Bloomington City Council Meeting - September 15, 2025

The Bloomington City Council met on Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM (CT) in the council chambers. The meeting began with proclamations for the International Day of Peace and Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month, followed by a consent agenda, three public hearings, and study items on parking ramp licensure and refuse standards. Key actions included adopting a 2025 bond issuance, holding over a subdivision plat for further neighborhood discussion, and directing staff to craft a compromise ordinance on airport parking after a contentious debate. A motion to make remote airport parking a permitted use failed 2-4, but a subsequent motion to align interim use permits through 2027 passed 4-2.

Proclamations

• International Day of Peace (September 21, 2025): Mayor Bussey read the proclamation, noting the recent tragedy at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. Commissioners Althea Frostner, Amar El Mustafa, and Anita Smithson spoke, urging the community to act for peace locally and globally.
• Latinx Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15, 2025): The proclamation was read in English and Spanish. Community members Celimon Toya and Yosa Chavero shared personal stories of safety, belonging, and the importance of cultural celebration in Bloomington.

Consent Calendar

• Items Approved (Items 3.1, 3.3-3.6): Approved unanimously (6-0) on a motion by Councilmember Carter, seconded by Councilmember Mua. Councilmember Rivas requested to hold Item 3.2 (Washburn Circle subdivision plat) for further discussion.
• Item 3.2 Held Over: Councilmember Dalessandro moved to hold the item to the September 29 regular meeting to allow more time for neighborhood engagement and staff clarification. The motion passed 6-0 (motion by Dalessandro, second by Rivas). Staff noted the 120-day application deadline had been extended by 60 days.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Listening Session (prior to meeting): Six residents spoke:
  • Samia Mohammed (Kennedy High School student) urged action on gun violence and school safety.
  • Richard DeGrud and Glorious (last name not stated) opposed the Washburn Circle lot split, raising concerns about setbacks, safety, and tree preservation.
  • Jody Tasto requested the city study quiet zones for train horns in the Highland/Bush Lake area.
  • Robert Norman complained about incomplete fiber optic restoration by Lumen on his property.
• Public Hearing 4.3 (Airport Parking):
  • Megan Rogers (Attorney, Larkin Hoffman) , representing Mall of America, supported the proposed ordinance for new remote airport parking in existing structures (e.g., East Ramp) and thanked staff for collaboration.
  • Bill Griffith (Rosa Development) , representing the Muir family (owners of Park & Go and Park & Fly), argued that the existing facilities predate current zoning and that the proposed performance standards (set-aside, landscaping, stormwater) are unrealistic and would not spur redevelopment. He presented a counter-proposal for a permitted use with no parking lot modifications, warning that the current ordinance would lead to future conflicts when interim use permits expire.

Discussion Items

• Airport Parking Study Ordinance (Item 4.3): Council delved into a lengthy debate over the future of remote airport parking at Park & Go and Park & Fly (zoned HXR).
  • Staff Proposal: Conditional use permit with a 3-acre development set-aside, deferred compliance (by 2029 or 2034) for parking lot islands, landscaping, and stormwater management.
  • Councilmember Dalessandro questioned the legality of requiring improvements on temporary uses and suggested separating the ordinance into three parts: hotel parking (permitted accessory), new parking in existing structures (conditional use), and existing facilities (to be handled separately). He noted the owners have not invested despite 30 years of temporary permits.
  • Councilmember Nelson argued the temporary use was a generous city policy; he feared the set-aside would disincentivize redevelopment and preferred a conditional use with no performance standards, allowing market forces to drive change.
  • Councilmember Mua expressed preference for permitted use for existing operators, supporting continuing successful businesses.
  • Councilmember Rivas raised legal implications of changing the use after decades, and stressed the need for a final decision, not another deferral.
  • Mayor Bussey leaned toward compromise, noting the city cannot force redevelopment of profitable businesses. He suggested making remote airport parking a permitted use without set-asides.
  • Motion to Make Remote Airport Parking a Permitted Use: Mayor Bussey moved; Councilmember Rivas seconded. Failed 2-4 (Mayor Bussey and one other – likely unknown – in favor; Dalessandro, Carter, Mua, Nelson against; Rivas recorded as 'No' in roll call? Actually transcript shows Rivas said 'No' – so 2-4? Wait roll call: Dalessandro nay, Carter nay, Mua no, Nelson no, Rivas no, Mayor Bussey aye. That's 1-5? But transcript says