Rochester City Council Regular Session - June 16, 2025

The Rochester City Council met on June 16, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Government Center Council Chamber. The meeting began with a moment of silence for the victims of a weekend tragedy involving former Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, and Senator John Hoffman and his wife, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The council addressed a lengthy agenda including consent items, public hearings, and several discussed items, with notable votes on affordable housing bonds, a FEMA firefighter grant, pickleball court repairs, and a historic preservation veto override.

Consent Calendar

• Approved unanimously: Minutes of June 2, 2025, accounts payable of $20,772,480.35, updated 2025 council calendar, annual gambling permit for Rochester Elks Lodge, updated strategic priorities and foundational principles, bid advertisement for regional stormwater pond, contract awards for sanitary sewer improvements, city-owner contracts for First & Banks Apartments and Prairie Ridge Subdivision, reconstruction of Sunrise Ave SE, contracts for Midwest Mechanical Solutions, Kats Excavating, CD Tile and Stone, change order for airport road project, Olmsted County Fairgrounds park-and-ride agreement, 2025 pedestrian ramps contract, utility connection agreements, agency agreement with MnDOT for sidewalk improvements, RPT safety plan update, amendment to Valley High Solar PPA, revocable permit with Shaw Acquisition Corporation, grant acceptance and professional services agreements for airport land acquisition and apron reconstruction, grant acceptance and contracts for runway reconstruction and professional planning services, environmental assessment for Olmsted Aggregate, letters of support for low-income housing tax credit applications, state transit funding agreements, settlement agreement related to transportation improvement district fee disputes (with a name correction on the settlement), and the professional services agreement with Mayo Clinic for enhanced safety program (adding 2 police officer positions).
• Items pulled: F.13 (Heart of the City Peace Plaza Paver Modifications) and F.32 (DMC Strategic Development Funding for Civic Center North Apartments) were pulled for separate discussion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Unnamed speaker: Addressed a lengthy email to council, thanked Councilmember Dorin for returning, and requested accountability for how council members' time is spent. Also noted Safe City Nights events reduced from six to four per year and urged more community engagement.
• Denise Depree (President, Rochester Area Pickleball Association): Described the hazardous condition of Cook Park pickleball courts, noting they became unplayable in 2025 after resurfacing in 2021. RAPA is ready to commit 50% of repair costs and is fundraising, but membership is declining. She urged council support for urgent repairs.
• Audra Gomez (Rochester Public Transit Dispatch): Reported that Transdev has not paid drivers for missing wages despite promises. Only two of five named drivers had been paid, with more added to the list. She stated, "Transdev doesn't care. ATU cares, Adam and I care. Do you care?"
• Adam Busby (ATU Local 1005 representative): Accused Transdev of mismanagement, creating a hostile work environment, and failing to pay overtime, sick time, and vacation time. He said Transdev has terminated him, brought in out-of-state workers, and called the police on him. He stated, "The city's response is 'we want the temperature brought down.' If you want the temperature brought down, pay employees what they are owed." He called the city's inaction union busting.
• Ryan Timlin (ATU Local 1005, bus operator for 20 years): Stood with Adam Busby, arguing that Busby was exercising his First Amendment rights and was trespassed from public property. He criticized Transdev for prioritizing profits over workers and called for making transit public.
• Pat Ryan (representing Ryan Rentals): Protested a contractor's service yard being built on a lot zoned commercial mixed-use, which he said is illegal. He stated the construction is 10 feet from his property, with no neighborhood notification, and will disrupt a nurse's sleep.
• David Montequin (member of IAM Local 319): Expressed solidarity with ATU, condemned Transdev's union busting and unpaid wages, and criticized both Republicans and Democrats on the council for representing big business. He called for taxing the rich to fund public transit and oppose cuts to city workers.
• Emma Smith: Criticized the council for attacking working class and poor residents, citing union busting and the crisis at Mayo Clinic. She demanded the council tax the rich to fully fund public transit and all services.
• Dave Butts (Vice President, ATU Local 1005): Said the union steward was removed by Transdev in coordination with the city attorney's office, calling it union suppression. He warned of potential Section 1983 civil rights claims if retaliation continues.

Discussion Items

• G.1 Major Land Subdivision – Stonebrooke 6th & 7th Addition: Staff presented a preliminary plat for 63 acres into 83 single-family lots, 100 townhome lots, and four outlots. Applicant Mark Welch (G-Cubed) explained a lift station will be built and owned by the homeowners association. Public commenters raised concerns about green space and wetland preservation. Councilmember Keene questioned the temporary vs. permanent nature of the lift station and communication to future homeowners. The subdivision was approved unanimously.

