January 21, 2026 Rochester City Council Meeting Summary
January 21, 2026 Rochester City Council Meeting Summary
The Rochester City Council convened on January 21, 2026, to address an agenda dominated by intense public concern regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities in the city. Following extensive public testimony describing widespread fear among immigrant communities, the impact on school attendance and healthcare access, and allegations of aggressive enforcement tactics, city leadership and the Police Chief responded with reassurances that local police do not collaborate with ICE and do not share resident data. The council subsequently approved two major development projects: a wireless tower and a regional sports complex, and a site development agreement with Mayo Clinic for downtown facilities.
Consent Calendar
- Approved items F1 through F9 and F11 without discussion.
Public Comments & Testimony
Community Fear and Demands
- Kyle Pike (disabled combat veteran and student) described local ICE presence as "Gestapo forces of an illegal tyrannical federal government" and expressed that the mayor and council must act to stop tyranny. He stated he did not serve in the armed forces to allow tyranny to destroy Rochester.
- Jared Looker (resident) acknowledged the acute pain and fear felt by immigrant communities, including Somali and Mexican neighbors. He asked the council to reflect on their values and use their authority to set a moral example, opposing rhetoric meant to divide.
- Toby Holliday (Workers Strike Back) alleged ICE agents are driving recklessly, running red lights, and working without warrants. The group demanded the city declare itself a sanctuary city, prosecute ICE for legal offenses, end drone and camera surveillance projects, and join a mass protest and strike on January 23.
- Susan Robinson Denlow (retired educator) reported that half of ethnic students at a high school were no longer attending due to fear of ICE. She requested the council publicly call for ICE to leave, prohibit government property use for ICE, contact congressional officials to defund ICE by January 30, and address economic shutdowns.
- Isaac Johnson (COO of a healthcare organization) stated that 86% of his clinic's diabetic patients are not showing up for appointments due to fear of ICE, forcing the clinic to mobilize manpower to reach the community.
- Pete Vavang (Ward 5 resident) expressed that the immigrant community is being "overrun by ICE" and urged the council to act to preserve freedom and secure rights.
- Casey Hill (resident physician) expressed terror that patients will face irreparable harm or die because they are not accessing critical medical care due to fear of ICE.
- Saleem Mohammed (resident) described trauma in the refugee community, noting that parents are choosing between health care, food, and rent. He stated that silence is complicit and demanded concrete steps to protect residents and reject racial profiling.
- Gloria Torres Herbeck (teacher and community leader) expressed fear for her students, noting they are not coming to school because they fear ICE will take their parents. She expressed concern for the financial burden on the community and the Latino Fest.
- Samuel Korthaler (Ward 6 resident, veteran) stated his neighbor, a young mother and U.S. citizen, will not leave her house without passports due to ICE harassment. He demanded ICE be removed from schools and communities.
- Jen Webber (resident) demanded ICE be removed from the city, citing incidents of unwarranted stops, arrests in schools and churches, and excessive force. She stated the city cannot condone ICE actions as they undermine public safety goals.
- Karen McLaughlin (attorney) encouraged the council to use their voice to demand ICE leave and asked that the federal government be urged to defund ICE if constitutional rights are violated.
- Asmir Hodžić (Ward 2 resident) stated that the response from business owners and regular people is overwhelmingly anti-ICE and demanded the council take a public stance against ICE and shut down operations on January 23.
- Kirsten Lincoln (Ward 2 resident) reiterated the need to help schools feel safe and noted that people are not coming for food, health, or school.
- Ruchi Gupta (naturalized citizen and Planning Commission Chair) recounted being surveilled by an unmarked SUV and tailing ICE agent, expressing fear and noting that restaurants are locking their doors.
- Molly Dennis (former council member) urged the council to scrap executive branch priorities and focus on legislative action, demanding tangible city policies rather than platitudes, including allocating funds for training and passing sanctuary city legislation.
Other Public Comments
- James Smith requested the city extend the sewer line on 11th Avenue Southwest to support redevelopment of 10 acres near the airport.
Discussion Items
Mayo Clinic Site Development Agreement (Item F10)
- Councilmember Wall and Councilmember Miller pulled the item for further discussion regarding the magnitude of the project and community engagement.
- Ms. Steinhauser and Ms. Woodward (Community Development) clarified that Mayo Clinic remains committed to incorporating historic artifacts from the former Lourdes High School into the park design.
- Councilmember Miller questioned the pedestrian access through the Osmond Waterman building; staff confirmed that public access through the building is a condition of a street vacation and is included in the agreement.
- Councilmember Miller raised concerns about undergrounding overhead power lines for the linear park at Kutsky Park. Tim McCullough (RPU Director) estimated the cost of undergrounding the 7th Avenue corridor to be between $1 million and $2 million, noting this is not currently budgeted and typically requires developer or partner funding.
- Councilmember Palmer questioned the use of DMC funds for park improvements outside the DMC boundary and the potential cost burden on ratepayers for undergrounding.
- Councilmember Keene expressed support for holding the project moving but noted the need to trust the Unified Development Code and staff oversight. A study session in early March is planned to provide updates on the project and undergrounding costs.
- Councilmember Fredericks noted that the neighborhood has not committed to paying for undergrounding and emphasized that underground construction costs are typically five times higher than overhead.
- Motion: Authorized the site development agreement with Mayo Clinic for the West Logistics Center and Osman Waterman Clinical Building.
Ordinance Rezoning (Item J1)
- Read first re: rezoning ~2.04 acres at East Center St and 6th Ave SE from R2X to R4.
