Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Monday, July 20, 2026
Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Awards of Excellence Presentation
Minnesota DNR Minnesota Valley State Trail Bloomington Phase 2 Segment Discussion
Public Listening Session and City Updates
Votes (4)
Approval of Preliminary and Final Plat for Olive Isle Addition
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Lman [00:11:47] · Seconded by Council Member Nelson [00:11:47]
Council Member Nelson had held this item for multiple meetings, conducting an extensive review of city and building codes. He affirmed that the proposed plat for Olive Isle Addition meets all current legal requirements. Council Member Delisandro expressed concerns about the implications of broad R1 zoning changes and suggested staff revisit relevant code provisions for potential future adjustments. The Mayor also noted that the decision, while potentially a 'matter of taste,' ultimately complied with city code.
Resolution of Support for a Minnesota Investment Fund Application (Seagate Technology LLC)
Dissent: Council Member Dallasandro abstained, citing ongoing concerns about the terms of the loan and the city's limited influence over the state program.
Moved by Council Member Lman [00:27:14] · Seconded by Council Member Robertson [00:27:14]
The council considered a resolution supporting Seagate Technology's application for Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) and Job Creation Funds (JCF) from the state. Council Member Carter sought clarification that Seagate manufactures data storage technology, not operates data centers. Council Member Delisandro questioned the necessity of a 0% interest state loan for a profitable company. Mayor Busy provided historical context, explaining the MIF (formerly Minnesota Forward Fund) as a strategic incentive to retain and grow the semiconductor and technology industry in Minnesota against global competition. Council Member Rivas expressed skepticism about Seagate's leverage claims regarding moving offshore but ultimately supported keeping jobs in Minnesota. Council Member Lman balanced financial concerns against the risk of losing jobs.
Approval of Type 2 Preliminary and Final Plat of Southtown Shopping Center, Fifth Edition (Reconsideration and Re-vote)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Robertson [01:01:25] · Seconded by Council Member Dalisandro [01:01:25]
The council initially approved this plat, which was a re-submission of an expired approval from September 2024 (due to the applicant, Krauss Anderson, not filing with the county). It was later discovered that a public hearing was required but not held. The council reconsidered the vote, opened and closed a public hearing (with no speakers), and then re-approved the preliminary and final plat for the Southtown Shopping Center, which is expected to include a Dix's House of Sport.
Second Amendment to the 2016 Master Redevelopment Contract for Private Redevelopment of Land (MOA)
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Rivas [00:56:56] · Seconded by Council Member Nelson [00:56:56]
The Port Authority presented an amendment to the Master Redevelopment Contract for the Mall of America (MOA) property in the South Loop district. The amendment, driven by pandemic-related delays, extends the performance periods by two years (from 10 to 12 years, and 20 to 22 years). It also adjusts the required construction valuation targets: reducing the 12-year target from $500 million to $400 million, and increasing the 22-year target to $800 million. The overall target of $1.2 billion in estimated improvements remains unchanged. Council members viewed it as a straightforward and logical extension.
Notable Quotes (8)
I spent, you know, hours on this and it meets those. Um, and, you know, we can agree or disagree with that. We can we can look at any of those that may need to be changed. Um, you know, there are some quirky provisions in there, honestly. Um, you know, with regards to, uh, you know, choosing your front yard and things like that, but, you know, it does meet it does meet the codes. It does meet the building code. It does meet all of the things that we want. And so I can't find a reason why we would not move it forward.
I go back to the the challenge that we've we've had about passing, you know, these or these ordinances and these zones across the entire R1 spectrum and it's 70ome% of the city and this is the kind of thing that starts to happen when we when we do that large papering and why I was frankly a fan of smaller cuts at that early on, right?
Maybe just something to clarify for the public. Um, you know, this is for a I think you use language mass mass capacity data data storage center or something. I can't remember the exact language. Oh. And with all of the um debate around data centers, I think it might be useful to clarify for the public the difference between what Seagate is and what a data center is.
I don't understand the free money thing. I don't. And so if somebody has some insights, I'd be happy to hear them.
Uh the the Minnesota Investment Fund originally was the Minnesota Forward Fund, which was approved, I think, six years ago, five, six years ago, when uh when the federal government was working their way through the CHIPS Act... so it's it's basically an incentive for them to stay within within uh the state of Minnesota and and the United States as well because uh the the competitors right now are are all offshore.
Uh and technically, not to be uh specific, although I know that our city attorney loves specificity from our turning this morning. uh that this they have to meet certain uh job and wage goals for that money to be considered. So I I understand the concern of it being free money, but it is a grant from the state and in order for that to be uh in the correct agreement. It is set up that certain goals would be met and there would be some sort of verification of what they have applied for and then that those goals were met.
The proposed amendment itself is a recognition of delays that are caused by the pandemic. So CO 19 and as outlined in the staff report, the contract language does contemplate that there may be unavoidable delays that exist and it includes an opportunity for an extension for the performance period and that is why we are here today.
And the result of that is what is here today, which is a two-year extension to the performance period. So, there are two terms by which uh performance needs to happen, and that is at 10 year and 20 year marks. And this extension would provide for two years of extension at each of those. So from 10 to 12 and then from 20 to 22 years. Additionally, it does modify a provision that requires an amount of valuation of construction in or at those terms. and it reduces the $500 million valuation at that 10-year term, which would now be 12, to 400 million, but then increases the amount at year 2020 or year 22 to 800 million. And then it's important to note that there is a requirement for $1.2 billion of estimated value of improvements that still would remain and has not modified.
Ordinances & Resolutions (20)
Annual awards recognizing outstanding work in parks and recreation
Award-winning strategy for improving consistency, quality, and sustainability of the city's park system
Award-winning creative reuse of a decommissioned DMV facility for senior programming
Award-winning program fostering cross-cultural understanding through indigenous art and performance
Award-winning volunteer initiative to enhance playfields for fastpitch community
City resolution supporting Seagate Technology's application for state economic development funds
Plat approval for redevelopment including Dix's House of Sport
Project segment of a state trail discussed for wetland impacts
Amendment to a contract guiding redevelopment on Mall of America property
State policy to prevent net loss of wetlands, administered by local government units
Federal act supporting the semiconductor industry in the United States
Predecessor to the Minnesota Investment Fund, designed as a local match for the CHIPS Act
State program providing financing for job creation and retention in the technology industry
State program aimed at supporting job growth, applied for by Seagate
Standard environmental review process for the Minnesota Valley State Trail corridor
Federal regulation governing the discharge of dredge or fill material into U.S. waters, enforced by the Army Corps of Engineers
Federal law ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, applicable to trail design
DNR permits required for activities impacting rare or protected species
Preliminary and final plat for a property at 8350 Amsdale Ridge Drive
Original contract governing the private redevelopment of land related to the Mall of America