OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Rochester City Council Regular Session – April 21, 2025

City Council — Monday, April 21, 2025
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, April 21, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:07:30

Transcript — Verbatim
0:08

I know exactly what we have.

0:27

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

0:33

I pledge allegiance to the floor of the United States of America.

0:38

And to the Republic for which it's under God in the whole standard justice roll.

0:52

Welcome everyone to the April 21st, 2025 City Council meeting.

0:58

We begin every council meeting with an open comment period.

1:03

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

1:15

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

1:25

So please know that I may need to cut you off.

1:37

And I request that each speaker be concise to allow more people to speak during the designated time.

1:44

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.

1:55

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

2:03

If you have materials to share with the council, you may give them give them to the city clerk and Kaisel over there to distribute.

2:12

And you will be invited up to speak in the order that you signed up.

2:17

And we at first have we have no one signed up for public comment period.

2:31

If not, we will uh move on to our agenda.

2:36

That's a first for me.

2:37

I don't know if that happens very often.

2:40

At this point, uh I'll ask uh Kurt Clerk uh Hazel to call the roll.

2:48

Good evening.

2:49

Uh Councilmember Keene.

2:51

Here.

2:52

Councilmember Miller.

2:54

Here.

2:54

Councilmember Wall.

2:55

Here.

2:56

Councilmember Fredericks.

2:58

Here.

2:58

Councilmember Palmer.

3:00

Here.

3:00

Councilmember Doring.

3:02

Here.

3:02

Council President Schubering.

3:04

Here.

3:04

Mayor Norton.

3:05

Present.

3:06

Thank you.

3:07

Moving on to our city administrators report.

3:10

Administrator Zelms, please go ahead.

3:13

Thank you.

3:13

Council President, Councilmembers, Mayor Norton, members of the public.

3:26

Respect integrity, safety, and excellence is how they do their work.

3:28

So thanks to all of you here or out wherever you're doing your work for how you represent the city of Rochester and serve our community.

3:37

Also wanted to point out a few things that are coming in the community.

3:40

So we have an opportunity to meet an owl with the International Owl Center coming to the library on Wednesday, April 23rd, 4 30 to 5 30 p.m.

3:49

I don't know who might be interested in that, but if you are just right on the spot.

4:41

Also did want to honor City Council's former and current, as well as our parks and recreation department and board for the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Association Award for Excellence award for all the work that's continued to happen over decades at Cascade Lake Regional Park.

5:00

Many of you, many folks in the audience have probably enjoyed that park.

5:03

It took a lot of planning, and as those phases continue, many people are able to enjoy the park and as it continues to be built out with that master planning.

5:14

So check out our website, Rochester Mn.gov and see what there is to do at Cascade Lake Regional Park.

5:20

Also, maybe on less of a high note, we did send out some collection notices for folks that were past due collection on their parking tickets.

5:30

So if you want more information about that, you should go to the city portal.

5:36

So Rochester Mn.

5:38

Citation Portal dot com.

5:40

Or you can call the city at 507-328-2047 if you receive something in the mail and you're not sure what it is.

5:47

Please check that out.

5:49

We did make a change to our process last year, and so those do go to collections when they're 45 days past due.

5:56

And we did send those on January 1st, 2025.

6:02

We have a free family day coming up at our partners at Rochester Art Center.

6:06

So on Sunday, April 27th from 11 a.m.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works██████████████14%
Ethics And Governance████████████12%
Historic Preservation███████████11%
Technology and Innovation█████████9%
Engineering And Infrastructure████████8%
Public Engagement███████7%
Emergency Management███████7%
Procedural██████6%
Affordable Housing██████6%
Summary of Proceedings

