Rochester City Council Special Meeting - February 10, 2025: Property Acquisition Authorization
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Rochester City Council Special Meeting – February 10, 2025: Property Acquisition Authorization
The Rochester City Council held a special meeting on February 10, 2025, at 12:30 UTC to discuss and vote on the potential purchase of two properties totaling approximately 116 acres. The meeting began with a closed executive session to consider the option and purchase price, then reconvened publicly for a vote.
Discussion Items
- The council recessed into a closed executive session under Minnesota Statutes §13D.05 Subd. 3(c)(3) to discuss the option and purchase price of properties identified as Richard E. Badger, Trustee (Parcel IDs 752413035211 and 752411082670) and 75th AZ LLC (Parcel ID 752414035210). City Attorney Michael Spenberg-Craig explained the need for confidentiality due to tight timelines.
- After the closed session, the council returned to open session. Council member Doring moved to authorize finalization of negotiations to purchase the approximately 116 acres for $2,668,000. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Keene.
Key Outcomes
- The motion passed 6–1, with Councilmember Palmer voting against. The council directed staff to finalize negotiations and proceed with the purchase.
- The meeting was adjourned immediately following the vote.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to uh the uh special meeting of the city council on uh February 10th. I will turn it over to the city clerk to take the roll. Um council member Keene here. Council Councilmember Miller here council member wall council member Fredericks here council member Palmer here council member Doring here council president shoebring here um uh are there any changes to the ordinary agenda seeing that is there a motion to approve the order of the agenda second second moved uh and seconded moved by uh council member miller, seconded by council member. Um all in favor say aye. Aye any opposed saying sign. Uh we have uh one item on our agenda, which is under reports and recommendations, and it is the one executive session closed session, and I am going to turn it over to C Michael Spenberg Craig to brief us on there. Thank you, Mr. President. Council members consistent with charter section 5.04. This special meeting was called by both the council president and the mayor in consideration of very tight timelines related to the listed properties regarding item D1 specifically. I anticipate and recommend that the council conduct a closed session to consider the option and purchase price of properties identified as follows. Richard E. Badger, trustee, parcel identification numbers 752-413-03521 and 752-411-082670, 75th AZLC parcel identification number 752414035210. With that, I would turn it back to the council president to further state and explain our move into closed session. Thank you, Mr. Spinberg Craig. The city council needs to recess into closed session to consider the option and purchase price of the properties just referenced by Mr. Spinberg Craig. A closed session is necessary to split the need for absolute confidential confidentiality, outweighs the public policy that generally favors open meetings. In the closed session, we will not be voting, nor can we make any binding decisions related to this topic. Upon conclusion of the closed session, the council will reopen the meeting uh to the public for either a potential action on the discussion topic or to adjourn the meeting as well. With that, I will now recess the council into closed session. Uh we will remain in this room and we will allow a few minutes for the public to vacate the room. Again, everyone is welcome to uh remain in the building and uh and when we come out of closed session, you will be informed uh and uh be invited back. Thank you. Great, welcome back. We are now in the open session for special city council meeting of uh February 10th and uh we have a motion on the table here and um I should uh is there a motion? Yeah, I uh I move to office uh I move to authorise finalization of negotiations with Richard E. Batter, trustee and 75th AD LLC to purchase the approximately 116 acres of property in the amount of 2 million 668,000. Is there a second? Second motion made by council member Doring and seconded by Councilmember Keene. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any of those say nay? Nay uh motion passes six to one with council member Palmer in the um is there a motion to adjourn? Second. All in favor say aye. Aye. Say nay, we are agenda.
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