The council voted 5-0 to rename the portion of Hopkins Road northwest of 10526 Hopkins Road and 600 Mission Road to Mission Road. The pavement project this year merged the confusing Hopkins/Mission intersection, which left two homes still addressed on Hopkins. The city will pay each of the two affected homeowners $1,000 to cover costs such as new driver's licenses and house numbers. A council member raised concerns about voter registration, so the council amended the motion to make the change take effect November 4, 2026, after the election. Staff were asked to tell residents their current registrations remain valid for voting.
Decided: The council renamed the short stretch of Hopkins Road where two homes have Hopkins addresses to Mission Road, taking effect November 4, 2026 so it doesn't disrupt voting, and offered each affected household $1,000 for the hassle of changing addresses.
Result: Approved, 5 to 0, by voice vote
Tim BusseAbsent
Dwayne LowmanAbsent
Shawn NelsonYes
Lona DallessandroYes
Victor RivasYes
Jenna CarterYes
Danielle RobertsonYesFollowing this: Hopkins Road stub becomes Mission Road after 5-0 council vote
The council unanimously adopted a privately initiated ordinance amending City Code Chapter 21. It makes athletic training facilities a permitted use in the FD-2 (Freeway Development) zone along American Boulevard. The request came from Just for Kicks, a children's dance studio seeking an 8,790-square-foot space south of American Boulevard and west of Highway 77. The studio expects about 60 children at peak evening and weekend hours. No one spoke at the public hearing. Planning staff said a broader cleanup of outdated zoning districts tied to the American Boulevard Transitway study and the 2050 comprehensive plan may come in the next year or two.
Decided: The council changed zoning rules to allow athletic training facilities, such as the Just For Kicks dance studio planned at 1321 American Boulevard, in the FD-2 district along American Boulevard.
Result: Approved, 5 to 0, by voice vote
Tim BusseAbsentDwayne LowmanAbsentShawn NelsonYesLona DallessandroYesVictor RivasYesJenna CarterYesDanielle RobertsonYesFollowing this: Dance Studio Gets the OK as Council Opens FD-2 Zone to Athletic Training
The council voted 5-0 to adopt technical zoning ordinances A–J and L–Q, amending City Code Chapters 1, 14, 15 and 21. The changes fix outdated corner-lot references, add new medium-density housing types to occupancy standards, and reclassify airport hotel parking as an accessory use in several districts. They also allow sheep in addition to goats for vegetation grazing on sites of at least one acre. Council Member Carter said residents with smaller lots want to use grazing animals, and members suggested looking later at letting neighbors pool land to meet the one-acre minimum. The Planning Commission had unanimously recommended the package.
Decided: The council approved this year's batch of technical zoning code fixes, including allowing sheep as well as goats for grazing on lots of at least one acre.
Result: Approved, 5 to 0, by voice vote
Tim BusseAbsentDwayne LowmanAbsentShawn NelsonYesLona DallessandroYesVictor RivasYesJenna CarterYesDanielle RobertsonYesFollowing this: Council Adopts Odor Rules for Cannabis Growers, Opens More Zones to Car Detailing
The council voted 5-0 to adopt ordinances R–V, amending City Code Chapters 10 and 21. The package requires odor mitigation for cannabis cultivation, manufacturing and combination businesses within 150 feet of residential property. It creates a separate auto detailing use, allowed in B-2, I-1, I-2 and I-3 districts, distinct from car washes. It applies tree preservation standards to new medium-density housing types in single-family districts. It also restores the ability to park trailers on grass in side and rear yards with a 5-foot setback, and it spells out minimum submittal requirements for rezoning applications. No one spoke at the public hearing.
Decided: The council adopted new zoning rules: cannabis businesses near homes must control odors, auto detailing shops can open in more areas than car washes, trailers can again be parked on grass in side and back yards, new medium-density housing must follow tree preservation rules, and rezoning application
Result: Approved, 5 to 0, by voice vote
Tim BusseAbsentDwayne LowmanAbsentShawn NelsonYesLona DallessandroYesVictor RivasYesJenna CarterYesDanielle RobertsonYesFollowing this: Council Adopts Odor Rules for Cannabis Growers, Opens More Zones to Car Detailing
CenterPoint Energy told the council that a Bloomington site is one of three finalists for a networked geothermal heating and cooling pilot. The pilot is funded under the state's Natural Gas Innovation Act, and the finalists were narrowed from 84 sites in 42 communities. The pilot could serve Civic Plaza, the Public Works building, the new Community Health and Wellness Center, and nearby homes that volunteer to join. CenterPoint plans to announce the final site in early 2027, with construction in late 2027 or early 2028, and would cover installation costs. City sustainability staff said natural gas use in the city has not declined despite its 2050 carbon-neutrality goal. CenterPoint will hold a public open house at the Arts Center on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. This item was informational only; no vote was taken.
Following this: Bloomington Is One of 3 Finalists for CenterPoint's Networked Geothermal Pilot
Four residents spoke during the public comment session. Two renewed concerns about construction of the Community Health and Wellness Center, and another spoke again about the Smith Park shared-use agreement. A first-time speaker criticized the city's process for reporting housing code violations. Another resident urged policies supporting home food growing and less lawn. Council Member Carter asked that planning staff and the Planning Commission review city rules that help or hinder residents growing food, and members suggested teaming with the Sustainability Commission for the 2027 work plan.
