Council approves assessment rolls for nuisances, trees, weeds, utilities; pulls one civil-fine case for staff review

The Bloomington City Council on Sept. 8 adopted assessment rolls covering public nuisance abatement, tree removal, weed and brush removal, delinquent utility charges and civil fines for property-related violations. Council votes approved the assessment rolls; several technical details and a single contested property were handled separately.

City staff explained the five assessment categories and noted letters were mailed July 1 and unpaid cases advanced to the assessment roll after publication and administrative hearings. For public nuisance abatement, 14 properties totaling just under $6,000 were on the roll; one property owner appeared at the administrative hearing and staff recommended full assessment. The council closed the public hearing and adopted the public nuisance assessment roll; the vote carried 6-0 with one council member temporarily absent.

On tree removal assessments, staff reported six properties totaling roughly $28,000 across 3-, 5- and 10-year levy options; council approved the rolls for each term. The mayor disclosed he would abstain on one 5-year item because his address was on that list; the 5-year resolution passed with the mayor abstaining and a recorded 6-0 pass. Council adopted the 3- and 10-year roll approvals as well.

For weeds and brush, staff reported 49 properties and about $20,000 in assessments; one property was recommended by the administrative hearing officer for removal from assessment. Council closed the hearing and adopted the weeds-and-brush assessment roll 7-0.

On delinquent utility charges (water, sewer, stormwater, garbage, recycling and organics), staff said the current roll included 876 properties with unpaid balances totaling just under $1.1 million; no administrative hearings were requested for those accounts. The council adopted the utilities assessment roll 7-0.

During the civil fines and property-related violations hearing, one resident, Jeremy O'Deen of 8444 Emerson Ave. S., addressed the council and described difficulty completing a garage replacement amid permitting delays, weather and contractor issues. O'Deen said he had quotes and plans but could not complete work and requested compassion; he also described receiving imagery taken of his property that he found invasive.

After closing the public hearing, the council discussed process options and directed staff to adopt the assessment roll for the listed properties but to remove 8444 Emerson Ave. S. from certification to Hennepin County for now. The council directed staff to work with the resident, explore problem-solving options (including possible referrals to HRA home-improvement resources), and return to council with an update no later than the last meeting of September. The council then adopted the remainder of the civil-fine assessment roll; the motion carried 7-0 (excluding the pulled address). The city clerk will certify unpaid assessments to the county by December 3 unless adjustments are made per council direction.