[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6309751,"mediaKeyId","2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c","parentId",2409275,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves work plans, donations, easement vacations and consent items","audioSeconds",1337,"startMs",623000,"endMs",1960000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c&start=623&end=1960","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c/thumbnail_623000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6309751/Bloomington-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-work-plans-donations-easement-vacations-and-consent-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309751-a984b8760ca56bcfa9c8339b4234fa5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775063689&Signature=bVDKlJJ-i~IXAD8j6Sv1jnRyf3XkF1mvO2LJYPXu8ooX0ETQhRvk2HLo02YFaaYFe5vtK4RLUe5Yypbo2VcvuauRovgPBPoM-kDpuHFXxbVfoQG3vfnGKEjJXKdeg9vERE2tIlX0FADbXWSBjvOPCz440-l48Fqkby1QeEZuCfp~rbqrVtXhv3YezrXSxh9eu~P-h6UGspBdO8raF3NigP4c1oze2OkEmeTmvBZuo11haxLplTkvB9vt3gkdD4v8pSgqOH1M8UdPu-SJkU03plPyp-KH4fM6cf2TWB3M5dRi~j0Vuzcs47EKKtsb9usT1ac6qpCV9AQDbvAKH93XFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Bloomington, MN","date","2025-02-25T15:02:09Z","article","The Bloomington City Council on Feb. 24 approved several routine and technical items, summarized below.

Human Rights Commission work plan: The council voted 7-0 to adopt the Bloomington Human Rights Commission's 2025 work plan after Chair Anita Smithson presented highlights including proclamations, community events and work aligned with the Bloomington Tomorrow Together strategic plan.

Parks, Arts & Recreation Commission work plan: The council voted 7-0 to adopt the commission's 2025 work plan. Park projects noted in the presentation included Bryant and Trebough Park work, 3 Rivers Park District partnership activities, Bloomington Ford projects including the Ice Garden modernization, and the community health and wellness center support.

Consent business and donations: Council approved consent items 3.2 through 3.12 by unanimous vote. The council also adopted a resolution (item 3.1) accepting multiple monetary and in-kind donations to city programs, moving that resolution by a 7-0 vote. Council summarized that staff will send thank-you notes to donors.

Vacation of public drainage and utility easements / sanitary sewer easement: The council approved a resolution accepting a permanent sanitary sewer easement and adopted an ordinance vacating existing public drainage and utility easements over several historic plat lots associated with the Luther Kia redevelopment parcel. Motions passed 7-0, and the council directed summary publication.

Other procedural motions: The council closed three public hearings (Heights TIF, RS1/R1A code amendments and the easement vacation) and approved required summary publication motions where applicable.

These items were handled as part of the evening's agenda; the full meeting packet provides exhibits and staff reports referenced by council.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","February 24, 2025 Bloomington City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","At its Feb. 24 meeting the Bloomington City Council approved multiple routine and land-use items: the Human Rights Commission and Parks, Arts & Recreation Commission 2025 work plans, a donations resolution, consent agenda items, and easement and sanitary-sewer actions for a Luther Kia redevelopment parcel.","taxTitle","Bloomington City, Hennepin County, Minnesota","taxId",4372,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309756,"Council approves switch from B3 to LEED for community health and wellness center; schematic design trimmed to 106,000 sq ft",2721,5323000,8044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c&start=5323&end=8044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c/thumbnail_5323000.jpg","/articles/6309756/Bloomington-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Council-approves-switch-from-B3-to-LEED-for-community-health-and-wellness-center-schematic-design-trimmed-to-106000-sq-ft","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309756-bc3371ff60bedbb7c0f121c8dfac0fbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1775063689&Signature=dijcfuUIUzNEfd4fEHjBLOVie0EYZCLfr7~-Frk~cjgMhWssLiB5VWK6zYj0Bae8ZVwzrnQk0JR~C1VxGQSBQSAOIPhJlOXKzT00YQqktlR930yzS8Z7sp0akJNldEC1GIWKqbS7s~ocXjWcdmdtN1TWd~2RIM1hmzNqSOTXfxzn1ftiVkxZkGfI-rHXAznKx7JkEM~j1Mu15M4YA3cR86SGmgZ78GsIIywFiaMoc-g7HNuYXCDeHk8Y~sKDsOHNYIzTm8kE972OwnBGCv9d~dFdBlkfW2BA6xvzK~tZQhY8aTkwDBOr3tNyyUnONQ1SvImqvRwHmOJ8I9VkG9u3tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bloomington City Council voted Feb. 24 to change the sustainability certification target for the planned Community Health and Wellness Center from the state-centered B3 standard to LEED (Building Design and Construction), and received a schematic-design update that reduces the facility to roughly 106,000 square feet.

