OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

December 22, 2025 Special City Council Meeting Summary

City Council — Monday, December 22, 2025
BodyRochester, Minnesota
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, December 22, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:15:57

Transcript — Verbatim
0:03

Oh, there it is, finally.

0:40

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

0:47

I pledge to the United States of America.

1:04

Welcome everybody to our uh special December 22nd uh City Council meeting.

1:10

Um I will first call on Clerk Caseel to call the roll.

1:15

Good evening, Councilmember Keene.

1:17

Here.

1:18

Councilmember Miller.

1:19

Here.

1:19

Councilmember Wall.

1:21

Here.

1:21

Councilmember Fredericks.

1:23

Here.

1:23

Councilmember Palmer.

1:24

Here.

1:25

Councilmember Doring.

1:26

Here.

1:27

Council President Schuebring.

1:28

Here.

1:29

Mayor Norton.

1:30

Present.

1:31

Next on our agenda is the order of the agenda.

1:34

Are there any changes to the agenda as presented?

1:37

Seeing none, is there a motion to approve the agenda?

1:41

Moved.

1:42

Moved by Councilmember Keene, seconded by Councilmember Palmer.

1:46

All in favor say aye.

1:47

Aye.

1:48

Opposed say nay.

1:49

Next up is our open comment period.

1:53

And this is an opportunity for anyone from the public to speak on items on our agenda this evening.

2:02

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

2:21

So know that I may need to cut you off if uh you reach over the two minutes.

2:29

Um because of the limited time, we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to speak.

2:35

Um because this is a special meeting.

2:52

And with that, I am going to call on Mark Brandsford.

3:02

And please state your name uh even if I've said it, and I apologize up front if I mispronounce your name.

3:10

But yeah, Mark Brandsford, 317, 15th Avenue Southwest.

3:15

Council President, Staff Mayor.

3:18

Plans were presented as drafts of what could be, not promises of what would be.

5:02

This outcome is not accidental.

5:04

It is a foreseeable result of the delay.

5:08

Thank you.

5:09

Thank you.

5:10

Next up we have Clark Jones.

5:18

Hi, my name is Clark Jones.

5:20

I'm the head baseball coach at Rochester Community and Technical College.

5:23

I would like to first state publicly for the record that I already have teams lined up and committed to come and play in Rochester during the month of March if this approval of this complex is passed.

5:34

You see, after teams come back from their southern trips in early March, they often sit idle until April rolls around when the frost eventually is gone and teams can start playing.

5:45

In years past, Rochester and Riverland would host a crossover tournament the last week of March and the first week in April.

5:53

The past three years, we have played the crossover tournament twice in Norwalk Iowa and once in Wisconsin Dells, both on turf fields.

6:01

Providing a quality tournament experience in Rochester on turf fields during March for us would be a game changer.

6:09

It would save us approximately 20 to 30,000 per year.

6:13

The coaches in Northern Minnesota are equally excited because for them, traveling to the Dells or to Norwalk is very expensive.

6:20

With no other options, they are forced to travel and spend the money.

6:24

Have a quality having a quality tournament here in Rochester and experience would also save them thousands of dollars.

6:32

From an economic standpoint for businesses here in Rochester, teams would stay in our local hotels, eat in our local restaurants, and frequent our local gas stations and convenience stores.

6:44

This would be in the month of March, which isn't even in our busy season for tournaments.

6:49

It is also worth noting that with a premier field in Rochester for softball and baseball, it isn't out of the realm of possibilities that we could host tournaments here for our state tournament, the MCAC, Winona States Conference, the NSIC, St.

7:05

Mary's Conference, the MIAC, and Lutheran Colleges Conference Tournament, the American Rivers Conference.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Sportsplex Discussion█████████████████████████████████████████████48%
Procedural█████████████14%
Homelessness█████████████14%
Community Engagement███████████12%
Economic Development██████████11%
Youth Programs█1%
Summary of Proceedings

December 22, 2025 Special City Council Meeting Summary

The special City Council meeting was convened to reconsider three items previously vetoed by Mayor Norton: contract awards for the Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex (Item D1 and D2) and a funding allocation for the Salvation Army (Item D3). The Council faced significant public testimony and internal debate regarding the scope of the sports complex, specifically the exclusion of the indoor facility promised to voters, and the procedural propriety of emergency funding for the Salvation Army. After deliberation, the Council successfully overrode the Mayor's vetoes for the sports complex items by a 5-2 vote but failed to override the veto regarding the Salvation Army funding, falling short of the required supermajority.

