The meeting opened with a public comment session where Karen Linquist presented a proposal aimed at reducing plastic waste at the Bloomington farmers market. Linquist suggested the city implement an incentive program, the “Bloomington Green Ger Program,” to encourage vendors to switch from plastic to paper bags. This proposal included offering discounts on booth rental fees to vendors who choose paper bags, thereby alleviating the cost burden associated with the more environmentally friendly option. Linquist emphasized the importance of community involvement and proposed providing vendors with signage or apparel to identify them as participants in the program. She expressed hope that this initiative would foster a sense of community and peer pressure among vendors to reduce plastic use. Linquist’s proposal was presented as a potential model for other cities, underscoring the need to decrease plastic waste, which she argued is harmful to the environment.

Traffic safety emerged as another issue during the meeting, with discussion centered around the intersection of 83rd and Stevens. A resident highlighted the dangers posed by the lack of traffic control measures and shared numerous accounts of recent accidents, including a serious incident on October 31st. The resident expressed concern for neighborhood safety, especially for children, pointing out that increased traffic and speeding were making residential streets feel like busy freeways. They requested the installation of stop signs at various uncontrolled intersections, similar to practices in neighboring Richfield, to improve safety and traffic flow.

In response, a council member acknowledged the issue of uncontrolled intersections and discussed the challenges in implementing stop signs citywide due to the numerous locations requiring attention. The council member shared personal experiences with near misses at several intersections and recognized the need for a reassessment of traffic control measures. Another council member provided historical context, explaining that past city planning philosophies suggested that fewer stop signs might encourage cautious driving. However, they expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of such an approach in ensuring safety.

The discussion on traffic safety highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive study of intersections across Bloomington to evaluate traffic patterns and safety measures. The resident reiterated concerns about fast driving, emphasizing that the issue was not isolated to one area but was prevalent throughout the city. They suggested that the city compile a proposal to assess the intersections and consider implementing stop signs where necessary.

Public comments also touched on governance transparency and community engagement. Jonathan Mink raised concerns regarding the mayor’s social media activity, criticizing it for endorsing divisive rhetoric that he felt undermined community trust. Mink questioned the appropriateness of such actions and drew parallels to a past incident involving a city employee’s social media behavior. Additionally, he raised concerns about the monitoring of his wife’s private social media profile by city officials, calling for transparency and emphasizing the need for leadership to reflect the city’s core values of safety, cooperation, and respect.

Pamela Palmer sought clarification on the council’s guidelines regarding listening sessions, questioning the discontinuation of video availability during these meetings. She proposed improving communication methods and including contact information on agendas to enhance accessibility for individuals wishing to participate. Palmer also inquired about Henipin County’s approval of the Penn Avenue exit related to the community center, expressing ongoing confusion about access, particularly regarding the status of Nicollet Avenue.