Rochester City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2025
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Rochester City Council Regular Meeting - March 3, 2025
On March 3, 2025, the Rochester City Council held a regular session at the Government Center Council Chamber, starting at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included public comments, two public hearings, approval of a large consent agenda, and several key discussion items including the Center Street Ramp restoration, 18th Avenue SW reconstruction, a skywalk art installation, and rebidding of the BRT project. The council also handled routine business such as appointing a new city clerk and approving a sister city resolution.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes for the February 10 and February 19, 2025 meetings.
- Approved accounts payable totaling $19,498,651.61.
- Adopted parking restriction changes effective March 3, 2025.
- Appointed Ann Kasel as City Clerk, effective March 20, 2025.
- Approved the 2025-27 collective bargaining agreement with the City of Rochester Inspectors Association.
- Supported a 2025-2026 Minnesota GreenCorps member application.
- Expressed intent to pursue a Sister City relationship with Tbong Khmum City, Cambodia.
- Supported a Mayo Community Engagement Grant for the RPD Drone as First Responder project.
- Authorized bid advertisement for 37th St NW Sidewalk Improvements.
- Approved use of the Third Street Ramp skywalk for an Elevate Wellness installation (Item F.11 was pulled and later discussed separately).
- Authorized purchase of survey equipment for $57,254.30.
- Approved a contract with Pember Companies, Inc. for Government Center lot improvements ($424,033.76).
- Awarded a contract to Elcor Construction, Inc. for Link BRT West Transit Village Underground Utilities ($7,687,422.08).
- Authorized a contract with WHKS for final design of 2nd Ave SW reconstruction ($81,870).
- Authorized a City-Owner contract for Mayo Clinic BFUiR (Package A) and a professional services contract with WSB LLC ($197,564).
- Approved revocable permits for Jehovah's Witnesses fence and Mayo Clinic electrical duct banks.
- Approved a pedestrian facilities agreement with Christ's Church of the Jesus Hour.
- Authorized a utility connection agreement for 1429 20th St SW.
- Authorized a contract for Parks and Forestry Relocation commissioning services ($95,800).
- Approved a revised annexation application (CD2024-005ANX) and directed the city attorney to prepare an ordinance.
- Adopted a resolution for competitive sale of $10,985,000 bonds for Parks & Forestry relocation.
- Rejected bids for Link BRT civil utilities and architecture due to irregularities, and authorized rebidding.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Kelly Moran (Leadership Greater Rochester) spoke in support of the Elevate Wellness project, an interactive pathway in the downtown skyways.
- Laurie Inksler expressed concerns about the 18th Ave SW project, citing water runoff, sewer diversion, safety at Brook Lane, and steep bike path design; she proposed alternative bike route options.
- Ryan Stack (ZIPS rider) asked the council to ensure they have final say over future transit subcontracts.
- David Stigers (ATU-105 president) requested the city take over paratransit operations from Sun Transit, citing contract failures and lack of livable wages and insurance.
- Adri Gomez alleged breach of contract, intentional harm, and defamation by Sun Transit, urging council intervention.
- Didi Ware (ZIPS driver) reported no raise in 18 months and poor contract offers from Sun Transit.
- Dave Butts (ATU vice president) highlighted the importance of public transit for medical care and called for city-run paratransit.
- Dr. Howie opposed cannabis legalization, citing risks to children and increased emergency visits.
- John Howie urged the city to sue the state over marijuana legalization.
- Michael Wojack (We Bike Rochester, Bicycle Alliance) commended the city’s 18th Ave SW design for safety features, including 30 mph design speed, safe intersections, and separated bike paths.
- Adam Busby (ATU) criticized Sun Transit’s health insurance and management, asked the council to break the contract.
- Dr. Vicky Hagstrom called for stronger leadership to combat child abuse and exploitation, referencing a recent case.
Discussion Items
- H1 – Center Street Ramp Restoration (Contract Award): The council awarded a $3,798,275 contract to RAM Construction Services, plus 20% contingency, to extend the ramp’s life by 10+ years. Discussion focused on a required temporary access easement from adjacent property owner PRE; city attorney noted possible court action if voluntary agreement fails. Approved 6-1, Councilmember Palmer opposed.
- H2 – Geometric Layout for 18th Ave SW Reconstruction: Staff presented the design, including traffic calming, 30 mph speed, roundabouts, and multi-use paths. A motion to amend the design speed to 25 mph failed (2-5). The original motion to approve the layout and advance to final design passed 6-1, with Councilmember Palmer opposing.
- H3 – Elevate Wellness Installation (Skywalk Use): After discussion on public art review processes, the council unanimously approved the use of Third Street Ramp skywalk for the temporary installation.
