admin_v3_pages

age_question

analytics

archival_summary_mailer

brainstormer_emails

brainstormer_upgrades

campaign_monitor

chain_mailers

collect_only_year

consultation_hub

content_security_policy

content_security_policy_bazaar

content_security_policy_bluehaven

content_security_policy_report_only

content_security_policy_report_only_bazaar

content_security_policy_report_only_bluehaven

content_security_policy_strict

cookie_policy

custom_code

custom_js_tracking

dashboard

dashboard_filters_visibility

demographic_filter_text_analysis

digest_email_subscription

disable_akismet

disable_engagement_depth_query_optimization

disable_facebook_sdk

disable_google_analytics

disable_twitter_widget

disable_user_analytics_tracking

disallow_platform_admin_access

drip_campaigns

emoji_question

enable_active_directory_signup

enable_auto_hide_past_key_dates

enable_ehq_newsletter

enable_email_sharing_snippet

enable_froala_participant_css

enable_market_place

enable_material_sidebar

enable_modelled_data_age

enable_modelled_data_location

enable_newsfeed_date_settings

enable_participant_page_hub_filters

enable_pfe_authentication

enable_pfe_ideas

enable_pfe_survey

enable_reporting_filter_builder

enable_secret_key_question

enable_site_onboarding

enable_site_recaptcha

enable_static_page_question

enable_stock_image_library

enforce_sso

enhanced_skip_to_menu

enhanced_social_share

enhancements_on_places

esri_places_migration

follow_project_widget

forum_topic_optimization

full_page_graphs_in_reporting

google_translation_enabled

gov_delivery_integration

gov_delivery_integration_registered_user

granicus_sso

hide_participant_details_survey_analysis_pdf

homepage_upgrades

html_emails

hub_admin

hubs_on_new_appearance_editor

idea-tool-unverified-participation

idea_unverified_participation

ideas_tool_builder

image_editor

imgix_for_homepages

imgix_for_project_pages

intercom

load_theme_css_first

location_question

mailchimp

mapboxgl

marketplace_sms_integration

matomo_tracking

mentions

microcopy_overrides

modelled_data_ethnicity_field

modelled_data_gender_field

multi_level_links

multilingual_admin_interface

new_badge_paradigm

new_comment_feature

new_cookie_consent_manager

new_login_page_design

new_mapper

new_project_pages

new_story_telling_tool

new_surveys

new_user_profile

newsletter_tracking_code

notifications

open_documents_inline

open_survey

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overview_dashboard_sharing

participants_page_revamp

pfe_header_v2

pfe_share_ideas_board

places_engagement_banner

places_ui_upgrades

places_upgrade

port_project_to_bluehaven

prevent-protected-projects-in-catalogs

privacy_and_security

project_clone

project_finder_embed

project_page_editor

project_page_refresh

project_settings

project_sharing

project_tag_manager

project_tags_filters

protected_hubs_on_new_appearance_editor

quickpoll_share_link

readspeaker

registration_upgrades

render_site_header_in_places

report_download_confirmation

reporting_dashboard_optimised

reporting_dashboard_v2

reporting_ui

revamped_video_player

saved_filter_dashboard_sharing

scim_toggle

segment_analytics

segment_analytics_admin

segment_analytics_participant

self_service_hubs

shapefile_support_for_places

show_advance_search_text_analysis

show_bar_graph_for_checkbox_questions

show_context_link_analytics

show_css_overrides_editor_in_new_home_page_editor

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show_split_data_for_likert_questions

show_table_for_ranking_questions

show_theme_variables

single-signon

social_share_modal

sorting_qanda_question

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submission_manager

submission_manager_places_photo_support

survey_analysis

survey_cross_tab

survey_qp_disable_unverified

survey_share_link

switch_to_admin_ui

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text_analysis

text_analysis_2023

text_analysis_2023_sentiment_analysis

text_analysis_2024_entities

text_analysis_2024_keyphrases

text_analysis_v2

token_management

tool_enhancements

tool_tab_preview

tools_listing

unsplash_support_for_project_pages

upgraded_homepage_editor

upgraded_rich_text_editor

user_imports

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v1_reports

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walkme

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widget_scoping

Welcome to Let&#39;s Talk Bloomington, the City of Bloomington&#39;s website for community conversations. Select the boxes below to learn about projects and conversations taking place in Bloomington. &nbsp;Register to stay up to date on ways to participate.

Welcome to Let's Talk Bloomington

A collection of projects including traffic, transportation, constructions, lakes and natural resources and utilities.

Public Works

Engagement and Information on Bloomington Forward Projects and Park Master Plan projects. 

Parks and Recreation

Learn what is new in our sustainability and solid waste divisions.