Consent Calendar

  • The Council President called for consent regarding routine approvals; no specific consent items were listed in the transcript aside from the agenda approval.
  • The agenda was amended with no changes and approved unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Mark Brandsford (317 15th Ave SW): Expressed opposition, stating plans presented were only drafts and the current outcome is a foreseeable result of delay.
  • Clark Jones (RCTC Baseball Coach): Expressed full support for the complex, highlighting that a quality tournament experience in March would save teams $20,000-$30,000 annually and boost local business.
  • Christine Erke (Parent/Hospitality): Expressed full support, emphasizing the facility's need for economic development and that the state would not fund purely local needs.
  • Emma Steeb (Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce): Expressed full support and urged an override of the veto, stating the complex is a voter-approved investment critical for economic competitiveness and community well-being.
  • Wyatt Ryan: Expressed opposition to the current iteration, noting his original "yes" vote was contingent on an indoor facility which is now absent.
  • Chris Lucanville (Rochester Area Lacrosse): Expressed full support, citing the need for reliable turf fields for youth accessibility and the ability to host regional events.
  • Tom Hexham: Expressed full support, arguing the city needs to think bigger in the $40 billion sports industry and that the facility complements the health mission.
  • Wade Fenski (Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce): Expressed full support, reiterating the economic benefits for hospitality and the necessity of the complex to attract large-scale events.
  • Wade Beavins: Expressed full support, citing economic success stories in Carmel, IN, and Blaine, MN, and challenging opponents to vote for the project's forward-thinking benefits.
  • Pat Sexton (Rochester Area Builders): Expressed full support, clarifying the 65 million budget was for the complex (similar to Ram Arena usage) and arguing that sports tourism brings new money.
  • Joseph LaForge: Expressed staunch opposition, requesting a pause to re-evaluate and re-engage the community for equitable access.
  • Mike Vance (Rochester Youth Baseball Association): Expressed full support, acknowledging the lack of indoor facilities but emphasizing this project lays the groundwork for future indoor phases and community connection.
  • Stephen Shaw: Expressed concern that the $65 million cost requires a larger community piece to ensure the whole community can be proud of the result.
  • AJ Copinto: Expressed opposition, arguing the outdoor facility serves the local community poorly in winter due to cold weather and fails the "local use" mandate.
  • Ed Ruska (Former Council/Sports Foundation Director): Expressed full support, stating the funds must be used for the approved regional project and warning against the vocal minority.
  • Marshall Barons (Rochester Sports Foundation): Expressed full support, emphasizing economic benefits, the 8-month outdoor usability, and the fiscal irresponsibility of delaying the project.
  • Laurel Schott (Empire Hotel Group): Expressed full support, noting the hospitality community needs this to remain competitive and anticipating an indoor facility in the future.
  • Brad Trahan (Ward 5): Expressed full support specifically for the Salvation Army funding, urging a 7-0 override of that specific veto.
  • Jane Shellum: Expressed opposition to overriding the veto, stating she voted for the project based on promises of both indoor and outdoor facilities and felt the drastic scope change requires a return to voters.

