Bloomington's 2027-2036 Capital Improvement Plan has passed its last review before the council vote. On Oct. 29 the Planning Commission voted 3-1 on a resolution finding that the combined 10-year plan complies with the Bloomington 2040 comprehensive plan. State law requires that check. Staff stressed what the vote does not do: putting a project on the list does not approve it or pay for it.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff explain why state law sends the capital plan to the Planning Commission and what the commission's finding does and doesn't do.10/29
Commissioner Coleman objected to the plan's largest item, a parking ramp in the South Loop for the proposed Mall of America water park. The commission's figures put the ramp at about $75 million. Roughly $45 million would come from future tax increment revenue bonds and about $30 million from money left over in the original Mall of America TIF districts. That explains the smaller number from earlier in the month: $45 million is only the bond portion.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNA commissioner questions the water park ramp, and the full funding picture comes out: TIF bonds plus leftover Mall of America TIF money.10/29
If you haven't followed this before: every year the city rewrites its 10-year list of expensive projects, from sewer mains and streets to park fields and city buildings. The council got its first look at this draft on Oct. 19. City facilities are the biggest category at more than $300 million. Next come surface transportation at about $275 million, sewer, water and storm projects at $177 million, and the South Loop.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff walk the council through the draft plan's category totals, with city facilities at the top.10/19
At that meeting the ramp drew questions. A council member brought concerns from residents. Staff said the ramp would be paid for through Port Authority tax increment financing, with no property tax levy planned.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff answer residents' questions about the ramp: TIF pays for it, no levy is planned, and no water park means no ramp.10/19
Three other projects are coming up soon. Staff said construction on a fire station rebuild is expected in 2027, and its zoning approvals could reach the Planning Commission before the end of this year. The Dwan golf course clubhouse would be replaced around 2028.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff run through the plan's biggest near-term building projects and when each could come up for its own approvals.10/29
A new animal shelter is also planned for 2028. For years the replacement was pegged at about $5 million, and the draft now carries $7 million. Staff called the higher figure a cushion against uncertain costs and said a feasibility study is underway.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNStaff explain the jump in the shelter estimate, and the police chief says the department will chase outside money.10/19
The plan follows the same calendar every year. Last year the council heard the 2026-2035 draft on Oct. 20, 2025, then held the public hearing on Dec. 8, 2025, and adopted the plan that night. The commission is also rewriting the comprehensive plan this year: the Bloomington 2050 update was on the same Oct. 29 agenda.
The plan is still a draft, and the numbers can change before adoption. The council takes it up Monday, Dec. 7, at its 6:30 p.m. meeting at Civic Plaza, with a public hearing and then a vote on adoption. The same meeting includes the Truth in Taxation hearing on the 2027 levy and budget.
If you want to argue for or against anything on the list, whether the ramp, the shelter or your own street, the Dec. 7 hearing is the formal place to do it. You can send questions before then to the city's Finance Department at 952-563-8790 or finance@BloomingtonMN.gov.
From the meetings: Planning Commission Meeting, October 29, 2026 and City Council Study Meeting, October 19, 2026.