Rochester City Council Regular Session – April 21, 2025

The Rochester City Council held its regular meeting on April 21, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting included approval of the consent agenda, public hearings on final plats and Ethical Practices Board finalists, discussion and votes on several contracts and appointments, and ordinance readings. The Administrator's report highlighted community events and the Mayor's report covered upcoming activities, a new sister city with Cambodia, and a review of police best practices.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of April 7, 2025 meeting.
  • Approved accounts payable totaling $22,188,685.76.
  • Approved 2:00 a.m. on-sale liquor endorsement renewals.
  • Approved Rochester Downtown Alliance: Thursdays Downtown 2025 community festival permit.
  • Approved ordinance adoption for gas franchises (first reading).
  • Approved contract award to Hussey Seating for Mayo Civic Center bleacher replacement ($127,550).
  • Approved contract award to Border States Electric for long lead electrical gear and generator ($635,996).
  • Approved CMAR Amendment #1 for Parks & Forestry relocation to PWTOC campus ($19,765,762 GMP).
  • Approved City-Owner contract for MERC gas main relocation.
  • Approved City-Owner contract for Cassidy Farms Second Subdivision.
  • Approved City-Owner contract for Prairie Ridge watermain extensions.
  • Approved authority and administration of Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act.
  • Approved access agreement with Southgate Enterprises, LLC.
  • Approved pedestrian facilities agreement with Southgate Enterprises, LLC.
  • Approved development agreement with West 80 Partners LLC for Prairie Ridge.
  • Approved easement and storm water pond maintenance agreement with Centurion Ridge Homeowners Association.
  • Approved individual site development agreement with Mathy Construction Company.
  • Approved contribution agreement with Mayo Clinic for future alley reconstruction.
  • Approved reinstating Joint Airport Zoning Board.
  • Approved grant acceptance and professional services agreement for FAA windshear alert system station.
  • Approved state grant for airport snow removal equipment ($55,834.22).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Open Comment Period: No speakers signed up.
  • Public Hearing – Ethical Practices Board Finalists: Three speakers addressed the council:
    • Sarah Chang, a finalist, expressed her support for her candidacy, highlighting her background in social work and ethics.
    • Molly Dennis raised concerns about the lack of public information on finalists, calling for more transparency.
    • Jim Frost, a finalist, introduced himself and his qualifications, emphasizing his sense of right and wrong.
  • Public Hearing – Final Plat G4 (Hadley Creek 5th): Tony Fink, a resident, asked about the definition of outlots in the subdivision.

Discussion Items

Public Hearings – Final Plats:

  • G2 – Prairie Ridge (West 80 Partners): Staff presented a final plat for 75.04 acres into 51 single-family lots, 250 townhome lots, and 3 multifamily parcels. The applicant agreed to conditions. No public testimony. Approved unanimously.
  • G3 – Cassidy Farms Second (Meier Companies): Final plat for 3.29 acres into 10 residential lots. The applicant noted an interim condition of 60 lots with a single access, with future second access. No public testimony. Approved unanimously.
  • G4 – Hadley Creek 5th (Farmland LLC): Final plat for 17.5 acres into 57 residential lots and 5 outlots. Discussion focused on parkland dedication (Stonehenge Park serves the area) and the secondary access bridge. Councilmember Keene ensured the bridge would be a permanent city street. Councilmember Palmer opposed due to construction traffic concerns. Approved 6-1 (Palmer nay).

Ethical Practices Board Finalists:

  • The council held a public hearing on the finalists for the seven-member board. The city attorney explained the process: the council does not appoint; the appointing authority (chaired by Olmsted County Bar Association, UMR chancellor, RCTC president) will meet later. Public comments were received. No council action was taken.

