[ MUSIC ] >> HELLO, I'M H. WAYNE WILSON.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON A SPECIAL EDITION OF "AT ISSUES" THIS IS A ONE HOUR MAYORAL FORUM FOR THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

WE'LL BE HEARING FROM MIKE STRAZA AND MBOKA MWILAMBWE.

THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE ON THE BALLOT AT THE APRIL 6th ELECTION.

JACKIE GUNDERSON IS THE THIRD CANDIDATE.

SHE WILL NOT BE WITH US THIS EVENING.

SHE ORIGINALLY SELECTED THE EVENING OF MARCH 24th, AND THE TIME TO DO IT, THE EVENING.

AND THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES AGREED TO DO IT AT THAT TIME.

FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE TAPING, SHE E-MAILED ME TO SAY THAT SHE WAS GOING TO INSTEAD SPEAK TO A PRIVATE GROUP ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 24th.

SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD SUBMIT A VIDEO STATEMENT.

I DENIED THAT REQUEST BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT BE ANSWERING THE SAME QUESTIONS THAT THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES WOULD BE ANSWERING.

WE ARE PROCEEDING, UNFORTUNATELY, WITHOUT JACKIE GUNDERSON.

THIS IS A ONE HOUR PROGRAM AND THERE'S NO TIME LIMIT ON THE ANSWERS THAT THE CANDIDATES WILL BE OFFERING.

THAT WAY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO FULLY PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION BACK AND FORTH.

I WILL ALLOW FOLLOW UP ANSWERS BUT IT'S AT MY DISCRETION.

AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM, THERE WILL BE 90 SECONDS FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND WE WILL ALTERNATE WHO ANSWERS EACH QUESTION FIRST DURING THE PROGRAM.

I'D LIKE TO SAY THANKS FOR ASSISTANCE IN DEVELOPING THIS PROGRAM AND BY THE FLIP OF A COIN EARLIER TODAY, MBOKA WILL ANSWER FIRST TO OUR INITIAL QUESTION.

MBOKA, THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON DEVELOPED AN ENTERPRISE ZONE, THE DISTRICT 87 SCHOOL DISTRICT WAS OPPOSED TO A CREATION, THIS ALL HAS TO DO WITH DEVELOPMENT.

SO WHAT TYPES OF INCENTIVES SHOULD THE CITY OFFER TO DEVELOPERS TO ATTRACT BUSINESS WHEN YOU CONSIDER DISTRICTS, WHEN YOU CONSIDER ENTERPRISE ZONES AND OTHER ISSUES OF YOUR INTEREST?

>> SURE.

I THINK THE CITY SHOULD HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT INCENTIVES IN IT'S TOOL BOX TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT DIFFERET DEVELOPMENTS.

AS YOU KNOW, ANY DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT NECESSARILY -- IS NOT UNIFORM.

SO IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT IT COULD DO TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT DEVELOPMENT.

FOR EXAMPLE, WE WORK WITH VARIOUS BUSINESSES WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRICTS OR WE HAVE ALSO WORKED WITH ENTERPRISE ZONE.

WE ALSO WORKED WITH THEM ON SALES TAX REBATES.

IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR THE CITY TO HAVE A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOOLS USED TO ATTRACT BUSINESS.

BUSINESSES ARE NOT UNIFORM AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE WHAT IT IS THAT MIGHT WORK FOR THEM.

BUT ONE THING THAT I WOULD ALSO SAY IS THAT THE CITY DOES NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, GIVE AWAY THINGS TO BUSINESSES.

THE CITY HAS A VERY, YOU KNOW, VERY STRONG PROVISIONS AND NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IF THE BUSINESSES DO NOT PERFORM UP TO EXPECTATIONS, WE HAVE AN ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO GET BACK SOME OF THE MONEY WE INITIALLY AGREED TO.

>> LET ME ASK YOU TO FOLLOW UP WITH REGARD TO THE DISTRICT 87 CONCERN AND OTHER TAXING BODIES FOR THAT MATTER WITH REGARD TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TIP DISTRICTS.

>> YES.

SO WHAT IS THE QUESTION?

>> WELL, DISTRICT 87 SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE PAST HAS BEEN CONCERN CONCERNED BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY FREEZE THE TAX LEVEL OF ALL OTHER TAXING BODIES EXCEPT FOR THE CITY AT THE CURRENT LEVEL.

ARE YOU CONCERNED -- GO AHEAD.

>> YEAH.

SO, YEAH, SO OF COURSE.

I THINK THAT'S -- IT'S A VERY LEGITIMATE CONCERN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, AS YOU KNOW, SCHOOL DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, RELY HEAVILY ON PROPERTY TAXES AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CITY HAS DONE IS TO ENHANCE COMMUNICATION WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE OKAY AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE CITY IS TRYING TO DO WITH THE VARIOUS DEVELOPMENT AND THAT THERE IS SOME LEVEL OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND ALSO WITH OTHER TAXING BODIES.

SO REALLY HAVE ENHANCED COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, THEY ALSO ADDRESSED CONCERNS, ESPECIALLY WITH DISTRICTS THAT FREEZE, YOU KNOW, PROPERTY TAXES.

YOU HAVE IT FOR 20, 20 PLUS YEARS, THAT'S A LONG TIME FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO, YOU KNOW, NOT HAVE THAT MONEY AVAILABLE TO THEM.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ARE IN CONSTANT COMMUNICATION WITH.

>> WHAT INCENTIVE SHOULD THE CITY BE USING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES.

>> THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC, ESPECIALLY AS YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, DISTRICT 87.

