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2026 Legislative Priorities
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
City Vision, Principles, and Priorities
Rochester at a Glance
State Priorities
East Zumbro Sewer and Water Infrastructure for Housing (Bonding) ..................................
Chateau Theater Liquor License Streamlining ........................................................................
Operations Funding for Bus Rapid Transit in Greater MN ......................................................
Local Government Aid & Providing Regional Public Services ..................................................
Housing Access .........................................................................................................................
Resources for Continued Water Quality and Responsible Environmental Stewardship ......
Transportation ..........................................................................................................................
Energy, Sustainability & Responsible Environmental Stewardship .........................................
Other Areas of Support
Federal Priorities
2026 Mayor and City Council Members
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Table of Contents
1
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
VISION, PRINCIPLES, AND PRIORITIES
Adopted by City Council on 6/16/2025
Community Vision
Rochester is a City that cares. Where all people are treated
with dignity and respect. Where residents, employees, and
visitors enjoy a high quality of life. Where business and
industry thrive, and where the land and environment are
renewed and sustained for the benefit of all. It is a
welcoming and diverse community.
Renowned for its reputation as a center for growth and innovation.
Characterized by its safe and friendly neighborhoods.
Committed to health and wellness for its people.
Connected both physically and socially.
Dedicated to the sustainable and responsible use of public
resources.
Strategic Priorities
We will focus our resources and initiatives to drive
progress in these areas:
Economic Resilience
Housing Access
Inclusive Growth Management
Responsible Environmental Stewardship
Transformational Capital Projects
Organizational Vision
A vibrant, compassionate, innovative team.
Foundational Principles
We will approach every action and decision through a lens of:
Compassion
Fiscal Responsibility and Sustainability
Inclusive Decision-Making
Public Safety
Quality Services
Social Equity
2
The City of Rochester is the third largest city
in the State of Minnesota, with a population
of over 125,000*, which is anticipated to grow
by 50% over the next 20 years. Rochester, an
economic engine for the state of Minnesota,
is home to major employers including Mayo
Clinic and hosts a strong nonprofit and small
business community. Factors such as civic
engagement, affordable housing, a strong
regional economy and great education
options have helped the community stand
out for years.
Community at a Glance
• Median Age: 37
• Total Households: 49,984
• Median Home Price: $273,000
• 23.7% of residents are BIPOC
(approximately 45% of students at
Rochester Public Schools are BIPOC)
• 14% of residents are foreign born
• 82% of residents speak English only,
and 18% speak a language other
than English
• 16% of residents are age 65 and
older
• 10% of residents have a disability
• 6% of residents are veterans
• 9% of residents are below poverty
income level
Regional Center:30,000 commuters daily
3 million visitors annually
Incorporated
in 1854
Square miles
55 Population125,000*
• Gold LEED City• AAA Bonding Rating• Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for almost 50 years• Top 3 Best Places to Live in the U.S. - Livability• Top 7 Most Beautiful Cities in MN - World Atlas• Top 25 Best Place to Retire - Forbes• Top 4 Best Cities to Buy a House in America - Niche Magazine
• Top 6 Best Small College Areas – University Business• First American City to become an Intercultural City (ICC)• Inclusive Workforce Employer (I-WE) Designation from Workforce Development Board of Southeast Minnesota
Awards & Accolades
Rochester at a Glance
*2022 estimate
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
4
East Zumbro Sewer and Water
Infrastructure for Housing (Bonding)
Phase
Phase 1 $18,500,000
(State bonding
request: $9.2M)
Begins at the north end of project
at Silver Lake, includes upsizing
sewer and water systems.
Design & approvals: 2026
Construction: 2027-2028
Phase 2 $12,000,000
(State bonding
request $6M)
Extends southward from Phase 1
with continued enlargement
upgrades to water and sewer pipes.
Design & approvals: 2027
Construction: 2028–2029
Phase 3 $12,700,000
(State bonding
request: $6.3M)
Continues south, combining
joint and separate water and
sewer improvements.
Design & approvals: 2028
Construction: 2029-2030
Phase 4 $16,600,000
(State bonding
request: $8.3M)
Final stretch, focused on
upsizing sewer and water and
extending water systems.
Design & approvals: 2030
Construction: 2030-2031
Amount Details Potential Timing
Current Sewer Pipe Future Sewer Pipe
60"
24"
Project Overview
In order to increase the available land for
housing of all types, an increase of sewer and
water pipe capacity is needed. If Rochester
can increase land/lot availability for housing
(and decrease lot cost with additional supply),
it helps with housing supply and affordability.