Reports and Recommendations:

  • H1 – Appointment to Any Path Home: Councilmember Doring was nominated and appointed to represent the city on the advisory board of the homelessness initiative. Approved.
  • H2 – Council Chambers AV Implementation: Staff recommended awarding a contract to AVI for $592,093.97, with a 10% contingency split between city and county. The project includes ADA improvements, captioning, and new lighting/carpet by the county. Discussion included funding sources (cable franchise fees, declining) and technology lifespan. Councilmember Wall voted no citing cost. Approved 6-1 (Wall nay).
  • H3 – EOC Dispatch Area Improvements (F6): Approved a bid advertisement for improvements to the Emergency Operations Center dispatch area. Funding from public safety one-time funds. Discussion about future dispatch use and cost. Unanimous roll call.
  • H4 – Pavement Management Consulting (F9): Authorized a contract with GoodPointe Technology for $58,000 to use technology for pavement condition indexing, replacing previous intern-based assessments. Councilmembers Palmer and Fredericks opposed due to cost and preference for interns. Approved 5-2.
  • H5 – Historic Downtown District Visioning Plan (F14): Authorized a professional services agreement with Mend Collaborative for $124,940 to develop a vision plan for the Downtown Commercial Historic District. The scope includes public realm, streetscape, and stakeholder engagement. Councilmember Palmer opposed. Approved 6-1.

Ordinance Readings:

  • J1 – First Reading: Annexation by Ordinance (Bigelow Homes): Received and filed the first reading of an ordinance to annex 28.84 acres northwest of the city. No discussion.
  • K1 – Second Reading: Pill Hill Historic Landmark District Designation: Approved the second reading designating the Pill Hill Historic District as a local landmark and amending the zoning map. Approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved consent agenda items (F1-F5, F7-F8, F10-F13, F15-F24) unanimously.
  • Approved Final Plats: Prairie Ridge (unanimous), Cassidy Farms Second (unanimous), Hadley Creek 5th (6-1).
  • Appointed Councilmember Doring to Any Path Home.
  • Awarded AV contract to AVI (6-1).
  • Approved EOC bid advertisement (unanimous roll call).
  • Approved pavement management contract (5-2).
  • Approved historic district visioning plan (6-1).
  • Received first reading of annexation ordinance.
  • Approved second reading of Pill Hill Historic District designation.
  • Adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

I know exactly what we have. Please rise as you're able for the uh Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the floor of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it's under God in the whole standard justice roll. Welcome everyone to the April 21st, 2025 City Council meeting. We begin every council meeting with an open comment period. This is an opportunity for anyone from the public to speak on items that we will not be taking public testimony during another public hearing later in the agenda. Each person has up to two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes. So please know that I may need to cut you off. And I request that each speaker be concise to allow more people to speak during the designated time. 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 specific requests separately. If you have materials to share with the council, you may give them give them to the city clerk and Kaisel over there to distribute. And you will be invited up to speak in the order that you signed up. And we at first have we have no one signed up for public comment period. If not, we will uh move on to our agenda. That's a first for me. I don't know if that happens very often. At this point, uh I'll ask uh Kurt Clerk uh Hazel to call the roll. Good evening. Uh Councilmember Keene. Here. Councilmember Miller. Here. Councilmember Wall. Here. Councilmember Fredericks. Here. Councilmember Palmer. Here. Councilmember Doring. Here. Council President Schubering. Here. Mayor Norton. Present. Thank you. Moving on to our city administrators report. Administrator Zelms, please go ahead. Thank you. Council President, Councilmembers, Mayor Norton, members of the public. Respect integrity, safety, and excellence is how they do their work. So thanks to all of you here or out wherever you're doing your work for how you represent the city of Rochester and serve our community. Also wanted to point out a few things that are coming in the community. So we have an opportunity to meet an owl with the International Owl Center coming to the library on Wednesday, April 23rd, 4 30 to 5 30 p.m. I don't know who might be interested in that, but if you are just right on the spot. Also did want to honor City Council's former and current, as well as our parks and recreation department and board for the Minnesota Recreation and Park Association Association Award for Excellence award for all the work that's continued to happen over decades at Cascade Lake Regional Park. Many of you, many folks in the audience have probably enjoyed that park. It took a lot of planning, and as those phases continue, many people are able to enjoy the park and as it continues to be built out with that master planning. So check out our website, Rochester Mn.gov and see what there is to do at Cascade Lake Regional Park.

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