Bloomington City Council Meeting - June 1, 2026

The Bloomington City Council met on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 5:00 PM (local time) in the council chambers to conduct a full agenda, including appointments, consent business, six public hearings, and organizational business. The meeting lasted until approximately 10:04 PM. Key actions included approval of charter amendments, rezoning for a 270-unit apartment project, denial of a reasonable accommodation appeal for recovery homes, and authorization to develop a tax increment financing plan for an affordable housing project.

Consent Calendar

• Councilmember Rivas presented the consent agenda, which contained 26 items. Items 3.9 and 3.21 were pulled for separate discussion. The remainder (3.1-3.8, 3.10-3.20, 3.22-3.26) were approved unanimously (7-0) without discussion.
• Item 3.9: Approval of a budgetary and financial control policy revision. Councilmember Rivas questioned guardrails for a new 50% flexibility in extreme conditions. Staff clarified it applies to reserves, not routine budget pressure. Approved 7-0.
• Item 3.21: 2026 one-time grants to resident arts organizations (Bloomington Corral Symphony Orchestra, Continental Ballet, Medalist Concert Band, Notable Singers) totaling an unspecified amount. Approved 7-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

• During the council’s listening session (prior to the main agenda), six speakers addressed concerns: Jamie Anthony (immigration collaboration between Bloomington Police and ICE); Sally Ness (Smith Park Shared Use Agreement); Deborah Paone (fiber installation issues); Elizabeth Cambrone and Brian Emerson (construction impacts from the new Community Health and Wellness Center); and Jim Bowman (traffic safety on 106th Street). Staff were directed to follow up on these issues.
• No members of the public spoke during the six public hearings on charter amendments, the gallery apartments, or the underdog appeal.

Discussion Items

Appointments (Items 2.1-2.5)

• Planning Commission (2.1): Interview panel (Councilmembers Robertson and Lowman) interviewed 7 applicants for 2 openings. Recommended reappointment of Madeline Summers and appointment of Robert Coleman. Appointed 7-0.
• Human Rights Commission (2.2): 3 applicants for 1 partial term opening. Recommended Jessica Kealty. Appointed 6-1 (Councilmember Rivas opposed).
• Young Adult Members (2.3-2.5): Human Rights Commission (2 openings, 5 applicants) – appointed Lakin Kennedy and Quinn Wynne by roll call vote (they each received 5 votes). Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission (1 opening, 1 applicant) – appointed Cole Johnson. Sustainability Commission (2 openings, 2 applicants) – appointed Hanan Abridimaman and Tara Larson. All approved 7-0.

Growth Through Opportunity Program (2.6)

• Presentation and swearing-in of two interns, Joey and Jack, who will work with city departments and the Mall of America. Ceremonial.

Charter Amendments (Items 4.1-4.5)

• City Attorney Manderscheid presented five ordinances amending the city charter (Chapter 5 and Chapter 7). All are administrative clarifications: striking sample petitions (4.1), specifying a hard date of December 23 for budget adoption (4.2), allowing electronic disbursements and prohibiting digital currency (4.3), clarifying vote requirements (at least 5 to authorize, 4 to award sale) for various debt instruments (4.4 and 4.5). Each public hearing was opened and closed with no testimony. All five ordinances were approved unanimously (7-0).

Gallery Apartments Rezoning (Item 4.6)

• Staff presented a request to rezone 7900 Xerxes Avenue South and 3400 American Boulevard West from CO1-PD to C4-PD, and approve a two-phase preliminary development plan and final development plan for a 270-unit, six-story multifamily building at the corner. The project includes 9% affordable units at 60% AMI, a shared parking agreement with the adjacent Wells Fargo Tower (168 spaces), and four flexibility requests (setbacks and storage reduction). Planning Commission recommended approval 7-0. No public testimony. Council approved the rezoning ordinance, summary publication, and development plans all 7-0.

Underdog Recovery Homes Reasonable Accommodation Appeal (Item 4.7)

• Quasi-judicial hearing on an appeal from Underdog Recovery Homes seeking a reasonable accommodation to house up to 10 unrelated adults (instead of the code limit of 6) in three single-family homes. The city’s planning manager had denied the request on three grounds: qualifying disability, necessity, and fundamental alteration. The city conceded the first element (qualifying disability) based on supplemental information. Arguments focused on necessity (underdog cited NIH studies and affidavits; city argued high standard not met) and reasonableness (city argued fundamental alteration of single-family zoning; underdog argued the accommodation is property- and disability-specific). After deliberation, Councilmember Dalessandro moved to adopt the resolution denying the appeal, finding that underdog had not shown the request to have 10 residents was necessary. The motion carried 4-3 (Mayor, Nelson, Robertson, Lowman in favor; Dalessandro, Carter, Rivas opposed).

Tax Increment Financing for Lyndale Apartments (Item 5.1)

• Port Authority staff presented a request to authorize development of a TIF plan for a fully affordable 318-unit apartment project at 9955 Lyndale Avenue South (the former Wixen site). The project averages 60% AMI with units at 30%, 50%, 60%, and 70% AMI. The proposed TIF is $3 million gross ($1.2 million net present value) over 25 years. Councilmember Nelson expressed concerns about concentrating affordable housing in one building and voted no. Motion carried 6-1.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments: Planning Commission (Madeline Summers, Robert Coleman) – 7-0; Human Rights Commission (Jessica Kealty) – 6-1; Young Adult Members: HRC (Lakin Kennedy, Quinn Wynne) – 7-0; PARC (Cole Johnson) – 7-0; Sustainability (Hanan Abridimaman, Tara Larson) – 7-0.
• Consent agenda: Items 3.9 and 3.21 approved separately (7-0 each); remainder approved en bloc (7-0).
• Charter amendments: Five ordinances amending sections 5.05, 5.11, 5.16, 7.06, 7.10, 7.14-7.16, and 7.17 – all approved 7-0.
• Gallery Apartments: Rezoning, summary publication, and two-phase development plan approved 7-0.
• Underdog Recovery Homes: Appeal denied 4-3.
• Lyndale Apartments: Authorized staff to develop TIF plan – 6-1 (Councilmember Nelson opposed).
• Council policy updates: Listening session comments referred to staff; Councilmember Dalessandro called for future policy work on group homes; Councilmember Rivas urged consistent enforcement of occupancy limits citywide.