The Bloomington City Council has selected Zach Walker to be its next city manager. Walker has nearly two decades of executive level local government experience, most recently serving as city manager of Independence, the fifth largest city in Missouri. 

“Independence shares a lot in common with Bloomington,” Mayor Tim Busse said. “Zach brings an impressive resume and a lot of accomplishments to the table. I’m excited for the community to get to know him.” 

In Independence, Walker oversees a full-service city of more than 1,200 employees and a $454 million budget. He has led major initiatives focused on strategic planning, fiscal discipline, organizational modernization and inclusive community development.

Walker has championed transformational projects including a $1 billion industrial development, a $36 million commercial redevelopment, and the first Comprehensive Development Plan update in 25 years. He led the creation of the City’s first Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and implemented its inaugural Tourism Master Plan. Other major accomplishments include completing more than $70 million in capital improvements, launching a citywide housing study, and expanding mental health and homelessness outreach services through innovative partnerships.

“I’m honored to join the City of Bloomington as its next city manager. This is a vibrant, forward-thinking community with a strong sense of civic pride and shared purpose,” Walker said. “I look forward to working alongside the City Council, dedicated City staff, and engaged residents to build on Bloomington’s many strengths, foster inclusive growth, and deliver high-quality services that support a thriving, welcoming city for all. I’m excited to get started and to become part of a community that clearly cares deeply about its future.” 

Walker began his career in the Missouri House of Representatives and the Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission before completing the Cookingham-Noll Fellowship with the City of Kansas City, Missouri. He joined Independence in 2012, rising from internal auditor to assistant city manager before becoming city manager in 2016. He holds a master of public affairs from the University of Missouri, is an ICMA-Credentialed Manager, and currently serves as President of the Missouri City/County Management Association.

Zach Walker's first day as Bloomington’s city manager was Monday, October 20.  

What is Metro micro?

The Bloomington area Metro micro service is a shared-ride transit service provided by Metro Transit. It uses ADA-accessible minibuses to provide door-to-door service to people within the Metro micro zone in Bloomington.

Fares range from $1 to $3.25. 

Riders book a ride through the Metro micro app or by calling 651-602-1170, and a minibus will provide curb-to-curb service within the designated Bloomington zone. Download the free app on the App Store or Google Play.

The service also offers free transfers to bus service, good for 2.5 hours, for destinations outside the Bloomington service zone (see map below).

Minibuses are ADA-accessible, equipped with bike racks, and typically arrive within 20 minutes of booking. 

The service will be available weekdays from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and weekends from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Holiday hours may vary. 

Service area

Metro micro serves a zone roughly bounded by 94th Street, Highway 169, the Minnesota River, and 3rd Avenue.

What to expect

Bloomington residents will begin seeing Metro micro promotions and local engagement leading up to the service launch.

• Ride-ready minibuses in Bloomington are already staged across the city for visibility.
• Metro micro staff are preparing to greet curious riders and showcase how the app works.
• Service will be available throughout a specially zoned area of Bloomington. Check the app or website for full details.

 For more information, visit the Metro micro Bloomington page on Metro Transit's website.