9 items on the agenda · Bloomfield City Council
Every item on the Bloomfield City Council agenda, rewritten in plain language, with what it means for you and a one-minute way to tell them what you think.
Next council meeting
Wednesday, October 21
6:00 PM · City Hall + online
Written comments close Tue, Oct 20 at noon (in 6 days).
9
decisions coming up
1611
comments from neighbors
4
neighborhoods affected
7
council members to convince
A developer wants to build a 6-story apartment complex where the closed Kmart sits on Eastgate Blvd. One in four apartments would have to stay affordable for 55 years. The land is currently only allowed for shops, so the council has to change the zoning first.
Where: Eastgate · Cost: No city money. The developer pays $1.2M toward a new traffic light and sidewalks.
👍 132 support87 oppose 👎
The city's bus budget is short $2.1M because federal pandemic money ran out. To save $640K a year, weekend buses on Route 9 (Northpark to Downtown to the university) would run half as often, and two late-night routes would be merged.
Elm Street would get bike lanes separated from cars by curbs, plus wider sidewalks, from 2nd Ave to Riverside Dr. This vote pays engineers to finish the plans. Most of the money comes from a state grant. 38 street parking spots would go.
Where: Downtown · Cost: $412,000, mostly paid by a state grant (88%).
👍 96 support58 oppose 👎
Riverside and Northpark pools close at 6 PM today. This would keep them open until 9 PM every day from mid-June to the end of August, using money from the city's savings to hire more lifeguards.
Where: Riverside, Northpark · Cost: $185,000 one time, from city savings.
👍 158 support12 oppose 👎
Parking downtown would cost $1 more an hour, and you'd have to pay until 8 PM instead of 6 PM. The extra money (about $900K a year) can only be spent on downtown sidewalks, lighting and streets.
Where: Downtown · Cost: Raises about $900,000 a year for downtown improvements.
👍 38 support121 oppose 👎
Landlords could charge a deposit of no more than one month's rent (plus up to $300 for a pet). When you move out, they would have 21 days to give you a written list of anything they keep money for, with receipts.
Cameras would ticket drivers going 11+ mph over the limit near 5 elementary schools. The company running them gets paid from the fines. Photos must be deleted after 60 days unless someone fights the ticket.
Gas leaf blowers would be banned starting January 2028. A $250K rebate program would help, especially small landscaping companies, buy electric ones.
Where: Citywide · Cost: $250,000 one time, from the Climate Action Fund.
👍 64 support45 oppose 👎
Kids and teens aged 5 to 17 would ride all city buses for free for 2 years. The city and the school district would split the $310K yearly cost.
Where: Citywide · Cost: $310,000 a year, split with the school district.
👍 143 support22 oppose 👎
Pick a neighborhood. 4 more items affect the whole city.
Neighborhood
City Hall, Main Street shops and the busiest bus stops.
What the council voted on at its last meeting.