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Bloomington is a popular destination to live, work, shop, play and raise a family. As the city grows and evolves, Bloomington needs to continue making investments in community amenities that bring residents together and enhance their quality of life.

After more than two years of gathering input from community members, the City developed a long-term investment plan, Bloomington Forward, that would support three major community projects for better health, wellness, athletics, recreation and improved natural areas. On Tuesday, November 7, Bloomington voters will consider a half-percent local option sales tax to finance $159 million in bonds to pay for the three projects. They include:

Creekside Community Center and Public Health building replacement

Need: These obsolete buildings do not meet the needs of the communities they serve.

Benefits: Combining them into a new community health and wellness center would provide a more effective environment to deliver vital health, fitness and recreational services as well as social activities. The new facility would be located where Creekside is now at 9801 Penn Avenue South.

Cost: $101.8 million. (The City has already received approval of $1.8 million from the State of Minnesota for predesign work.)

Bloomington Ice Garden upgrade

Need: This popular facility needs modernization and major updates to mechanical systems, including refrigeration for all three ice sheets.

Benefits: The upgrade would improve guest experience and make it possible to continue ice rental and hosting dozens of tournaments and figure skating events annually.

Cost: $37.27 million. (The City has already received approval of $2.27 million from the State of Minnesota for predesign work.)

Nine Mile Creek corridor renewal

Need: The Nine Mile Creek corridor is vulnerable. If approved, the sales tax would provide critical investments to enhance and preserve the corridor by restoring riverbanks, wetlands and wooded areas, protecting habitat, and removing invasive species. Other improvements would include outdoor recreation amenities, such as the outdoor gathering space at Moir Park, and improved accessibility.

Benefits: Any investment to enhance trail access needs to be balanced with the commitment to preserve the corridor and protect the safety and enjoyment of all users. If funding is approved by voters in November, residents would be engaged to help determine the exact improvements for the corridor.

Cost: $20 million.

For more information, visit bloomingtonforward.org.

Belgrade, Serbia will host the Expo with the theme of "Play for Humanity - Sport and Music for All."

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Bloomington lost out on its bid to host the 2027 World's Fair Expo to Belgrade, Serbia.

The Bureau International des Expositions announced the news in a tweet just before 6:30 a.m. Wednesday. The Minnesota city placed third behind Belgrade, Serbia and Málaga, Spain.

Serbia's theme for the Expo is "Play for Humanity - Sport and Music for All." Their submission explains that this theme would explore play as a tool to build resilience in a difficult world.

Cities in Argentina and Thailand were the other finalists to host the Expo.

Bloomington's plan had been to host it near the Mall of America in the South Loop District. If Minnesota would have prevailed, officials expected the event to generate 17,000 jobs, $364 million in local state and federal tax revenue, and an economic impact of about $2 billion.

Bloomington's proposed theme was "Healthy People, Healthy Planet." Minnesota USA Expo 2027 CEO John Stanoch said that a delegation of civic and elected leaders spent months courting - and counting - potential votes, and they went into the day optimistic that the bid had a strong chance of winning.

"We were disappointed and somewhat surprised," he said. "We expected that we would move into the final two, with Spain, but that was not the case and that's a great disappointment."

Because the votes were anonymous, leaders aren't sure which of the 150+ countries changed their votes, despite written and/or verbal commitments.

"We were optimistic going into it," said Bloomington mayor Tim Busse. "But it's a secret ballot and no matter what folks tell you, you can't be sure one way or another how they're going to vote."

Busse says his disappointment doesn't just stem from the fact that the plans in the bid will never materialize, it's also that the city spent more than four years waiting to develop a prime area around the Mall of America.

Kent Erdahl: "So where does that leave us? Where does that leave this?"

Mayor Busse: "The best thing about what we did with the Expo was we exposed Bloomington, Minnesota to an international development community. All of this is basically a blank canvas for us. We've got the light rail, we've got the airport, the freeways, there are folks who have come forward and we were holding off, because of the Expo, and those conversations have already started."

One of those conversations revolves around a massive $250 million indoor waterpark proposed by the owners of the Mall of America back in 2019. At the time, the Bloomington City Council committed 7.5 million dollars to help move it forward, before the Expo bid came into play.

Busse: "They are still looking at that possibility to develop it in that way. We've also heard from many other folks with different ideas, a variety of different things in the hospitality industry and beyond, that are all possibilities here in the South Loop."

Erdahl: "Any chance the city is going to redouble its efforts and put another bid forward down the line?"

Busse: "Not that I've heard. I don't know that we would want to wait another four or five or ten years trying to get another Expo, trying to figure out the next steps there."

Erdahl: "Time to break some ground?"

Busse: "We're past time to break ground. There's got to be a better and higher use than a surface parking lot here."

