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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Rochester City Council Regular Meeting – March 17, 2025

City Council — Monday, March 17, 2025

BodyRochester, Minnesota

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, March 17, 2025

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 1:33:45

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:03

Recording in progress.

0:08

Please rise as you're able for this Pledge of Allegiance.

0:14

I pledge allegiance.

0:15

This is the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

0:31

Welcome everyone to our March 17th, a city council meeting.

0:37

Happy St.

0:38

Patrick's Day, or as those of us on the dais likes to call it happy St.

0:44

Patrick Keene Day.

0:45

So we begin every meeting with our open comment period.

0:53

This is an opportunity for anyone from the public to speak on items that are not that we are not taking public testimony during a public hearing later in the agenda.

1:04

Each person has up to two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes.

1:19

Because of the limited time, we want to make sure that others have an opportunity to speak.

1:31

Participants are also encouraged to limit comments generally to topics that are within the scope and jurisdiction of the council's ability to affect policy.

1:42

Council members and staff do not respond to your comments during public comment, but will instead follow up on any specific requests separately.

1:51

If you have any materials that you wish to share with the council, you may give them to the city clerk over here to distribute.

1:59

You will be invited in the order of which you signed up.

2:03

And uh first on our list is John Menning.

2:16

Good evening.

2:17

Please state your name and go ahead.

3:50

Does uh a year does a city plow my street?

3:54

No.

3:56

Does the city repair potholes in my street?

4:00

No.

4:01

Do they ever send a street sweeper there?

4:04

No.

4:06

I pay dues, a couple hundred dollars a month to my townhouse association for those services, and of course, more.

4:18

Also Mr.

4:19

Minning, if you could wrap up.

4:20

Your time is completed.

4:23

I do one short one short sentence.

4:28

I do not like the statement classifying my residents as non-residents in the same letter.

4:39

Can I say any more?

4:40

No.

4:41

Thank you.

4:42

Thank you.

4:44

Next up is Molly Dennis.

4:52

All right.

4:52

Thank you.

4:53

Well, happy St.

4:54

Patrick's Day.

4:55

I'm a little Irish.

4:56

So I did wear intentionally a shirt that has a little green on it.

5:02

Maybe more intentionally on other things as well.

5:05

It's been over a month, and I still haven't heard from the response to the February 3rd transparency request I asked for.

5:12

As council members, you seven are the watchdogs.

5:15

You are the oversight board.

5:16

You are the ones who are accountable to every single dollar that taxpayer funds or taxpayer funds are spent, including your own incomes and documenting the hours you spend to justify those incomes.

5:28

I would uh appreciate a response so that citizens know uh transparency of trust.

5:34

There are many important issues on this agenda tonight, but I have to use these two very precious minutes to address uh potential public fear mongering that occurred on March 3rd under other business by councilmember Dorin.

5:48

I believe if you rewatch that, I sent an email to the council.

5:53

I can post that and I probably will on the community advocate Facebook page I have.

5:58

And I would respond uh hope that someone will respond to the email that I sent either publicly on Facebook or um via email.

6:05

On that is a very serious issue about slandering a civilian.

6:09

Uh uh, but most of you have ran for our public office with a commitment to integrity, compassion, and government transparency.

6:18

And as Rochester citizens are struggling, we deserve honest elected representatives who work full time for us.

6:25

And Rochester deserves to know where every single penny of their hard-earned tax dollars are spent.

6:32

I have, when I was on a council, I've asked for those, not given.

6:35

I hope that this council will find and be transparent where their tax where everyone's taxpayer dollars are being spent in our our city.

6:44

So I appreciate a response to that email, and I will make sure that's made public for everyone to see.

6:49

Thank you so much.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Technology and Innovation█████████████████████████25%

Infrastructure And Capital Projects█████████████████████21%

Public Works███████████████15%

Procedural██████6%

Public Utilities██████6%

Economic Development█████5%

Zoning Regulations█████5%

Public Comment████4%

Public Engagement████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Rochester City Council Regular Meeting – March 17, 2025

The Rochester City Council met on March 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Government Center Council Chamber. The meeting covered a consent agenda, six public hearings, and several discussion items, including a $600,000 AV system upgrade and a $3.29 million contract amendment for the Downtown Link Rapid Transit project. The council approved most items, with one dissenting vote on the AV RFP.

