Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Monday, June 15, 2026
Juneteenth Commemoration
2026 State Legislative Session Update
2025 Annual Financial Report Audit
Corner Lot Zoning Standards Amendment
Telegraph Hill Office Park Rezoning
Park and Fly Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Rezoning, and Conditional Use Permit
Park and Go Reguiding, Rezoning, and Conditional Use Permit
Votes (6)
Acceptance of 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Dalisandro [21:28] · Seconded by Council Member Rias [21:28]
Red Path & Company presented the external audit of Bloomington's 2025 Annual Financial Report, confirming an unmodified opinion on the financial statements and no significant issues with internal controls or state legal compliance. A repeat finding regarding federal compliance for the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers program was noted, primarily involving missing tenant file checklists and minor discrepancies in housing assistance payments, totaling $4,184. Staff indicated ongoing efforts to correct these issues.
Hold of Consent Item 3.4: Approval of Type 1 Preliminary and Final Plat for the Olive Edition
Dissent: None
Moved by Mayor Tim Busy [25:51] · Seconded by Council Member Nelson [26:01]
Council Member Nelson requested to hold consent item 3.4, citing concerns from constituents about fitting an additional house on a small portion of large lots near Bush Lake, which they felt would not fit the existing neighborhood's character. Residents also expressed issues with the timing of public notice. The Mayor proposed tabling the item until the June 29th meeting to allow for public comment during a listening session.
Public Hearing: Vacation of Public Drainage and Utility Easements (Whitney Edition)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Dalisandro [31:55] · Seconded by Council Member Rivas [31:55]
Quicktrip Incorporated requested the vacation of drainage and utility easements over Lots 1 and 2, Block 1, Whitney Edition, located at 94th and I35W. The easements conflicted with their proposed development plan for a convenience store and gas station. Quicktrip stated they are relocating a private storm drain and rerouting a gas line. No public comments were made during the hearing.
Adoption of Ordinance: City Code Amendments Regarding Corner Lot Standards
Dissent: Council Member Lman
Moved by Council Member Robertson [48:07] · Seconded by Council Member Dalisandro [48:07]
The council discussed amending city code for corner lots, reducing setbacks from 30ft to 20ft and adjusting minimum site area/width. Staff explained these changes aim to optimize land use and promote infill housing. Resident Brian Sig expressed concerns about rule changes impacting property owners and neighborhood character without a variance process for initiators. Council Member Lman voiced skepticism about the policy's effectiveness for ADU creation, while others debated balancing property owner rights with broader community development goals.
Adoption of Ordinance: Telegraph Hill Office Park Rezoning (R1 PD to B1 PD)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Dalisandro [55:40] · Seconded by Council Member Lman [56:37]
The council approved rezoning Telegraph Hill Office Park, located at various addresses on Telegraph Road, from R1 PD to B1 PD. This change, sought by three out of four property owners, resolves a long-standing issue of office buildings being zoned as residential. The new B1 PD designation aligns with the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and allows for greater flexibility for low-intensity commercial uses like daycares and limited retail, supporting the site's existing and future potential as a unique office park. No public opposition was voiced.
Public Hearing: Park and Fly Reguiding, Rezoning, and Conditional Use Permit (CUP)
Dissent: Council Member Nelson dissented on the plan amendment and rezoning. Council Members Dalisandro, Rivas, and Mayor Busy voted against tabling the CUP motion.
Moved by Council Member Lman [1:16:11] · Seconded by Council Member Robertson [1:16:11]
The council held a public hearing for Park and Fly, considering a comprehensive plan amendment from South Loop mixed-use to high-intensity mixed-use, rezoning from HXRPD to CX2PD, and a conditional use permit for permanent remote airport parking. This package requires a 2.75-acre development site along American Boulevard within 10 years. Council Member Nelson strongly opposed the action, arguing it locks in 9 acres of surface parking inconsistent with the South Loop plan. Other council members, while acknowledging imperfections, supported it as a pragmatic solution to balance property rights with development goals and avoid potential litigation. A proposed amendment to base property taxes on income rather than valuation led to the tabling of the CUP motion for further legal research.
Notable Quotes (14)
So, we did note one compliance finding relating to allowable costs and eligibility. And that finding, it's a repeat or a carry forward finding from 2024.
it it seemed to indicate that it was more of a timing issue than anything else that you you may you believe that we probably have in control now the the items that would prevent that oversight in the future.