- H4 – Reject Bids and Rebid BRT Project: The council rejected bids for the BRT civil and architecture package due to irregularities and a good faith error (apparent low bidder miscalculated $3.2 million). Staff will repackage into two bids (civil works and station architecture) to improve competition. Completion now likely extends into 2027. Approved unanimously.
- Public Hearings:
- Zoning Map Amendment (CD2025-001ZC): Approved unanimously to rezone 3.89 acres from R-2 to MX-C at 2221 Marion Rd SE for future development.
- Vacation Petition (CD2025-001VAC): Approved unanimously with one condition, vacating a 15-foot alley for a future housing development by Stack Downtown Investments.
- Ordinance First Reading: Annexation of 49.90 acres near Wheelock Drive and Silver Creek Road was introduced.
Key Outcomes
- Center Street Ramp contract awarded to RAM Construction Services, LLC (6-1).
- Geometric layout for 18th Ave SW reconstruction approved (6-1); final design to proceed.
- Elevate Wellness installation approved unanimously.
- BRT bids rejected and rebid authorized; project will be split into two packages and likely extended into 2027.
- Zoning map amendment and vacation petition approved unanimously.
- Councilmember Miller announced acceptance into Smart Growth America Champions Institute.
- Councilmember Doring clarified a previous communication issue with a predecessor.
- Councilmember Fredericks raised concerns about DMC funding requests and pending fire contract negotiations with townships; staff indicated discussions are ongoing and positive.
- Mayor Norton noted upcoming National League of Cities conference and encouraged participation in police academy and youth initiatives.
Meeting Transcript
Please rise as you're able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the United States America into the Republic for which the standards. Welcome everyone to the March 3rd, 2025 City Council meeting. This is an opportunity on our agenda for members of the public to speak on items that we will not be taking a regular press public testimony during a public hearing later in the agenda. Each person has two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes. And because of the limited time, we want to make sure that as many as possible have an opportunity to speak. And uh participants are further encouraged to limit comments generally to topics that are within the scope and jurisdiction of the council's ability to affect policy. If you have any materials to share with the council, you may give them to the city clerk over there. Anne Caseel is uh sitting right there, and uh she will distribute them distribute the items to uh myself and our and my colleagues. Um you will be invited to speak in the order that you signed up. Please state your name clearly and make sure uh that the clerk has your information if you need follow-up. And with that, we will start with Kelly Moran. Welcome. Thank you. I'm Kelly Moran. I'm an attorney at IBM and a member of this year's class of leadership Greater Rochester, a year-long program ha hosted by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce to develop community leadership skills. One aspect of the program is that our cohort divided into two groups executes community impact projects to positively impact our community. My group's project is an activity path, which we are calling Elevate Wellness due to its location in the downtown Rochester Skyways. Our goal is to inspire increased movement and physical well-being through an interactive pathway that engages and draws people along to accumulate physical movement in an enjoyable way through three types of elements interactive murals, ball runs, and a medallion hunt. We've been working with local businesses and artists to source the designs, artwork, and physical installations for each of our elements. Right now, our group is deep in the fundraising process and getting permissions from local partners to install elements in their spaces. We're setting the project up for long-term success with a plan to address ongoing maintenance, and as the project designs advance, we look forward to working with the city to develop an agreement around the approval, installation, and maintenance of this project. We're very passionate about our project, excited about the progress that we've made so far, and grateful for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the Rochester community. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Lori Ing's. Yeah, my name's Laurie Inksler, I believe I emailed you information. That's about 18th Street, um, Southwest project that's being designed. Um just as some concerns that we have. I live off of Brook Lane, which is parallel to 18th. There's always been a water issue that's come down off of 18th to down to Brook Lane, and they're continuing to do that and haven't got information how they're gonna solve that. As well as now they're diverting gonna divert some sewer issues down to Brooklyn as well. And the other issue was that they're gonna um change our access because that right now it's a cutoff for 18th, people are going way too fast, don't stop. Sometimes it's hard for me to and others on our lane to even get out to get to work. Because there's so many cars and they don't let us out. Um they're going way too fast. And now they want to change that, and now there'll be more cars coming to go to Lenwood because of how they're designing that. So just really concerned about that. There's 50 houses in the Lenwood development, and so that's 50 plus cars that'll be dealt with there as well. There is one of the things that they've proposed is a bike path on 18th, which is really steep. Um, and there are some houses that are really close to 18th that would impact them greatly, as well as just being so steep. I don't know how bikes would want to ride on that. Um, let alone uh be a sheer drop-off there, and potential for environmental issues and more water issues for us at Brooklyn. There are some other options for bike lane. They could cut, I believe I gave you a map as far as cutting over at um down going through Mary Hills, and that goes right to Bamber Elementary, otherwise going straight over to 40th and coming down Bamber Valley Road, and again, that's a more gradual one. It wouldn't require a lot of um fill. It probably would be cheaper, and it would be a much more enjoyable ride for people as well. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Ryan Stack.
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