Shawn Nelson

City Council · Monday, October 12, 2026

Council approves expanded Axon contract adding drone-as-first-responder program

The council approved expanding the city's existing Axon police technology contract to add drones that respond to emergency calls, plus translation and dispatch tools.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, October 12, 2026

Council adopts 2026 street reconstruction assessments; payoff window runs to Nov. 24

The council approved the 2026 street reconstruction assessments; property owners can prepay with no interest until Nov. 24, and any unpaid balance moves to property taxes over 10 years at 5.5% interest starting in May 2027.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, October 12, 2026

Council approves 9-home James Avenue City Homes rezoning on 5-2 votes

The council approved rezoning two lots on James Avenue so nine small detached homes can be built, with homes capped at 40 feet tall and a construction plan for the neighbors.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 5 to 2)

City Council · Monday, October 12, 2026

Council cuts off-street parking minimums and allows six vehicles outside homes

The council lowered how many parking spaces new developments must build, with bigger cuts in key development areas, and now allows up to six vehicles parked outside the garage at houses and duplexes instead of four.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 28, 2026

Council renames stub of Hopkins Road to Mission Road, effective after election

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.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 5 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 28, 2026

Zoning change lets dance studio and other athletic training facilities into FD-2 district

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.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 5 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 28, 2026

Annual zoning cleanup approved, including allowing sheep as well as goats for grazing

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.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 5 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 28, 2026

New rules on cannabis odor, auto detailing, trailer parking and tree preservation adopted

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

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 5 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 14, 2026

Retired planning commissioner appointed to Merit Board after member's death

The council appointed a former Bloomington planning commissioner to the Merit Board through December 31, 2026, filling the seat left by a longtime member who died.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 14, 2026

Advisory Board of Health bylaw changes pass 6-1

The council approved new rules for how the Advisory Board of Health operates.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 6 to 1)

City Council · Monday, September 14, 2026

Council sets 6.64% preliminary 2027 tax levy, adopts $129.9M general fund budget

The council set a preliminary 2027 city tax levy of $100.2 million, a 6.64% increase that can still go down but not up before final approval in December. It also adopted a $129.9 million preliminary 2027 general fund budget and a non-binding conceptual 2028 budget.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 14, 2026

Council adopts delinquent utility and tree removal assessment rolls; resident pitches lawn-conversion relief

The council voted to add unpaid water, sewer, garbage and other utility bills, and city tree-removal costs, to the affected owners' property taxes. Tree-removal costs can be paid over 3, 5 or 10 years.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, September 14, 2026

Council waives leaf-bag removal charge for resident who was abroad caring for dying mother

The council approved this year's charges for cleaning up nuisance properties, but dropped the $155 leaf-bag removal charge for a resident who was abroad caring for his dying mother.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, August 31, 2026

Council approves Bloomshine Village Town Homes on 6-1 votes after developer trims project to 30 units

The council approved rezoning six single-family lots on East 86th and East 87th Streets and the plans and lot split for 30 townhomes, after the developer cut the project from 33 units.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 6 to 1)

City Council · Monday, August 31, 2026

City can now donate surplus equipment and keep unclaimed cash after 90 days

The council changed city code so the city can donate surplus equipment to nonprofits and keep unclaimed cash after 90 days, with owners able to get it back within six months, and adopted the donation policy state law requires.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)

City Council · Monday, August 31, 2026

Council meets privately on litigation strategy over federal rulemaking

The council met privately with its lawyers about legal strategy over federal rulemaking, then authorized the mayor, city manager, and city attorney to act on what was discussed.

Shawn voted: Yes (the vote was 7 to 0)