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO DR. REILLY THAT WAS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF DISTRICT 87 AND EVEN BEFORE I, YOU KNOW, OPENED UP ABOUT BEING MAYOR, YOU KNOW, RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF BLOOMING TON, IT'S A CONCERN OF MINE BECAUSE I WENT TO BLOOMINGTON HIGH SCHOOL AND IT'S CONCERNING ABOUT EDUCATION AND HOW THAT'S GOING TO BE FUNDED.

LOOKING AT TIP DISTRICTS AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY ARE NOT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

LIKE YOU SAID, IT PHRASES THE LEVEL.

SO THEY'RE STILL COLLECTING MONEY BASED OFF WHAT THE CURRENT PROPERTY VALUE IS.

THEY'RE JUST NOT GETTING THE NEW NUMBER.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN USE.

IT'S ONE OF THE MANY THINGS THAT WERE OPTIONS.

BUT IT'S NOT THE ONLY THING.

WE NEED TO DO MORE INCENTIVE BASES FOR COMPANIES.

HOW MANY JOBS THEY BRING INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WHAT IS THEIR PLAN?

NOT EVERYTHING FITS FOR EVERY COMPANY.

AND THAT'S IMPORTANT TO ME IS LOOKING AT THE SCOPE AND SAYING WHAT CAN WE DO?

AND I LOOK AT IT AS IT IS PUTTING A PACKAGE TOGETHER THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR YEARS.

IT'S RECENTLY BEEN REVIVED AGAIN THROUGH OUR CEO THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

HE HAS COME OUT WITH AN IDEA WHERE IT'S LIKE WE WILL BASICALLY HELP BOTH TOWN AND CITY TO COME UP WITH A PACKAGE THAT SAYS THIS IS GOING TO BE UNIVERSAL.

HOW DO WE DO THAT AND MAKING SURE THAT WE SIT DOWN WITH DISTRICT 87 LIKE I HAVE IN THE PAST AND SAYING ARE YOU AWARE THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR DOLLARS IF WE DO THIS AND THIS.

IT'S IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THEM.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF ALL THE OTHER AREAS THAT NEED THE TAX MONEY TO GROW.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION TO BOTH CANDIDATES.

MIKE, YOU WILL RESPOND FIRST.

THE COUNCIL APPROVED $12 MILLION.

IT'S SUGGESTED THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL BRING PEOPLE THAT WILL BUY GAS, STOP AT A RESTAURANT, THEY MAY BUY SOME ITEMS AND DO YOU SUPPORT THAT IN CITY STRUCTURES IN GENERAL?

BUT DO YOU SUPPORT THAT KIND OF INVESTMENT?

IS IT WORTH THE RETURN?

>> THAT'S A HARD THING BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT THE RETURN.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

ARE YOU TALKING STRICTLY FINANCIAL?

QUALITY OF LIFE?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR?

REVITALIZATION OF AN AREA THAT IS MAYBE A LITTLE NEEDS SOME HELP.

IT'S AN AREA THAT NEEDED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

NEEDED SOMETHING.

SO THE QUESTION IS WILL IT BRING IN THAT MUCH FROM OUTSIDE OF OUR COMMUNITY TO HELP WITH GAS AND FOOD AND THINGS.

I WILL QUESTION HOW MUCH REVENUE WILL COME IN FROM THAT.

AND I LOOK AT IT AS, THAT'S NOT SOMETHING, AND YOU SAY WELL LET'S NOT DO IT.

SO SOMETHING DESPERATELY NEEDS TO BE DONE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN OR WEST OF MAIN STREET AND I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT THING TO HAVE.

IT'S JUST A MATTER OF HOW IS IT GOING TO BE BEST MANAGED AND USED ACCORDINGLY.

>> THE SAME THING TO YOU, THE INVESTMENT IN O'NEILL PARK AND OTHER COMMUNITY INVESTMENTS WORTH THE RETURN?

>> YEAH.

I DEFINITELY THINK THAT IT IS WORTH THE RETURN.

AND I WOULD SAY, THE RETURN IS NOT IN TERMS OF DOLLARS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE HAVE IT MADE IN THE PAST.

WE HAVEN'T MADE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS AND I THINK THAT THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IT AND THEY DEFINITELY DESERVE IT.

WHEN WE HAD CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AT THE INITIAL INCEPTION, OF THIS PARTICULAR DISCUSSION, WE DID DISCUSS WHETHER OR NOT WE WANTED TO WE KNEW PEOPLE NEEDED A TOOL.

DO WE WANT TO REPLACE THE POOL PART OR DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

WE SETTLED ON DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

SOMETHING UNIQUE.

BUT ALSO UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN YOU BUILD SOMETHING LIKE THIS, IT'S NOT JUST FOR THE WEST SIDE.

IT IS FOR THE COMMUNITY.

IT WILL GIVE PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTERACT WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF FEATURES, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE DESIGN, ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES THAT WOULD ALLOW PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES TO BE ABLE TO ALSO ENJOY THE FACILITY.

SO THERE ARE DEFINITELY A NUMBER OF POSITIVES, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD COME OUT OF IT.

AND IT WOULD BE A QUESTION OF HOW THE STAFF MANAGES IT.

IT'S WHAT THIS IS GOING TO MEAN FOR THE COMMUNITY.

NOW AS FAR AS THE DOLLARS, THE DOLLARS ARE CONCERNED.

I DO KNOW THAT WE PLAN ON USING SOME PART OF THE RESERVE BUT ISSUING A BOND AS WELL.

WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE PETITION OUR STATE LAWMAKERS, I BELIEVE LAST YEAR, SUBMITTED A REQUEST, FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

THAT DID NOT PAN OUT AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO AS WELL.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY WORTH THE INVESTMENT FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY NOT JUST FOR THE WEST SIDE.

>> AND A FOLLOW UP FROM MIKE STRAZA.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN SOMETHING, THE POOL, I THINK HAS BEEN OVER 50 YEARS OLD.

IT'S WELL USED PAST IT'S LIMIT AND IS -- AS WE LOOK AT THAT, WE NEED SOMETHING FOR THE COMMUNITY ITSELF AS A WHOLE ALSO WE HAVE NOT SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN INVESTMENT IN THAT PARTICULAR PART OF TIME WHICH WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT A LONG TIME AGO AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT, HOW WE INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY AND WHAT AREAS HAVE BEEN KIND OF NEGLECTED OVER THE YEARS.

>> MBOKA DID YOU WANT TO FOLLOW UP TO THAT?

>> I JUST WANTED TO ADD AS WELL, THAT WE HAVE ANOTHER POOL, A HOLIDAY POOL WHICH IS THE OTHER POOL IN THE COMMUNITY GETTING REALLY CLOSE TO THE END OF IT'S LIFE.

IT IS FACING SIMILAR ISSUES.

SO I THINK IT'S -- SO DEFINITELY, WE NEED A POOL TO SERVE AS A GOOD REPLACEMENT AS A WHOLE FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

>> OUR NEXT QUESTION TO BOTH CANDIDATES.

MBOKA YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST ON THIS ONE.

THE CITY COUNCIL TWO YEARS AGO APPROVED A GAS TAX INCREASE.

I THINK IT WENT FROM 4 CENTS TO 8 CENTS.

WITH THAT, WHAT ARE YOUR VISIONS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY OF BLOOMING TON.

>> LAST YEAR, IT IS BASICALLY RESTRICTED AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE GOING TO USE.

SO MY GOAL WITH THAT AS MUCH AS IS POSSIBLE IS TO INVEST MORE MONEY IN OUR STREETS TO FIX THEM.

RIGHT NOW, I CAN TELL YOU A STUDY ABOUT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS ESTIMATED THAT WE WOULD NEED TO SPEND ABOUT $80 MILLION ALL TOGETHER.

SO WE NEED $8 MILLION OVER 10 YEARS TO BRING OUR STREETS TO AN AVERAGE RATING.

SO I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO PUT A STRONG FOCUS ON STREET REPAIR BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN CLAMORING FOR.

WE MADE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS EVERY YEAR, BUT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AND I WOULD ADD THAT THIS PAST YEAR BECAUSE OF COVID, OUR WE DID NOT -- WE WERE NOT ABLE TO COLLECT AS MUCH REVENUE.

I THINK THAT WE'RE DOWN BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS OR SO BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT TRAVELING AS MUCH.

THEY'RE NOT MOVING AROUND.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO WORK AS MUCH.

THEY'RE WORKING FROM HOME.

BUT, THE CITY STAFF, FOR THIS NEXT BUDGET YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE FOUND THAT EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET TO BE ABLE TO KEEP THE FUNDING LEVEL AT 7 PLUS MILLION DOLLARS.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A STRONG AREA OF FOCUS.

>> INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.

>> THERE'S SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT -- IT'S GREAT WE -- THERE WAS AN INCREASE NOT TO HELP WITH THE ROADS.

IT'S A SHORT-TERM FIX.

AND NONE OF US KNEW THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

PEOPLE REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL AND REDUCED THE AMOUNT OF FUEL THAT'S CONSUMING.

THIS IS SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AND TALKING TO PEOPLE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AS WE BECOME MORE ENERGY CONSCIOUS AND GAS MILEAGE AND LOOKING AT ELECTRIC CARS, WELL, WHERE IS THAT TAX?

AGAIN, WE WILL HAVE TO EITHER CONTINUE TO RAISE THE TAXES TO PAY FOR THE ROADS BECAUSE THE TAX IS NOT GOING TO NECESSARILY -- IT'S A SHORT-TERM SOLUTION FOR SOMETHING LONG-TERM THAT WE'RE GOING TO ALWAYS HAVE ROAD ISSUES.

WE DEFINITELY HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.

AND HIM AND THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE.

THEY HAVE REALLY MOVED THIS THING FORWARD.

THAT'S WHERE IT HAS BEEN MOVING FORWARD.

BEFORE THAT, BEFORE HE WAS HERE, THINGS WERE NOT HAPPENING.

THINGS WERE NOT BEING FUNDED CORRECTLY AND I REALLY ATTRIBUTE TO MOST OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THROUGH THOSE TWO PEOPLE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE A VISION TO SAY WE HAVE TO GET GOING ON THESE ROADS.

ANOTHER ISSUE IS, AN INFRASTRUCTURE THING WOULDN'T BE PAID THROUGH THE TAX IS THE SEWERS AND WATER.

THERE'S VERY OLD PIPES UNDERGROUND SO OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A VERY LONG TIME THAT WE'RE PATCHING IN AS WE GO, BUT WE NEED TO START ACTUALLY LONG-TERM PLANS WHICH I KNOW THE CITY HAS PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER.

PUBLIC WORKS SAYS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO.

SO COINSIDING WITH ROAD REPAIR AND SEWER AND WATER WE NEED TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME SO THAT WE SAVE SOME MONEY.

THOSE ARE BIG THINGS.

THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD SAY IS IMPORTANT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

NOT EVERYONE HAS AN AREA THAT WILL HELP PEOPLE TO DO BUSINESS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE AREA.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN WORKING FROM SCHOOL AND FROM HOME.