Parks and Recreation Director Anne Catry and HGA design consultants presented schematic plans and explained staff cut about 30,000 square feet by simplifying form and removing a third gym and other efficiencies while keeping core program elements. \"We have cut 30,000 square feet from the overall facility design,\" Catry said. Consultants said the overall program remains intact: aquatics, fitness studios, community health clinic spaces, a main lobby and spaces for classes and programs remain, though the indoor track and some amenities are slightly smaller.

Catry said the B3 performance target proved too costly when aligned with site and construction budgets; the council approved shifting to LEED certification to retain third-party verification while gaining some flexibility over specific credits. HGA's sustainability specialist Leah Werko told the council the team mapped current design assumptions against LEED categories and estimated the project achieves about 53 points under LEED, placing it in the Silver certification range; staff said further pricing and credit refinement will continue during design and that the city will report back in early April.

Council members asked about schedule, expansion options and stormwater/graywater strategies. Staff said the project remains on schedule, that the building footprint has been reduced (not the capacity to expand later) and that future additions (a third gym or expanded aquatics) are possible through deliberate site planning. The council voted 6-1 to approve the certification change; Council Member Nelson opposed the move, citing preference to focus on measured building performance rather than certification.","After months of design and cost alignment, council approved moving the Community Health and Wellness Center sustainability target from B3 to LEED (BD+C); schematic design reduced the facility from about 136,000 to 106,000 square feet while retaining primary program elements.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309761,"Council amends RS1/R1A residential code; ordinance adopted 6-1",2136,3096000,5232000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c&start=3096&end=5232","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c/thumbnail_3096000.jpg","/articles/6309761/Bloomington-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Council-amends-RS1R1A-residential-code-ordinance-adopted-6-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309761-bdd6f50af6bcdcfbd7e6f091373ed458/orig.mp4?Expires=1775063689&Signature=VfGFWJ963AWm~tF0Z2VJVUnCQ0644Vkh~1PBvXx~kz44YL4WdskVmxCljUL~hDMuUK3-H4v~Sy0lJb6P9plCpUlO2vzZTHkMdS-t01ufqUnQYeOXoQ1oCA~lHOo3Zxf8cfozn5eLJ9-iQhfvLvVyE9unJvQuv0h6n6SIlQyrZz619YVWoWRS-i8lU~3o14K5PnMPOvpqS3q1fAXNyHwJUrDHRnJ7Us8nCfGxpPtaD2XBM6CisDVwELO4WVdiZdtNmwuO4OXieKu83hEudaE-XeEmcVK3t1qIgpgvS9qHAMqrebJRP69YUXJV~yj0FOfW2viPE2cHzm8RS7WHWrsu6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bloomington's City Council adopted an ordinance Feb. 24 updating standards for RS1 (large-lot single-family) and R1A (restricted large-lot on septic) residential zoning districts, approving the measure on a 6-1 vote with Council Member Nelson opposed.

Planning staff said the update implements items the planning commission and council studied over multiple sessions, and aims to align RS1 and R1A bulk and performance standards more closely with the R1 district. Planning Manager Nick Johnson told the council the ordinance adds two-family dwellings to RS1, removes the median-site-width and prevailing-setback requirements, and imposes a 35% impervious-surface cap to close a regulatory loophole affecting one R1A parcel. \"These neighborhoods are single-family residential development in areas of steep slopes, vegetation, wetlands, and developed as large lots,\" Johnson said, summarizing the districts' intent.

The planning commission had unanimously recommended approval after a public hearing, though it had earlier split 3-2 when discussing whether the TIF-style public-purpose finding for other items should apply. Council discussion ranged from preserving neighborhood character and environmental protections to concerns about how the ordinance could be used in future rezoning requests. Council Member D'Alessandro moved the ordinance; Council Member Carter seconded. The vote on the ordinance was 6-1; Nelson recorded the no vote. The council also approved summary publication of the ordinance by a 7-0 vote.

