>> WELCOME TO "AT ISSUE."

I'M H. WAYNE WILSON, AND WE ARE LIVE IN THE STUDIO AT WTVP FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

IF IT'S THURSDAY NIGHT, YOU CAN PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM.

WE HAVE THE MAYORS OF BLOOMINGTON AND NORMAL HERE.

WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE, PENSIONS.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT RAIN EVEN.

THAT'S COMING UP FOR THE NEXT HOUR.

BUT YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK QUESTIONS THAT CONCERN YOU OF EITHER MAYOR -- NO CALLS, PLEASE, BUT BY CONTACTING US AT OUR WEBSITE AT WTVP.ORG OR EMAIL US AT @ISSUE @WTVP.ORG.

SEND THEM IN IMMEDIATELY.

LET ME INTRODUCE FIRST CHRIS KOOS.

HE IS THE MAYOR OF NORMAL.

AND YOU ARE SERVING 18 YEARS NOW?

>> 18 YEARS.

>> AND AS USUAL, THANK YOU.

WELCOME BACK TO "AT ISSUE."

>> I ALWAYS ENJOY THIS SHOW.

>> AND MBOKA MWILAMBEWE.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME ON "AT ISSUE" AS MAYOR OF BLOOMINGTON.

>> YES.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> WELCOME.

THANK YOU BOTH.

AND I MENTIONED RAIN.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THE HIGHEST I SAW WAS SEVEN INCHES IN FOUR HOURS.

MAYOR, WHAT IMPACT DID IT HAVE ON CITY CREWS?

>> IT HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON CITY CREWS BECAUSE THEY WERE FORCED TO GO OUT AND DO QUITE A BIT OF CLEANUP.

DO QUITE A BIT OF DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE CITY.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE MOMENT, WITH A NUMBER OF OUR RESIDENTS PUTTING STUFF OUT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN DAMAGED, OUR CREWS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO TRY TO PICK UP ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WERE DAMAGED.

>> THIS MEANS OVERTIME?

>> YES.

THERE IS SOME OVERTIME.

WE DON'T KNOW THE COST YET, BUT THERE WILL BE SOME SIGNIFICANT OVERTIME.

BUT I THINK IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO, HOWEVER.

>> AND RAINFALL IN NORMAL.

WHAT WAS THE IMPACT?

>> VERY SIMILAR IMPACT.

THE RAINS CAME AS YOU SAID QUICKLY AND A LOT OF IT IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

THE UNFORTUNATE THING IS THAT AFTER THE STORM, THE WATERS RECEDED PRETTY QUICKLY, BUT WHERE THEY DIDN'T, THEY DID SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY ESPECIALLY IN A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

WE HAD SO MANY STREETS THAT WERE CLOSED.

WE HAD A COUPLE OF CREEKS GO OUT OF THEIR BANKS, WHICH I HAVEN'T SEEN HAPPEN IN 25, 30 YEARS.

SO IT WAS A PRETTY IMPACTFUL EVENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

>> I WANT TO BRING UP A TOPIC THAT EVERY TIME YOU'RE ON, MAYOR, IT SEEMS THAT WE TALK ABOUT PENSIONS.

AND AT FIRST, IT SEEMED LIKE -- AND FOR THE AUDIENCE'S BENEFIT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND COMMUNITIES.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE STATEWIDE PENSIONS.

SO THERE WAS LEGISLATION PASSED THAT ALLOWED THE 650-SOME DIFFERENT POLICE AND FIRE PENSIONS TO CONSOLIDATE INTO TWO, ONE FIRE AND ONE POLICE.

THAT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS MAKING PROGRESS.

NOT WHAT YOU WOULD WANT IN TOTAL, BUT IT WAS PROGRESS.

AND THEN YOU HIT A STUMBLING BLOCK.

WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

>> WELL, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE LEGISLATURE TOOK A NEWLY HIRED FIREFIGHTERS -- I COULDN'T TELL YOU THE DATE THAT STARTED, THAT WERE UNDER A TIER TWO PENSION PLAN AND RAISED THEM TO TIER ONE PENSION PLAN.

BENEFICIAL TO THE POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS, BUT IT NEGATED THE SAVINGS WE WERE GOING TO SEE FROM THE CONSOLIDATION.

AND THAT CONSOLIDATION DOESN'T REALLY START UNTIL 2022, SO THE IMPACT IS UNKNOWN.

WE THINK THERE WILL BE SOME SAVINGS, BUT IT WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE A LARGE AMOUNT OF THOSE SAVINGS WIPED OUT.

>> AND A BRIEF DESCRIPTION FOR THE AUDIENCE, THERE IS A DATE BY WHICH YOU HAVE TO REACH 90% FUNDED FOR THE PENSIONS.

>> THERE IS A DATE.

IT'S 2040, AND THERE'S SOME CONCERN.

THERE'S A LOT OF TALK IN THE MUNICIPAL LEAGUE ABOUT EXTENDING THAT, BECAUSE REALISTICALLY THERE'S NO MUNICIPAITY IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS THAT IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> AND WHAT PENSION COST -- BECAUSE THE CITIES HAVE TO PAY THE PENSION COSTS.

>> CORRECT.

>> YOU DON'T SET THE BENEFITS.

YOU JUST PAY IT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> SO WHAT KIND OF INCREASE ARE WE SEEING?

>> WELL, THE INCREASES ARE COMING FROM A MYRIAD OF SOURCES.

ONE LIFE EXPECTANCY.

PEOPLE ARE LIVING LONGER.

AND, TWO, THE INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO DOESN'T PERFORM LIKE IT USED TO.

PENSION FUNDS ARE VERY CAUTIOUS, VERY CONSERVATIVE ABOUT WHAT THEY PUT THEIR MONEY INTO.

AND WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT ASSUMPTIONS OF SEVEN OR SEVEN AND A QUARTER PERCENT RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENT OF PENSION FUNDS, IT'S NOW MORE LIKE FIVE PERCENT OR FIVE AND A QUARTER PERCENT.

SO THAT KIND OF COMPOUND THE PROBLEM.

>> AND HOW MUCH IS THE GROWTH AND THE COST OF WHAT YOU HAVE TO PAY YEAR-TO-YEAR?

I MEAN, HOW MUCH DID IT INCREASE?

>> I KNOW FOR THIS NEXT YEAR, IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT $2 MILLION THAT IT'S GOING TO -- >> ADDITIONAL?

>> YEAH.

ADDITIONAL THAT IT'S GOING TO INCREASE, YES.

>> AND THAT'S JUST GOING TO ESCALATE FROM THERE?

>> YES.

IT'S GOING TO ESCALATE FROM THERE.

SO WE'LL DO THE BEST WE CAN, BUT -- >> SO WHAT SUFFERS IN THE BUDGET?

WHAT SUFFERS WHEN YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP THIS INCREASING PENSION COST?

>> WELL, THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS.

AS YOU KNOW, A CITY BUDGET HAS A MYRIAD OF THINGS THAT WE CAN DO.

FOR ME PERSONALLY, THE WAY I SEE IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD SUFFER WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE STREETS, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE COULD ALWAYS PUT A LOT MORE MONEY INTO STREETS.

WE CAN ALWAYS PUT A LOT MORE MONEY INTO SEWERS.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT, I THINK, IS THE TOUGHEST PART THAT WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE SOME TOUGH CHOICES, YOU KNOW.