Minneapolis Regional Chamber President & CEO Jonathan Weinhagen acknowledged the disappointment that comes with not winning the bid, but says the effort will have big-picture benefits just the same.

“We were proud to carry the official bid on behalf of the United States and we greatly appreciate the support from the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the Governor’s Office and the Expo’s many corporate and business supporters," said Weinhagen. "Our work together showed that Minnesota is worthy of the global spotlight. We made global connections that will continue to highlight our state as a desirable destination for tourism, business, and investment.”

In 2017, Minnesota also submitted a World's Fair bid on behalf of the country and lost out to Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The last time the United States hosted the World's Fair was in 1984 in New Orleans.

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Minnesota’s bid to host a world expo event in Bloomington in 2027 has fallen short.

Voters at a Bureau of International Expositions meeting in Paris on Wednesday awarded the 2027 gathering to Belgrade, Serbia — which proposed an expo focused on sports and music.

The U.S. bid for a so-called “specialized expo” had proposed a global health and wellness-focused gathering in Bloomington, near the Mall of America. It came in third in the initial round of voting on Wednesday, before being eliminated in a third round of balloting.

Belgrade and Malaga, Spain, were the two finalists.

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“While we’re disappointed that we will not have the opportunity to host the world this time, we congratulate Serbia on their successful bid for Expo 2027. We know that they will create a memorable Expo experience,” Bob Clark, co-chairperson of the Minnesota USA World Expo bid committee, said in a news release after the vote. “While Minnesota may not have been chosen as the host, we are incredibly proud of the effort, passion, and commitment that went into our bid.”

Ted Johnson was a senior advisor to the U.S. bid effort and told MPR News that while it was unsuccessful, the state will still benefit. He said it exposed diplomats and business leaders from around the world to Minnesota, its culture and economy.

“During that process, we’re able to not only talk to them about where Minnesota is on a map, but more importantly, what are the values that drive us, who we are as a people — and the business and cultural opportunities,” he said. “(We were) able to brand Minnesota around the world as this health care hub, home to Medical Alley, home to the Mayo Clinic, home to a whole host of great Minnesota companies.”

Minnesota lost a previous expo bid, very similar to its most recent proposal, in 2017. In the immediate aftermath of Wednesday’s vote, Johnson said it was unclear whether the state will make another bid to host an expo that would be held in 2032.

“It’s really hard to say today when we’re, you know, three to five to six years out from the beginning of the next process, whether or not there’ll be that passion or that interest to pursue,” he said. “I would defer that to the future generation of Twin Cities leaders and what they decide in a couple of years.”

Minnesota lawmakers had set aside $5 million to help local organizers pull off the 2023 expo, had Bloomington been selected as the host city. It would have gone toward planning, staffing and city costs.

The budget measure included contingency language in the event the bid was not successful. Instead, that money will flow to the Minnesota Investment Fund, an account that helps finance business expansions that carry the promise of high-quality jobs.

MPR News reporter Brian Bakst contributed to this report.

The City of Bloomington is a popular destination to live, work, shop, play and raise a family. As our city grows and evolves, Bloomington needs to continue making investments in community amenities that bring residents together and enhance their quality of life. After more than two years of gathering input from residents, the City of Bloomington developed a long-term investment plan, called Bloomington Forward, that would support three major community projects for better health, wellness, athletics, recreation and improved natural areas.

On Tuesday, November 7, Bloomington voters will consider a half-percent local option sales tax to finance $155 million in bonds to pay for the projects as part of a citywide referendum. Because this is an important community decision, a website, bloomingtonforward.org, was created to provide Bloomington residents details and resources about the projects to make an informed vote on or before November 7.

The plan

Guided by feedback from residents, the City has put forward a $159 million investment plan to build a new community health and wellness center, support major renovations at Bloomington Ice Garden, and provide new amenities and habitat restoration along the Nine Mile Creek Corridor. The City will ask residents to consider a half-percent local option sales tax to finance the Bloomington Forward plan with a separate ballot question for each of the three projects. If approved, the sales tax would generate up to $155 million dollars for the three investment projects over a 20-year period. The remaining four million dollars for the projects would be provided by the State of Minnesota.

The plan focuses on three major community projects that support health, wellness, athletics and recreation:

Build a new community health and wellness center

The single building would replace the outdated Bloomington Public Health and Creekside Community Center buildings. Potential amenities planned include: gymnasiums, an indoor walking/jogging track, indoor playground, supervised child play area, exercise spaces and fitness studios, multi-purpose rooms for community events, spaces to support senior programming, a pool with family locker rooms, public health programming, exam and counseling rooms, a lobby and reception area, and Public Health and Parks and Recreation offices.

Why now?

Due to age, the Public Health and Creekside Community Center buildings are no longer functional. Both facilities are more than 60 years old. Estimated renovation costs exceed the cost to build new.

