Rochester City Council Regular Session - January 6, 2025

The Rochester City Council held its first regular meeting of 2025 on January 6, 2025. The meeting included a public comment period, a city administrator's year-in-review video, mayor's report, approval of a consent agenda (with two items pulled for separate discussion), six public hearings (all approved with conditions), a discussion on council committee/board appointments (with an amendment that passed on a roll-call vote), a feasibility report and public hearing scheduling for a street reconstruction project, authorization of a software contract, first and second readings of ordinances, and other business including requests for future study sessions and support for a grant application. Four new council members were welcomed.

Consent Calendar

• Approved en bloc (items F.1-F.12 and F.14-F.23) (with items F.5 and F.13 pulled for separate discussion):
  • Minutes of December 2 and December 9, 2024.
  • Annual designation of the Rochester Post-Bulletin as official newspaper.
  • Update to councilmember appointment process to boards, commissions, and committees.
  • Accounts payable totaling $73,118,421.34 (including $44,979,995.84 in investment purchases and $28,138,425.50 in accounts payable).
  • 2025 deposit, facsimile signature & investment authorization, and assignment of securities.
  • 2025-27 terms and conditions for Exempt/Non-Contract Meet & Confer group.
  • 2025-27 collective bargaining agreements with Operating Engineers Local 49 (Public Works) and Firefighters Local 3908 (Fire Supervisors).
  • Mayoral appointments to various boards and commissions.
  • Donation of $1,800 from the Rochester Police Benevolent Association to the Police Department for the honor guard.
  • Contract with Elcor Construction Inc. for $235,264 for ADA improvements (Project J4734) and state grant acceptance.
  • Revocable permits and agreements: Build Your Legacy LLC (private services in public alley), Jeremiah Molligan & Aivi Nguyen (private services in public right-of-way), Mayo Clinic (electrical duct bank and pedestrian tunnel in right-of-way).
  • Downtown Property Preservation Program funding: $125,288.04 for 330 Broadway Ave S, $202,274.33 for 400 Broadway Ave S, and $380,985 for 212 1st Ave SW.
  • Septic system/sanitary sewer connection agreement with Matt A. & Stephanie L. Clark and Dale Jech Construction LLC.
  • Amendments to Economic Vitality Project funding allocations (totaling $9,230,000 across 2024 and 2025).
  • Environmental Assessment Worksheet acceptance for West Meadows Development (47 acres, 936 multi-family units, 22,000 sq ft commercial).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Molly Dennis stated she received a certified letter from a councilmember threatening legal action if she spoke at the meeting; she alleged the city systematically silences residents, particularly by eliminating virtual public comment, and called for reinstating virtual access.
• Barry Skolnick requested an index for the Unified Development Code (UDC), a plan for Peace Plaza brick repairs to prevent tripping hazards, and a detailed pedestrian access plan for downtown areas affected by upcoming construction (including 2nd Street and 6th Avenue). He asked for response letters.
• John Creasel requested written clarification on whether the Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA) will continue facade improvement grants in the coming year, citing conflicting statements from city staff; also requested more signage in pedestrian areas to prevent lawsuits.
• Adam Busby (during public hearing G.5) raised concerns about bus shelter placement being too close to the road, creating mirror-striking hazards for bus drivers, and urged proper design review for the West Transit Village project.

