Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Tuesday, July 14, 2026
LAHA Funding Request for Group Homes
American Rescue Plan Grantee Accomplishment Report
HRA Administrator Updates and Commissioner Declaration
Votes (4)
New Staff Introduction: Ryan Solberg
Ryan Solberg was introduced as the new Housing Development Specialist, working with both the Port Authority and the HRA. He has a Master's in Public Policy from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs and six years of experience in community and economic development.
LAHA Funding Request from Mount Olivet Rolling Acres
Mount Olivet Rolling Acres requested $85,204 in LAHA funds for capital projects at two Bloomington homes serving low-income individuals with disabilities. Discussion focused on the uniqueness of the request, the need for a formal application process for LAHA funding, and whether to establish a policy for supporting group homes. Commissioners expressed a need for further discussion on LAHA allocation strategy.
2025-26 Nonprofit American Rescue Plan Grantee Accomplishment Report
The report detailed how $175,000 in ARP funds were utilized by Homeline, Touchstone Mental Health, and Oasis for Youth to provide homelessness prevention, emergency rental assistance, and tenant legal services. The funds were fully spent by June 30th, 2026, benefiting a significant number of extremely low-income households in Bloomington. Commissioners lauded the positive impact of the funding.
HRA Administrator Updates and Commissioner Declarations/Questions
The Administrator provided updates on newsletter, retreat date (August 19th), and a forthcoming HRA experience survey. Commissioner Moua publicly declared her application for a city rehab loan, ensuring compliance with state statutes. Commissioner Wooten questioned the affordability and property tax structure of the 9030 Park homes, specifically regarding unfinished basements and large down payments. Staff clarified that basements were not intended to be finished and down payment assistance programs are available.
Notable Quotes (9)
I guess I'm curious overall, do we want to say like we're comfortable setting aside like a certain percentage for if we have I mean I assume if we approve this request that we'll probably get more requests.
99% of our funding comes from the federal and state government and none of it goes towards any kind of home improvement. Every dollar that we receive from the state and federal government is spent towards uh the staffing that we provide, the individuals who live in these homes.
I'll just say that I think that's part of the question before the HRA tonight is to have the discussion on this is a different type of project to use the LAHA funds that's come before the board, um and is fairly unique.
I'm wondering if in this conversation is if we should direct a conversation, maybe not today, but in the future near future here of a formal request process, um so that we're being equitable, so everybody has to follow the same procedure and not just anybody and I'm not saying it I'm just saying that way we have a standard and an expectation, um and everybody's going through the same process going forward, um for LAHA funded funding.
So, could we make it an agenda item in our retreat just to talk more about this and then um, and then I don't it sounds like kind of the timeline is when it when they get the funding they'll make the improvements and so and then just circle back with them based on that conversation cuz our retreat's coming up relatively soon.
But yeah, the purpose of this RFP was for homelessness response and prevention. So, the mission was to keep people housed.
I just wanted to thank you and thank these organizations for all the wonderful work they do here in Bloomington. Keep keeping, people, excuse me, um housed and happy and healthy.
But the basements are not completed. And I'm they're not finished. And I guess I'm a little taken back by that myself just because when we're talking affordable housing, now we're asking people to complete a basement that I just I just think funding-wise that can be tough for um affordability.
I will double-check with our partners on this, but I believe that the unfin- finished basement was always intended. They do not need to invest in finishing the basement. They can use it in its unfinished state, however they would like to use it.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Local Affordable Housing Assistance funding program.
Government funding source for staffing costs at MORA homes, but not for capital projects.
Federal funding used by the HRA to support housing stability programs.
State statute governing declarations of interest for public officials.
State statute governing declarations of interest for public officials.
Non-profit status of Mount Olivet Rolling Acres.