THAT IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

HOW DO WE BRING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE UP TO HOW IT SHOULD BE AND CONTINUE TO IMPROVE ON THAT.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION, AND MIKE, YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST ON THIS ONE.

BLOOMING TON RECEIVES MONEY FROM THE CORONAVIRUS FUND.

WHERE SHOULD THAT MONEY BE SPENT?

AND KNOWING THAT THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE LOOK AT WHERE WE'RE GETTING SOME MONEY.

WE'RE ON 13 MILLION THAT'S COMING IN SOON.

WE HAVE CLOSE TO 80,000.

IT GOES DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO OUR CITY.

IT WILL BE IN TWO INSTALLMENTS.

ONE THIS YEAR AND ONE NEXT YEAR AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY'LL BE IN BUCKETS.

NOT EVERYTHING CAN GO FROM ONE AREA TO ANOTHER.

I'M HOPING THAT THE AREAS THAT I THINK ARE IMPORTANT.

AND HAD WORKED PROBABLY 6 OR 8 MONTHS OR EVEN LONGER.

BUSINESSES ARE IMPORTANT.

THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING THROUGH THIS.

THEY HAVE THE ABILITY AND I'M HOPING THAT THERE'S MORE GRANTS PROVIDED TO THE BUSINESSES FOR THE SERVICES INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY, IS TO HELP THEM GET THROUGH THIS.

THIS IS A 12 TO 48 MONTH PROCESS.

WHERE ELSE CAN THAT MONEY GO.

>> AND THE SAME QUESTION TO YOU MBOKA.

>> YEAH.

SO I WOULD SAY YES WE'RE GETTING ABOUT $13 MILLION AND WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.

SO WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT, SOME OF THE RULES ARE STILL BEING DEVELOPED BUT I DO THINK, WE DEFINITELY LOOK AT THE FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE.

PEOPLE WHO NEED RENT.

PEOPLE WHO NEED RENT MONEY.

PEOPLE THAT NEED MONEY TO PAY CERTAIN BILLS LIKE WATER AND UTILITIES AND OTHER THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND I DO THINK THAT WE HAVE TO CERTAINLY HELP SMALL BUSINESSES THAT HAVE BEEN HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH COVID.

AND I'M THINKING ABOUT IN PARTICULAR THOSE THAT RELY ON VISITS.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO MAKE ENDS MEET.

BUT THE CITY ALSO LOST QUITE A BIT OF REVENUE.

WE LOST ABOUT $10 MILLION BUT FORTUNATELY BECAUSE OF THE $10 MILLION THAT WE RECEIVED THROUGH THE LOCAL WE WERE ABLE TO BE BACK ON TRACK IN TERMS OF THE CONTINGENCY PLANS WE HAD PUT TOGETHER.

>> AND WE'LL ALLOW A RESPONSE.

>> JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE WE PUT THIS MONEY AND GOING BACK TO MY EXPERIENCE IS LOOKING AT THAT AND UNDERSTANDING WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST THING IS MAKING SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE CRITERIA THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW AND SAYING WHAT DO YOU NEED?

THAT'S IMPORTANT TO DO IS FINDING OUT WHAT IS THE PARTICULAR THING THAT THEY HAVE THAT IS A NEED RIGHT NOW.

AND IS IT JUST A SHORTSTOP FOR THEM OR SOMETHING LONG-TERM THAT WILL CARRIE THEM OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

KNOWING BEYOND THAT IS SAYING OKAY, THIS HELPS YOU RIGHT NOW BUT WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NEED IN THE FUTURE?

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE WITH THE FINANCES.

>> MIKE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ADDITIONALLY ON THAT TOPIC.

DID YOU WANT TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT.

>> NO, WELL, I WOULD SAY, YES, I MEAN, IT'S A GIVEN THAT WE DO HAVE TO TALK TO BUSINESSES AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE.

AN UNDOCUMENTED ORDINANCE PROTECTS CITIZENS SO A DEGREE.

WHAT'S YOUR POSITION ON SUCH AN ORDINANCE.

>> I SAID BEFORE THE ORDINANCE IN THE WAY THAT IT WAS PRESENTED INITIALLY WAS ONE THAT WOULD HAVE TIED THE HANDS OF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT.

BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORSE CASE SCENARIO.

WHAT IF OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT COULD HAVE HELPED AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO BECAUSE WE HAD THIS PARTICULAR ORDINANCE.

I DEFINITELY LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING WELL COMING BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS IS IN THE COMMUNITY.

AS YOU MIGHT KNOW, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SAID BEFORE THAT AND ONE OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION WITH I.C.E., THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY HAVE VERY LITTLE COMMUNICATION WITH I.C.E.

I DO THINK IN THESE LAST CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAVE HAD ABOUT THE WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE IS THAT WE ARE GOING TO TABLE THE DISCUSSION.

HAVE IT IN MUCH MORE SUBSTANTIAL CONVERSATION THAT WOULD INCLUDE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS SO AS FAR AS NOT WANTING THE COMMUNITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH I.C.E., WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE COMMUNITY TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICE DOES AND THAT'S WHY I LOOK FORWARD TO THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE I THINK UNDERNEATH ALL OF THAT IS THE FEAR OF WHAT THE POLICE MIGHT DO.

BUT I DO THINK -- AND THAT IS THE TOUGH TOUGHEST ISSUE IN MY OPINION TO ADDRESS.

AND I DO THINK THAT IF WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT AND HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT THE POLICE DOES AND WHAT THE POLICE DOESN'T DO, MAYBE THAT MIGHT HELP THE FEAR.

