The meeting took a turn with the introduction of Zach Walker, who began his role as Bloomington’s city manager just a day prior. Mayor Tim Busse expressed enthusiasm for Walker’s appointment, noting his extensive experience in local government, including a nine-year tenure as city manager in Independence, Missouri. A commissioner highlighted the historical support city managers have received from the council, encouraging Walker to develop ambitious projects. Discussions also touched on the importance of creative risk-taking in city development, referencing past successes like the Expo project. The welcoming sentiment from the commission suggested confidence in Walker’s potential to lead the city toward innovative growth.

Parallel to the introduction of the new city manager, the meeting focused heavily on the small business procurement program, particularly with the presentation by Evan Riccaboni, the newly appointed Small Business Procurement Program Coordinator. Riccaboni underscored the vital role of small businesses in Bloomington’s economy, citing that 71% of business owners reside in the city and have generated 63% of new private sector jobs since 2005. He presented a historical overview of the city’s efforts to strengthen equitable economic development, which began in 2022. Riccaboni highlighted the findings from the Joint Disparities Study, noting a significant gap in contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses. Specifically, only 6.4% of contracting dollars went to these businesses, despite their potential to secure 17.8%.

Riccaboni outlined strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing small business participation in city contracts. These included improving outreach efforts, utilizing a centralized certification network called CERT, and aligning contracting requirements to better accommodate small businesses. He also discussed the concept of a sheltered market, employed successfully in Hennepin County’s IT sector, which allows only certain certified businesses to bid on specific projects. Riccaboni’s immediate priorities include reviewing procurement processes to identify challenges for small businesses and creating resources to guide them through the process.

The commission expressed strong support for Riccaboni’s initiatives, acknowledging the challenges small businesses face in navigating large public organizations. One member noted that while the city had been attentive to major players, smaller businesses had not received equal attention. This sentiment was echoed with optimism for Riccaboni’s role in strengthening ties with the local business community.

Additionally, the meeting addressed the appointment of new legal counsel for the Port Authority, shifting from an interim agreement with Kennedy and Graven to a partnership with Q Tech Rock as special counsel. This transition aims to streamline processes and enhance the legal resources available to the Port Authority, with a five-year agreement subject to annual renewal. The city attorney’s office will continue to provide oversight to ensure continuity and risk mitigation.

The meeting also included a discussion on internal compliance with housing ordinances, exploring the potential need for external services to assist with ongoing reviews. A request was made to include property addresses in overhead maps for housing projects.

Other updates included creative placemaking initiatives, such as new art installations and the Hometown Poetry program at City Hall, which received recognition for advancing diversity and social change. A successful business forum held on October 1st was noted, with appreciation extended to economic development partners. The opening of Colonial Market in the South Loop was celebrated, recognized for its popular offerings.