Bloomington residents and energy stakeholders, prepare your comments and concerns. The City Council has announced a public hearing for July 14 at 6:30 p.m., where they will deliberate on an ordinance that could shake up the franchise fees currently imposed on Xcel Energy. These fees are tied to the company's right to transmit and supply electric power within the city limits, a matter detailed under Chapter 20, Section 20.66 of the Bloomington City Code. The proposed modifications and the potential impacts on fees and service charges are up for discussion, as detailed in a recent notice by the City of Bloomington.
If you're looking to participate, there are multiple avenues open to you. For those who like to look their council members in the eye, you can attend the meeting in person at the Bloomington Civic Plaza. Alternatively, the session will be broadcast on BTV and streamed on the city's YouTube channel for those who prefer the comfort of their homes. Phone-in participation is also catered for; just dial the number provided, enter the access code and password, and hit *3 to queue up for your turn to step into the proverbial ring.
Those with thoughts but lacking the time for live engagement can take a more preemptive approach. The city encourages you to drop your advance testimony via voicemail or email by 2 p.m. on the day of the meeting. When you craft your correspondence, be sure to reference the agenda item number and title—don't forget to throw in your contact info just in case there's a need for follow-up.
Dive into the fine print before the meeting by checking out the whole draft of the proposed ordinance, accessible during regular hours at the Finance Department, or simply thumb through it online. Anyone needing additional clarity or wanting to lob in their two cents ahead of time can reach out to Lori Economy-Scholler, the city's Chief Financial Officer. A detailed briefing on your potential costs or the city's rationale behind any changes could be just a phone call or an email away.
