Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Monday, August 31, 2026
Story
Council approves 30-unit townhome project on East 86th Street
New Police Officer Swearing-In Ceremony
Introduction of New City Employees
Three Rivers Park District Partnership Update
Bloomshine Village Town Homes Rezoning and Development
Surplus Property Donation and Unclaimed Property Disposition Policy
Council Policy and Issue Updates
Closed Meeting for Attorney-Client Discussion
Votes (9)
Introduction of the Public Safety Cadet Ambassadors Program
Officer Sam Davern presented the Public Safety Cadet Ambassadors Program, highlighting its transition from the Explorer program in 2026, its focus on specific public safety training, and successful participation in competitions. Three ambassadors shared their personal experiences and aspirations in law enforcement. Chief Hodes expressed strong support for the program and the law enforcement profession.
Swearing in of New Bloomington Police Officers
Chief Booker Hodes introduced and swore in six new Bloomington police officers. He emphasized that these officers had completed all necessary training and were already actively patrolling the city. The Chief expressed pride in the department and gratitude for community support.
Introduction of New Bloomington City Employees
Kim Bergen introduced Ryan Soulberg, the new Housing Development Specialist. The Mayor welcomed him, noting the critical role city employees play as the direct face of city services to residents.
Three Rivers Park District Partnership Update
John Gibbs and Bo Carlson from Three Rivers Park District provided updates on the Highland Bush Anderson Lakes Park Reserve and Highland Greens Golf Course. Key points included significant increases in park visitation, successful golf course operations, and ongoing natural resource management efforts like tree removal and buckthorn control. They also detailed planned capital improvements, such as a Bush Lake Beach building remodel and a new district-wide wayfinding system. Council members inquired about food services, deer population studies, and the design consistency of new park buildings.
Bloomshine Village Town Homes Rezoning, Final Site and Building Plans, and Platting
Dissent: Council Member Rivas (opposition to all 4 motions)
Moved by Council Member Lman [1:00:32] · Seconded by Council Member Robertson [1:00:46]
This item, a continuation from a previous meeting, involved revised plans for the Bloomshine Village Town Homes, now proposing 30 units, increased setbacks, and more open space. Council members discussed resident concerns about density and traffic, specifically regarding a bus stop relocation. There was also a broader discussion on the city's process for notifying residents about potential developments and the timing of demolitions relative to final project approvals. The applicant confirmed willingness to coordinate with Metro Transit and stated that the affordable units would be for home ownership if possible.
City Code Amendment for Donation of Surplus City Property and Disposition of Abandoned or Unclaimed Property (Public Hearing)
Moved by Council Member Robertson [1:13:30] · Seconded by Council Member Lman [1:13:46]
Jackson Snyder, a summer law clerk, presented proposed amendments to City Code Chapter 5, which would enable the city to donate surplus equipment to non-profits and establish a clear process for handling unclaimed money. The policy ensures that property with little resale value can be put to productive use and unclaimed funds are managed transparently with safeguards for rightful owners. Council members inquired about money seized in criminal cases and potential tax implications for donated property. The public hearing drew no speakers.
Approval of Surplus Equipment Donation Policy
Moved by Council Member Dalisandro [1:16:20] · Seconded by Council Member Robertson [1:16:30]
The City Council formally approved the Surplus Equipment Donation Policy, which outlines the internal procedures for city departments to identify, approve, and donate surplus equipment. This policy is a prerequisite for the city to exercise its authority to donate surplus property, as enabled by the concurrently adopted city code amendment.
Council Policy and Issue Updates
The Mayor recapped the listening session. The City Manager announced staff awards and a reminder about the preliminary 2027 property tax levies meeting. Council members discussed the need for proactive city communication with residents about zoning and development potentials, a review of R3 density standards, and exploring bike lane opportunities on Humboldt Avenue. They emphasized the importance of aligning city plans with community expectations and avoiding project-by-project negotiations.
Closed Meeting for Attorney-Client Privilege Discussion
Moved by Mayor [1:28:18] · Seconded by Council Member Rivas [1:28:29]
The City Council voted to enter a closed session as permitted by the Minnesota open meeting law for an attorney-client privilege discussion. The purpose was to consider litigation strategies related to federal rulemaking. Upon reopening the public meeting, the council authorized relevant staff to act in accordance with the discussion held in the closed session.
Notable Quotes (17)
So, the public safety ambassador program is formerly known as our explorer program. We'll kind of cover that here, but we just switched for uh making it run a little bit smoother.
I believe this the most noble profession in the face of the earth. And if any of my children decide to do this job, I'll support them 100%, especially when it comes time to work in in this city.
So all these folks here are out on the street right now patrolling the city of Bloomington.
While we are the ones who sit up here, a lot of in a lot of cases, it's uh all it is all of the employees of Bloomington that are actually the face of Bloomington that people recognize and that they count on and that they uh consider to be Bloomington when they need something from the city and and that you you folks deliver the services.
Most of it's based on maximizing partnerships and there are none that are uh more meaningful and in my opinion successful than the partnerships we've been able to develop here with the city of Bloomington.
That also puts a lot of pressure and responsibility certainly on us to recognize that we have to do what we can to keep that good spirit going and keep that good customer service flowing as people are coming into the park and set the expectation high that they want to have clean, safe facilities that they can utilize.
I think we paid a lot of money for those designs. We might as well use them is my point.
And I think that's super important and not kicking the can down the road and um having other people deal with it in the future.
I'm just concerned about how the residents feel about all these. Um and also I don't want to mix a lot of things but it's part of it. Uh when I was reading about the um um transit or the cars that go through that area study um there's a bus stop right on 87th I believe.
We we need to do a better job, I think, uh, as a city to help people understand exactly what their neighborhoods are are are um, subject to to begin with, right? Because ultimately the developers here didn't do anything outside the bounds of what the city allows.
I do think it was unfortunate that the folks sold their homes and the homes were torn down right away before we were to a final development plan on all of this.
Is there something that we can do as a city to prevent um multiple lots being bought, houses being torn down, and then developers coming to ask for the reszone because I mean it kind of feels like now we're at a point I mean
Would this be where we could consider uh Council Member Carter's suggestion with regards to um the home ownership? And what would the path look like to do that? Would that be a condition? Is that something we can actually do?
The proposed amendments would provide an alternative by allowing qualifying property to be donated rather than simply discarded.
If the owner comes forward within six months after the city retains the money and provides satisfactory proof of ownership, the city must reimburse the owner from the general fund in an amount equal to the money that was retained.
I do think there really is an opportunity for us to, you know, look at our our procedure which has been discussed, you know, in in a uh in detail um around the housing zoning and the development uh component of it so that we can try to get ourselves a little more in sync with where the developers are.
I do have a little bit of concern making zoning decisions based specifically on a particular development um, because it may box us in in the future. Um and you know so um I also don't know that frankly it's fair to the development community to use withholding of the zoning to force negotiations on [snorts] an otherwise code compliant project.
Ordinances & Resolutions (8)
Three Rivers Park District's plan with fundamental tenets like 'you belong here'.
City of Bloomington's plan guiding capital investments in park buildings.
Original zoning designation for Bloomshine Village Town Homes properties.
Proposed and approved zoning for Bloomshine Village Town Homes, allowing townhomes.
Ordinance for rezoning properties related to Bloomshine Village Town Homes (implied number).
Chapter amended to authorize surplus property donation and disposition of unclaimed property.
Policy detailing procedures for donating surplus city equipment, required by state law.
Name given to the plat for the townhome subdivision.