OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rochester Park Board Meeting - August 20, 2026

Boards and Commissions — Thursday, August 20, 2026
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionBoards and Commissions
DateThursday, August 20, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:52:53
Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

That's just from all right.

0:08

Before we do roll follow the new board member until sooner.

0:14

Uh Mark Viltenbeck's uh four-year term was up.

0:18

And uh but we thank Mark Lewis service he was here for years and 12 years on the city council.

0:23

So he's had a lot of public involvement.

0:25

So thanks to Mark.

0:28

All right.

0:30

Uh tour and our role.

0:34

Marty, we'll start with you, please.

0:36

Marty Cormac Ward One.

0:38

Cindy Morgan.

0:41

People sooner order board.

0:43

Hallmarino Ward Two.

0:46

All right.

0:47

Thank you very much.

0:48

Who are you again?

0:49

Uh Gary Newman.

0:50

I'm the uh the at-large representative.

0:54

So all right.

0:55

First I the second item on the agenda of the minutes of the meeting.

1:03

Does anybody have any questions or issues on that?

1:07

I'm not seeing anybody raise.

1:09

So can all second April.

1:15

All favor say aye.

1:16

Aye.

1:19

And is the order of the agenda.

1:21

I think we're gonna make one change.

1:23

Um it's listed on the agenda 9b is meeting with uh the old step county parts forward another item relating to the Rochester outdoor tennis project.

1:38

Also listed as I think it's better if we move the uh make that the new 9B and the uh meeting with the county board.

1:49

C is that acceptable.

1:52

I take a multi-dose.

1:54

Oh Marty, there's a second, Becky.

1:56

All in favor say aye.

1:57

Aye, okay.

1:58

Thank you.

2:01

Okay, the next uh item on our agenda is the open comments period and our open time.

2:09

This will take me just a second to go through this.

2:12

Uh each speaker gets two minutes until we don't want to have one today up this can be used with 10 speakers, two minutes.

2:21

Um so um the other thing is people should know that uh we usually don't respond to comments made at the open comment that will be taken under advisement or looked at uh later.

2:32

Uh some items are not items for discussion at the open comment period, and that's any matters under negotiation, litigation or related to personnel will not be discussed during open comment, and that's consistent with the mayor cow procedures as well.

2:50

Uh we have one uh person to speak at the open comment, and that's Tim Neela from Nella.

2:58

Okay, you can stand up and put someplace where I could see you if you'd like.

3:03

All right, so you said it's just me two minutes.

3:05

Two minutes.

3:06

Okay, okay, all right.

3:07

So thanks to Nola, I'm general manager over at townies, and so I actually have two minutes.

3:14

A lot of it is just Brian Becker and I are here because we are we're townies and we just want to have a little conversation.

3:24

Us staying in the location that we're at right now for concession board.

3:28

We've been there now for five years, and we're at a we're in a position right now where we feel as if we're doing a lot for the community, we're getting a lot of positive feedback, whether it's the golfers, people that are using the quite extra and conversation in regards to just extending our location.

3:47

We're in a position right now where at that five-year mark, especially in a an industry like a restaurant.

3:53

This is that time right now.

3:54

We start seeing those changes, we start seeing making those strides to essentially become like a big staple in the community knock, and we feel like with us being in that location initially getting started was a little bit tough.

4:07

We had to do a lot of things in regards to like we were doing 50 second beers, we're doing crazy ways to get people to come to our establishment, come to our location, and now we're in a position where after five years, we feel as if we're if we remain in that area, do a lot more with the space that we have now just based on the fact that we can establish a relationship with the community.

4:30

People know us, we have a lot of people here that definitely see a place that they go to.

4:36

And uh we know that our lease is up at the end of this year.

4:41

We are hearing that there's an opportunity for other people to submit proposals, RFPs.

4:47

We're in this right now.

4:49

We're saying we want to stay in that space, we'd like to remain in that space.

4:52

And that with that being said, that's the reason why uh myself and Brian are here.

5:00

And hopefully, when we uh get to that, get to that part of the agenda and discuss that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████37%
Procedural███████████████15%
Public Works████████████12%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Trail Development███████7%
Parks And Recreation███████7%
Budget Equity Analysis██████6%
Public Comment██2%
Volunteer Engagement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Rochester Park Board Meeting - August 20, 2026

The Park Board met to discuss multiple items including a concession agreement for Soldiers Field Golf Course, funding for the Rochester Outdoor Tennis Center court reconstruction, and a joint informational presentation with Olmsted County Parks. The meeting also included an open comment period and approval of routine items.

Consent Calendar

  • Unanimously approved the consent agenda item (8A), which may have included the appeal of a fine for illegal pruning of a boulevard tree, as listed on the agenda but not discussed separately. (Note: The agenda listed an appeal of fine as 3.B, but the transcript does not address it; it may have been part of the consent agenda.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Tim Neela, general manager of Townies, expressed support for continuing their concession operations at Soldiers Field Clubhouse. He noted their five-year lease is ending and they hope to remain, citing positive community feedback and growth. City staff indicated that negotiation with Townies is an option.