AND IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE FEAR IS GOING TO GO AWAY INSTANTLY.

>> IT SADDENS ME TO KNOW THAT PEOPLE DON'T FEEL WELCOME.

THAT THEY FEEL FEARFUL ABOUT BEING IN THE COMMUNITY AND I THINK SOME OF THAT IS WE HAVE TO LOOK AT CULTURALLY PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT -- THAT ARE IMMIGRANTS OR UNDOCUMENTED, AND THEIR CULTURE IS DIFFERENT THAN OURS AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE WELCOMING TO WHO THEIR CULTURE IS.

NOT CHANGING THEIR CULTURE.

NOT CHANGING WHO THEY ARE.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN BE WHO THEY ARE AND THEY WANT TO BE AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT IS HAPPENING.

SO THE PART OF BEING WELCOMING YES, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE.

THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN HAVE A JOB.

THEY CAN CREATE A BUSINESS.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE THINGS IN PLACE TO HELP THEM DO THAT.

TO HELP THEM THRIVE.

TO HELP HAVE A LIVING.

HAVE A FAMILY.

HAVE THE THINGS THAT I'M SURE I TAKE FOR GRANTED ON A DAILY BASIS.

AND THERE'S THE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND I.C.E.

I WORRY BY RESTRICTING WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO AND WHEN THEY CAN AND CAN'T DO IT IS CONCERN.

THE THING THAT'S SURPRISING TO ME A LITTLE BIT, WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS, WHAT, SINCE 2017, AT LEAST IT WAS BROUGHT UP AT LEAST UNTIL 2017, WE NEVER CAME TO THE IDEA THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD BRING ALL PEOPLE TOGETHER, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE DIFFERENT GROUPS TOGETHER TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE LAST MONTH, WE SAID LET'S BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT, HOW DOES YOUR POLICIES AND PROCEDURES WORK?

HOW WILL THAT EFFECT YOUR SAFETY FOR YOU PERSONALLY, FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY?

AND LOOKING AT THAT AND IT'S LIKE, THAT IS SHOCKING TO ME.

AND AGAIN, IT'S WHAT IT WAS AND NOW WE'RE WHERE WE'RE AT AND I'M GLAD WE'RE GOING TO START HAVING CONVERSATION BRINGING EVERYONE TOGETHER AND SAYING THIS IS THE THING THAT WE'RE CONCERNED ABOUT.

HOW DO WE MAKE THAT HAPPEN?

I LOOK AT IT AS, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE HAVEN'T HAD A LOT OF INTERACTION WITH I.C.E.

IN THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS.

THERE'S BEEN ONLY TWO INSTANCES AND IT WASN'T ANYTHING ABOUT DEPORTATION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT AGAIN, WE HAVE TO HAVE THINGS IN PLACE.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE FOLLOWING WHAT THE FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS SAY WITH HOW WE INTERACT WITH AGENCIES.

WE CAN'T PREVENT THAT.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO TELL SOMEONE THAT YOU CAN DO THIS BUT NOT THIS.

AND ANOTHER THING MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THERE ARE CERTAIN TIMES WE HAVE TO REPORT TO PLACES THAT SOMEBODY THAT THEY ARRESTED OR HAVE SOMEONE, THEY HAVE TO REPORT THAT RIGHT AWAY.

IT'S THE LAW FOR THEM.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN PLAY HERE AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE RULES.

AND SAY IT'S MY HOME AND I WANT TO MAKE IT MY HOME LONG-TERM.

BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SKYPE SITUATION, I DON'T ALWAYS KNOW WHEN MBOKA WANTS TO ADD.

FEEL FREE.

>> THANK YOU.

I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT WE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE DISCUSSED THE WELCOMING AMERICA CONCEPT.

AND THIS IS A CONCEPT THAT GOES EVEN TO -- THAT GOES MORE TO BEING WELCOMING AND THE CITY, YOU KNOW, IS IN THE PROCESS OF SIGNING ON TO THAT.

AND BY DOING THIS IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO PUT A FRAME WORK IN PLACE TO HELP IMMIGRANTS COME TO BE ABLE TO AND REMOVE ANY BARRIERS TO THEIR INVOLVEMENT WHETHER IT'S LANGUAGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

I KNOW BLOOMINGTON IS A WELCOMING COMMUNITY AND THIS WILL PROVIDE US THE FRAME WORK TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> I HAVE TALKED TO THE CURRENT POLICE CHIEF AND ONE OF THE THINGS IS TO PUT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION OUT THERE FOR EVERYONE TO SEE.

SO THEY KNOW, WITHIN, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER IS POSSIBLE AND NOT, YOU KNOW, JEOPARDIZING ANY SORT OF, YOU KNOW, INVESTIGATION THAT MIGHT BE GOING ON SO WHAT IS THE INTERACTION?

WHAT HAPPENED?

AND ONE OF THE INTERACTIONS WAS SOMEBODY ASKING FOR THE USE OF A CONFERENCE ROOM IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INTERVIEW A VICTIM.

SO THERE IS NOTHING TO THAT.

AND THE PUBLIC SHOULD KNOW THAT AND WHEN THEY SEE THAT, THEY'LL REALIZE THAT THE POLICE IS NOT DOING ANYTHING UNTOWARD, YOU KNOW?

>> YEAH.

AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO CREDIT DONNA BOLAND THAT BROUGHT THAT TO THE COUNCIL.

SHE WAS THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THAT UP THERE TO SAY HERE'S ANOTHER OPTION.

LET'S LOOK AT IT AS A FULL SCOPE OF WHAT WE WANT TO DO.

THAT IS WHAT GREAT.