EVERY YEAR, WE TRY TO PUT MONEY INTO OUR RESERVES, FOR EXAMPLE.

WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO DO WILL HAVE TO TAKE A BACK SEAT, YOU KNOW, TO -- >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO ADD TO THIS, YOU KNOW, THAT THESE ARE SERIOUS ISSUES, AND WE TAKE THEM SERIOUSLY.

AND WE BUDGET ACCORDINGLY.

BUT THERE'S REALLY NO DANGER IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON OR THE TOWN OF NORMAL THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO MEET OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS.

IT'S JUST THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT RESERVE OR THAT 90% NUMBER AT SOME POINT TO BE PRUDENT.

> GO AHEAD.

>> AND I SHOULD ADD, YOU KNOW, THAT TO PIGGYBACK ON WHAT CHRIS SAID IS THAT THERE IS NO DANGER FOR US NOT TO MEET THAT OBLIGATION.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO.

IF YOU REMEMBER IN 2013, WE DID MAKE THAT COMMITMENT TO FULLY FUND OUR PENSIONS TO 100% BY 2040 AS OPPOSED TO 90% AS THE STATE RECOMMENDED.

SO WE ARE DEFINITELY COMMITTED.

WE ARE GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO CONTINUE TO FUND THEM.

BUT IT'S JUST THAT THERE ARE A FEW THINGS THAT WILL END UP SUFFERING IF THIS DOESN'T CHANGE OVER TIME.

>> YOU MENTIONED ROADS AND BRIDGES AND SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT MAY SUFFER BECAUSE OF THAT.

LET'S TURN TO INFRASTRUCTURE.

YOU HAVE SEVERAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

WEST COLLEGE AVENUE.

>> WE HAVE WEST COLLEGE AVENUE.

WE HAVE A SEWER PROJECT THAT WE'RE DOING A FEASIBILITY STUDY ON RIGHT NOW TO TAKE SANITARY SEWER OUT TO SOME OF THE NEW GROUND THAT RIVIAN HAS PURCHASED AND IS LOOKING TO DEVELOP BECAUSE WE SEE IN THE FUTURE THAT THAT CORRIDOR ALONG THE RIVIAN PARKWAY AND VERY LIKELY TO DEVELOP COMMERCIALLY, WE WANT TO BE READY FOR THAT.

WE DON'T WANT TO BE REACTIVE TO IT.

WE WANT TO BE PROACTIVE.

AND OUR SEWER MAINTENANCE, OUR ROAD MAINTENANCE, AND UPGRADE, THAT'S AN ONGOING THING.

IT'S LIKE THE LAUNDRY.

IT'S NEVER DONE.

>> BOTH COMMUNITIES RAISED GAS TAX TWO YEARS AGO, IS THAT CORRECT, FOUR TO EIGHT CENTS?

>> YES.

>> WE WERE ABOUT A YEAR APART ON DOING IT, BUT WE DID BOTH GET IT.

>> AND THEN THE STATE RAISED THE GAS TAX, AND YOU GET A SHARE OF THAT M.F.T.

>> WE DO.

>> WHAT KIND OF A DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE IN TERMS OF THE BUDGET FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS?

>> IT MAKES AN IMPACT, BUT IT'S NOT A BIG IMPACT.

I THINK THE LOCAL TAX THAT WE IMPOSED AND I'M PRETTY SURE BLOOMINGTON DID THE SAME THING, WE PRETTY MUCH DEDICATED IT TO TRANSPORTATION USE.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO PLUG A HOLE IN OUR BUDGET OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

WE ARE JUST TRYING TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO MAINTAIN OUR TRANSPORTATION.

>> IN ESSENCE, IT'S IN A LOCK BOX.

>> IT IS, YEAH.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO COMPROMISE ON THAT, BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT TOLD PEOPLE WE WOULD DO AND WE'LL DO IT.

>> WE'LL STAY ON THE TOPIC OF INFRASTRUCTURE BECAUSE RECENTLY A REPORT CAME OUT THAT McCLAIN COUNTY HAD 19 BRIDGES THAT WERE IN POOR CONDITION.

NONE OF THOSE WERE IN NORMAL TO BE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

>> AND TWO WERE IN BLOOMINGTON.

CONCERN FOR YOU?

DO WE SEE SOMETHING ON THE DRAWING BOARDS FOR THOSE TWO?

>> YES.

ACTUALLY THIS IS ALREADY BEING ADDRESSED, SO WE HAVE SOME OF THEM IN DESIGN PHASE.

AND BY, I BELIEVE, 2023 THOSE SHOULD BE REPAIRED.

SO WHEN THEY SAY -- I MEAN, WHEN I DOT SAYS IT'S IN POOR CONDITION, WHAT IDOT IS LOOKIN FOR IS GIVE ME A PLAN OF WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO AND HOW YOU'RE GOING TO ADDRESS THAT.

AND WE HAVE ALREADY GIVEN THEM THAT PLAN, AND THEY SEEM SATISFIED WITH IT.

BY 2023, THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.

>> THIS IS JERSEY AND COLLEGE?

>> RIGHT.

>> SO YOU DON'T HAVE ANY BRIDGES THAT -- >> WELL, WE HAVE BRIDGES THAT REQUIRE WORK, BUT -- >> THAT REQUIRE WORK, BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT GOES UNDER.

THE UNDERPASS IN UPTOWN, SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN ON THE IDEA BOARD FOR QUITE SOME TIME.

>> CORRECT.

>> BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT MAY BE MOVING FORWARD?

>> IT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

WE'LL BE TAKING COUNCIL ACTION ON THAT PROBABLY JULY 19 MEETING.

THE ISSUE WAS WE WERE GOING TO NEED FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING TO REALLY MAKE THAT PROJECT HAPPEN.

AND WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO SECURE THAT FUNDING.

AND GENERALLY THOSE MATCHES ARE 80% AND 20% LOCAL MATCH.

WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE OUR MATCH FROM 93% TO A 7% LOCAL MATCH.

SO WE ARE IN PRETTY GOOD SHAPE ON THAT.

>> A TIMETABLE?

>> IT'S PROBABLY A TWO-THREE-YEAR PROJECT.

WE JUST FINISHED UP PHASE ONE ENGINEERING.

NOW WE GO INTO FINAL DESIGN FOR THE PROJECT, GO TO BID FOR IT.

AND IT'S PROBABLY A GOOD 10-12 MONTHS BUILDOUT.

>> AS I SAID AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW, WE DO HAVE QUESTIONS WE ASKED YOU TO SUBMIT TO BOTH MAYORS, BLOOMINGTON AND NORMAL.

AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY GOING TO THE WEBSITE WTVP.ORG OR ATISSUE @WVTP.ORG IF YOU ARE EMAILING.

AND WE HAVE OUR FIRST ONE THAT HAS COME IN, MAYOR MWILAMBEWE, THIS IS FOR YOU.

THIS IS FROM MARY.

MARY SAYS HELLO.

>> HELLO.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION.

THIS IS THE EASY PART, OK?

I WOULD LIKE TO ASK A QUESTION OF THE MAYOR.

MY QUESTION IS THIS.

WHAT STEPS ARE YOU AND THE COUNCIL TAKING TO REDUCE THE CITY'S CARBON FOOTPRINT?

WHAT IS YOUR VISION FOR FUTURE ACTION?

>> SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE'LL HAVE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THE COUNCIL ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE ARE A NEW COUNCIL.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THESE ISSUES.

BUT AT THE MOMENT WE ARE EXPLORING BEST PRACTICES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE ALSO LOOKING TO DO IS WE ARE EXPLORING, YOU KNOW, SOLAR PANELS FOR CITY FACILITIES.

>> AND YOU DON'T GET AWAY JUST BECAUSE THIS QUESTION WAS DIRECT SAID TO THE MAYOR OF BLOOMINGTON.

BUT THERE IS SOME HISTORY BECAUSE YOU DID HAVE SOME ELECTRIC CARS.

>> WE STILL DO.

>> STILL DO AND HAVE ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS.

BUT WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT?

>> IT'S REALLY BUILT INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WHEN WE STARTED DOING THAT, DESIGN AND EFFICIENCY WAS A KEY PART OF WHAT WE DID.

SO AS WE GO FORWARD IN OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, WE TALK ABOUT THE TOWN OF NORMAL BEING COMPLETE, COMPACT, AND CONNECTED.

COMPLETE BEING WE ARE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

COMPACT IS MAINTAINING OUR FOOTPRINT, NOT EXPANDING OUT.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY BECAUSE THERE ARE NO NATURAL BOUNDARIES ON OUR COMMUNITY TO EXPAND TO A LARGE AREA.

WE ARE NOT DOING THAT BUT INTENTIONALLY, AS OUR COMMUNITY DEVELOPS, FOCUS MORE ON INFILL THAN GREEN FIELD BUILDING IF YOU WILL.

AND CONNECTED IS BUILDING OUT OUR CONNECTIVITY IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY.

FOR THE COMMUNITY.

>> ARE THERE GOING TO BE MORE STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC CARS OR -- >> YES.

THERE WILL BE LOTS OF STATIONS.

AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE THIS NATIONALLY.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT RIVIAN IS VERY FOCUSED ON.

IN OUR COMMUNITY, THEY ARE GOING TO HELP US WITH THAT.

THERE'S NO QUESTION OF THAT.

AND AS PEOPLE ARE ADOPTING ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THE NEED IS GOING TO BE THERE FOR CHARGING.

I WILL POINT OUT FOR A PERSONAL VEHICLE, MOST OF THAT CHARGING HAPPENS IN THE HOME.

CHARGING STATIONS THAT YOU CAN PUT IN YOUR GARAGE THAT WILL CHARGE YOUR VEHICLE OVERNIGHT ARE LESS THAN $500.

SO THAT'S WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MOST OF IT.

>> MAYOR KOOS, TO ADD -- >> I SHOULD ALSO ADD, AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THE MAYOR DIDN'T ADD THAT BEING A BICYCLE PERSON, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A BICYCLE MASTER PLAN THAT WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED, YOU KNOW, A WHILE BACK, I BELIEVE IN 2013.

SO WE HAVE ADDED BIKE LANES TO ALLOW FOLKS WHO WANT TO BE ABLE TO BIKE TO WORK TO DO THAT.

>> I GET YELLED AT AS BEING LESS THAN ALTRUISTIC.

>> I'LL SAY IT FOR YOU.

>> JUST IN CASE THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE VIEWING AUDIENCE WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND, MAYOR KOS DOES OWN A BICYCLE SHOP.

>> YES, YES, YES.

AND WE ARE ALSO EXPLORING CHARGING STATION AT SOME POINT, YOU KNOW, IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON AS WELL.

>> MAYOR KOOS MENTIONED THE TERM HE WANTS TO BE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

YOU HAVE DISCUSSED IN THE PAST HAVING A WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> WHAT EXACTLY DOES THAT MEAN, AND WHERE IS THE STATUS OF THAT?

>> WELL, THE STATUS OF THAT IS IT'S KIND OF STALLED.

AS YOU KNOW, WE DID DISCUSS IT AS PART OF AN INITIATIVE THAT A COUNCIL MEMBER HAD PRESENTED.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW WE -- YOU KNOW, AT OUR PROCESS WHEN YOU PUT FORTH AN INITIATIVE, YOU HAVE A FIRST GO AT IT AND GIVE THE COUNCIL A CHANCE TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO DISCUSS IT FURTHER.

SO WE WENT PAST THAT STAGE, AND WE WERE GOING TO GO INTO THE NEXT STAGE WHERE WE WOULD ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HAVE A FORMAL PROPOSAL THAT WE WOULD VOTE ON.

HOWEVER, AT THE TIME, BECAUSE THIS HAPPENED AROUND -- A LITTLE BIT BEFORE THE ELECTION, SO THE COUNCIL MEMBER DECIDED TO DELAY THAT AND WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION TO BRING FORTH THE SECOND PART OF THAT PARTICULAR INITIATIVE.

AND SO I BELIEVE ABOUT A MONTH AGO, SHE STATED THAT IT MIGHT NOT COME FORWARD AFTERWARDS BECAUSE AT THE STATE LEVEL THERE'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT WAS INTRODUCED AND THAT WAS PASSED.

I'M NOT 100% FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

>> SO IS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION?

>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS EXPECTED TO BE AT SOME POINT IN THAT SECOND PART OF IT.

SO WE WERE ALL GOING TO DISCUSS THE INITIATIVE.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS GOING TO BE ASKED TO COME FORWARD TO DISCUSS THEIR VARIOUS PRACTICES WHEN THEY ENCOUNTER UNDOCUMENTED RESIDENTS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> AND JUST TO CLARIFY FOR THE AUDIENCE'S BENEFIT, WHAT WOULD A WELCOMING CITY BE, IF YOU PASSED SUCH AN ORDINANCE?

>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEREIN -- >> IT COULD CARRY, I SUPPOSE.

>> IT COULD VERY, AND THEREIN LIES THE CHALLENGE BECAUSE FOR SOME, A WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE WOULD MEAN, YOU KNOW, THE POLICE -- WE COULD NOT USE, YOU KNOW, MUNICIPAL RESOURCES, FOR EXAMPLE, TO STOP SOMEBODY WHO IS UNDOCUMENTED.

YOU KNOW, THEY DID NOT WANT ANY SORT OF INTERACTION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE UNDOCUMENTED.

SO THERE WERE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS IN THAT PROPOSAL THAT NEEDED TO BE UNPACKED.

AND WHICH I THINK CREATED A BIT OF A CHALLENGE FOR THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, SOME FOLKS DID NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT DID THAT ALL MEAN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE THINK OF THEMSELVES AS BEING WELCOMING.

THEY ARE A WELCOMING COMMUNITY.

BUT WHAT DOES A WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE REALLY MEAN IN PRACTICAL TERMS.

THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING WITH.

>> SO WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THAT, AND WE PASSED OUR ORDINANCE ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS AGO -- ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, IT'S THE NOTION IF YOU'RE TALKING UNDOCUMENTED THAT IF YOU NEED EMERGENCY SERVICE, IF YOU NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION, IF YOU HAVE AN ISSUE THAT YOU NEED POLICE INTERVENTION, YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS WILL NOT BE A FACTOR.

AND TRYING TO GET PEOPLE USED TO THE IDEA OR COMFORTABLE WITH THE IDEA THAT THEY CAN ACCESS THOSE SERVICES WITHOUT HAVING TO WORRY ABOUT THEIR IMMIGRATION STATUS.

