Rochester City Council Meeting - September 9, 2026
Rochester City Council Meeting - September 9, 2026
The Rochester City Council held its regular session on September 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM in the Government Center Council Chamber. The meeting included public comments, a consent agenda with 27 items, three public hearings, and reports on the Chateau Theater partnership and the Reimagining 6th Avenue West project. Key decisions included denial of an appeal regarding Silver Lake Park alterations and approval of two residential subdivisions.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes from August 17 and August 24, 2026, accepted.
- 2026 Latino Fest approved as a community festival.
- Appointment of Gary Schroeder, Sr. to the Board of Appeals.
- Donation of $100 to the Rochester Fire Department accepted.
- Collective Bargaining Agreement with IBEW Outside Group for 2026-2028 ratified.
- Contracts approved for Civic Plus agenda management, Enterprise Resource Planning software (Avant and UKG/Mosaic), and multiple infrastructure projects (e.g., Sanitary Sewer Improvements West Zumbro Phase 2 for $3,062,640, Sanitary Sewer Extension West Zumbro for $3,620,113).
- Grant applications authorized for Low/No Emission Replacement Vehicles and FY2027 DWI/Traffic Safety Officer Grant.
- Bid advertisements authorized for Lincolnshire Drainage Improvements and several pond dredging projects.
- Contract awards for sewer pipe lining ($1,024,016), durable pavement markings ($62,935), landscaping ($164,952), and parking management extension ($1,464,850).
- Revocable permits approved for Mayo Clinic private improvements in right-of-way.
- Short-term borrowing up to $10 million for the Water Utility Fund authorized.
- Water Utility Capital Budget amended by $3,935,000 for growth-related infrastructure.
- Willow Creek Regional Trail feasibility study accepted; final design contract with Alliant Engineering for $465,588 authorized.
- Water Extension Improvement Agreements with Pulte Homes and ML Group I LLC approved.
- Contract amendment for Rochester Sportsplex approved for $634,697.50.
- Consent agenda passed with Councilmember Doring voting nay on item F27 (Sportsplex change orders).
Public Comments & Testimony
Open Comment Period:
- West Lund urged the council to plan for winter homelessness, stating he regularly sees homeless people on the streets and hands out resource booklets. He criticized the cost of county funeral programs and asked for funding for the Salvation Army and The Landing.
- Jeff Derby opposed putting curbs in the Goose Egg Park area sewer plan, citing special assessment burdens on low-income homeowners and potential flooding risks. He noted a 400-year-old tree on his property that could be damaged.
Public Hearing G1 – Silver Lake Dam Appeal:
- Greg Munson (Friends of Silver Lake) argued the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) violated the Unified Development Code (UDC) by not allowing proper public comment. He listed alleged city misrepresentations about dam safety, history, and survey results, and asked the council to send the matter back for proper process.
- Lynn Newquist (50-year resident) opposed dam removal, favoring restoration of grassy banks and lake maintenance.
- Sue Ebert (neighboring property owner) emphasized the lake’s value as a Minnesota treasure and questioned dry-year water levels.
- Sandra Geis (resident) recalled the dam’s WPA history and flood control role, opposing removal.
- West Lund (return speaker) accused the city of ignoring citizen input and requested a new community meeting.
- Jenny Butcherconi (NW Rochester resident) urged leaving the dam alone and called for inclusive process.
- Craig Ugland (resident) argued the dam is a character-defining feature and questioned safety and maintenance of proposed rapids.
- Devin Hugdall (Silver Lake neighbor) supported the HPC approval and dam reconfiguration for improved recreation.
- Guy Mayer (resident) showed photos of debris on the dam and raised concerns about flood control and ice jams.
- Jeff Gove (lifelong resident) favored leaving the dam and dredging the lake.
- Bunny Kettlecamp (History Center researcher) noted the council voted Silver Lake a landmark and criticized lack of dredging.
- Andrew Knopf (Ward 4) argued the HPC followed UDC and supported the COA.
- Betty Dawson (resident) encouraged council to visit the lake.
- Andy Sutton (Silver Lake resident) supported the change for river health.
- Mary Benicky Kesileschi (resident) opposed dam removal due to downstream flooding risks.
Public Hearing G2 – Century Valley Fifth Final Plat:
- Dan Fogerty (downstream landowner) asked for assurance that the road would not end in a permanent cul-de-sac, allowing future connection to 48th Street. Staff confirmed eventual connection to Silver Creek Road.
Public Hearing G3 – Cassidy Heights Major Subdivision:
- Matt Goshgerian (neighbor) requested three to five trees be planted where an access road currently exists, to screen the new development from his property. The applicant said RPU will address it.
Discussion Items
G1 – Appeal of HPC Approval for Silver Lake Park Alterations Staff (Irene Woodward) recommended denying the appeal, stating the HPC followed UDC procedure by allowing public comment at the meeting, and National Register eligibility was not part of local review. The council had a quasi-judicial role. Councilmember Keene moved to deny, noting the project has been in development for years. Councilmember Wall asked about lake size; staff confirmed approximately 8% of the lake (5 acres) would be converted to rock arch rapids, but the lake and trail would remain. Mayor Norton emphasized that the decision to move ahead was made previously and the lake would persist. The motion passed 5-1 (Councilmember Fredericks voted nay; Councilmember Palmer recused).