Consent Calendar

Approved minutes of the March 3, 2025 meeting.
Approved accounts payable of $20,720,644.26, including investment purchases of $9,999,455.06 and accounts payable of $10,721,189.20.
Approved appointments: George Boayue to Citizens Advisory on Transit (term ending 2027), Casey McQuade to Sustainability and Resiliency Commission (term ending 2026).
Approved multiple resolutions, contracts, and authorizations as listed in items F.1–F.7 and F.9–F.26, with no further discussion.
Councilmember Miller noted that contract awards in items F.14, F.18, F.19, and F.21 came in a combined $1.2 million under estimates.
Items F.8 (Council Chambers AV RFP) and F.13 (SRF contract amendment) were pulled by Councilmember Wall for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

John Menning expressed frustration that the city does not plow, repair potholes, or sweep his street; he pays a townhouse association for those services and objected to being classified as a non-resident in a city letter.
Molly Dennis requested a response to her February 3 transparency request, criticized Councilmember Doring for alleged slander of a civilian during the March 3 meeting, and urged the council to account for taxpayer spending publicly.

Public Hearings

G.1 – Mayo Clinic Conduit Financing ($500 million)

Staff (Brian Anderson) explained conduit financing allows tax-exempt bonds with no liability to the city; Mayo Clinic has a double-A bond rating. The funds will support the Bold Forward Unbound project.
Todd Heather (Mayo Clinic) and Paul Gorman emphasized the partnership and noted Mayo paid $7.8 million in property taxes in 2024 (7.7% of the city’s levy).
Outcome: Resolution adopted unanimously.

G.2 – Reconstruction of 17½ St NW (Project J7855)

Staff (Amy Krofsky) presented the assessment roll; maximum assessments are based on 2023 policy, with construction summer 2025 and assessments appearing in 2026.
Councilmember Wall commended lower assessments due to school property value.
Outcome: Resolution levying assessments and authorizing bids adopted unanimously.

G.3 – Right-of-Way Vacation (TD Bulldog Investments LLC)

Staff (Jace Pater) presented a 130-foot right-of-way vacation no longer in use; condition approved by planning commission.
Outcome: Resolution adopted unanimously.

G.4 – Utility Easement Vacation (Rochester Title)

Staff (Jace Pater) described an 8-foot utility easement where a home was built in 1956; condition for replacement easement has been fulfilled.
Applicant Sarah Batsloff (Rochester Title) confirmed replacement easement recorded.
Councilmember Palmer inquired about the property’s sale history; applicant noted it sold many times without detection.
Outcome: Resolution adopted unanimously; condition deemed satisfied.

G.5 & G.6 – Zone Change and Comprehensive Plan Amendment (Build Wealth MN)

Staff (Desmond McGill) explained request to change land use from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential and rezone 1.07 acres from R-2 to R-3 for a 12-unit apartment complex. Original 8-acre request reduced after neighbor concerns. Applicant Mark Welch (GCUBED Engineering) confirmed neighborhood meetings occurred.
Councilmember Keene noted the developer responded to neighbor concerns about environmentally sensitive areas.
Outcome: Comprehensive Plan Amendment (G.6) adopted unanimously (requires supermajority). Zone Change (G.5) adopted unanimously; city attorney directed to prepare ordinance.

