Rochester City Council Meeting Summary - November 17, 2025

The November 17, 2025, Rochester City Council meeting was held before a full house, focusing primarily on public concerns regarding First Avenue parking changes, the approval of the 2026 Special Service District charges, and various zoning and operational matters. The session featured extensive public testimony from local business owners and residents expressing strong opposition to proposed bike lane installations that would eliminate diagonal parking spaces, citing negative impacts on tourism and small business viability. Council members addressed multiple public hearings regarding tax assessments, historic landmark designations for Central Park, and growth management map amendments to accommodate sewer capacity expansions.

Consent Calendar

• Approved items F1 through F15 and F17 in a block vote; Item F16 was pulled for separate discussion later in the agenda.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Natalie Victoria (Co-owner, Tap House/Victoria's Restaurant): Expressed full opposition to the proposed changes on First Avenue between 4th and 2nd Street, stating that eliminating over 40 diagonal parking spaces would create serious disruption. She requested the city reconsider the plan and lower speed limits instead of removing parking to protect customers, employees, and medical patients.
• Pascual Preza (Owner, Pascual's Pizzeria): Stated strong opposition to the removal of parking spots, arguing that the changes would eliminate 36 spots while claiming safety concerns were ignored. He criticized the council for advocating small businesses while simultaneously enacting policies that harm them.
• Christy Halmasco (Manager, Victoria's Restaurant): Expressed concern that parking issues and construction have caused a significant decline in customer traffic, with patrons telling her they will no longer visit downtown due to the "ongoing craziness." She emphasized the difficulty residents and visitors face navigating the area.
• Christine Stahl (Owner, The Tap House): Opposed the potential loss of nearly 40 diagonal parking spaces, stating that parking has been a major complaint since 2018 and that accommodating a small percentage of bikes at the expense of businesses that generate tax revenue makes no sense.
• Don Hanson (Owner, Indigo Hotel/Center Plaza condo): Expressed strong opposition and surprise regarding the cancellation of his reserved parking spot effective December 1st. He stated this decision was made in the dark without notification, impacting his ability as a disabled veteran near Mayo Clinic.
• Linda Smith (Owner, Optical Visual Flair): Expressed strong opposition, noting that customers are unhappy with downtown, and citing specific issues with parking meters being used by Marriott employees rather than customers. She also highlighted safety hazards regarding trip-and-fall risks on city bricks.
• Thomas Kramer (Retailer, 41 years experience): Expressed disappointment in the degradation of downtown over the last 15 years, specifically regarding the lack of parking. He argued that current council members who do not visit downtown businesses cannot understand the reality of the situation.
• David Curry (Owner, City Market, Tilda's Pizzeria, Redwood Room): Expressed strong opposition to the removal of angled parking, stating it would negatively impact small businesses and comparing it to losses experienced elsewhere.
• Jason Baelbach: Expressed concern regarding constitutional rights, detailing an experience with the Sheriff's Department that he characterized as a disregard for the constitution. He expressed support for holding law enforcement accountable.
• Sammy Lowe (Owner, Bipap Corn It): Expressed strong opposition to the removal of parking, stating that without parking, businesses would have to close down.
• Molly Dennis: Expressed opposition to current city leadership, criticizing the Mayor for blocking social media and the council for not proposing solutions to affordability issues like rent control or utility freezes.

