City Council Special Meeting - August 24, 2026: RAISE Grant Agreement Approval
City Council Special Meeting - August 24, 2026
Summary
The Rochester City Council held a special meeting on August 24, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. to consider a single agenda item: repealing and replacing Resolution #137-26 to authorize the execution of a Fiscal Year 2022 RAISE Grant Agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Minnesota Department of Transportation for the 6th Street Bridge, Neighborhood Safety, and Riverfront Improvements Project (J7919). The meeting included the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, and a brief staff presentation. Councilmember Keene was absent. The council voted unanimously to adopt the new resolution, which adjusted the authorized grant amount to "up to $19,900,000" to provide flexibility during final negotiations.
Consent Calendar
- [No consent calendar items were listed or considered.]
Public Comments & Testimony
- [No public comments or testimony were provided.]
Discussion Items
- Fiscal Year 2022 RAISE Grant Agreement (E.1): Deputy Administrator Steinholder presented the request to repeal and replace Resolution #137-26, originally authorized in July 2026. The prior resolution specified a grant amount of $19.9 million; the new resolution changes the language to "up to $19.9 million" to allow flexibility during final agreement negotiations and to remain on schedule. Councilmember Keene asked a logistical question about the resolution number, and staff clarified that the repeal would result in a new resolution number upon adoption.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Councilmember Keene moved to adopt a resolution repealing Resolution #137-26 and authorizing execution of the RAISE Grant Agreement for up to $19.9 million. Councilmember Fredericks seconded. The motion passed unanimously (all ayes, no nays).
- Procedural Note: Following the vote, a councilmember inquired about starting the study session earlier than 3:30 p.m. Staff confirmed the meeting was posted for 3:30 p.m., so the session would begin at that time.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after the vote.
Meeting Transcript
Please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible. Liberty and justice for all. Clerk Caseel, please call the roll. Good afternoon. Councilmember Keene. Here. Councilmember Miller. Is absent. Councilmember Wall. Here. Councilmember Fredericks. Here. Councilmember Palmer. Here. Councilmember Doring. Here. Council President Schubert. Here. Mayor Norton. Present. Are there any changes to the order of the agenda? We have one item on our reports and recommended. Recommendations. Seeing none, is there a motion to approve the agenda? Move to approve as presented. Second. Moved by Councilmember Keene, seconded by Councilmember Doring. All in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed say nay. Motion passes. We have item E1, which is the fiscal year 2022. RAISE Grant Agreement for the Sixth Street Bridge, Neighborhood Safety and Riverfront Improvements Project J 7919. Deputy Administrator Steinholder. Good afternoon. Thank you, Council President Shubering, members of the City Council Mayor Norton. The re requested action before you this evening this afternoon is to repeal and replace resolution 137-26 that you authorized in July 2026 at a city council meeting. This is related to the uh raise grant that we received for the 6th Street Bridge Neighborhood and Riverfront safety improvements, Nipper's safety and riverfront improvements project. At the time the resolution was very prescriptive in stating that the mayor be authorized to sign a grant agreement of 19.9 million. We're asking for a slight modification to the resolution for it to read up to 19.9 million. Um the grant um that we were notified of is 19.9 million uh in federal funding for the construction of that project. Um we are in um final negotiations uh with the agreement and wanted to just make sure that we have the flexibility to uh sign the grant agreement and stay on schedule with the planned um agreement deadline and construction schedule. So the request is for you to repeal uh take action to repeal the prior resolution and approve this resolution which says up to 19.9 million. Thank you. Uh questions, councilmember Keene.
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