Council approves $154,740 study to prepare concept development plan for former Owens Nursery site

The Bloomington City Council voted Aug. 25 to amend the fiscal-year budget by $154,740 to fund a concept development plan for the former Owens Nursery property. Deputy City Manager Sue McLaughlin told the council staff issued a request for qualifications, received 10 proposals, interviewed three firms and selected a consultant team after a five-staff review process. "We're looking at sustainable site development, circulation, reuse of structures and space needs for the next 10 to 20 years," McLaughlin said.

The concept plan will analyze environmental conditions (including wetlands and a Phase I review the city previously completed), interview city staff who will use the campus, and evaluate potential reuses for buildings, stormwater detention, fleet and solid-waste operations and the citizen convenience center. McLaughlin said the consultant will provide concept floor plans, vehicle and equipment placement scenarios, recommendations on exterior materials and an estimated total project cost and schedule. Staff estimated the study will take about four months from the start date.

Finance staff told the council the $154,740 will be funded from the general fund balance and transferred through the capital projects fund; the deputy city manager said staff discussed the amount with the finance director before making the recommendation. "We did discuss this with Scott, our finance director, you know, as an expectation of around $150,000, and they think it will take about four months to complete from the date we start," McLaughlin said.

Council member Sandericks moved to approve the budget amendment; member Moseley seconded the motion. The clerk recorded no nays. The council also asked staff about access and circulation, including the possibility of a Mercer Street curb cut and whether the project would remove or reuse existing greenhouses; McLaughlin said greenhouses are being dismantled currently and that the concept plan will make reuse recommendations.

Why it matters: The campus will consolidate several city functions (streets and sewers, fleet, solid waste, the citizen convenience center and stormwater detention) and decisions on its layout will shape operations and capital costs for years. The study is intended to produce a roadmap for future design and construction.

What happens next: Staff will execute the contract, begin the four-month study, present concept plans and cost estimates to the council and return with recommendations for next steps and any required construction funding requests.