Discussion Items

H.1 – Council Chambers AV Implementation RFP (Item F.8)

Staff (Deputy Administrator Parrish, Jeremiah Bauman, Jess Schuler) presented a $600,000 estimate for new AV equipment, noting current system is largely 2014 vintage and failing. Funding comes from PEG (cable franchise fees) with about $400,000 fund balance. County is a partner, contributing slightly less.
Councilmember Wall expressed concern about cost, advocating for value engineering and reuse of serviceable items.
Councilmember Palmer moved an amendment to direct staff to bring back multiple options (e.g., good/better/best) when awarding the contract.
Councilmember Keene supported the amendment but warned against piecemeal upgrades.
After discussion, the amendment passed. The main motion to authorize the RFP passed 6-1 (Councilmember Wall dissenting). Staff will include options and a recommendation showing cost impacts of cable broadcast vs. streaming.

H.2 – SRF Contract Amendment for Downtown Link Rapid Transit (Item F.13)

Staff (Steve Samson Brown, Ms. Steinhauser) presented a $3,288,210.01 increase to a total of $20,217,865 for architectural and engineering design and construction administration. About $700,000 is due to rebidding after bids were rejected; the remainder covers construction management services (originally in Task 8, but funds were absorbed by design changes).
Councilmember Wall noted the increase is 19.4% and requested public transparency.
Councilmember Palmer expressed disappointment about repeated rebidding and timing.
Staff confirmed this should be the final amendment if the project proceeds as planned.
Outcome: Motion adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

Consent Agenda: Approved with two items pulled for discussion.
Mayo Clinic Bonds: $500 million conduit financing resolution adopted unanimously.
17½ St NW Reconstruction: Assessments levied and bids authorized.
Right-of-Way and Utility Easement Vacations: Both approved with conditions.
Build Wealth MN Zoning: Comprehensive plan amendment and zone change approved for 1.07 acres (12-unit apartment).
Council Chambers AV RFP: Approved (6-1) with direction to bring cost options including cable vs. streaming analysis.
SRF Contract Amendment: $3.29 million increase approved unanimously.
Ordinance First Reading: Pill Hill Historic District designation received and filed.
Ordinance Second Readings: Three annexation/rezoning ordinances (K.1, K.2, K.3) all adopted.
Other: Seasonal parking requirements suspended; snow emergency contingency plans noted. Meals on Wheels Month proclaimed.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:45 p.m.

Meeting Transcript

Recording in progress. Please rise as you're able for this Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance. This is the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. Welcome everyone to our March 17th, a city council meeting. Happy St. Patrick's Day, or as those of us on the dais likes to call it happy St. Patrick Keene Day. So we begin every meeting with our open comment period. This is an opportunity for anyone from the public to speak on items that are not that we are not taking public testimony during a public hearing later in the agenda. Each person has up to two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes. Because of the limited time, we want to make sure that others have an opportunity to speak. Participants are also encouraged to limit comments generally to topics that are within the scope and jurisdiction of the council's ability to affect policy. Council members and staff do not respond to your comments during public comment, but will instead follow up on any specific requests separately. If you have any materials that you wish to share with the council, you may give them to the city clerk over here to distribute. You will be invited in the order of which you signed up. And uh first on our list is John Menning. Good evening. Please state your name and go ahead. Does uh a year does a city plow my street? No. Does the city repair potholes in my street? No. Do they ever send a street sweeper there? No. I pay dues, a couple hundred dollars a month to my townhouse association for those services, and of course, more. Also Mr. Minning, if you could wrap up. Your time is completed. I do one short one short sentence. I do not like the statement classifying my residents as non-residents in the same letter. Can I say any more? No. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Molly Dennis. All right. Thank you. Well, happy St. Patrick's Day. I'm a little Irish. So I did wear intentionally a shirt that has a little green on it. Maybe more intentionally on other things as well. It's been over a month, and I still haven't heard from the response to the February 3rd transparency request I asked for. As council members, you seven are the watchdogs. You are the oversight board. You are the ones who are accountable to every single dollar that taxpayer funds or taxpayer funds are spent, including your own incomes and documenting the hours you spend to justify those incomes. I would uh appreciate a response so that citizens know uh transparency of trust. There are many important issues on this agenda tonight, but I have to use these two very precious minutes to address uh potential public fear mongering that occurred on March 3rd under other business by councilmember Dorin. I believe if you rewatch that, I sent an email to the council.

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