Discussion Items

  • Mayor Norton (Veto Reasons for Sports Complex): Opposed overriding the veto, citing a lack of specificity during the original 2022 referendum, the fact that the $65 million does not fund an indoor facility as expected by voters, and the belief that the community desires a year-round indoor-outdoor facility. She highlighted ongoing negotiations with RCTC for a future indoor solution.
  • Mayor Norton (Veto Reasons for Salvation Army): Opposed overriding the veto on D3, arguing that security is already addressed by Salvation Army corporate and RPD, the process bypassed standard policy procedures (no staff language returned for debate), and that existing federal CDBG funds should be prioritized for rental assistance.
  • Councilmember Palmer: Supported overriding the sports complex veto, praising the leadership on RCTC negotiations as a strategic win-win. Regarding Salvation Army, he argued the need is great, the expense is legally defensible per the City Attorney, and the previous vote by seven members stands.
  • Councilmember Fredericks: Supported overriding both vetoes. Noted that the sales tax bill did not specify indoor facilities, but the community understood it based on renderings; argued that without property taxes, an indoor-only facility is unviable; and defended the Salvation Army funding as a legitimate one-time action similar to Channel One funding.
  • Councilmember Keene: Expressed support for overriding the sports complex veto but opposed the Salvation Army veto override, citing procedural concerns (motion bypassed standard staff review) and a desire to ensure proper guardrails before future spending.
  • Councilmember Wall: Expressed full support for the sports complex, arguing the $65 million is legally restricted to construction and that the community feedback favors operational self-sufficiency over increased taxes.
  • Councilmember Miller: Expressed support for the sports complex but opposed the Salvation Army funding. Raised concerns about "inclusive decision making" being tensioned with the project timeline and noted the operator's financial projections lacked sufficient risk allocation (only reputational risk). Regarding Salvation Army, argued the CIA process should have directed staff to research and return with recommendations rather than immediate allocation.
  • Councilmember Doring: Expressed support for the sports complex but opposed the Salvation Army funding. Criticized the operator for a lack of due diligence and financial accuracy regarding the scope change. Regarding Salvation Army, shared concerns with Councilmember Miller about the process and future implications.

Key Outcomes

  • Item D1 (Contract Award): Motion to override Mayor Norton's veto on the contract with Knutson Construction for $27,978,635. Result: PASSED (5 Aye: Keene, Wall, Fredericks, Palmer, Schuebring; 2 Nay: Miller, Doring).
  • Item D2 (Operator Agreement): Motion to override Mayor Norton's veto on the operator agreement with Sports Academy. Result: PASSED (5 Aye: Keene, Wall, Fredericks, Palmer, Schuebring; 2 Nay: Miller, Doring).
  • Item D3 (Salvation Army Funding): Motion to uphold the council-initiated action for $20,000 funding. This required a 5-vote supermajority to override the veto. Result: FAILED (4 Aye: Wall, Fredericks, Palmer, Doring; 3 Nay: Keene, Miller, Schuebring). The veto was upheld.
  • Executive Session: Motion to adjourn to closed session for litigation (Molly Dennis v. City of Rochester) passed unanimously.

Meeting Transcript

Oh, there it is, finally. Please rise as you're able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge to the United States of America. Welcome everybody to our uh special December 22nd uh City Council meeting. Um I will first call on Clerk Caseel to call the roll. Good evening, Councilmember Keene. Here. Councilmember Miller. Here. Councilmember Wall. Here. Councilmember Fredericks. Here. Councilmember Palmer. Here. Councilmember Doring. Here. Council President Schuebring. Here. Mayor Norton. Present. Next on our agenda is the order of the agenda. Are there any changes to the agenda as presented? Seeing none, is there a motion to approve the agenda? Moved. Moved by Councilmember Keene, seconded by Councilmember Palmer. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed say nay. Next up is our open comment period. And this is an opportunity for anyone from the public to speak on items on our agenda this evening. Each person has up to two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes. So know that I may need to cut you off if uh you reach over the two minutes. Um because of the limited time, we want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to speak. Um because this is a special meeting. And with that, I am going to call on Mark Brandsford. And please state your name uh even if I've said it, and I apologize up front if I mispronounce your name. But yeah, Mark Brandsford, 317, 15th Avenue Southwest. Council President, Staff Mayor. Plans were presented as drafts of what could be, not promises of what would be. This outcome is not accidental. It is a foreseeable result of the delay. Thank you. Thank you. Next up we have Clark Jones. Hi, my name is Clark Jones. I'm the head baseball coach at Rochester Community and Technical College. I would like to first state publicly for the record that I already have teams lined up and committed to come and play in Rochester during the month of March if this approval of this complex is passed. You see, after teams come back from their southern trips in early March, they often sit idle until April rolls around when the frost eventually is gone and teams can start playing. In years past, Rochester and Riverland would host a crossover tournament the last week of March and the first week in April.

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