Discussion Items

Soldiers Field Golf Course Concession Agreement

  • Staff recommended initiating an informal Request for Proposals (RFP) for concession services at the clubhouse to ensure transparency and market value. The current agreement, established in 2022, included below-market rent in exchange for capital investment ($35,500 from vendor, $13,300 from city). Staff highlighted changes in park activity and utility costs.
  • Board members debated between going to RFP immediately or first negotiating an extension with Townies. A motion to authorize negotiation with Townies for an extension was made and seconded. After discussion, the board voted unanimously to first attempt negotiation with Townies before proceeding to an informal RFP.

Rochester Outdoor Tennis Center Court Reconstruction Project

  • The project involves reconstructing courts 9-14 at Kutzky Park. Low bid came in at $630,227.40, exceeding the $570,000 estimate. Funding sources include $250,000 from the Raise the Net organization, up to $200,000 USTA grant (decision pending in two weeks), $100,000 from Park Board Community Impact Funds, and $100,000 from Court Renovation Funds (from voter-approved tax levy). A gap of $55,000-$80,000 remained.
  • Staff proposed using Park Board reserve funds (approximately $30,000 per year available) and/or Community Impact Funds to cover the gap. Board members expressed concerns about cost overruns and impacts on other projects, but acknowledged the poor condition of the courts and the community support.
  • The board unanimously approved the use of $100,000 from Park Board Community Impact Funds and $100,000 from Court Renovation Funds to complete funding, with the understanding that the USTA grant amount will determine final gap and that staff will return in September for formal bid acceptance.

Joint Meeting with Olmsted County Parks and Trails

  • Park Board and County Parks Commission held a joint informational session. City Parks and Forestry Director Paul Widman presented city park projects including Soldiers Field, Silver Lake, skate park, MLK Park, and the upcoming park system plan update (RFP in November 2026). County Parks Director Carlin Ziegler presented county projects including Oxbow campground relocation, Chester Woods amphitheater and playground, Lake Zumbro boat launch improvements, and a countywide trail master plan (12-18 months). Both emphasized collaboration and avoiding duplication of services.
  • No action was taken; the meeting was for information and future coordination.

Key Outcomes

  • Soldiers Field Concession: Board directed staff to negotiate a concession extension with Townies before issuing an informal RFP. If negotiations fail, staff will proceed with RFP.
  • Tennis Center Construction: Approved use of $100,000 from Park Board Community Impact Funds and $100,000 from Court Renovation Funds. Staff will return in September 2026 with final bid award pending USTA grant decision.
  • Consent Agenda: Approved unanimously (item 8A).
  • Monthly Reports and Bills: Approved unanimously.

Note: The appeal of the fine for illegal pruning (Agenda Item 3.B) was not discussed during the meeting; it may have been included in the consent agenda or omitted.

Meeting Transcript

That's just from all right. Before we do roll follow the new board member until sooner. Uh Mark Viltenbeck's uh four-year term was up. And uh but we thank Mark Lewis service he was here for years and 12 years on the city council. So he's had a lot of public involvement. So thanks to Mark. All right. Uh tour and our role. Marty, we'll start with you, please. Marty Cormac Ward One. Cindy Morgan. People sooner order board. Hallmarino Ward Two. All right. Thank you very much. Who are you again? Uh Gary Newman. I'm the uh the at-large representative. So all right. First I the second item on the agenda of the minutes of the meeting. Does anybody have any questions or issues on that? I'm not seeing anybody raise. So can all second April. All favor say aye. Aye. And is the order of the agenda. I think we're gonna make one change. Um it's listed on the agenda 9b is meeting with uh the old step county parts forward another item relating to the Rochester outdoor tennis project. Also listed as I think it's better if we move the uh make that the new 9B and the uh meeting with the county board. C is that acceptable. I take a multi-dose. Oh Marty, there's a second, Becky. All in favor say aye. Aye, okay. Thank you. Okay, the next uh item on our agenda is the open comments period and our open time. This will take me just a second to go through this. Uh each speaker gets two minutes until we don't want to have one today up this can be used with 10 speakers, two minutes. Um so um the other thing is people should know that uh we usually don't respond to comments made at the open comment that will be taken under advisement or looked at uh later. Uh some items are not items for discussion at the open comment period, and that's any matters under negotiation, litigation or related to personnel will not be discussed during open comment, and that's consistent with the mayor cow procedures as well. Uh we have one uh person to speak at the open comment, and that's Tim Neela from Nella. Okay, you can stand up and put someplace where I could see you if you'd like. All right, so you said it's just me two minutes. Two minutes. Okay, okay, all right. So thanks to Nola, I'm general manager over at townies, and so I actually have two minutes. A lot of it is just Brian Becker and I are here because we are we're townies and we just want to have a little conversation. Us staying in the location that we're at right now for concession board. We've been there now for five years, and we're at a we're in a position right now where we feel as if we're doing a lot for the community, we're getting a lot of positive feedback, whether it's the golfers, people that are using the quite extra and conversation in regards to just extending our location. We're in a position right now where at that five-year mark, especially in a an industry like a restaurant.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com