The meeting opened with a listening session where Paul Royer, a long-time Bloomington resident and business administrator at St. Steven Lutheran Church, presented a case for maintaining a partnership between the church and Grounds Control, a lawn maintenance company. This partnership, which provided the church with free lawn maintenance and discounted snow removal services in exchange for garage space, was disrupted due to a complaint about commercial operations in a residential area. Royer detailed the benefits of this arrangement, emphasizing the $10,000 annual savings that the church reinvested in community projects like a garden yielding over 2,000 pounds of produce annually. He requested the council consider a variance or conditional use exception to allow Grounds Control to continue operating at the church, arguing the partnership benefited the community.

Royer expressed confusion after receiving communication from the city to cease operations with Grounds Control due to ordinance violations. He mentioned that a city official suggested that a zoning law change might be necessary to resolve the issue.

Another resident addressed the council regarding the storage of trailers in residential neighborhoods. Having lived in the city for 38 years, he shared his frustration over receiving a letter from the city classifying his 20-foot enclosed trailer as illegal storage. He questioned why larger travel trailers were permitted while his was not, pointing out the inconsistency in enforcement. The council clarified that the regulations aimed to distinguish between work trailers, potentially used for home businesses, and recreational vehicles. The resident highlighted the financial burden of potentially having to rent storage space for his trailer, seeking further clarification from the council.

The session then turned to a plea from Ally Jarvis, who advocated for two animal welfare ordinances. The first ordinance aimed to ban the retail sale of dogs and cats sourced from puppy mills in pet stores. Jarvis shared a personal story about her dog, Luke, who suffered health issues due to being raised in a puppy mill. She noted that nearly 500 cities, including 13 in Minnesota, have enacted similar laws. The proposed ordinance would not affect responsible breeders or adopters but prevent pet stores from selling animals from inhumane conditions.

Jarvis also urged the council to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses, citing safety risks and welfare concerns. She mentioned companies like Cardan International Circus, accused of violating USDA regulations, and emphasized the dangers posed by performing animals. Council members engaged with Jarvis, asking if the humane pet store bill would allow the sale of puppies. Jarvis clarified that the ordinance would permit adoptions and purchases from ethical breeders while preventing sales from puppy mills.

The council then discussed a proposed new housing development, the James Avenue City Homes. A representative presented this project, advocating for increased housing diversity with eight units in four twin-home buildings. The plan proposed a rear setback variance from the required 30 feet to 20 feet, which raised concerns among council members. The representative assured that the planning team supported the project, having made modifications based on previous council recommendations. A council member sought clarification and confirmed the setback variance was for stormwater management, with parking provisions for two vehicles per unit included in the proposal.

Council members expressed support for the housing development, recognizing the need for more diverse housing options in Bloomington. They engaged in dialogue about innovative approaches to meet housing demands and the importance of increasing availability.