THEY HAVE A STRUCTURE PUT TOGETHER AND IT HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE TO IT AND I THINK THAT LOOKING AT BOTH OF THOSE AND SEEING HOW WE CAN BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO LOOK AT THAT.

BUT IT'S LONG OVERDUE TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL MORE WELCOME AND I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE SLOWLY GETTING THERE.

>> THE NEXT QUESTION, YOU WILL ANSWER FIRST, MR. STRAZA, WHAT STEPS WOULD YOU TAKE AS MAYOR TO ENSURE INVOLVEMENT BY AND FAIR TREATMENT OF DIVERSE GROUPS?

WHETHER THAT BE BY RACE, GENDER, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, ET CETERA?

>> WELL, THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE FEELS INCLUDED.

WE NEED TO HAVE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE FOR THE CITY, WE HAVE A LOT OF COMMITTEES THAT HAVE PEOPLE ON THESE COMMITTEES TO MAKE THE, YOU KNOW, DECISIONS ON ANYWHERE FROM BEAUTIFICATION TO ZONING TO PLANNING COMMISSION.

WE NEED TO HAVE A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THESE GROUPS, AND WE WANT THEM TO FEEL THAT EVERYONE HAS INPUT.

SO AGAIN, BY LOOKING AT THAT, YOU CAN SEE OVER TIME THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS SHOWING AND EVOLVING INTO SOMETHING THAT, THIS INCLUDES EVERYBODY.

THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO.

ARE WE THERE YET?

NO.

ARE WE MAKING STEPS?

YES.

AND I THINK, AGAIN, THE MAYOR HAS TO BE A PERSON THAT'S GOING TO SAY, I'M GOING TO MAKE STEPS TO DO THAT.

I'M GOING TO REACH OUT.

NO MATTER ANYBODY'S DIFFERENCES OR THOUGHTS, BELIEVES, WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

IT'S IMPORTANT AS A COMMUNITY THAT WE CARE FOR EACH OTHER.

WE SPENT TOO MUCH TIME FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER.

WE NEED TO SHOW THAT WE CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER.

WE'RE WILLING TO HELP EACH OTHER, NO MATTER WHAT, AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME IN MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL IMPORTANT.

>> MR. MWILAMBWE THE SAME QUESTION IN TERMS OF INVOLVEMENT BY FAIR TREATMENT OF WHETHER IT BE GENDER, RACE, WHAT HAVE YOU.

>> YES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT TO ME.

MANY PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS, BUT I, YOU KNOW, WHEN I STARTED ON THE CITY COUNCIL, THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WOULD ROUTINELY MENTION TO THE CITY MANAGER.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR WORK FORCE WITHIN THE CITY REFLECTS COMMUNITY.

SO I HAVE BEEN A PRETTY STRONG ADVOCATE OF THAT, AND I AM GLAD THAT HE RAN WITH IT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING HE HAS DONE CONSISTENTLY.

SO AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S AN INCREASE IN DIVERSITY OF OUR STAFF, WHICH IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.

BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN IT COMES TO COMMISSIONS, I THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE THEM REFLECT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THE IDEAS OF ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION THAT WE HAVE, I WORK AND THESE ARE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE.

I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH AND AS MAYOR, I WOULD REACH OUT TO MANY OF THE DIFFERENT INTEREST GROUPS THAT WE HAVE IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF ASKING PEOPLE.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE INVOLVED?

WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY HERE FOR YOU TO BE INVOLVED AND WE VERY MUCH VALUE YOUR INPUT.

WHEN PEOPLE START TO RECOGNIZE THEMSELVES AND THEIR IDEAS AND WHAT THE CITY IS DOING, THEY'LL FEEL MORE EMPOWERED AND FEEL LIKE THEY ARE -- THEY LIVE IN A PLACE THAT VALUES THEM.

SO THAT WILL BE A STRONG PART OF MY AGENDA.

LET ME ADD ONE MORE THING IF I MAY, THIS PAST SUMMER, I WORKED WITH THE CELEBRATION OF JUNETEENTH E AND WHAT I ENVISIONED WOULD BE A DAY OF NOT ONLY CELEBRATION BUT ALSO A DAY OF REFLECTION WHEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT ISSUES EFFECTING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LOCALLY.

BECAUSE WHEN PEOPLE DO SEE THAT, THEY FEEL VALUED.

WHEN THEY FEEL THEY ARE CELEBRATED, THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THEM ARE ALSO IMPORTANT TO OTHERS.

IT DEFINITELY MAKES FOR A BETTER COMMUNITY.

>> AND WE'LL GO BACK TO MIKE STRAZA FOR A FOLLOW UP.

>> I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO BE ON COMMITTEES.

I ASKED ABOUT THE DIVERSITY, WHAT THE DIVERSE GROUP IS IN ON THESE COMMITTEES AND A LOT OF THINGS THAT I REALIZE IS SOME BARRIERS THAT WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX, A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WORK A SALARY JOB AND THEIR EMPLOYER ALLOWS THEM TO COME AND GO AND DO WORK IN THE COMMUNITY.

NOT EVERYONE HAS THAT OPTION.

WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE AND HOW WE REDUCE THE BARRIERS SO THEY CAN BE.

EITHER THEY'RE WORKING MULTIPLE JOBS, THEIR SHIFTS ARE DIFFERENT, THEY JUST CAN'T.

THEIR EMPLOYERS AREN'T GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO LEAVE.

SO BE GONE FOR AN HOUR OR TWO DURING THE DAY AND THE NIGHT.

