obtrusive and destructive
to their property. So, I'm here today asking why. How can we get this to change? Because St. Louis Park and Apple Valley, they do this work. They go in, they cut down the tree, and they leave it in their yard. I have offered that to
my neighbor and I don't know who she's talking to, but she was told that she is fully compliant with her with her weeds and her trees and her lawn. And I am the one suffering because of this. And I'm over well over $1,000 trying to combat
this. It is so bad that I actually the tree hangs in my face when I mow my lawn. It's a huge humongous tree. The last time that she trimmed it was in December of 2023. I asked for her to at least take the bottom limb off because
now that has grown over into my garden, which I didn't even plant last year because I can't deal with uh everything dying because there's not enough sun uh because of the tree. So, what I need to know is what can I do about this? I'm
fearful that if I I've been told when I called four years ago and again last week that I can go in and have somebody cut down the limbs off my prop property line. Why should I pay thousands of dollars to do that? She'll probably sue
me. Okay. So, this is not okay that we don't have any defense as a homeowner to protect our lawn. That's our property and that's something that we have paid heavily for. So, I'd like to understand why and what I can do to change this.
>> I thanks for coming forward, Mary. And I feel your pain regarding the the creeping Charlie had neighbors that did the same thing. Know exactly what >> the tree is the biggest problem. >> I'm sure is the big and and I feel that as well because uh it it's tough to regulate shade from a a neighbor's tree. So, what I'm going to do because I don't know the answers right off the top of my
head, what I'd like to do is ask our city manager to have you sit down with somebody in our environmental health division can talk to you about weeds, can talk to you about trees. >> Yeah. And now to actually sit down and talk to them and and explain, you know, in as you've just done here, explain in
detail, see if we can work to an issue. Maybe even invite your neighbor and and maybe you can come to a an agreement if if maybe the city could >> is obese and I've never in 20 years seen her walk on her lawn. Okay. She never comes out. She never sees the lawn. She doesn't understand.
>> I I I understand that. Maybe we can maybe we can get the city to mediate something. We can have our environmental health talk to her, talk to you. See if we can't come to an agreement. >> Why is it that St. Louis Park and other cities have this to protect >> I don't know what happens in St. Louis Park and other cities. I I don't know what their regulations are regarding.
>> So, who's the trees? >> I will have our city manager ask somebody from environmental health. His name is our city manager is Zach Walker. and he will have somebody from our environmental health department reach out to you directly. >> Thank you very much. >> You're welcome. Thank you.
Paul, >> good evening and welcome. >> Hello and may the fourth be with you those who celebrate. Um, uh, first of all, I have a question and I think I know the answer, but I do want to bring it before the council again. Um, I was curious if there's been any forward
movement on the investigation into the death of Desiree Marie Rosel in March that could be shared with the public. >> Uh, there has been movement, I assume, but there's nothing that we can share. Uh, basically the release that we did on March 13th, the public information that we provided is is basically where it
stands now. Obviously, you understand if something happens internally here, we don't investigate this internally. So, currently the Henipin County Sheriff's Office is investigating and I think there's at least a couple of additional investigations going on, but they are their own investigations. They're not u they're not ours. We're we're waiting on
them. Uh all the details, all the information has to come from them. And um and as I as I said, I'm sure you understand, we don't do these internally. When something happens like this, you get it outside the walls and you make sure that others take a look at it. So, unfortunately, we don't have any new information to provide at this time because like you, we're waiting on the
results of these investigations. Okay. >> Thank you for that followup. Um, uh, the other thing that I quickly wanted to just bring up is a continued concern that I have. Um so I am uh the descendant of Irish immigrants from the
19th century who when they came to America they um were treated by the natural-born citizens of the country at the time colonial Americans as inferior and they were called criminals and they
were called uh dirty and they were accused of bringing pro poverty and bringing crime and um they're accused accused of being uneducated and um we're just generally demonized. And so as the descendant of immigrants who went
through that 150 years ago, um when I grew up in um Omaha, Nebraska in the 1980s and 90s, I lived around a lot of Latino immigrants who had recently come to America who were treated the same way with the same exact laundry list of uh
anti-immigrant sentiment. And I was disgusted by that because these are my friends and neighbors. And so today, as a 50-year-old man uh living in Bloomington, I just want to share my continued concern that we are still seeing and are seeing an increase in
horrible anti-immigrant sentiment specifically against um uh Somali and Muslim Americans who are immigrants today. And the exact same laundry list is being relayed or or uh projected onto this immigrant population. And so I just
want to voice my concern and my hope and also my appreciation for the work that this council does to make sure that all immigrants feel welcome in Bloomington. But I just fervently uh want to ask and voice that you continue to focus on that
because we have to stand up to bullies. um whether you're Irish or Latino or Somali or whatever your journey is that led you to this particular shared space and this particular shared time. Um, and I just wanted to make sure that I
continue to bring that voice um, uh, into the room. Um, because I'm really worried about my friends and neighbors today because of that continued horrible anti-immigrant backlash that is based on the exact same false laundry list that we've heard hurled at immigrants for
hundreds of years now. So, >> well, thank you. And yes, I I remember my grandmother telling me stories about the signs outside shops. N I N A no Irish need apply >> and we're not that that's that's a generation basically that's that's within a shared lifetime of of both of
ours and so uh I understand what you're saying and I think you've seen this council is committed and has shown a commitment to making sure that Bloomington is a welcoming and inclusive place and I can I can promise you as long as I'm the one sitting here at the in in the big chair that that's going to be the case here in the city of I want
to say keep it up. >> Thank you. We'll do Jamie. >> Good evening. Welcome back. >> Thank you. I'm happy to be here. Thanks for creating a space for this. So, I'm Jamie Anthony. I live in District 4, Precinct 4. Victor is my elected
representative. Um, there are a couple different things in my chicken scratch, so I'm going to use my time. But did Rachel show up? >> Rachel, Michelle, >> Michelle. >> Okay, cool. >> We can still limit to 5 because everybody >> totally
>> totally 6:13. I'm watching. Um, so first, in light of other cities in the news, I feel very compelled to make a direct imperson statement in favor of the city of Bloomington continuing to
fly the new Minnesota flag on city property instead of the former flag. Um, I know that some people, including some people in this room, prefer the old flag. They are obviously welcome to fly it on their own property however they like.