AND IT ALSO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH SOME OF THE RACIAL TENSIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN COMMUNITIES, THAT CERTAIN GROUPS ARE NOT WELCOME IN THE COMMUNITY.

THERE'S ANTAGONISM TO THEM AND BEING PROACTIVE TO WORK WITH CHURCH GROUPS AND SOCIAL CLUBS AND THAT TO TAMP THAT KIND OF RACISM DOWN.

>> YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE BY EMAILING US AT THEISSUE @WTVP OR GOING TO OUR WEBSITE AT WTVP.ORG.

THIS IS A SIMPLE QUESTION FROM CHARLES.

MAYOR KOOS, LET'S START WITH YOU.

CAN YOU HELP GET BUS SERVICE OUT TO RIVIAN BECAUSE A LOT OF PEOPLE NEED TO START AT 6:00 A.M.

BUT THE BUS DOESN'T RUN THAT EARLY.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY THE BUS DOESN'T RUN TO RIVIAN EITHER.

WE ARE IN CONVERSATION WITH -- I SHOULDN'T SAY WE, BUT DIRECT TRANSIT IS IN CONTACT WITH RIVIAN TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET BUS SERVICE THERE.

AND THE POPULATION WORKING AT THE PLANT HAS TO REACH CRITICAL MASS TO JUSTIFY RUNNING BUSES OUT THERE.

AND THEN UNDERSTANDING WHEN ARE THE PEAK TIMES THAT PEOPLE NEED THOSE BUSES, YOU KNOW.

WHAT ARE THE SHIFT CHANGES, HOW EARLY DO WE NEED TO START, HOW LATE DO WE NEED TO START.

BUT DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY.

>> BUT NO TIME FRAME OR -- >> NOT YET, NO.

>> AND SPEAKING OF RIVIAN, THE TOWN OF NORMAL OFFERED SOME BENEFITS TO RIVIAN BUT THEY HAD TO DELIVER ON THEIR END, AND I KNOW THAT THEY MISSED ONE DELIVERABLE AND HAD TO PAY SOME MONEY TO THE TOWN.

BUT SINCE THAT TIME, HAVE THEY MET ALL OF THESE DELIVERABLES?

>> AND SO THERE WAS A GROUP.

IT WASN'T JUST THE TOWN OF NORMAL.

IT WAS THE TOWN OF NORMAL, UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, McCLAIN COUNTY.

WE ALL KIND OF PARTNERED IN THAT.

AND IT HAD TO DO WITH PROCUREMENT, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THEY INVESTED INTO THE PHYSICAL BUILDING.

THEY DIDN'T MEET THAT GOAL.

SO THEY HAD TO PAY THE PROPERTY TAXES FOR THAT YEAR.

CURRENTLY THEY ARE FAR EXCEEDING, FAR EXCEEDING THE DELIVERABLES ON THAT.

WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED BUILDING OUT THAT PLANT, THEY SAID THAT THEY THOUGHT AT MATURITY, THERE WOULD BE 1,100 PEOPLE EMPLOYED THERE.

AND TALKING TO THEM YESTERDAY, THEY JUST CRESTED 2,000.

>> CURRENTLY?

>> CURRENTLY.

AND THEY EXPECT 3,000.

>> DO YOU KNOW -- DID THEY SHARE WHAT THE TIMETABLE FOR THE FIRST TRUCK -- I ASSUME IT WILL BE A PICKUP TRUCK.

>> THE TRUCK, THEY ARE STRUGGLING LIKE A LOT OF AUTO COMPANIES ARE GETTING THE CHIPS THAT THEY NEED.

BUT THEY THINK THEY CAN START PRODUCTION FIRST OF AUGUST.

>> FIRST OF AUGUST.

OK. AND DOES THE AMAZON AGREEMENT PLAY INTO THAT?

>> VERY DEFINITELY.

THE AMAZON VEHICLES, I THINK THEY HAD JUST STARTED BUILDING THOSE.

I'M NOT SURE THEY ARE RUNNING THE LINE.

THEY NOW HAVE TWO SEPARATE LINES.

ONE IS FOR THE AMAZON VEHICLES AND THE OTHER IS FOR THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLES.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHY HUNDREDS OF ACRES THAT WERE ANNEXED, AND MOST OF THAT WAS REZONED.

WHY DOES THAT OCCUR?

>> RIVIAN FELT THAT THEY HAD TWO NEEDS THAT THEY ARE EXPANDING THE FOOTPRINT OF THAT PLANT.

THAT'S A 2.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET PLANT, WHICH IS SMALL BY AUTOMOTIVE STANDARDS.

AND THEY HAVE ADDED 1 MILLION SQUARE FEET TO IT.

THEY HAVE A NEED FOR WHAT THEY CALL A CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA.

THEY HAVE A NEED FOR A TEST TRACK WHERE POTENTIAL BUYERS COULD TEST A VEHICLE.

AND THEY NEED TO ACCOMMODATE SUPPLIERS WHO MAY WANT TO LOCATE NEAR THE PLANT FOR JUST IN TIME SERVICE.

>> SO WHEN YOU SAID EARLIER IN THIS PROGRAM THAT YOU WANT TO INFILL IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING THE COMMUNITY, YET YOU'RE ANNEXING OUT AT RIVIAN, IS THAT JUST FOR RIVIAN?

>> JUST FOR RIVIAN.

>> THIS ISN'T AN INDUSTRIAL PARK OR SOMETHING OF THAT NATURE?

>> NO, NO.

JUSTR.

JUST FOR RIVAN OR THEIR SUPPLIERS.

>> YOU HAD SOME OPPOSITION TO THE COLLEGE AVENUE IMPROVEMENTS.

THAT'S ALL BEEN IRONED OUT?

>> NO, BUT -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> SIX COUNCIL MEMBERS FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

>> SO IT WILL MOVE FORWARD IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.

>> IT WILL MOVE FORWARD.

>> SPEAKING OF DEVELOPMENT, FERRIERO, I THINK IT'S THE SECOND LARGEST CANDY COMPANY IN THE WORLD.

THEY MAKE SNOW CAPS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

THEY HAD 300-SOME EMPLOYEES.

THEY HAVE ADDED ANOTHER 50.

IMPACT ON BLOOMINGTON?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE IMPACT THAT RIVIAN HAS HAD ALTOGETHER -- >> AND RIVIAN HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON BLOOMINGTON AS WELL.

>> RIGHT.

IT IS A HUGE IMPACT.

BUT I WOULD SAY AT THE MOMENT, FERRERO DOES NOT HAVE -- THEIR PLANT IS NOT QUITE READY TO GO YET.

THEY ARE EXPECTED TO OPEN UP IN SEPTEMBER.

SO, YEAH, WE -- YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK THE IMPACT WILL BE QUITE FELT YET UNTIL THAT DOES HAPPEN.

>> AND THIS IS THE OLD NESTLE -- >> YES, THE OLD NESTLE, YES.

>> AND WITH THE GROWTH, AND IT'S NOT JUST RIVIAN OR FERRERO, THERE ARE OTHER BUSINESSES IN DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON WHICH WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT.

BUT DO YOU HAVE ANY GROWING PAINS OR THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES?

>> VERY DEFINITELY.

WE DO.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S STARTING TO IMPACT NOW.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE CAUSES FOR THIS.

HOUSING IS VERY TIGHT.

HOUSING IS VERY TIGHT ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

WORK FORCE ISSUES.