G2 – Century Valley Fifth Final Plat Staff (Desmond McGill) presented a 17.62-acre site subdivided into 16 residential lots. The applicant (Connor Burke) acknowledged one condition regarding civil plan review. After public hearing, council approved unanimously.
G3 – Cassidy Heights Major Subdivision Staff presented a 12.77-acre site for 18 single-family lots and one outlot, with a mix of R1 and R2 zoning. The applicant (Dan Horsch) noted a temporary cul-de-sac with future road extension. Council approved unanimously.
H1 – Chateau Theater Operating Partnership Ryan Yetzer presented a framework with Experience Rochester, proposing a mix of uses: 30% community/public, 30% private events, 20% ticketed performances, 20% seasonal/destination. An additional $300,000 annual investment (funded by lodging tax) would support community access and operations. Councilmembers emphasized community access, especially on prime nights. The resolution directs staff to engage with Experience Rochester, the DMC Board, and community stakeholders. Council approved unanimously.
H2 – Reimagining 6th Avenue West Project Update Steve Sampson Brown and Cindy Zerger presented the 30% design for a 7-block corridor from Civic Center Drive to 2nd Street SW, funded by $11 million in DMC funds and $4-5 million from Mayo clinic infrastructure reimbursements. Features include a two-way protected bikeway, wider sidewalks, traffic calming, underground power, and amenities like swings and seating. Public engagement involved over 20 events. Council approved the geometric layout and authorized design advancement.
Key Outcomes
- G1 Silver Lake Dam Appeal: Denied (5-1, with one recusal). The HPC certificate of appropriateness stands.
- G2 Century Valley Fifth Final Plat: Approved unanimously with one condition.
- G3 Cassidy Heights Major Subdivision: Approved unanimously with four conditions.
- H1 Chateau Theater: Resolution adopted unanimously to advance the operating partnership and capital planning framework.
- H2 Reimagining 6th Ave West: Approved geometric layout and authorization to proceed with final design.
- Consent Agenda: Approved, with Councilmember Doring voting nay on F27 (Sportsplex change orders).
- Next Steps: Staff will return with a final Chateau operating agreement later in 2026; 6th Ave West design continues towards a March 2027 construction start.
Meeting Transcript
Please rise as you're able for the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the clock of the United States of America. Welcome everybody to our uh September 9th, 2026 uh city council meeting. Uh as we begin every city council meeting, we uh start with an open comment period. This is an opportunity for members of the public to speak on items that we will not be taking public testimony during a public hearing later in the agenda. Each person has up to two minutes to speak for a total of 20 minutes. Uh I will be keeping track of time through two methods. One, the uh the stop light here at the dais, and then the uh red digital clock uh to my left. Uh so please please know that I may need to cut you off after two minutes. Because of the limited time, we also ask uh people to uh to keep their uh comments concise and speak to 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 that you have separately. If you have materials to share with the council, you may give them to the city clerk who is to my right here, uh, and she will distribute them to uh the council. With that, I will invite folks up as they signed in. And first is Mr. West Lund. And Mr. Lund, you may have to you you have to push the button that says push up. There you go. It's on already on. Yep, it is. So go ahead. Thank you. Uh winter is coming, and I'm uh saddened by the number of homeless people that I see on the streets of Rochester under the trees and in the bushes. And multiple times I've been in this room, and I've heard uh Heidi Walsh explain why our county needs increased funding for programs. I've listened to city administrator Allison Zelms argue for increased budgets. Uh sometimes I've been the only person attending those meetings from the community. Um I've heard Aaron Parrish argue for increased budgets and spending. And uh it's time to plan for winter as Minnesotans normally do. A lot of people have come to Rochester in quest of these uh fictitious small tiny homes that were much touted. Um we need to do something to plan ahead to get these folks housed before the snow flies, perhaps in as little as a month. Weather reports say that it may be a tough winter this year. I encounter homeless people regularly, and I'm grieved that some of them from Southern California, some of them from Missouri, they don't understand our weather, and a second storm that last blizzard hit, and I was explaining to someone how our spring works. There could be another storm. He it was a false spring we had this year. Um I'm regularly handing out these booklets to homeless people and trying to help them find resources in Rochester. I know we have a program for, and this is horrible, but we we emulate people at a cost of 2,158 dollars. That's an olmstead county program for paying for unknown bodies or destitute people who can't afford their own funeral expenses. Is that the time already? Or is that no, no, you're okay. That's one of my council members who had did not silence their phone. So in any case, um uh it's a six-seven moment for me. Go ahead. Um, I'm just saying that let's do something to help the homeless and put some of our tax dollars. We were told, you know, the tax the we always we had radicals in the room chanting and and saying we need our taxes to go up. The we always we had radicals in the room chanting and and saying we need our taxes to go up. Our property taxes go up. It makes our homes less affordable. But let's put some of that money, let's give 20,000 to the Salvation Army that was denied last time around by a certain someone. Let's support the landing. Let's get these folks housed before the snow flies.
openpublica.com