Staff told the council the R1A district remains distinct because several properties there use private septic rather than municipal sanitary sewer service. City staff said any future rezoning requests would be evaluated against the ordinance's intent statement and bulk standards and noted that lowering the minimum lot size would open more rezoning avenues. The ordinance takes effect following required publication and recording steps.","The council adopted amendments to RS1 and R1A zoning standards to align large-lot rules with other residential districts, including allowing two-family dwellings in RS1, removing median site-width and prevailing setback requirements, and adding a 35% impervious cap for R1A; the ordinance passed 6-1 with Council Member Nelson opposed.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6309766,"Council approves Heights redevelopment TIF to fund urgent parking-structure repairs",1414,1992000,3406000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c&start=1992&end=3406","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2409275-876d640ee89e4cb05a5477916e7a4e6c/thumbnail_1992000.jpg","/articles/6309766/Bloomington-City/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Council-approves-Heights-redevelopment-TIF-to-fund-urgent-parking-structure-repairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6309766-557d3de2804550456145345725cee836/orig.mp4?Expires=1775063689&Signature=d43B7Sb5lHV0BZoipoaZE7c4K0J4KaEWnjlekFaXTIJDQVGii7oZoWc4jDxRXWl0K5E9TSMw194JyqkwqB1ZZABw8tSryzCljf-njXhoqZS~Dj5V93z8z2wYIM~vb3Q9UjdTkXfm6S7oG-GXNOhY9Ps09RNY-HI4kYhbM0YI2Fw84sGKBrbD7lwDhNvl2Fw0B~8CcK9Nhkv6NYaaKS8KoZICb1vkvZbz4-b19HTPR1Kpy6iMlV35MafCL5ifj5076SZUam3DI3zI1Fw0XR8t2l-AplIx9pMTeqDt9eaezliTg152hWTFDfCeXkLS9zeKwkoHGpmugnNZ9My9ns0Tlg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Bloomington City Council voted 7-0 Feb. 24 to establish a redevelopment tax-increment financing (TIF) district for the Heights condominium to help pay for a major renovation of the property's parking structure.

City economic development staff and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) told the council the Heights parking structure has been determined structurally substandard and had its certificate of occupancy revoked. Kenny Niemeyer, HRA staff, said the financing package combines bonds, an interfund HRA loan and a TIF district to reduce assessments and secure repayment over a 20-year term. \"The restoration of that parking structure will ensure the condominium is compliant with our zoning requirements for minimum parking minimums,\" Niemeyer said.

The council and HRA previously approved a local affordable housing aid grant of $250,000 to provide direct income-based assistance; staff said six households applied and qualified, five owner-occupied and one rental unit. Third-party consultant Doug Strainness, who has worked with the Heights for eight years, warned the garage is \"on the verge of collapse\" and that failure could leave the building uninhabitable. Resident Melanie McCallum said she bought a unit for her daughter and described the process as an emotional \"roller coaster.\" Niemeyer said, should the council and HRA finalize approvals and the negotiated bond sale proceed, construction could start in May with completion by the end of 2025.

The planning commission earlier declined to make one of the statutory findings that a TIF plan \"conforms with the general development plans for the city as a whole,\" citing concerns about using TIF for this project; the council's resolution explicitly included that finding. Staff said the project would not proceed in its currently approved form without TIF because the affordability elements of the financing package depend on it.

Next steps outlined by staff include HRA final approval (scheduled for the next day), entry into a development agreement between the HRA and the Heights Condominium Association, and acceptance of a negotiated bond sale later in spring to set final interest and assessment amounts.

If the HRA and council actions are completed, staff will record assessments with Hennepin County and proceed with construction procurement and start. The council made no additional changes to the development agreement details at the meeting.","Bloomington City Council approved a redevelopment tax-increment financing district for the Heights condominium to fund restoration of a deteriorating parking structure, following staff findings the garage is structurally substandard and that the project requires TIF to proceed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: council approves work plans, donations, easement vacations and consent items

Council approves switch from B3 to LEED for community health and wellness center; schematic design trimmed to 106,000 sq ft

Council amends RS1/R1A residential code; ordinance adopted 6-1

Council approves Heights redevelopment TIF to fund urgent parking-structure repairs