The Bloomington City Council adopted a new approach to sidewalk snow removal that will reduce the city's responsibility from 260 miles to approximately 135 miles of sidewalks and trails, Mayor Tim Busse announced in his weekly council update.

Under the new plan, the city will focus snow removal efforts on major roads, parks and other city property, while shifting responsibility for remaining sidewalks to adjacent property owners. The change aligns with existing city ordinances that already require property owners to clear snow from sidewalks adjacent to their homes.

City staff said the proposal will significantly reduce the time needed to clear priority sidewalks, improve walkability and save up to $60,000 per season in equipment and overtime costs. The plan also addresses safety concerns, as sidewalk plowing has resulted in above-average injury rates compared to other snow removal operations.

The council also adopted Phase I of the Missing Middle Housing Ordinance, which modernizes rules for duplexes, townhomes and accessory dwelling units. Changes include allowing accessory dwelling units up to 1,000 square feet, removing owner-occupancy requirements, reducing minimum lot sizes for duplexes and providing more design flexibility for townhomes.

Staff will continue collecting resident feedback on the snow removal proposal before bringing final recommendations to the council later this summer. Phase II of the housing ordinance, including options for triplexes and cottage courts, will be developed later this year with additional public input opportunities.