A Bloomington HRA commissioner, named in the meeting recording as Wooten (the audio is hard to make out), made a formal public declaration that they have applied for the city's rehabilitation loan program. The commissioner said they have reapplied 3 times over 3 years. The declaration was made under Minnesota Statutes 471.87 and 471.88, the state's conflict-of-interest law for local officials, according to the recording.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNCommissioner Wooten (Moot/Wooten, name garbled) made a required public declaration under Minnesota Statutes 471.87 and 471.88 disclosing that they have applied for a city rehabilitation loan program, noting they have reapplied three times over three years and received no special treatment.07/14
Here's why it had to be said out loud. Section 471.88 lists exceptions. One covers housing and redevelopment authority officers: an HRA that runs state or federal loan or grant programs can fund an officer's application, but only if the officer discloses it in the official minutes of a meeting and doesn't vote on their own application. A separate exception covers officers who apply for loans or grants from an HRA or similar local development group, and it also requires disclosure in the minutes of a public meeting.
The commissioner's role and the loan line up directly. The HRA administers the city's Home Improvement Loan Program. Its main rehab loan offers up to $50,000, plus up to $10,000 more for accessibility work. It charges 2% simple interest for the first 10 years and requires no monthly payments. The loan comes due when the home is sold, the mortgage is refinanced or the 30-year deferment ends. Borrowers must live in the home and generally earn at or below 80% of area median income. The home must be a single-family house, townhome or condo in Bloomington assessed at $500,000 or less.
The HRA has a board of commissioners. The mayor appoints them with the City Council's approval, and together they oversee the city's housing programs, this loan fund included. The disclosure doesn't suggest any wrongdoing. It's the step the law requires so an official's application is handled in public view and the official stays out of the vote on it.
Neighbors interested in the program should know the city's loan page currently says the HRA is not accepting new rehab loan applications. HRA staff can answer questions about eligibility and when the program might reopen at 952-563-8937 or [email protected]. The meeting record doesn't say whether the commissioner's latest application has been approved. Because the law requires them to abstain, any future board action on it should show them sitting out the vote.
From the meeting: Housing and Redevelopment Authority Meeting, July 14, 2026.