THEY JUST DON'T HAVE SOMEONE THAT CAN WATCH THEIR CHILDREN.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT AS HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO REFINE THAT AND MAKE THAT BETTER?

AND AGAIN, TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT ARE THE BARRIERS THAT ARE CAUSING PEOPLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO BE PART OF THE COMMITTEES, BUT BEYOND THAT, WHAT DO WE DO EARLIER IN LIFE OF SAYING EDUCATION AND GETTING PEOPLE EXCITED.

BECAUSE PEOPLE ASK, WELL, OUR POLICE FORCE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THERE'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF INTEREST IN THOSE AREAS AND THE POOL OF PEOPLE THAT APPLY ISN'T VERY DIVERSE.

SO THE QUESTION IS WE NEED TO START TALKING TO PEOPLE EARLIER AND SAY THIS IS AN EXCITING JOB YOU CAN BE APART OF.

YOU CAN BE ON THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR ANY OTHER TYPE OF THINGS.

GIVE THEM OPPORTUNITIES AND SAY THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

THIS IS HOW YOU CAN SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO AND EMPOWER THEM TO SAY, WOW, I DIDN'T KNOW I CAN DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND STARTING NOW AND IN THE FUTURE.

>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD TO YOUR PREVIOUS COMMENTS?

>> NO.

I DON'T.

AND WITH THAT, WE'LL TURN TO YOU AGAIN AND ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH NEWS NATIONALLY ABOUT EFFORTS TO DEFUND THE POLICE.

IT'S BEEN LOCALLY SUGGESTED THAT THE CITY NOT REPLACE OFFICERS THAT RETIRE AND SPEND THAT MONEY ON SOCIAL PRIORITIES.

WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY ON POLICE FUNDING IN THE CITY OF BLOOMINGTON.

>> YEAH.

I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

PARTICULARLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS USED IN A VERY BROAD TERM.

SO, I -- WHAT I'M -- I AM ALWAYS MORE INTERESTED IN IS IN LOCAL SOLUTIONS TO A PARTICULAR ISSUE.

AND OUR POLICE FORCE IS AUTHORIZED FOR ABOUT 128 POLICE OFFICERS.

AND WE HAD THAT CONVERSATION AND FOR ONE, HE CAN BARELY REMEMBER A DAY WHEN THE POLICE FORCE WAS ACTUALLY AT 128.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN.

NOT ONLY THAT, HE SAID AT ANY GIVEN POINT THEY COULD BE DOWN ABOUT 10 TO 15 BECAUSE OF PEOPLE BEING EITHER ON MEDICAL LEAVE OR BEING TRAINED BY ANOTHER OFFICER.

THAT IS NOT OPERATIONAL.

THEY HAVE TO BE WITH THEIR TRAINING OFFICER ON THE FIELD IN ORDER TO GAIN THE SKILLS THAT ARE NEEDED.

SO THAT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME.

WHEN YOU START TO TALK ABOUT AND YOU DO HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE'RE HARDLY EVER AT FULL STRENGTH.

BLOOMINGTON, GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT'S A VERY LARGE AREA.

AND WE REALLY SHOULD BE AT, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN ABOUT 190 PLUS OFFICERS.

SO WE ARE SHORT STAFFED THERE AND THE OTHER THING WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT IN THE CURRENT CLIMATE, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT OUR POLICE FORCE IS HAVING A REALLY DIFFICULT TIME DEALING WITH THE NEGATIVITY TOWARD POLICE, CHANGES IN THE LAW.

AND HAS CAUSED MANY PEOPLE TO CONSIDER LEAVING THE FORCE AND WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MANY ENTRANTS INTO THE FORCE.

WHAT THAT IS GOING TO CAUSE, IT'S GOING TO CAUSE US TO HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHICH WILL BE MORE EXPENSIVE.

SO THE DISCUSSION ABOUT DEFUNDING, I THINK IT IS ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE NEED TO THINK VERY CAREFULLY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT USING THOSE KINDS OF WORDS BECAUSE THEY ARE LOADED WORDS AND CAN THINK ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS LEAVING THE FORCE.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL.

AND LAST THING THAT I WOULD ADD IS THAT OUR BLOOMINGTON POLICE FORCE HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB UNDER VERY, VERY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.

NEGATIVITY.

AND WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND WE SHOULD NOT PAINT THEM WITH A BROAD BUSH.

THEY INDICATED THAT JUST LIKE ANY OTHER DEPARTMENT.

THEY HAVE A DESIRE TO CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND TO DO BETTER AND THEY HAVE DONE MANY THINGS THAT I'VE SEEN LIKE IMPLEMENTING THE USE OF BODY CAMERAS TWO YEARS AGO.

THEY HAVE THINGS LIKE A POLICY ON USE OF FORCE.

ALL OF THAT IS REVIEWED AT A NUMBER OF LEVELS.

SO THEY'RE DEFINITELY, I THINK, ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF POLICING.

WE THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

IT'S NOT AN EASY THING OR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN LIGHTLY WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.

>> QUESTION OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE TO MIKE STRAZA.

>> NO, I WOULD NOT DEFUND THE POLICE.

IT'S AN UNFORTUNATE WORD THAT WAS BROUGHT UP AND IT WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A SHOCK VALUE THAN ANYTHING BUT FOR BLOOMINGTON ITSELF, OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

IS THERE ALWAYS ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT?

YES.

THEY WOULD NEVER SAY THERE'S NOT ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT.

I TALKED TO MANY POLICE OFFICERS, PEOPLE THAT HAVE WORKED WITH THE BLOOMINGTON POLICE FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE DONE.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR OWN SAFETY.

