Bloomington, Minn. — The Bloomington City Council on Aug. 11 approved an employment agreement with Zach Walker to become the city’s new city manager, voting 6-1, with Council member Rivas opposed. The agreement sets Walker’s annual base salary at $253,250 and includes a $15,000 relocation stipend to help him move from Independence, Missouri.

Council members said the approved salary reflects changes in the regional market following repeal of Minnesota’s previous city-manager salary cap and is in line with pay for comparable Upper Midwest cities. Council member Wollman said the increase was unwelcome but unavoidable, noting, “It is high. Nobody wants to pay that. But, you know, this is the price of poker now.”

The council began its search after the city manager position became vacant earlier in 2025; the position was posted with a salary range of $240,000 to $290,000. A subcommittee of council members Carter, Muah and the mayor worked with a consultant to compare compensation with similar cities (West Des Moines; Peoria; Lee’s Summit; Fargo; Columbia, Mo.; Champaign; Cedar Rapids; Ann Arbor) and negotiated the agreement with Walker before the Aug. 11 meeting.

Key contract provisions noted by staff and council include a $15,000 relocation stipend, an annual base salary of $253,250 paid in the same installments as city employees, and customary items such as hours of work, indemnification, and professional association memberships. The agreement’s performance-evaluation schedule is described in paragraph 5: an evaluation in February 2026 and another in December 2026. Council discussion clarified that evaluations could lead to further action up to and including termination under the termination provisions described in paragraph 16, which distinguishes employer-initiated termination procedures and vote thresholds.

Council member D’Alessandro asked whether the contract included a probationary period; city staff pointed to the February 2026 evaluation as an intentional six-month check-in while noting the contract itself does not label that review as a formal “probationary period.” Council member Nelson observed the approved salary is toward the lower end of the $240,000–$290,000 range used in recruitment and estimated it represents roughly a 15% increase over the prior city manager’s pay.

Council member Moore moved to approve the employment agreement; Council member Lohman seconded. The motion passed 6-1 (Rivas opposed). The mayor thanked the subcommittee and staff; the council then moved on to the next agenda item.

The contract term runs through December 2026, making the initial term longer than a typical 12-month cycle because of the start date in 2025; the performance-evaluation timing was explained as a way to assess fit and progress before the regular year-end review cycle.