Bloomington City Council — Transcript
Monday, May 4, 2026
Proclamations
Bloomington Center for the Arts (BCA) Strategic Plan and Operations Analysis Update
50 Plus Programming and Community Health & Wellness Center Proforma Update
Off-Street Parking Requirements Study
Votes (3)
Consent Agenda - Item 3.3: Updated Joint Use Agreement for Smith Park
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Lman [0:29:43] · Seconded by Council Member Robertson [0:30:17]
Council Member Rivas requested a public hearing, but staff clarified the item. It was explained that the Darl Farooq parcel is privately owned, and the city's shared-use agreement (dating back to 2015) was being amended. The city will cease maintaining the football field due to low utilization and fiscal responsibility, saving $6,000-$8,000 annually. Public access to tennis and basketball courts will remain. The City Attorney clarified that a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) legally binds the property to maintaining shared access and parking.
Item 4.1: Privately Initiated City Code Amendment Regarding Tower Standards Updates
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Delisandro [0:39:56] · Seconded by Council Member Rivas [0:40:24]
The Bloomington HA sought an amendment to Chapter 21 of the city code to permit existing camouflaged towers (e.g., in steeples) to remain on sites formerly designated as 'places of assembly' if those sites are redeveloped for other allowed uses. This change is crucial for the redevelopment of St. Mark's (86th and Xerxes), as wireless companies often hold permanent easements rather than leases, complicating new development. The amendment would prevent such sites from becoming poorly maintained if redevelopment is hindered. The public hearing was held with no speakers. Council discussion focused on the implications of permanent easements and the potential for this policy to serve as a precedent for other similar sites.
Item 4.1: Resolution Authorizing Summary Republication of Ordinance for Tower Standards Updates
Dissent: None
Moved by Council Member Dalisandro [0:41:09] · Seconded by Council Member Rivas [0:41:27]
Following the adoption of the ordinance allowing existing towers at former place of assembly sites, a separate motion was made for its summary publication, a procedural step to formally enact the ordinance.
Notable Quotes (6)
This property will be in need of investment in sometime in the near future here with irrigation and lighting needs. and uh we feel that investing in this property would be not ideal compared to investing on city property.
So the city couldn't unilaterally change or eliminate a condition that it had previously approved. There's case law on that. So we have to be very mindful of requirements that we have previously placed on the land.
my understanding is staff is saying that this will actually save the city money and it's a fiscally responsible choice to not continue to invest um in maintenance of something that not only do we not own but isn't utilized um nearly as much as other fields. Is that an accurate
So basically what this amendment is getting at is it's aiding in the uh development of St. Marks uh located at 86th and Xerxes. Um currently they have a tower that's shown on the right side of the screen that's housed in their uh steeple and it has telecommunication equipment.
Mayor, council members, uh, in this particular case at this site, uh, they do not have a lease. They have purchased a permanent easement. So that further complicates and I think that's part of the difficulty with these sites is we don't know exactly how these were all negotiated but a lot of times these cell towers are very sophisticated and enter into really strong property rights that they have on the property which makes it difficult for a developer besides the HA to come in and negotiate they're going to walk away because they don't want to deal with that
I think it's worth noting that this is a privately initiated code amendment and so uh clearly the the privately initiated they they had the one thing in mind that they wanted to accomplish and I think if we put this into practice and the precedent is set uh if others come forward in the future and say hey wait there's a tower on this property and we want to keep it while we do something else with it. I think we've we've proven that we'd be open to that if uh if it couldn't be done uh effectively and tastefully within whatever development they're looking to do.
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
Recognizing the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers, observed May 10th-16th as National Police Week and May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day.
Recognizing May 10th-16th as Respect for Law Week and honoring Detective Michael Smith as Officer of the Year.
Recognizing May 3rd-9th as Small Business Week, highlighting their economic contributions and supporting immigrant-owned businesses.
Recognizing May 1st-31st as AANHPI Heritage Month, celebrating diverse cultures and contributions to Bloomington.
Recognizing May 2026 as Building Safety Month, appreciating the role of building and inspections division in community safety.
General term for the proposed change to city code regarding tower standards.
A permit approved in 2020 for the Darl Farooq property, which includes conditions regarding shared access and parking.
Agreement between the City and Darl Farooq for shared access, parking, and recreational facilities, subject to an amendment.
Ongoing project to provide a comprehensive updated strategic plan for the BCA.
Report on the transition and status of programming for residents 50 years and older.
Financial projection for the new Community Health and Wellness Center.
The section of the city code that was amended regarding tower standards.
The specific ordinance adopted to amend Chapter 21, addressing camouflaged towers in redeveloped sites.
Resolution for the summary publication of the adopted ordinance regarding tower standards.
Plan that identified the evaluation of off-street parking requirements as a project.
Reference to a part of the staff report on off-street parking requirements.
Ordinance mentioned in the context of developers using parking incentives.
Washington-based service organization that provides data on the economic impact of arts and culture.