THEY ASK ME MANY TIMES, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE NEW LAWS COMING FROM THE STATE AND AGAIN, WE'RE ASKING TO CUT, I THINK IT WAS 50%.

THE IDEA WAS CUTTING 50% BY 2025 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THAT'S JUST NOT POSSIBLE.

ACTUALLY WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO INCREASE FUNDING BECAUSE OF THE NEW LAWS OF THINGS NOW.

THERE'S NEW PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO MORE.

AND YES, WE HAVE NEVER BEEN FULLY STAFFED.

I THINK WE WERE GOING BY NUMBERS OF WHEN WE WERE A LOT SMALLER POPULATION.

WE WERE ALSO VERY UNDERSTAFFED FOR OUR POPULATION.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THE PROPER TRAINING AND THEY HAVE THE PROPER SUPPORT.

IT'S MORE MENTAL HEALTH.

HAVING MORE COUNSELORS AVAILABLE.

I'M ALL FOR HAVING MORE COUNSELORS AVAILABLE BUT THAT IS AN ADDITION.

SO AS ME BEING MAYOR, I'M GOING TO LOOK AT IT AS HOW DO WE COME UP WITH THE FUNDING FOR MORE MENTAL HEALTH.

HOW DO WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WILL GO TO A SITUATION THAT A MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR SHOULD BE GOING TO AND BE ABLE TO HELP DEESCALATE WHERE THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER AND MAKING SURE.

THAT IS THE BIGGEST THING IS MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TAKING CARE OF THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING CARE OF THE POLICE THAT PROTECT US.

>> AND WITH THAT.

WE HAVE CONCLUDED OUR QUESTION SECTION.

THAT ALLOWS US 90 SECONDS EACH FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

AND BECAUSE HE WENT FIRST WITH QUESTIONS, MIKE STRAZA WILL GO FIRST WITH CLOSING STATEMENTS.

>> THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

APRIL 6th IS SUCH A CRITICAL DAY.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW MAYOR AND YOU WANT A MAYOR THAT BASICALLY HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY AND UNDERSTANDS HOW THINGS MOVE AND HOW TO MAKE THINGS EFFICIENT AND THAT IS WHO I AM.

I AM A PERSON THAT HAS DON 25 PLUS YEARS OF WORKING WITH MULTIPLE COMPANIES AND PROVIDING AND I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT.

I FEEL THAT I AM THE PERSON THAT CAN DO THAT AND I FEEL THAT AND WE HAVE A MAJOR THAT NEEDS TO BE IN A PLACE AND KNOWS HOW TO DO THINGS.

I FEEL LIKE I'M THE LEADER THAT THE CITY CAN USE.

I JUST ASK FOR THE VOTERS OUT THERE TO GET OUT AND VOTE NO MATTER WHAT BUT I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE ON APRIL 6th.

>> AND A CLOSING STATEMENT FROM MBOKA MWILAMBWE.

>> THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS ISSUES AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK MIKE FOR PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM AS WELL AS YOUR VIEWERS.

I HOPE THAT VOTERS TONIGHT WERE ABLE TO COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE ON THE COUNCIL, I AM THE CANDIDATE THAT'S BETTER POSITIONED TO LEAD THE CITY AND I PLAN ON LEADING WITH INTEGRITY, COMPASSION AND THOUGHTFULNESS LIKE I HAVE IN THE PAST TEN YEARS AS A COUNCIL MEMBER.

I'M VERY PROUD OF THE MANY THINGS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH OVER THE YEARS WITH CURRENT AND PAST FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WE HAVE INCLUDED INVESTING IN OUR STREETS, SEWERS, AMENITIES THAT MAKE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN BLOOMINGTON AN ATTRACTIVE FEATURE.

AS A MAYOR, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN EXPECT SIMILAR FISCAL PRUDENCE AND WISE INVESTMENTS.

OUR LOCAL ECONOMY HAS PERFORMED BETTER THAN MOST COMMUNITIES OUR SIZE DUE TO THE RESILIENCE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES AS WE BEGIN TO SEE SOME DAYLIGHT WITH RESPECT TO THE PANDEMIC I'M CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC THAT OUR ECONOMY WILL SOAR TO GREATER HEIGHTS FOR THE BENEFIT OR ALL OF OUR RESIDENTS.

IF WE'RE GOING TO MAKE PROGRESS WE MUST UNITE AS A COMMUNITY.

ADDRESS THE ISSUES THAT WE CARE ABOUT WITHOUT SEEING EACH OTHER AS THE ENEMY DUE TO COMPETING POSITIONS.

THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN HEARING TIME AND TIME AGAIN DURING THIS CAMPAIGN AND, I BELIEVE I HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

A VIGOROUS AND THOUGHTFUL DEBATE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE DONE BETTER THAN MOST DURING THIS PANDEMIC DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES.

JUST IMAGINE WHAT WE CAN DO IF WE ALL PULL IN THE SAME DIRECTION.

I THINK WE CAN AND I'M ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE ON APRIL 6th.

>> OUT OF TIME AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THE INTERRUPTION AT THAT POINT.

IT'S NOW YOUR TURN, VOTERS.

APRIL 6th, OR BEFORE IF YOU'RE DOING IT BY MAIL AND VOTE FOR ONE OF THE THREE CANDIDATES.

WE APOLOGIZE THAT JACKIE GUNDERSON IS NOT WITH US AND SHE WOULD RATHER ATTEND A DIFFERENT FUNCTION AFTER SHE COMMITTED TO THIS PARTICULAR FORUM.

SO THANK YOU TO MIKE STRAZA AND THANK YOU TO MBOKA MWILAMBWE AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR ATTENDANCE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

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