Rochester City Council Meeting - April 20, 2026

The Rochester City Council met on April 20, 2026, for a regular meeting that included an open comment period, reports from the city administrator and mayor, a consent agenda, two public hearings (one on ethical practices board appointments and one on a housing code text amendment), an informational update on digital accessibility, and several ordinance readings. The meeting lasted from approximately the scheduled start time until adjournment.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was unanimously approved with one exception: Councilmember Wall voted no on item F19, citing concerns about "an enormous cost to plan for five blocks of city street" despite grant coverage and available funds. Wall described the vote as a protest against "runaway costs for reviews, regulations, consulting, engineering."

Public Comments & Testimony

• Ivan Eitzel spoke about the limits to growth, referencing the 1972 book "Limits to Growth" given to him by co-author Dennis Meadows. He argued that Rochester's growth plans exceed planetary limits and distributed a handout.
• Molly Dennis alleged she was blocked from Councilmember Doran's official social media page after expressing views contrary to city officials, which she claimed violated her First Amendment rights. She requested the council adopt a written policy protecting First Amendment rights on city official social media pages.

Public Hearing: Ethical Practices Board Finalists (G1)

• City Attorney Michael Spindler-Craig introduced the process, thanking outgoing members Daniel Borup and Gloria de Bussman. The council does not make appointments; public comments go to the appointing committee meeting on April 30, 2026.
• Four candidates spoke:
  • Linda Patzer: Retired social worker with experience in living donor transplant ethics and social work ethics. She expressed interest in contributing to the board.
  • Travis Wilson: Rochester resident who lived away from 2016-2024. Background in student conduct adjudication, leadership development, and compliance oversight. He emphasized transparency and forward-thinking.
  • Chris Brandt: Rochester resident since 1979, retired from a major technology company, volunteer experience with youth outreach and post-prison support. He pledged to attend all meetings and work professionally.
  • Ndidinawaneri: Academic background in ethics and public policy, with experience assessing public institutions. She stressed the importance of being perceived as ethical and balanced deliberation.
• Council members thanked all candidates; Mayor Norton encouraged those not selected to consider other boards (police civil service, fire civil service). Councilmember Keene praised the caliber of candidates.

Public Hearing: Flood Insurance Text Amendment (G2)

• Ed Caples from Community Development presented: This amendment adopts FEMA's latest flood insurance study for Olmsted County to keep Rochester eligible for the National Flood Insurance Program. It also clarifies language in UDC section 60.200.040E. No public comment was offered.
• Council action: Motion to approve passed unanimously.

Public Hearing: Housing Code Text Amendment (G3)

• Taryn Eidens presented the amendment to Chapter 7 of the Code of Ordinances, primarily clerical to align with 2024 International Property Maintenance Code. Key changes:
  • Remove the ability to rent while waiting for initial inspection (now requires inspection before occupancy). Rationale: inspection availability is now 2 days to 2 weeks.
  • Change late compliance fee trigger from 90 days after license expiration or last inspection to only 90 days after license expiration.
  • Add a table for egress window minimum requirements based on construction year.
  • Removed language about conversions for density (will refer to existing building codes instead).
• Public comment: Kathleen Hanson, a senior citizen and recent mover to Rochester, spoke about the city's limit of five unrelated persons in a dwelling unit. She argued this is discriminatory for seniors aging in place and for multi-generational homes. She also raised concerns about not being notified of building inspections when a contractor pulls a permit. She asked for clarification on "grandfathering" and owner notification.
• Council discussion: Councilmember Keene asked about the rationale for removing the offer-to-rent provision; Eidens said it protects residents and ensures issues are addressed upfront, though no major life safety problems have been found. Councilmember Miller raised a constituent's issue about a balcony that was advertised but later found non-compliant. Councilmember Fredericks opposed the change, saying it would slow down affordable housing and that landlords use good judgment. Councilmember Palmer clarified that owner-occupied homes are not subject to rental inspection, but overcrowding rules could apply based on occupancy limits and family definitions. He noted that enforcement of the family definition is rare (fewer than a dozen cases in two years). Eidens confirmed that egress windows built to code at time of construction are accepted. Councilmember Fredericks voted no.
• Council vote: Motion to approve the housing code amendment passed 6-1, with Councilmember Fredericks dissenting.

Discussion Items

• Digital Accessibility Update (WCAG 2.1 AA): Liz Goss, digital communications coordinator, provided an update. The city launched new websites with accessibility built in, organized by user tasks rather than department structure. Features include mobile responsiveness, web-based forms (reducing PDFs), and internal training. The Department of Justice deadline was April 24, 2026, but was recently extended to 2027. City Administrator Selms noted Rochester is ahead of most cities over 50,000. Mayor Norton mentioned that some vendor products were not ready, requiring staff to fill gaps. Councilmember Keene emphasized that this is a federal regulatory requirement, not a voluntary improvement, and noted transition pain such as broken links and removed content. Councilmember Miller requested periodic reporting on where content is lost or conflicts arise. Staff committed to documenting issues and continuing proactive work.
• Other Business: Councilmember Palmer noted that April 20, 2026, is Patriots Day and the 130th Boston Marathon, with 26 Rochester residents running. He congratulated them and mentioned his own nine-time participation.

Key Outcomes

• Consent Agenda: Approved with Councilmember Wall voting no on F19.
• Public Hearing G1 (Ethical Practices Board finalists): No council action; comments recorded for the appointing committee meeting April 30, 2026.
• Public Hearing G2 (Flood insurance text amendment): Approved unanimously.
• Public Hearing G3 (Housing code text amendment): Approved 6-1 (Fredericks nay).
• Ordinance first and second readings: Approved as presented (no further details in transcript).
• Adjournment: Motion passed.

Note on Discrepancies

• The transcript includes a brief mention of "order of the agenda" approval, but the specific agenda items are not listed. The mayor referenced board and commission vacancies and a utilities town hall on May 12, 2026, which are not reflected in formal agenda items but were mentioned in the mayor's report.
• The exact meeting start and end times are not recorded, but the meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and concluded with adjournment after other business.