THE COMPANY -- A COMPANY LIKE RIVIAN OR MAYBE A POTENTIAL SUPPLIER IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABILITY FOR THE LARGER COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE THE WORKFORCE THAT THEY NEED.

SO THOSE ARE ISSUES.

YEAH, THERE WILL BE SOME GROWING PAINS ON THAT.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> YEAH.

AND I WOULD AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE I -- YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE, SOMETIMES, JUST INFORMAL, YOU KNOW, WITH FRIENDS AND OTHERS WHO LIVE IN THE AREA, YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF FINDING A HOUSE.

THE COST OF HOUSING.

A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, $40,000 OR $50,000 OVER ASKING PRICE, WHICH IS ALMOST UNHEARD OF IN THE BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL AREA.

>> AND THAT MIGHT BE A CONCERN BECAUSE THE McCLAIN COUNTY AREA HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING MARKET.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU MAY NOT HAVE THAT.

OR AT LEAST IT WON'T BE AS MUCH OF A BENEFIT AS BEFORE.

>> I DO THINK FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, GIVEN COVID, AND THIS IS JUST MY OWN VIEW OF IT, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU PROBABLY HAD A NUMBER OF DEVELOPERS AND BUILDERS, YOU KNOW, WHO KIND OF TOOK A STEP BACK FOR A LITTLE BIT WAITING TO SEE WHAT THE MARKET WOULD LOOK LIKE, BEING CAUTIOUS.

AND I THINK AT THIS MOMENT THEY ARE JUST PLAYING CATCHUP.

SO IN MY OPINION, EVENTUALLY WE'RE GOING TO PLAY CATCHUP.

YOU KNOW, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON IS WORKING VERY HARD IN SOME CASES WE HAVE EVEN OUTSOURCED PLAN REVIEW JUST TO MAKE THE PROCESS GO A LITTLE BIT FASTER.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT TALKING TO A HOME BUILDER IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET MATERIALS.

EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT LUMBER AND THAT -- >> THE PRICE OF WOOD IS CRAZY.

>> IT'S STARTING TO COME BACK DOWN.

BUT TALKING TO A GENTLEMAN WHO BUILDS HOMES, HE SAID, I CAN'T GET WHITE VINYL SIDING.

I CAN'T GET WHITE VINYL SIDING WHICH IS THE MOST COMMON PRODUCT FOR BUILDING A HOUSE.

HE SAID HE IS CLOSING ON HOUSES BEFORE THEY ARE FINISHED BUILDING IT.

>> SO NOT JUST ON THIS ISSUE, BUT OTHERS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE YOU TWO MAYORS COMMUNICATE OR MAYBE TIM GLEASON, THE CITY MANAGER FOR YOU AND FOR YOU PAMELA REESE, IS THERE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIONS IN TERMS OF HOW WE CAN TACKLE THIS AND OTHER ISSUES?

>> VERY DEFINITELY.

>> YEAH.

>> I THINK JIM AND PAM TALK TWO OR THREE TIMES A WEEK ABOUT THESE ISSUES.

AND MBOKA AND I ARE STARTING TO -- HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN ON THE JOB?

>> TWO MONTHS.

BUT WE HAVE MET A NUMBER OF TIMES AND TALKED ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.

BUT IT'S ONLY GOING TO INCREASE OVER TIME, I THINK.

>> SO IS THERE SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN THE -- I KNOW IT'S EARLY, BUT THAT -- WHERE YOU HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN HELP EACH OTHER IN THIS AREA.

IS THERE AN EXAMPLE?

>> WELL, I THINK IN A BROADER SENSE, THERE PROBABLY IS AND I'M NOT THINKING OF ONE, IS THAT WE'RE MOVING IN A COMMON DIRECTION.

THAT WE ARE COOPERATIVE.

SOMEONE GAVE ME THE BEST DEFINITION OF A TWIN CITY THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD.

AND THAT IS A TWIN CITY IS LIKE AN OLDER MARRIED COUPLE WITH SEPARATE CHECKING ACCOUNTS.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> AND THAT'S KIND OF HOW WE ARE, YOU KNOW.

WE GET ALONG, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE MOVING IN A COMMON DIRECTION.

>> AND I REMEMBER THIS IS SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT THE CLOSING TIME FOR BARS WAS ONE WHERE YOU SAID, WELL, WE BETTER GET ON THE SAME PAGE BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE DRIVING ACROSS THE SHARED BORDER IF YOU HAVE A 1:00 AND YOU HAVE A 2:00.

>> THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO.

>> YEAH, I KNOW, BUT -- >> EVEN BEFORE ME.

>> BEFORE YOU WERE ON THE COUNCIL, 2012.

>> 2011.

>> AND JUST FOR -- I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT YOU ACTUALLY HAD YOUR YOUTH IN AFRICA.

>> UH-HUH.

>> SCHOOLING, HIGH SCHOOL.

>> YES.

>> IN FOUR DIFFERENT COUNTRIES IN AFRICA?

>> YES.

YEAH.

CONGO, CONCHESSA, IVORY COAST, SENEGAL.

>> THE REASON I BRING THAT UP IS BECAUSE WHEN YOU WERE HERE FOR THE DEBATE LAST SPRING, YOU SAID THAT ONE OF YOUR GOALS WOULD BE TO GET MORE DIVERSITY ON COMMISSIONS, MORE DIVERSITY IN THE WORKFORCE, MORE DIVERSITY IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> UH-HUH.

>> AND YOU COME FROM AFRICA.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN DEALING WITH -- AND EVEN AT I.S.U., YOUR JOB, I GUESS YOU HAVE THAT SAME THING.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU DOING OR WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL?

>> YEAH.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'VE ALREADY DONE IS SPEAKING TO A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS JUST TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I DO KNOW THAT YOU HAVE QUITE A BIT OF DIVERSITY WITHIN YOUR CORPORATION, AND WITHIN YOUR CORPORATION YOU ALSO HAVE, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT AFFINITY GROUPS.

SO WE'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO TAP INTO THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THOSE VARIOUS GROUPS, SO THAT THEY CAN BRING FORTH, YOU KNOW, THEIR TALENT AND CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT THE CITY IS DOING ON OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, BECAUSE I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY, YOU KNOW, REFLECTIVE OF WHAT OUR CITY IS LIKE.

WE'D LIKE TO HAVE EVERYONE CONTRIBUTE.

>> SO HOW DO YOU REACH OUT TO SOMEONE AND SAY, I'D LIKE YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN A COMMISSION, OR I WANT YOU TO DO THIS FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

>> SO WHAT WE ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO IS TO JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, REACH OUT.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS THAT WE KNOW WITHIN THOSE COMPANIES AND SAY, OK, YOU DO KNOW, YOU KNOW, OF SOMEONE AT THE V.P.

LEVEL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, HUMAN RESOURCES.

YOU KNOW, TYPICALLY SOME OF THOSE GROUPS, THE HUMAN RESOURCES FOLKS, KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE ARE AND WHERE THEY ARE.

AND THEN WE'LL SAY, OK, WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

WE VERY MUCH WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE.

AND I KNOW THAT THE EMPLOYERS DO REWARD THAT WHEN PEOPLE DO VOLUNTEER.

>> AND IF SOMEONE HAS A PARTICULAR INTEREST, OF COURSE, THEY COULD CONTACT YOU OR KATHRYN?

>> YES.

WE'VE MADE THAT CLEAR.

