Council holds second interviews for city manager finalists and directs consultant to begin negotiations; motion carries 4-3

The Bloomington City Council held a special meeting on Tuesday, July 15, to conduct second interviews with two finalists for city manager, Zach Walker and Kathy Hedin, then voted 4-3 to direct the city’s recruitment consultant and designated staff to begin contract negotiations with the council’s selected finalist and to pivot to the alternate if negotiations prove unsuccessful.

Why it matters: The city manager serves as Bloomington’s chief administrative officer. Council members and candidates framed the choice around competing priorities — continuity and internal relationships versus external experience in economic development and utilities — and cautioned that the next manager will immediately inherit multiple high‑profile projects and staff morale challenges.

During the meeting both finalists outlined their leadership priorities and answered council questions on management style, budgeting, equity and inclusion, housing, workforce stability and regional partnerships. Zach Walker — who discussed his experience in Independence and…