Other Business and ICE Response
- Councilmember Doring reiterated his commitment to working within the law to ensure community safety, noting his involvement in food runs and standing vigil outside mosques.
- Councilmember Wall expressed sadness that the situation creates "losers on all sides" and appreciated the unified stance of city leaders on community safety.
- Councilmember Keene called for a shift in framing the issue from policy to methods, challenging Congressman Frinstead and Bishop Barron to act on human rights. He suggested supporting the state's lawsuit against the federal government and requested data on the impact of ICE on the community.
- Mayor Norton acknowledged the fear in the community, stated she has called federal officials to request ICE's removal, and clarified that the Rochester Police Department is not notified by ICE and does not share license information.
- Chief Franklin reassured the council that the Police Department does not enforce civil immigration law, does not collect immigrant data, and does not share CCTV or drone footage with ICE. He emphasized the department's commitment to public safety and the existing policy deferring immigration enforcement to federal agencies.
- City Administrator Zelms and City Attorney Spindler Craig acknowledged the community's anxiety and reaffirmed the city's commitment to serving all residents with dignity and respect.
Key Outcomes
- Public Trust: Mayor Norton and Police Chief Franklin explicitly stated the Rochester Police Department does not collaborate with ICE, does not share resident data, and does not notify ICE of local police activities.
- Zoning Approval: Approved Conditional Use Permit CD 2025-010 for a 105-foot wireless communications monopole tower by UCI Tower/Verizon at 1807 Marion Road SE.
- Plat Approval: Approved Final Plat CD 2025-043 PLAT (Regional Sports Recreational Complex) for 158.21 acres, with Councilmember Doring voting nay.
- Development Agreement: Authorized the Site Development Agreement with Mayo Clinic for the West Logistics Center and Osman Waterman Clinical Building, with conditions regarding historic artifacts, pedestrian access, and public realm improvements.
- Next Steps: Council members requested a study session in early March regarding the Mayo Clinic project and undergrounding costs. Councilmember Miller suggested exploring resolutions for eviction moratoriums and utility bill relief.
Proclamations & Announcements
- Proclaimed January 18–24, 2026, as Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) Week in the City of Rochester.
- Reminded residents of International Holocaust Remembrance Day on January 27, 2026.
- Noted an informational meeting for the sister city trip to Germany on January 24 at 125 Live.
Meeting Transcript
Please rise as you're able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice. Thank you and uh welcome everybody to our January twenty-first uh city council meeting. Uh before we get started, I just wanted to give a thank you to Councilmember Miller and uh Public Works Director Niemier for shoveling the walkway to uh get you all in the room here. So thank you. Some servant leadership there from Councilmember Miller and just doing his job, Tyler. So we open uh each of our meetings with an open comment period, and this is an opportunity for anyone from the public to speak on items that we will not be taking public testimony during a public hearing later on the agenda. Each person has up to two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes. Now the council also has the ability if we go over those 20 minutes to uh to uh extend that period. Um I will be keeping track uh through two methods. One is the uh stop light here, and uh you'll see a green, it'll turn yellow, I think, when you have a minute left, and red when you are to stop. Also up uh to my left is the red uh digital clock, and that will count down the two minutes. I'd also ask each speaker to be concise to allow more people to speak and participants are also uh 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 materials to share with the council, please give them to the city clerk who's to my right, and she will distribute them to the council. You will be invited up uh in the order you signed up, and we will start with Kyle Pike. Council President, members of the City Council. My name is Kyle Pike. I'm a disabled combat veteran and a student of Winona State University, and I come before you with a very simple problem, plaguing your city. You have the Gestapo forces of an illegal tyrannical federal government seizing power in my home and corrupting the goodwill of an entire state, plaguing people of color as if they were othered to nothing but an alien and illegal, and you have done nothing hitherto this moment to stop the tyranny I never served to witness in my home. Rochester is a community for Somali Americans, for Latino Americans, for Irish and German Americans, for Italian Americans, for all Americans, legal or otherwise. And you are called tonight by a veteran of the armed forces of this country whose brothers and sisters are being plagued right now because of the color of their skin. You are demanded here forward that you take action to prevent the Gestapo Nazi forces illegally invading my home. I did not serve for the allow tyranny to destroy Rochester. I served to pre to prevent it from ever happening on my shores, where my ancestors proudly defended the flag for seven generations. I will not allow silence on this issue anymore. Thank you, Mr. Council President. I thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry. But no. I'm sorry. No. Thank you, Mr. Pike. I'm going to just say that, you know, we we're going to hear some very impassioned speeches, and uh we uh we need for you to refrain from applause. It allows the speakers for us to hear from more speakers. So please uh try to reframe even when there are very impassioned uh people speaking. So with that, we're gonna go to Jared uh Lucker. Gerard. Jared. Hi, my name is Jared Looker. I'm a resident of Rochester. Good evening, Mayor Norton, Council members, and residents of Rochester and fellow Americans. It's an honor to speak with you tonight to share my thoughts about the moment we're in, to acknowledge the stress, tension, and fear that so many of us are feeling right now. In particular, I want to acknowledge the acute pain, undue stress, and fear felt by members of our immigrant communities, our Somali brothers and sisters, our Mexican neighbors, and anyone who feels vulnerable, scared, or as though their rights are being questioned or their dignity is being tested. I do not pretend to have the answers, nor am I here to criticize you. I am here as an individual, as a father, a husband, and a friend, to pose a simple set of questions for us all to consider. What kind of city, county, state, and country do we want to live in?
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