>> DIVERSITY IN NORMAL.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE NORMAL RIGHT NOW IN TERMS OF BEING A DIVERSE COMMUNITY?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK DIVERSITY CAN CARRY A LOT OF DIFFERENT CONNOTATIONS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK OF IT AS RACIAL DIVERSITY.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT INCOME DIVERSITY.

AGE DIVERSITY.

AND I THINK WE ARE MOVING IN A GOOD DIRECTION.

BUT IF YOU LOOK AT OUR DEMOGRAPHIC, WE ARE PRETTY MUCH A WHITE COMMUNITY.

THE UNIVERSITY HELPS TREMENDOUSLY IN RAISING AWARENESS OF THAT.

THE FACT THAT THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE COMING IN, IT REALLY HELPS OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT IT GOES BACK TO MAKING PEOPLE FEEL COMFORTABLE.

BEING THERE AND BEING INVOLVED.

THAT'S SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT.

WE RUN INTO PEOPLE THAT WE THINK WOULD BE A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A BOARD OR COMMISSION, AND THEY ARE VERY THOUGHTFUL.

THEY HAVE STRONG OPINIONS AND THAT.

BUT THEY JUST DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE.

AND I THINK THAT'S -- WOULD YOU AGREE, THAT'S THE BARRIER WE'RE TRYING TO BREAK DOWN.

>> WHAT I'M HEARING IS YOU'RE AFRAID YOU MIGHT SAY THE WRONG THING IF YOU'RE ON A BOARD AND YOU WERE BROUGHT ON, YOU KNOW, FOR DIVERSITY PURPOSES.

OR THERE MIGHT BE SOMEBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD.

BECAUSE SO OFTEN WE HEAR SOMEONE SAY, I DON'T THINK I CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> UH-HUH.

YEAH.

I DON'T NECESSARILY THINK THAT'S THE CASE, YOU KNOW, FOR MYSELF, WHAT I TRY TO DO EVER SINCE I BECAME MAYOR IS JUST KIND OF CHANGE THE LEVEL OF CIVILITY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE COUNCIL, BUT ALSO WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

SO WHAT I'M HOPING IS THAT THIS WILL REALLY INFILTRATE ALL LEVELS OF THE CITY, INCLUDING THE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.

AND THEN ALLOW PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE PARTICIPATING.

YOU KNOW, BE WHO THEY ARE, BECAUSE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANT.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO BE WHO THEY ARE.

>> AND FORGIVE ME FOR NOT DOING ENOUGH HOMEWORK ON THIS.

BUT ARE YOU THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR OF BLOOMINGTON?

>> YES.

SO I'VE BEEN TOLD.

>> AND PEORIA HAS ITS FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR AS WELL.

AND IS THERE BENEFIT TO HAVING YOURSELF AND RITA ALI IN HIGH PROFILE POSITIONS IN TERMS OF BRINGING -- MAKING DIVERSITY AN EASIER TOPIC TO DISCUSS?

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

YOU KNOW, BY THE WAY, I REACHED OUT TO HER TO CONGRATULATE HER ON HER WIN, AND SHE REPLIED BACK.

AND WE HAVE IT, YOU KNOW, IN OUR MINDS TO MEET AT SOME POINT AND GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER.

BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY GOOD.

I DIDN'T NECESSARILY RUN TO BE THE FIRST, YOU KNOW, AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR.

BUT I THINK ONCE IT HAPPENED, IT IS HELPFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY TO SEE THAT THEY CAN BE LED BY SOMEBODY WHO IS DIFFERENT.

AND I THINK THAT WILL INSPIRE, YOU KNOW, YOUNGER GENERATIONS TO DO THE SAME THING.

AND THEN IT WILL INSPIRE US TO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS.

AND THAT GOES BACK TO BEING MORE CIVIL IN OUR CONVERSATIONS AND WHERE WE CAN ALL FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DISCUSSING THE ISSUES THAT MATTER TO ALL OF US.

>> AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO ASK A QUESTION BECAUSE YOU DON'T QUITE UNDERSTAND.

>> YES, YES, YES, DEFINITELY.

NOT BEING AFRAID TO ASK, BECAUSE I -- YOU KNOW, MYSELF PERSONALLY, HERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

MY NAME.

YOU KNOW, FOR SOME PEOPLE IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PRONOUNCE.

>> IT TOOK ME A WHILE.

>> YEAH.

BUT I DO -- I UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND I GIVE PEOPLE GRACE BECAUSE I DON'T GO FROM THE STANDPOINT THAT PEOPLE ARE REALLY DOING IT ON PURPOSE, NOT TO BE ABLE TO PRONOUNCE MY NAME.

I THINK WE ARE ALL RAISED IN DIFFERENT AREAS, AND OUR LANGUAGE IS DIFFERENT.

AND WE MAY HAVE A HARD TIME WITH CERTAIN SOUNDS.

AND SO I GIVE PEOPLE GRACE, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY SAY I'M REALLY HAVING A HARD TIME.

I SAY, IT'S OK, YOU KNOW.

YOU'RE GOING TO BE FINE.

I UNDERSTAND.

AND I THINK THAT'S HOW WE CAN KIND OF BE A LITTLE BIT MORE -- A LITTLE KINDER TO ONE ANOTHER AND HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND THEY HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ASK THAT.

BECAUSE YOU'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PEOPLE IF YOU DON'T ALLOW THEM TO ASK THE QUESTIONS THAT ARE DIFFICULT AND NOT MAKE THEM FEEL BAD ABOUT IT, BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY WANT TO UNDERSTAND.

>> IN NORMAL, YOU HAVE A FEMALE CITY MANAGER, PAMELA REESE.

AND DOES THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THAT THERE'S A FEMALE LEADING THE ADMINISTRATION?

>> YOU KNOW, IN THE SENSE PAM IS A VERY PROFESSIONAL WOMAN WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE.

THAT TRANSITION, I THINK, HAPPENED ALMOST SEAMLESSLY.

IN FACT, WHEN WE MADE THE FINAL SELECTION, THERE WAS A COLLECTIVE SIGH WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION THAT SHE WAS THE pCHOICE BECAUSE THE PEOPLE THAT WORK FOR THE UP FOR TOUN TOWN O NORMAL HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HER.

>> SO MORE OF A RESPECT IN THIS CASE.

>> YEAH.

SHE IS A VERY, VERY COMPETENT PERSON.

>> DO YOU FEEL THAT THERE IS ANY DIFFICULT -- BECAUSE NORMAL IS PREDOMINANTLY WHITE.

IS THERE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER WHO ARE OF A DIVERSE BACKGROUND ON COMMISSIONS, BOARDS, ET CETERA?

>> YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD BETTER LUCK IN RECENT YEARS OF FINDING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, I THINK ONCE YOU GET A COUPLE OF PEOPLE SERVING IN THAT REGARD, AND THEY DEVELOP A PERSONA IN THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE SEE THAT PEOPLE THAT MIGHT NOT STEP UP TO DO THAT FEEL A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT DOING IT.

SO I'M PRETTY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE HELPING US.

MY CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR THIS TIME IS INCREDIBLY DIVERSE.

AND THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL, I THINK.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

WE CAN ALWAYS DO BETTER.

>> WELL, GO AHEAD.

>> AND I ALSO THINK, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO VOLUNTEER, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THE SOCIOECONOMIC PART OF IT.

