 Public Works snow removal staff were recognized at State of the City for their excellent work this past winter.
🎉2023 State of the City a success
Nearly 250 people gathered at the Radisson Blu this afternoon to hear Mayor Tim Busse and City Manager Jamie Verbrugge talk about the accomplishments of the City over the past year. Significant among the mayor’s remarks was the leading role Bloomington is playing to develop housing that is affordable. In fact, Bloomington is already 86% of the way to its 2030 Metropolitan Council goal for the number of affordable units needed. Mayor Busse issued a call to action to leaders of the metropolitan region to deliver on the need for housing that’s affordable.
The address also highlighted significant new development, honored community heroes, and discussed the City’s strategic plan – Bloomington. Tomorrow. Together.
Couldn't make it to the event? The video recording will be available on YouTube next week.
🏡HRA hosts first-ever eviction prevention clinic and resource fair
Bloomington renters were invited to Civic Plaza last weekend to receive support at Bloomington’s first eviction prevention clinic and resource fair. The City partnered with Community Mediation and Restorative Services, Inc. and Sakan Community Resource to host the event. Resources provided included help applying for rent assistance, landlord dispute mediation services, free legal aid, and support services regarding food, healthcare and more.
Housing and Redevelopment Authority and Public Health staff were on site along with 15 organizations, including VEAP, Bloomington Public Schools, Hennepin County, and Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), to name a few.
Attendees were greeted by trained housing navigators before meeting with participating organizations to assist with their specific situations. At least 15 renter households attended and received information to remain or become stably housed in Bloomington. The HRA is planning another renter resource and eviction prevention event for June.
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 🌷 Facilities Fact: Spring brings building temperature challenges
Spring is starting to arrive in Bloomington! With the seasons changing, Facilities Maintenance will be switching from winter heating settings to summer cooling settings. This transition occurs throughout the spring, primarily in April.
During this transition, building occupants may experience some discomfort as large commercial buildings cannot respond quickly enough to rapid changes in weather. In many cases, particularly in the City’s older buildings, the systems lack adequate controls to adjust to the rapid temperature changes on a day-to-day basis.
Facilities asks that you continue to report areas that are far too hot or too cold so we can work to correct issues. However, please grant Facilities staff a little grace during this transition season.
👏Kudos to you!
Deputy City Attorney Peter Zuniga was named a 2023 in-house counsel honoree by Minnesota Lawyer. Only 16 Minnesota attorneys received the honor this year. Peter leads the City's civil division. In addition to being a key member of our department’s leadership team, Peter is the point person in our department for the City Clerk's Office, Human Resources Division, Office of Racial Equity Inclusion and Belonging, Fire Department, and Police Department. Congratulations, Peter!
City Attorney Melissa Manderschied
Video Production Specialist Ben Vinar—Normandale Sirtify Program Coordinator Marvis Kilgore stopped by Communications with Bloomington's Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer Faith Jackson, Equity and Inclusion Program Specialist Pa Dao Yang, and a group from Normandale’s equity team. Marvis wanted to pass on his thanks for his Pioneers and Changemakers profile Ben produced. The video helped him secure a $36,000 contract from the University of St. Thomas to continue his work empowering black men in education to have a positive impact on students, especially those from similar backgrounds.
"The video was how St. Thomas heard about my work," Kilgore said. "It really told the story in totality with an equity lens and a human touch. I can't say enough about how the Bloomington has received me and my work. It's been phenomenal."
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 🎬Check out this week’s Friday Live
City Manager Jamie Verbrugge will host Friday Live tomorrow at 10 a.m. If you have any items of interest that you’d like mentioned on Friday Live or recommendations for someone to be interviewed in the future, please email Assistant to the City Manager Denise Christenson at dchristenson@bloomingtonmn.gov.
  📽️Be sure to watch the latest Bloomington Today videos in this week’s playlist, including a recap of the event honoring Bloomington Pioneers and Changemakers and a profile feature one of the honorees, Bloomington Police Officer Desmond Daniels, pictured above.
Council Minute Highlights
This week in the Council Minute, Mayor Tim Busse gives updates on a few topics including:
🏡Proposed code amendment that focuses on zoning for single- and two-family homes and lots.
📝Franchise fee updates that fund the Pavement Management Program.
✅An Expo 2027 update.
 🚒Bloomington Fire tweeted an update on Fire Station 4 construction. The project is on schedule to open in June.
🏫Communications posted a Reel about Oak Grove Middle School’s theater production of Aladdin on the City’s Instagram account.
🎭Parks and Recreation posted about Artistry’s production of The Pajama Game.
🚓Bloomington Police tweeted a kudos to Officer Pilcher for performing life-saving measures on a call.
 😎Seasonal hiring reminders
When hiring seasonal employees, remember to send background authorizations to Human Resources. If you need any HR-related forms, you can find them on SharePoint.
👏Congrats
Jason Heitzinger was promoted to Commercial Appraisal Supervisor effective March 20.
Maintenance Worker Jagger Anderson was hired full-time after being seasonal effective March 20.
Jennifer Cross Bash was also promoted to Deputy City Attorney – Prosecution effective March 20.
💼Check out City job listings
The City posts new jobs frequently. These positions were recently posted:
Find more jobs at blm.mn/jobs.
 Happening in Bloomington
 Bike patrols, police and behavior analysts: These are the security measures implemented by Mall of America
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Minnesotans, Vikings fans mourn Bud Grant
Star Tribune
Walz signs universal school meals bill into Minnesota law
MPR
School intersection plan approved by Bloomington City Council
Sun Current
Column: Orchestra has a long history in Bloomington
Sun Current
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