So, I think the the biggest thing is they're concerned about fitting in another house on a small portion of large lots uh particularly overlooking uh Bush Lake and um how it uh may not fit with the character of that existing neighborhood there.
So if we hold this over until next week, get your names on the list, we can hear your concerns at the public comment section uh our listening session next uh a couple weeks out, I guess, and then we can uh then we can bring this back on as part of the uh consent agenda next time. Would that make sense?
We are relocating a private storm that goes through there with a neighbor... So, there's just a gas man that goes through this easement area right now. And we have been in contact with the gas company about a reroute to the west.
This change would make better use of corner lot space by treating side street yards more like sideyards instead of front yards. The proposed ordinance also recommends lowering the minimum site area requirements for corner lots.
Why don't you have to get a variance when it's affecting all of your neighbors and you want to change it? This in this case, you're changing it 10 ft. So, in other words, suddenly somebody that didn't have room for a shed put a shed up in front of my house, which is what happened.
I'm a corner lot guy and I can think of some circumstances that uh wow I'm just you know I just don't I I can see this becoming some problems you know but I do think this is is in the right direction and I also kind of question you know a little bit you know does this kind of accomplish the goal in terms of the uh of trying to get more ADUs uh out there does it really move the needle we'll see obviously when that comes forward but I just think at this time uh and I'm not you know trying to get anybody else to come along with me I I just I'm not that not there yet.
The B1 zoning district in Bloomington is kind of the ideal zoning district for this area because it is basically a low-intensity commercial or office district that's intended to be a buffer transition to residential uses. So, this site fits that uh quite well.
And I'm excited about this, too, because I do think that the um that that it's a really unique area and um I mean, who knows, maybe you'll get a like ice cream shop in there and people can walk across the woods and eat their ice cream. Wouldn't that be nice?
And the the other thing that's embedded in this is the parking can be integrated in the development. And so, you can imagine a layer of parking underground or above ground that provides that airport parking but also supplies the development. So, a lot of creative things can happen.
But the reality is is it locks in over 9 acres of surface off airport parking, something that this city, this the previous councils did not do for three decades. We will be the first ones to do that. And I think it's absolutely wrong.
I don't like this solution, uh, that we've already agreed to in previous meetings, the mayor talked about that, I would be hardpressed to find another solution that that would be able to solve this problem.
I don't think there's anybody in the city that truly loves this plan, but I do think um we'll get further than we will in a time frame that we want by doing something. So, I'm going to hold my nose when I vote for this one, but I will probably support it.
Ordinances & Resolutions (22)
An official declaration by Mayor Tim Busy recognizing Juneteenth in the City of Bloomington.
An update report on legislative outcomes relevant to Bloomington presented by the city's lobbyist.
The City of Bloomington's comprehensive financial report for calendar year 2025, subject to external audit.
A federal program whose compliance requirements were audited, leading to a repeat finding.
A consent agenda item held over due to resident concerns about new housing development.
Easements requested for vacation by Quicktrip Incorporated to facilitate their development plan.
Proposed changes to Chapter 21 of the city code affecting setbacks, lot sizes, and widths for corner lots.
Application to amend the zoning map from R1 PD to B1 PD for the Telegraph Hill Office Park.
Existing single-family residential planned development zoning for Telegraph Hill Office Park properties.
Proposed neighborhood office planned development zoning for Telegraph Hill Office Park properties.
The city's long-range planning document, referenced for land use guidance.
Application package for 3700 and 3750 American Boulevard East, involving changes to land use designation, zoning, and approval for remote airport parking.
Existing comprehensive plan land use designation for Park and Fly and Park and Go sites.
Proposed comprehensive plan land use designation for Park and Fly and Park and Go sites.
Existing high-intensity mixed use with residential plan development zoning for Park and Fly and Park and Go sites.
Proposed mixed-use plan development zoning for Park and Fly and Park and Go sites.
Temporary permits for remote airport parking facilities, expiring August 8, 2027.
A study that informed the city code amendments regarding remote airport parking facilities.
A state legislative bill related to city zoning that did not pass.
A state legislative bill that prohibits cities from requiring the creation of an HOA as a condition for approving building permits.
A state fund for police training, whose annual funding was increased from $4.9 million to $6 million.
Application package for 7901 International Drive, involving changes to land use designation, zoning, and approval for remote airport parking.