FOR SOME PEOPLE VOLUNTEERING WOULD BE A LUXURY BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO WORK, YOU KNOW.

IN SOME CASES, THEY HAVE KIDS, YOU KNOW, SO THAT PRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGE.

AND WE HAVE TO FIND WAYS TO JUST BRING THOSE PEOPLE TO THE FORE SO THEY CAN VOLUNTEER.

>> WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION SUBMITTED BY AN AUDIENCE MEMBER.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO EXTEND THIS CONVERSATION TO THE ISSUE OF TRYING TO HIRE MINORITIES, WHETHER THAT BE FEMALES, HISPANICS, BLACKS, ON POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS.

HAS THAT BEEN MORE DIFFICULT HIRING -- WELL, I SUPPOSE HIRING POLICE OFFICERS IN GENERAL HAS BEEN MORE DIFFICULT.

BUT IN PARTICULAR MINORITIES.

>> YEAH.

I WOULD SAY.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A CONVERSATION WITH A NUMBER OF FOLKS DURING THE CAMPAIGN ABOUT BEING ABLE TO -- BECAUSE THEY ASKED ME, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN WE DO TO HIRE MORE MINORITY POLICE OFFICERS.

AND I SAID, WELL, WE NEED TO HAVE A POSITIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT BECAUSE IF WE ARE NEGATIVE OF OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, IT'S GOING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR ANYONE TO WANT TO JOIN THE DEPARTMENT.

SO WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH OUR EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY, YOU KNOW, WHO CAN ASSIST AND MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE DO HIRE MINORITY CANDIDATES THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, THERE TO STAY.

>> AND YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A POLICE CHIEF NOW.

>> UH-HUH, YES.

WE ARE.

AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT REVEALING TOO MUCH, BUT I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, FROM MY CONVERSATION WITH THE CITY MANAGER, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD POOL OF APPLICANTS AND I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE CAN BRING TO THE TABLE.

IDEALLY, WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THAT PERSON HIRED WITH A START DATE OF SEPTEMBER.

>> AND YOU WANTED TO ADD TO THAT.

>> I DID.

WE ARE WORKING WITH THE NAACP, AND I'M SURE BLOOMINGTON IS TOO, IS COMMUNITY EXPOSURE AND GETTING FIREFIGHTERS AND ESPECIALLY POLICE OFFICERS TALKING TO YOUNG KIDS AND TRYING TO BREAK DOWN THAT BARRIER OF FEAR THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE BASED ON WHAT THEY ARE SEEING ON TV AND READING IN THE NEWSPAPER ALL THE TIME.

THERE ARE A LOT OF MINORITY PEOPLE THAT ARE DEFINITELY AFRAID OF POLICE OFFICERS.

SO TO BREAK THAT STEREOTYPE DOWN.

THESE ARE REALLY WONDERFUL, DEDICATED PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.

THEY ARE NOT THE OFFICERS THAT YOU SEE ON TV THAT ARE GETTING CHASTISED FOR THE MOST PART.

THEY ARE VERY, VERY PROFESSIONAL OFFICERS.

>> AND THEY ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> SO TO HAVE THEM IN THE SCHOOLS AND TALKING TO KIDS AND DOING THINGS WITH THEM TO KIND OF BREAK DOWN THOSE STEREOTYPES.

>> IS THAT PART OF WHAT WE DEFINE AS COMMUNITY POLICING, TO REACH OUT TO YOUNGER PEOPLE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> AND ART AND CAMILLE TAYLOR, THEY SET A GOOD TONE FOR BOTH COMMUNITIES ACTUALLY IN TERMS OF INVOLVEMENT AND NOT BEING AFRAID TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THESE MORE SENSITIVE ISSUES.

>> YES, DEFINITELY.

>> THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE COUPLE.

THEY ARE AMAZING PEOPLE AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THEM.

>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT UPTOWN AND DOWNTOWN.

WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST?

MAYOR KOOS, THE TIFF THAT HELPED THE DEVELOPMENT OF UPTOWN EXPIRES IN 2026.

BUT A PORTION OF IT WAS EXTENDED.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND I KNOW THERE'S STILL SOME -- AND THIS FRUSTRATES YOU BECAUSE THERE'S STILL SOME EMPTY SPACES.

>> RIGHT.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT?

AND WAS THERE DISCUSSION WITH UNIT 5, ET CETERA, BECAUSE THAT FREEZES THEIR TAX BASE.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY BEYOND DISCUSSION.

THEY HAD TO TAKE ACTION WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNMENTAL GROUPS TO APPROVE THAT.

WE COULD NOT DO IT WITHOUT THEIR FORMAL APPROVAL.

AND IT BASICALLY IS ABOUT FOUR PARCELS OF LAND THAT JUST NEVER DEVELOPED.

WE ALWAYS HAD A PLAN FOR IT, BUT WE HAD THE RECESSION.

AND COVID HIT.

THEY COULDN'T GET STARTED.

SO WE CARVED OUT THOSE FOUR PARCELS AND SAID, THE TIFF -- IT GETS COMPLICATED, BUT THE TIFF WOULD EFFECTIVELY EXPIRE FOR THE OTHER AREAS, BUT THOSE SPECIFIC AREAS WOULD CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER 13 YEARS, 2026, TO ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN.

NOW TO EXTEND A TIFF, YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR THE WHOLE TIFF.

BUT WE HAVE FORMAL AGREEMENTS THAT SAY ALL OF THOSE PROPERTIES THAT WERE BUILT OUT, EVERY YEAR WE WILL GIVE YOU THOSE DOLLARS, LIKE THE TIFF EXPIRED.

>> SO IN 2026, THE E.A.V.

OF THOSE THAT WERE ALREADY DEVELOPED, THEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND COUNTY, ET CETERA, CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT AND GET THE INCREASED TAXES OFF OF THAT.

>> EXACTLY.

UH-HUH.

>> AND NO OFFENSE, MAYOR MWILAMBEWE -- >> THAT'S NOT A GOOD START.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, WELL, LOOK AT UPTOWN.

YEAH, UPTOWN HAS HAD SOME STRUGGLES ALONG THE WAY.

BUT UPTOWN REALLY IS A COMPLETE TRANSITION OF A COMMUNITY.

WHEREAS PEOPLE SAY, WELL, WHAT'S HAPPENING IND DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON?

AND THIS ISN'T ME, BUT PEOPLE SAY, YOU HAVE THE OLD BUILDINGS.

YOU DO HAVE THE ARENA AT THE EDGE OF TOWN.

BUT WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO HAPPEN?

BUT LOOKING AT THE INFORMATION, YOU HAVE HAD SOME BUSINESSES OPEN DURING COVID.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THIS PAST YEAR WAS KIND OF SURPRISING.

YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT IT DURING SUCH A DIFFICULT YEAR.

WE'VE HAD ABOUT 12 NEW BUSINESSES OPEN.

AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THEM WERE OWNED BY WOMEN.

WHICH IS AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE FEAT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, AND EVEN IN TERMS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, THAT THE LEVEL OF INVESTMENT HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE ALSO HAD THE FORMER STATE FARM BUILDING, YOU KNOW, THAT AT ONE POINT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO BE DEMOLISHED.

BUT NOW WE HAVE KEPLER IN THE BUILDING, WHICH IS ALSO AMAZING.