Discussion Items

• City Administrator's Report: A video highlighting 2024 accomplishments was shown, including record construction permit valuation of over $830 million, RPU infrastructure projects (Marion Road substation, new well), parks upgrades (Soldiers Field, Silver Lake) funded by $15.25 million in external funds, parking rate study outcomes, Link BRT progress ($87 million in funding), emergency preparedness, police Summer Safe Zone, fire department Women's Expo, pilot microtransit (RPT Go), launch of 311 system, and more. Council praised city staff.
• Mayor's Report: The third annual New Year's Eve Day event drew over 6,000 attendees (up from 4,000 previous years). Upcoming: State of the City address (Jan 10 at Mayo Civic Center), international relations trips to Germany and Japan (self-pay), U.S. Conference of Mayors attendance, and speaking on an innovation panel about local wealth opportunities. Council President to serve as acting mayor during her absence.
• Public Hearings (G.1–G.6):
  • G.1 – Heim Addition: 8.54 acres into 11 single-family lots and two outlots. Concerns raised about narrow, unsafe road conditions on 25th St SW (18–20 ft wide) and intersection issues at Highway 63. Public works acknowledged the road is on a long-range plan but not in the 6-year CIP; low traffic volume (estimated 80–100 trips/day from new homes) did not trigger a traffic study. Approved with 7 conditions.
  • G.2 – Diamond Land Holdings Zone Change: 2.39 acres from MX-S (Mixed Use Street-Oriented) to MX-C (Mixed Use Center) due to location along Highway 14 (high-speed, no pedestrian facilities). No public comments. Approved; city attorney directed to prepare ordinance.
  • G.3 – Bigelow Homes Harvestview Eighth Subdivision: 11.8 acres into 37 single-family lots. No public comments. Approved with 3 conditions.
  • G.4 – Rongve & Rodriguez Ridgestone Estates Eighth: 3.2 acres into 8 lots with private road. No public comments. Approved with 7 conditions.
  • G.5 – Mayo Clinic Final Plat (Rochester WTV): 14.13 acres into 3 lots and 4 outlots for West Transit Village (Link BRT stop, parking ramp, multifamily housing). Public comment on bus shelter design. Staff noted neighborhood information meetings will be held for future developments. Approved with 4 conditions.
  • G.6 – Utility Easement Vacation: 10-foot utility easement vacation to allow multifamily development. No public comments. Approved.
• H.1 – 17 1/2 St NW Reconstruction Feasibility Report: Project involves full reconstruction of a 65+ year-old aging roadway (narrowed by 4 ft for traffic calming), new utilities, and intersection improvements near Sunset Terrace Elementary (adding bump-outs to shorten pedestrian crossing). City collects 25% of street costs from abutting property owners via special assessments; school district will pay approximately 70% of assessments due to property value. An open house is set for January 21, 2025. Council accepted the feasibility report and set a public hearing for February 19, 2025.
• H.2 – Council Committee/Board Appointments (polled from F.5): Council President Schubring recommended appointments based on councilmember preferences, seniority, and rotation to broaden experience. Councilmember Keene proposed an amendment to change three assignments (Keene to Palmer for Housing Coalition, Miller to Keene for Public Utility Board, Palmer to Miller for Outside Agencies Oversight) citing need for stability and continuity. After debate, the amendment was approved on a roll-call vote (4-3: Keene, Wall, Fredericks, Palmer in favor; Miller, Doring, Schubring opposed). The amended appointments were then approved.
• H.3 – Contract with eComply/B2Gnow (polled from F.13): Councilmember Wall noted the $69,276 contract replaces two prior systems, costs about 50% more but provides enhanced services, including automated prevailing wage and WMBE/DBE tracking, a directory of certified firms, and reduced manual entry. Costs are charged back to projects, not the tax levy. Approved.
• Ordinance First Reading (J.1): Received and filed annexation petition for 67.77 acres by Danielson Farms (zone change to R-2).
• Ordinance Second Readings (K.1–K.3):
  • K.1 – Annexation of 1.03 acres into city limits (approved).
  • K.2 – Zone change of 10 acres from R-2 to R-3 for City View Flats (approved).
  • K.3 – Text amendments to various areas of the Unified Development Code (approved).

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda (minus polled items) approved unanimously.
• All six public hearings approved with specified conditions (each unanimous).
• Reconstruction of 17 1/2 St NW: Feasibility report accepted and public hearing scheduled for February 19, 2025 (unanimous).
• Committee/Board Appointments: Council President's list amended per Keene motion (4-3 roll call); final amended list approved unanimously.
• eComply/B2Gnow contract: Authorized at $69,276 (unanimous).
• Ordinance second readings: K.1, K.2, K.3 all adopted (unanimous).
• Other Business: Councilmember Miller's application to the Smart Growth America Champions Institute (free, minimal staff time) received consensus support. Councilmember Palmer requested study sessions on parking requirements in the DMC, housing production strategies, and parking affordability for service workers; staff noted ongoing related studies and will provide updates.