Why it matters

A new community health and wellness center would feature three times as much space as the current Creekside and Public Health buildings.

Cost: $101.8 million

Renovate the 50-year-old Bloomington Ice Garden

Bloomington Ice Garden (BIG) needs new refrigeration and mechanical systems, improved accessibility, a new roof and more to improve guest experience.

Why now?

The BIG building is in need of major upgrades. Along with aging mechanical systems, the ice rinks use R-22 refrigerant, which is being phased out due to its ozone-depleting properties. Currently, to remain operational BIG must use recovered, recycled or reclaimed R-22, which is increasingly expensive and harder to get.

Why it matters

Bloomington Ice Garden is a destination for hockey and skating enthusiasts and draws many visitors to the city. The proposed upgrades will improve accessibility, bring the facility up to current building standards and enhance guest experiences.

Cost: $37.2 million

Enhance and protect the Nine Mile Creek corridor and Moir/Central Park

This project would improve trails, restore riverbanks, protect habitats and add new park amenities to support outdoor recreation. Planned improvements include 12,000 feet of stream restoration, 131 acres of woodland and wetland restoration, invasive species prevention, new outdoor gathering space with restrooms, new playground and shelter building, ADA accessibility improvements, trail widening, a new boardwalk connecting to Moir/Central Park, seven new trail bridges within Central Park and 12,400 feet of new trails.

Why now?

To ensure the Nine Mile Creek corridor and Moir/Central Park continue to connect residents to nature and outdoor activities, eroded riverbanks need to be restored, natural habitats must be protected, and parks and trails should be improved for expanded for hiking and biking opportunities.

Why it matters

The Nine Mile Creek corridor is a popular destination for residents and visitors alike. It also includes several acres of “remnant prairie” that predate human settlement and require careful upkeep to maintain their health.

Cost: $20 million

The cost

In May 2023, Bloomington received legislative authorization to present voters with a referendum to fund the investments included in the Bloomington Forward plan via a half-percent local sales tax. If the sales tax is approved, an estimated 67% of the tax will be paid by nonresidents, according to research by the University of Minnesota. That means nonresidents will contribute an estimated $104 million toward the projects. The local option sales tax has the same exemptions for purchases as the state sales tax, including groceries, clothing, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, feminine hygiene products and baby products. In comparison, if the project was paid for with property tax revenue, the cost burden would fall on Bloomington residents and property owners in the city.

Why fund with a sales tax and not a property tax?

When cities need to invest in their facilities, they generally have two options to raise the funds: a sales tax or a property tax. In May 2023, Bloomington received legislative authorization to present voters with a referendum to fund Bloomington Forward investments through a half-percent local sales tax. Here is how the sales tax compares to the property tax alternative.

Ballot question: What the vote means

If one, two, or all three questions are approved by the voters, the City is only authorized to impose a half cent (0.5%) sales tax increase for a maximum of 20 years or until enough sales tax revenue has been raised to pay for the costs of the voter-approved projects.

Residents can vote early through November 6 and on Election Day

Bloomington residents have the option to vote early in person or early by mail starting September 22 through November 6. Residents may also vote in person on Election Day, November 7.

How, when and where to vote

Early and in-person voting begins September 22, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at Bloomington Civic Plaza, 1800 West Old Shakopee Road. Additional hours will be offered Saturday, November 4, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., and Monday, November 6, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Early, mail-in absentee ballots are issued by Hennepin County. To request a mailed ballot, visit hennepin.us/elections. Mailed ballots can be returned to Hennepin County through the mail or returned in person at Civic Plaza. Mail-in ballots must be received by 8 p.m., on Election Day, November 7.

In person on Election Day, November 7, residents can vote at their polling place. Bloomington has 31 polling places. Where to vote is determined by the voter’s street address. Residents can find their polling location at mnvotes.gov.

Ballot preview

Bloomington uses ranked choice voting so voters can rank multiple candidates in order of preference. Using ranked choice voting, the primary and general elections are combined into one voting event. This year, voters will select their first-choice candidate, their second-choice and possibly third-choice for Bloomington’s mayor, council members in all four districts, city council member at-large and city council member at-large (two-year term) candidates. School Board members are also on the ballot but are not ranked choice.

Bloomington residents will also consider a half-percent local option sales tax to finance $155 million in bonds to pay for three projects as part of a citywide referendum. Questions on the ballot will ask about building a new community health and wellness center, renovating the 50-year-old Bloomington Ice Garden, and enhancing and protecting the Nine Mile Creek Corridor and Moir and Central Parks. Detailed information about the projects is available at bloomingtonforward.org.

To view a sample ballot, visit myballotmn.sos.state.mn.us. For more information about voting in Bloomington, visit blm.mn/vote.