Following this: Residents Return to the Council Mic Over Health and Wellness Center Construction and the Smith Park Agreement
Oct. 3 · Meeting
CenterPoint held a Saturday Community Connect open house on its geothermal pilot at the Arts Center, 10 a.m. to noon; its pilot page now thanks those who came to the recent sessions, though we found no Bloomington-specific account of the event.
Oct. 13 · Meeting
CenterPoint holds a live virtual town hall on the geothermal pilot Oct. 13 at 6 p.m., and its online open house takes questions and comments through Oct. 23.
Nov. 4 · Takes effect
The rename of part of Hopkins Road to Mission Road takes effect Nov. 4, the day after the election, and the city pays the owners of 10500 and 10512 Hopkins Road $1,000 each for the address change.
Early 2027 · Deadline
CenterPoint plans to pick its geothermal pilot site from Bloomington, Orono and Brooklyn Center in early 2027, start construction in 2027 or 2028 and have the system running in 2028 or 2029.
No date yet · Takes effect
The 22 zoning and code ordinances passed that night (Nos. 2026-31 to 2026-52, including sports training in the FD-2 district, sheep for prescribed grazing, car detailing, trailer parking and cannabis odor rules) take effect once their council-approved summaries are published in the official newspaper; the grazing change already shows in the online city code.
No date yet · Follow-up
Staff said they would check whether the rename affects voting and get back to the council, and the council asked staff to tell the two households the Nov. 4 date and that their voter registration stays valid.
No date yet · Follow-up
Planning staff are to report back to the council on letting neighbors pool lots smaller than an acre to apply for goat or sheep grazing, which the new rule's one-acre minimum rules out.
No date yet · Follow-up
CenterPoint promised construction details from its experts on what the pilot would mean near the health center site, and in the next selection phase it will seek letters of intent from participating and host buildings, with city staff bringing those commitments to the council.
No date yet · Follow-up
Councilmember Carter asked planning staff, the Planning Commission and the Sustainability Commission to review the city's rules on growing food at home for the 2027 work plan.
What was asked, what the room said, and what the public record answers. Times are from the captions and approximate.
Asked by Councilmember Nelson
In the room
Staff didn't know and said they'd check and get back to the council. The council then set the rename to take effect Nov. 4, after the election.
What the record says
No. Under Minn. Stat. 201.11, when a city renames a street the city clerk notifies the county, and the county updates the voter records itself. State law also bars a rename from taking effect in the 45 days before an election.
Asked by Councilmember Nelson (asked staff to tell the residents)
In the room
Council asked staff to let the residents know the effective date and that their voter registration stays valid.
What the record says
Driver's licenses: DVS asks for an address update within 60 days, in person, as a $26 duplicate; vehicle records update separately. The city's $1,000 per home is meant to cover this. Whether the license rule applies when you haven't moved isn't settled by either source.
Asked by Councilmember Carter
In the room
Staff said grazing needs at least one acre; the council floated pooled applications and asked staff to report back.
What the record says
Not under the rule passed that night (Ord. 2026-32A): one acre minimum, 30 days per site, no grazing December through March. Golden Valley is the nearby model for small lots: no minimum, up to four goats on 10,000 square feet. Edina, Richfield and Minneapolis effectively don't allow it.
Asked by Councilmember Carter
In the room
Staff said they didn't think it applies, but weren't sure.
What the record says
The new definition is "an establishment," so the zoning use doesn't reach a mobile service. The code has no mobile-detailing rule at all.
Asked by Acting Mayor D'Alessandro
In the room
CenterPoint said it isn't a construction expert and will provide details later.
What the record says
Still open. Bloomington, Orono and Brooklyn Center are the finalists; CenterPoint picks early 2027, would build in 2027 and run the system late 2028 or early 2029. The health center itself opens in 2027.
Asked by Deb Harper (public comment)
In the room
Raised in public comment; no response at the meeting.
What the record says
Call Environmental Health at 952-563-8934 or email [email protected]; reports can be anonymous. An inspector visits within a few days, and the owner gets 10 days to fix it (7 for tall grass). There's no online complaint form on the city's page.
Asked by Sally Ness (public comment, repeat speaker)
In the room
Raised in public comment again; no response at the meeting.
What the record says
Agreements dating to 1999 between the city and the former Lutheran high school at 8201 Park Ave. S., now the Al Farooq Youth and Family Center: shared parking and public use of the jointly built fields and courts. The 25-year term ran to 2024 with a 10-year renewal option; whether it was renewed is unconfirmed.
Asked by Councilmember Carter (building on Matthew Hallett's public comment)
In the room
Carter asked planning staff and the commissions to review it for the 2027 work plan.
What the record says
A lot already: up to four hens (no roosters), beehives by lot size, gardens permitted in every zoning district, boulevard trees with a City Forester permit, 205 city garden plots at $45, and enclosed backyard compost. Selling from home is the tight spot: Bloomington's home-business rules bar on-site sales.