But I want to be sure that it is on the record that at least someone in Bloomington does not see a reason for the esteemed Bloomington City Council to spend their time or effort considering whether we should go back to flying the old Minnesota flag.
That's topic one. >> Thank you. And I will say that that subject has not come up. And I will say if you've looked at our council agenda tonight, we have plenty to do without trying to decide if we should file the old Minnesota flag or the Jolly Roger. We're we've got work to do.
>> Every city in Minnesota has more to do. >> We've got work to do than debate that. >> Um I also want to respond to some comments that I heard earlier. This was something I just jotted down. Um claiming that the city of Bloomington doesn't benefit from activity at Darl
Farooq Mosque and Activity Center. I actually think all of us benefit from having vibrant activity spaces where our neighbors and people from other communities can come and gather. So, uh I I just wanted to make that statement. I think we all are better when everybody
has spaces where they can thrive. We don't all need to thrive in every single space in our community, but our community is better when everybody feels welcome. The next thing I was going to ask about was what Paul asked about. Um, so then the only other thing I have is a
question and it's probably an administrative question, but I noticed that there's been no update to the online police dashboard since mid-March. Usually there are weekly updates and there's been no update. I heard a rumor that maybe someone was getting a kidney transplant or a liver transplant and
that's why there was no update. But I do want to call attention to the fact that it does happen to coincide with a couple of pretty high-profile cases where folks would have expected to see items listed. One of those is the death of the person in BPD custody and then the other is a
detainment of a constitutional observer of ICE officers who was led to BPD by those ICE officers. So, I'm just wondering why hasn't there been an update? >> Uh, that's a good question and I don't know. We'll have to check in with our friends at BPD. Uh, unless Kathy, if
you've got any Yeah, Kathy, we'll check into that. We'll we'll we'll report back to you. We can we've got your contact information. We'll let you know what we know. >> Cool. >> Please, Council Member Rebas, >> is it possible that because it's being uh placed on the Bloomington this week?
That's what I see it all the time. It comes weekly on the Bloomington this week. I don't know if you guys >> uh on the dashboard yet possible could be that >> organ transplants but it's possible. I'm not saying it's not no but I've not heard any >> I also heard a worse rumor which is that the police chief said that there would
be no investigation. So I have to say I was very pleased to hear your responsibility. >> No that >> anyway I yield my two minutes. >> Oh you thank you so much. >> Uh Michelle was the only other that signed it ahead of time. Is Michelle here yet?
We officially have three minutes if anybody would like to jump in and use those three minutes. But I'm going to cut you off at 6:15. >> I'm sorry, Sally. You get one bite of the apple. Sorry. No, we're going to let others We're going to let others with an opportunity. >> The misconception for you to hear what she said and not
say you misunderstood, Miss Nes that Darl wants the very wants to remove the use of the field from the public. She misunderstood what I said and you should have said something. You shouldn't have let this misconception happen to the room.
>> I appreciate your evaluation of my performance tonight, Sally. We're going to we're going to let others speak if they would like to speak right now. Thank you. >> Yeah, but again, >> I understood what you were saying that they >> Is there anyone else who would like to speak? We've got about three minutes. >> Football to the public.
>> Council, I hear no I see no one coming forward. >> I would look for a motion to adjurnn this evening and head down to >> We got a motion and a second to adjurnn this evening. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Motion carries 6. Thank you all very much for being here. Thanks for
participating this evening. And uh join us downstairs if you'd like a nice long meeting that we've got facing us tonight. So join us please.