Bloomington City Council — Transcript

Monday, October 26, 2026

Climate Resiliency and Sustainable Infrastructure

Solar Permitting Streamlining with SolarAPP+

Fairness in Code Enforcement and Resident Support

City Budget and Fiscal Responsibility

Zoning and Housing Density (James Avenue City Home Project)

Votes (1)

Adjournment of Listening Session

Motion Carries

Dissent: None

Moved by Council Member Dallassandro [39:13] · Seconded by Council Member Robertson [39:13]

The Mayor requested a motion to adjourn the listening session.

Notable Quotes (14)

This year insurance rates across the entire state of Illinois rose. By 27 % after nearly doubling their all time record of tornadoes.

Proposals for Economic Climate Resiliency and Sustainable Infrastructure

We could copy umd's ability to achieve larger and larger capital projects through the savings would be accruing. With this, it becomes possible for the city to cooperatively provide municipal utilities saving every resident the equivalent of cutting taxes by two thirds...

Proposals for Economic Climate Resiliency and Sustainable Infrastructure

Every pound of phosphorus grows 500 pounds of algy and sequesters 2000 pounds of carbon.

Proposals for Economic Climate Resiliency and Sustainable Infrastructure

Solar app plus as a powerful tool to automate cut costs and greatly accelerate Bloomington's permitting of residential solar and battery storage projects.

Urging Adoption of SolarAPP+ for Residential Solar Permitting

Research shows that approximately six to $7000 the cost of of rooftop solar projects in the United States roughly 40 to 60 % are the result of permitting and bureaucratic delays.

Urging Adoption of SolarAPP+ for Residential Solar Permitting

The Minnesota Department of Commerce offers an incentive of five. Thousand to $20000 to implement solar app depending on city size and your sustainability goals.

Urging Adoption of SolarAPP+ for Residential Solar Permitting

It doesn't have an appeal process. Now I worked in government. We had a, I worked in the appeals and grievance department for 30 years, so I kind of know something about appeals and grievances...

Concerns Regarding Driveway Code Enforcement, Appeal Process, and HRA Communication

There's nothing on this letter. That says you can go to the HRA. Now, if you folks have all of this knowledge upstairs, why can't it go on something like this?

Concerns Regarding Driveway Code Enforcement, Appeal Process, and HRA Communication

6.8 %. Increases much better than it's been in the recent past, which I am happy to give you and the staff credit for, but it's still too high in my opinion.

Critique of City Budget Increases and Call for Fiscal Responsibility

Bluntly, the council, the city, the med council, this county, the state run by DFL people, and in medic councils. Area. DFL appointees over the last past several years are more costly to the residents of Minnesota and the city of Bloomington than the Trump tariffs.

Critique of City Budget Increases and Call for Fiscal Responsibility

How are we coming along on identifying those duplicative services and plan for liminating?

Critique of City Budget Increases and Call for Fiscal Responsibility

I'm very involved in the James Avenue City home project that was approved at the last council meeting.

Disappointment Regarding James Avenue City Home Project Approval and Zoning Density

You know, we are going from five homes on that half of James Avenue to 14. Because we chose to go R1R3. Could have gone R one, he still could have built five to seven homes.

Disappointment Regarding James Avenue City Home Project Approval and Zoning Density

Change is only hard if change is bad. If the change is good, change isn't hard.

Disappointment Regarding James Avenue City Home Project Approval and Zoning Density

Ordinances & Resolutions (7)

Minnesota Statute 3904.27Ordinance

State statute preventing cities from banning earth-sheltered construction.

Bloomington's revolving door fund under section 7.14Plan

Existing fund proposed as a model for larger capital projects and municipal utilities.

SolarAPP+Permit

Online application for automating residential solar and battery storage permitting.

Minnesota state building codeOther

Code compliance standard for SolarAPP+.

National Electrical CodeOther

Code compliance standard for SolarAPP+.

HRA programProgram

Housing and Redevelopment Authority program providing assistance to residents.

B3 guidanceOther

Building design guidance mentioned in passing related to the University of Minnesota building.

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Bloomington City Council - Bloomington Recorder