MORE POWER TO, YOU KNOW, NORMAL OR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE WITH UPTOWN NORMAL.

I THINK IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

BUT BLOOMINGTON IS DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE A DIFFERENT CHARACTER.

WE TEND TO LIKE THE OLDER, MORE HISTORIC BUILDINGS.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING BECAUSE IT HAS A CERTAIN UNIQUENESS TO IT.

SO WE NEED TO JUST TWEAK A FEW THINGS.

WE HAD OUR DOWNTOWN TASK FORCE REPORT WHICH WAS FINALLY ACCEPTED IN 2020, YOU KNOW.

SO THE COUNCIL GOT TOGETHER AND SAID, OK, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE THIS UP AND WE'RE GOING TO SET ABOUT ACCOMPLISHING SOME OF THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT, WHICH WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO.

AND AT THIS POINT NOW, WE DO HAVE AN R.F.Q.

OUT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE MORE CHALLENGING ASPECTS OF IT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT STREETSCAPE, LIGHTING, AND ALL OF THAT.

>> I'M GOING TO JUMP TO HIS DEFENSE BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS.

UPTOWN NORMAL IS SIX SQUARE BLOCKS MAYBE.

AND DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON IS QUITE A BIT LARGER.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND A LOT MORE INDIVIDUAL OWNERS DOWN THERE.

THE GEOGRAPHY THERE.

WHAT BLOOMINGTON HAS TO WORK WITH IS INCREDIBLE AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING.

THOSE ARE BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS, AND PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO DO THINGS WITH THOSE.

BUT WHAT WE DID AND WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

>> AND YOU BRING UP A POINT BECAUSE A LOT OF DOWNTOWN BLOOMINGTON IS PRIVATE O.NER OWNERSHIP.

YOU HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.

>> YES.

AND TO HAVE THAT ASSET NEXT TO OUR UPTOWN AREA IS HUGE.

>> LET'S GO TO THE QUESTIONS COMING FROM THE AUDIENCE.

THIS IS FROM BRETT.

WHAT IS THE TIMELINE TO RECONSTRUCT THE INTERSECTION OF EUCLID, WASHINGTON, AND BROWN STREET?

>> I'D HAVE TO GET BACK TO THEM ON THAT.

I DON'T REMEMBER THAT ONE.

>> AND I HAVE AN EMAIL FOR BRETT, AND I'LL SHARE THAT WITH YOU.

>> SURE.

>> AND MAYOR MWILAMBEWE WILL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT PARTICULAR ANSWER.

AND WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE.

THIS COMES FROM, LET'S SEE, FROM JOEL.

IS THERE AN EFFORT TO FOCUS ON DIVERSIFYING THE TEACHERS IN DISTRICT 87 AND UNIT 5?

MY DAUGHTER HAS YET TO HAVE A BLACK TEACHER.

REPRESENTATION IS IMPORTANT FOR YOUTH.

>> YOU KNOW, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT'S NOT UNLIKE THE ISSUE THAT POLICE AND FIRE FACE, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT WHAT WE CAN DO IS ENCOURAGE THAT KIND OF BEHAVIOR IN THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE SEPARATE UNITS OF GOVERNMENT.

>> AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

YOU CAN'T SPEAK ON BEHALF OF 5 AND 87.

>> SAME HERE.

>> I DO WANT TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF -- THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN BLOOMINGTON, AND I'M UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE IN NORMAL, BUT HOMELESSNESS.

THERE IS AN ENCAMPMENT ON A SECTION OF PROPERTY THAT I BELIEVE IS -- >> ON MARKET STREET.

YES.

>> AND I KNOW DEVELOPMENT ISN'T HAPPENING YET.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN BLOOMINGTON?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO WITH THESE PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO ARE HOMELESS?

>> YEAH.

SO AFTER TWO MONTHS ON THE JOB, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION.

AND I THINK WE WILL NEED TO, YOU KNOW, SPEND A BIT OF TIME TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE ADDRESS IT.

WE HAVE TALKED TO IN SOME CASES, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE ENCAMPMENT THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IF FOLKS ARE THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT TRESPASSING.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CAN DO.

THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING CRIMINAL.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT WE CAN DO IS TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL AGENCIES.

AND IN SOME CASES, WE HAVE DONE THAT.

AGENCIES LIKE HOME SWEET HOME TO TRY TO WORK WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS TO SEE IF WE CAN PROVIDE THEM SOME HELP.

AND, YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER THAT IN THE CASE OF A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL, YOU KNOW, WHO REFUSED HELP, SO THERE WASN'T A WHOLE LOT WE COULD DO THERE.

BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, THE WAYS TO ADDRESS THAT.

>> IT IS A PROBLEM WHERE YOU NEED TO RELY ON ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF CITY GOVERNMENT TO HELP SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

>> RIGHT.

EXACTLY.

>> IN PROVIDING -- AND MOST PEOPLE AGREE THAT PROVIDING SOME SHELTER FIRST IS HOW TO GET THEM BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> UH-HUH.

>> FOR THOSE THAT ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT THAT.

>> EXACTLY.

>> THAT'S THE POINT.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE QUITE CONTENT TO BE HOMELESS, WHETHER IT'S MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES OR A PERSONAL FREEDOM ISSUE.

>> A FINAL TOPIC FOR MAYOR KOOS.

ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY, YOU FOR SOME TIME HAVE SAID, I WANT TO KEEP AT LEAST SOME OF THE I.S.U.

GRADS HERE IN TOWN.

AND IT WOULD HELP WITH THE WORKFORCE, ET CETERA AND THERE'S A NEW PRESIDENT AT I.S.U.

BUT HAVE YOU HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE I.S.U.

ADMINISTRATION?

>> WE HAVE, AND THEY ARE RESPONDING.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I.S.U.

IS DOING, AND WE HAVE TO ADD HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO THAT, I.S.U.

IS TALKING ABOUT INSTITUTING AN ENGINEERING PROGRAM BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A NEED FOR ENGINEERING.

AND MBOKA AND I HAD BREAKFAST WITH TAMMIE DUCKWORTH AND SHE TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN TERMS OF GETTING PEOPLE TO STAY IN ILLINOIS OR COME TO ILLINOIS.

THERE'S A PERCEPTION THAT THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TRAINED WORKFORCE.

SHE THINKS THERE IS, AND I TEND TO AGREE WITH HER.

BUT WE HAVE TO CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CAN GET THE EXPERIENCE THAT THEY WANT AND THE JOBS THAT SET THEM ON A PATH TO A CAREER.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THAT WITH STATE FARM, BUT YOU'VE GOT WANT TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.

THAT AND ALSO ENCOURAGING ENTREPRENEURSHIP THROUGH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

GIVING THEM THE HELP THEY NEED IF THEY ARE ENTREPRENEURIAL AND WANT TO START A BUSINESS.

>> AS ALWAYS, WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TOWN.

I'M SORRY, MAYOR.

>> THAT'S OKAY >> BUT AS ALWAYS, WE COULD CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION AND PROBABLY WILL AFTER THE CAMERAS ARE TURNED OFF.

BUT LET ME SAY THANK YOU TO YOU, MAYOR MBOKA MWILAMBEWE, I APPRECIATE THAT, THE MAYOR OF BLOOMINGTON.

>> AND THE MAYOR OF NORMAL, CHRIS KOOS.

NEXT TIME ON "AT ISSUE," WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT ISSUES FACING THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

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