Sustainability and Solid Waste Management

<hr>BackgroundIn 2016, the Bloomington City Council implemented the use of Franchise Fees to preserve and expand its Pavement Management Program (PMP). City Council is committed to maintaining a sustainable and consistent funding source for PMP Street Overlays, Seal Coating, Park Trail and Right of Way (ROW) Trail and Sidewalk Construction and Maintenance, which are the components of the PMP Program that franchise fees currently fund. This also includes upgrading trails and sidewalks to be ADA accessible as projects are completed.What is a Franchise Fee and how is it associated with City right-of-way?Cities hold right-of-way as an asset in trust for its citizens. In order to properly care for and manage this important public asset, cities adopt ordinances and regulate the use of and access to the right-of-way. Adopting a right-of-way management ordinance gives cities authority to take advantage of management rights granted to cities under state law. One of those right-of-way management rights is allowing the use of franchise fees. Minnesota State Statutes allow for the city to impose a fee on a utility company for its use of publicly owned right-of-way. These funds are collected from all commercial and industrial businesses, tax exempt properties and residents in Bloomington and are used to fund the street and trail systems.What have Franchise Fees been used for since implementation in 2016?Refer to the maps below that show the street sealcoats, overlays and trail/sidewalk reconstruction that have been completed since 2016, utilizing franchise fee revenue to cost effectively keep the city&rsquo;s infrastructure in good working condition as part of the PMP program.Three images follow. They are jpeg files and not ADA accessible. Click images to enlarge as a PDF. <div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://letstalk.bloomingtonmn.gov/11805/widgets/62021/documents/40951"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-us-california/6a72bcd8f08fccdfa3d81704f2675064cbeba4a3/original/1741991303/8c27fce653f364f041ccc90e9d7a2653_Sealcoat_2016_2024.jpg?1741991303" alt="Picture of map of 2016-2024 sealcoat street segments.">Picture of map of 2016-2024 sealcoat street segments.</a> </div><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://letstalk.bloomingtonmn.gov/11805/widgets/62021/documents/40952"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-us-california/a0e8db6068d452e6d8239fc53b926e98d91cd89e/original/1741991320/c1754c20aa7a835cafe229295a6a29df_TrailRcon_2016_2024.jpg?1741991320" alt="Picture of map showing Right of Way trails and sidewalks in blue and Parks trails and sidewalks in red.">Picture of map showing Right of Way trails and sidewalks in blue and Parks trails and sidewalks in red.</a> </div><div class="fr-img-space-wrap"><a href="https://letstalk.bloomingtonmn.gov/11805/widgets/62021/documents/40953"><img src="https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/ehq-production-us-california/95a0a5873f4ce77c3c89e8b2b700778d76128655/original/1741991349/0859465b799044aeb0d095c61764dfd5_Overlays_2016_2024.jpg?1741991349" alt="Picture of map with 2016-2024 overlay street segments">Picture of map with 2016-2024 Overlay street segments.</a> Current Status</div>When Bloomington City Council initiated the collection of these fees in early 2016 it was anticipated that an increase in fees would occur in 2020 to be implemented in January 1, 2021 and would be reviewed every two years starting in 2020. Due to the financial impact of COVID 19 a one-year delay was imposed. City Council approved a rate increase in July 2021. This rate increase was implemented on January 1, 2022, and was the first rate increase since the program began. The City reviews the rate every two years and an additional rate increase was implemented on January 1, 2024. City staff is currently reviewing the funding rates and project needs and will be bringing forward to City Council for approval. This also includes the possibility of adding a retaining wall and sustainability component to Franchise Fee funding. Retaining WallsThe City is responsible for the maintenance of all retaining walls within City right of way and routinely maintain or replace walls that reached the end of their useful life. Currently, retaining wall work is funded by the City&#39;s General Fund and typically covers small wall repairs and maintenance or is carried over from year to year to fund larger wall replacements. City staff is proposing to supplement the funding received from the general fund with an additional amount allocated from franchise fees to allow the continued replacement of walls that are reaching the end of their usable life and allow the proper maintenance of existing walls.Residential Energy Did you know that over half of the energy used in Minnesota homes goes towards heating and cooling? Without proper insulation and air sealing homes can be costly to heat and cool. Unfortunately about 90% of Bloomington&#39;s single family homes were built before there was an energy code requiring insulation. Data collected from <a href="https://www.mncee.org/home-energy-squad" target="_blank">utility energy audits</a> and the City&#39;s <a href="https://www.mncee.org/energy-disclosure?about" target="_blank">Time of Sale Energy Disclosure Program</a> show over half of Bloomington&#39;s homes are under-insulated. Investing in energy efficiency upgrades, such as adding insulation and air sealing is the most cost-effective way to lower residents&#39; monthly energy bills. In addition to lowering bills, air sealing and insulation with proper ventilation can also improve a home&#39;s:<ul type="disc"><li>comfort by minimizing drafts</li><li>safety by keeping indoor air temperatures at recommended levels</li><li>air quality by reducing the chance of ice dams and water damage to a home&#39;s structure, minimizing the growth of mold</li></ul>City staff is proposing to provide a residential energy loan program to assist 1-4 unit homes and multifamily buildings to complete energy efficiency projects such as adding insulation to help lower the cost of monthly energy bills. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/I2zoimzDqxs?&wmode=opaque&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe>Business EnergyOn average,<a href="https://www.energystar.gov/ia/partners/publications/pubdocs/C+I_brochure.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> 30 percent </a>of the energy used in commercial buildings is wasted due to inefficiencies. This wasted energy leads to higher natural gas and electricity bills. About 2/3 of the energy used in Bloomington goes towards fueling commercial and industrial buildings. By investing in energy efficiency upgrades businesses and organizations can save money, increase building comfort, and reduce environmental impact.Proposed fee changeThe maximum proposed increase would be $0.93 per month for residential properties which would result in a monthly charge of $6.88 on residents&rsquo; electric bill and $6.88 on the gas bill. The increase would fund the addition of retaining walls and sustainability efforts to the program. Next Steps<ul><li>April 17, 2025 at 5:00-6:00pm<ul><li>Open House at Rehearsal Hall in Bloomington Civic Plaza</li></ul></li><li>April 21, 2025<ul><li>City Council study session</li></ul></li><li>May 19, 2025 at 6:30pm<ul><li>City Council to hold Public Hearing</li></ul></li><li>May&ndash;July 2025<ul><li>90-day period for utilities and Public Utilities Commission to process the request and prepare for collection of fees</li></ul></li><li>January 1, 2026<ul><li>New franchise fee rates go into effect</li></ul></li></ul>

Franchise Fee Update Spring 2025

2025 Franchise Fee Poll