The Community Health and Wellness Center has its next item at City Hall. The City Council's Oct. 26 agenda includes a request to authorize an interconnection application and interconnection agreement with Xcel Energy for the building. It's listed under consent business, the batch of items the council usually passes in a single vote without discussion unless a member pulls one out. The agenda doesn't say what the agreement will connect, and it doesn't list a cost. The city's project page says the center is going for LEED certification and that the plans include solar panels.
There's also an opening date now. At the council's Oct. 19 budget study meeting, Parks and Recreation said the center is on track to open next fall. The department's budget shows its net general fund spending up 8.7%. Staff said most of that increase comes from moving the forestry fund into the general fund, not from new spending. The budget would also end the Bloomington Ice Garden's tax subsidy.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNParks and Recreation walks the council through its budget, including the end of the Ice Garden subsidy and next fall's opening for the center.10/19
Some residents are still unhappy with how the center is being built. 4 people spoke at the council's Sept. 28 public comment session. According to the council's own summary, Brian Emerson and Elizabeth Carbone spoke again about the center's construction, and Sally Ness spoke again about the Smith Park shared-use agreement. A first-time speaker criticized the city's process for reporting housing code violations. Public comment isn't an agenda item, so none of this went to a vote, and the council hasn't formally responded.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNThe council's recap of public comment: repeat speakers on the center's construction and on the Smith Park agreement.09/28
Here's how it got to this point. Voters approved a half-percent local sales tax for the center on Nov. 7, 2023, and the tax took effect April 1, 2024. The city estimates nonresidents will pay about 65% of it. The tax ends when the construction bonds are paid off, which the city says will take up to 20 years. In April 2025, Deputy Parks and Recreation Director Leah Hughes brought the design team before the council.
City of Bloomington@CityofBloomingtonMNLeah Hughes, the deputy parks director, introduces the design team before the council sees the center's plans.04/14
The city broke ground at 9801 Penn Ave. S on Oct. 14, 2025, started tearing down the old Creekside Community Center on Oct. 27 and finished on Nov. 21. The new building replaces Creekside and the Bloomington Public Health building. The city's latest progress report lists second-floor drywall and paint going up and first-floor walls being framed. Work on the swimming pool is still underway.
Next up is the Oct. 26 council meeting, which starts at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at Civic Plaza, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Road, with the Xcel agreement on consent. After that, the next date is the opening, next fall. Residents who want to raise the center or Smith Park can speak during public comment at any regular council meeting. We'll update this story if the council or staff respond formally, if the Smith Park agreement lands on an agenda, or if the opening date changes.
From the meetings: City Council Study Meeting, October 19, 2026 and City Council Meeting, September 28, 2026.