Discussion Items

• 2026 Special Service District (SSD) Charges: Staff proposed a 4% increase ($409,419.78) to fund the Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA). RDA Executive Director Sean Fagan highlighted increased marketing efforts (19% of budget) and event activations (Over 67 events in November, including CastleCon and Zumba), noting a goal to increase social media following and activate vacant spaces.
• First Avenue Parking & Safety: Public hearing testimony highlighted a disconnect between staff vision and business needs. John Creese noted a lack of coordination between the First Avenue, Sixth Avenue, and 6th Street projects, urging for a collective approach to bicycle traffic and urban density.
• Historic Designation of Central Park: Staff and historic preservationists testified in favor of designating Central Park as a historic landmark. Barbara Hudson and Bunny Kettlecamp highlighted its history as a gift for a public square since 1856 and its role in reconciling Upper and Lower Town. Michael Coop, who had previously expressed concern about the Whiting House's historical integrity, was noted as having a "borderline" view but supporting the designation.
• Growth Management Map Amendment: Staff proposed amending the map to reflect the completion of the West Zumbro Phase One sewer extension and to create a new "Near-Term Capacity Constrained" designation. Taryn Edens explained this allows for flexible, smaller-scale development (e.g., dry commercial) in specific areas without immediate full infrastructure upgrades, while reserving large-scale urban expansion for future sewer funding.
• Olmsted Medical Center Right-of-Way Vacation: A petition was presented to vacate a 450-foot stretch of 19th Avenue Southeast to allow OMC to incorporate the land into a future parking lot expansion, subject to recording utility easements for existing infrastructure.
• Legislative Priorities and Bonding: The council adopted the 2026 legislative priorities. An amendment by Councilmember Miller to include support for automated speed camera legislation passed (4-3), allowing the city to join the queue for state authorization. Councilmember Palmer and Wall opposed it, citing a need for more study and observation of other pilot programs first.
• Transit Services RFP: Interim Director Rachel Fouch presented the RFP for the management and operations of public transit, aiming for a unified contract covering fixed route, Link BRT, and ZIPS paratransit services. The proposal includes new performance metrics, such as penalties for failure to log on to the real-time tracking system and enforcing suspension of service for no-shows in ZIPS.
• Opposition to County Land Use Plan Amendment: Council opposed a request by Adler Metals LLC to remove 140 acres from the city's urban service area, citing the need for high density to meet housing goals, environmental concerns regarding septic systems, and the waste of existing sewer investment.
• Administrative Citations Enforcement: The Council decided to move forward with designating the Office of the City Clerk to administer administrative citations. Councilmember Wall and Palmer voted "nay," requesting further outreach to non-licensee critics, but the motion passed 5-2.
• Polling Places: Councilmember Miller proposed including the Pedestrian Bicycle Advisory Commission and Citizens Advisory on Transit in the process of assigning polling places for 2027 to better consider transportation access.

Key Outcomes

• SSD Charges: Motion passed to adopt a resolution authorizing the imposition of $409,419.78 in service charges for the 2026 Downtown Special Service District (6-1, with Councilmember Wall opposed).
• Tax Assessments: Motion passed to adopt the assessment roll for weeds, snow, rubbish, tree removal, and secure property. An amendment passed (4-3) to remove four specific properties (1303 6th Street SW, and properties associated with Joe Jenkins and Justin Rudquist) from the assessment roll due to extenuating circumstances or work already completed by property owners.
• Central Park Landmark: Motion passed to approve the historic landmark designation for Central Park (7-0, with Councilmember Wall and Council President Schubring absent or not voting, though the text indicates unanimous support after discussion).
• Vacation Petition: Motion passed to approve the vacation of the public right-of-way for Olmsted Medical Center (7-0).
• Growth Management Map: Motion passed to adopt the amendment to the Growth Management Map, including the new "Near-Term Capacity Constrained" designation (7-0).
• Legislative Priorities: Motion passed to adopt the 2026 legislative priorities, including the amended section supporting automated speed camera authorization (8-1, Councilmember Wall opposed the amendment but the final motion passed).
• Transit RFP: Motion passed to authorize the solicitation of responses for the management and operations of public transit services (7-0).
• County Land Use: Motion passed adopting a resolution opposing the removal of 140 acres of land from the city's urban service area (7-0).
• Disconnection Analysis: Motion passed directing staff to refine the GIS analysis of disconnected parcels and trail networks for a spring 2026 study session (7-0).
• Administrative Citations: Motion passed designating the Office of the City Clerk to regulate and administer administrative citations and enforcement (5-2).
• Ordinance Second Reading: Motion passed approving the renaming of a section of 36th Street Northwest to 22nd Avenue Northwest (7-0).
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned following the Other Business discussion on polling place assignments and First Avenue transit options.