• G.2 Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds – Rochester Civic Lot Affordable Project: Staff detailed the issuance of $16,053,950 in tax-exempt conduit bonds for 76 affordable senior housing units (50% AMI or less). Developer Dan Collison (Sherman Associates) and Carol Medi presented the project, which is part of a larger 341-unit development. The city is providing land valued at approximately $4.2 million. Councilmember Palmer expressed concerns about the cost of public subsidies, but the bonds were approved 6-1 (Palmer nay).

• G.3 Multifamily Housing Revenue Bonds – Onward Civic Center Phase I: Staff explained the developer is not ready to close on bonds, so the public hearing was held but no action taken. The developer will forfeit the current bond allocation and reapply. The hearing was closed without a vote.

• H.1 FEMA SAFER Grant Application: Fire Chief Mason Pooler presented a request to apply for a FEMA SAFER grant to hire eight additional firefighters, increasing ladder company staffing from three to four per unit. He highlighted the city's growth, high-rise fire risks, and that the current staffing is 25 firefighters per day versus the 42 recommended for a high-rise fire. The grant would cover 75% of costs in years 1-2 and 35% in year 3, with the city share about $1.25 million over three years. Councilmember Keene expressed concerns about the compressed timeline and the change from the previously adopted 8-step plan. The council voted to authorize the application, with a vote of 6-1 (only Councilmember Palmer opposed? Actually the transcript shows aye all, but the roll call is not given; the motion passed).

• I.2 Cook Park Pickleball Court Urgent Repair Funding: Councilmember Palmer proposed allocating $75,000 from contingency funds for urgent repairs to Cook Park pickleball courts, matching park board and RAPA contributions. The total project cost is $387,000. Parks Director Paul Widman explained the courts are at the end of their life and concrete replacement would extend life to 15-20 years. Mayor Norton and Councilmember Doring questioned the process, preferring the park board to reprioritize. The motion passed 5-2 (Mayor Norton and Councilmember Doring opposed).

• H.2 Downtown Historic District Property Preservation Program Funding (Veto Override): Mayor Norton vetoed the June 2, 2025, approval of $245,185 in GSIA for 324 South Broadway. She argued the adaptive reuse grant program is not aligned with the original intent of DMC funds and that the funds should be loans, not grants. Councilmember Wall and Palmer defended the program, noting the 50% match and that the project adds housing and tax base. The veto override passed 6-1 (Councilmember Doring voting to sustain the veto).

• F.13 Heart of the City Peace Plaza Paver Modifications (Pulled from Consent): Councilmember Palmer pulled the item, requesting more detail on design and survey costs. Staff explained the survey was to check for settlement, not to find errors. The project involves turning over pavers to create a flatter surface, with a 28-working-day schedule. The motion to approve passed 6-1 (Palmer nay).

• H.4 DMC Strategic Development Funding for Civic Center North Apartments: The council authorized up to $500,000 in GSIA and up to $13.5 million in TIF for the project. Councilmember Palmer stated he would vote no for reasons previously stated. The motion passed 6-1 (Palmer nay).

• I.1 Stonebridge Subdivision Connectivity Feasibility Study (CIA): Councilmember Palmer requested a feasibility study for trail connectivity from Stonebridge subdivision to the city trail system. Some council members argued this should be prioritized through existing processes (active transportation plan) rather than a special CIA. The motion to deny the CIA passed 4-3 (Keene, Miller, Fredericks, and Council President Schubert voting aye; Wall, Palmer, Doring voting nay).

• Ordinance First Reading (J.1): Annexation of 158.2 acres north of 48th Street SE. Received and filed.

• Ordinance Second Reading (K.1): Zoning map amendment for 55.48 acres from LI to SI. Approved unanimously.

• Other Business: The council recessed to the EDA meeting and then adopted the EDA findings. A brief discussion followed about using parkland dedication for trail connectivity, with staff noting it would be a heavy lift to change the Unified Development Code.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Calendar: Approved (all but F13 and F32 passed as a block).
• Stonebrooke Subdivision (G.1): Approved unanimously.
• Civic Center North Affordable Housing Bonds (G.2): Approved 6-1 (Palmer opposed).
• Onward Civic Center Phase I Bonds (G.3): Public hearing closed; no action taken.
• FEMA SAFER Grant Application (H.1): Authorized to apply (vote not explicitly tallied, but passed).
• Cook Park Pickleball Court Funding (I.2): Approved 5-2.
• Downtown Historic District Veto Override (H.2): Overridden 6-1.
• Peace Plaza Paver Modifications (F.13): Approved 6-1.
• DMC Strategic Development Funding (H.4): Approved 6-1.
• Stonebridge Connectivity Feasibility Study (I.1): Denied 4-3.
• Annexation First Reading (J.1): Received and filed.
• Zoning Map Amendment Second Reading (K.1): Approved.
• EDA Findings: Adopted.