This project will promote infill development
opportunities.
The East Zumbro Sewer Investment Project
would be primarily focused near Silver Lake
connection with impacts to the entire SE part
of the city, directly creating approximately
1,000 developable acres of land. This could
eventually include industrial users at the
Rochester International Airport and other
potential opportunities.
Project Funding Details
State request: $9.2M (50% of phase one
project cost)
This project is phaseable and can be staged
(design, construction).
Background
Our current water reclamation plant
(wastewater processing facility) has capacity
for additional users; our pipes in the city
need to be upsized for additional housing and
industrial users in the city. They were originally
built for a community of 120,000 population—we
now exceed this and are expected to greatly
exceed this population in the coming years.
This infrastructure is typically funded via
rates from sewer users. State support for this
project would allow it to happen much sooner
than it would otherwise.
Currently, additional housing lots at scale are
only available in the NW part of the city. This
would allow for additional housing and industrial
uses in the SE portion of the city.
It would be very challenging for Rochester to
compete successfully with the current public
facilities authority (PFA) requests along with
other communities in greater Minnesota. As
the third largest city and economic engine for
the state, it makes more sense to compare
funding of this arena with requests and funding
awarded to the metropolitan area.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
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East Zumbro Sewer and Water
Infrastructure for Housing (Bonding)
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
6
Chateau Theater-Liquor
License Streamlining
Issue
To sell liquor on-site, establishments must
obtain a license from the local government.
This can often be prohibitively expensive for
non-traditional business models that are not
restaurants or bars if the non-traditional
entity is eligible for licensure at all under State
Statute. The state grants full liquor licenses to
certain types of businesses, such as theaters,
convention centers, and town ballparks.
Alternatively, venues can apply for a temporary
on-sale license; however, this option can also
be costly and limits the sale of liquor to just 12
special events per year.
Rochester's historic Chateau Theater serves
as a theater, an event space, and a community
asset in the heart of downtown. The venue
hosts various events, including weddings,
graduations, ceremonies, cultural celebrations, art exhibitions, limited theater performances,
craft fairs, and more.
In other cities, similar establishments, such
as museums, cultural entertainment venues, and concessionaires within art museums and
sports venues, have recently received special
legislation (see Minn. Stat. 340A.404, subd. 2)
to provide additional support.
Problem
Chateau Theater does not meet the common
definition of a theater per Minn. Stat. 340A.404
(Subd 1, 8b).
Solution
State special legislation that would grant a
full liquor license to the building of Chateau
Theater (located at 15 1st Street SW
Rochester, MN 55902).
Impact
A liquor license would allow it to fully utilize
the space and maximize its potential uses for the community, visitors, community events,
cultural groups, celebrations, and other uses.
It’s ability to produce revenue will be improved
with an additional amenity to offer its events
and those of age that are interested in
participating.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
7
Operations Funding for Bus
Rapid Transit in Greater MN
Issue
The City of Rochester will be the first bus
rapid transit system outside the metro area
when the Link opens in 2027 providing a 2.1
mile corridor in the community that has over
3 million visitors annually, 20,000 commuters
daily, and the 125,000 residents. Reliable
and suitable funding of a variety of state,
federal and other resources is vital to a
vibrant transportation and transit system for
Rochester.
In 2023, there was a 1.7% increase in funding
from the Moter Vehicle Sales Tax that went
to greater MN transit that is currently being
distributed to the same network of greater
MN transit providers as prior to the additional
funding. MNDOT is currently convening transit
operations stakeholders to begin examining a
potential formula update that is expected to
be implemented after 2026.
Current greater MN public transit systems
(including Rochester Public Transit
fixed routes) are supported by a mix of
approximately 80% state (via the Motor
Vehicle Sales Tax) and 20% local resources
(via fares, advertising, or other entities’
support). Given this precedent, it is
reasonable expectation for this proportion of
funding to extend to the new service line of
bus rapid transit systems in greater MN.
Problem
In addition to the upcoming bus rapid transit
Link route, the City of Rochester also will
continue to operate a fixed-route system of Rochester Public Transit buses that rely
on the limited state and federal funding for
operations. The Link bus rapid transit system
will begin service in 2027 and operations will
be partially funded via partnership agreement
with a major local employer which allows for partial coverage of the fare-free model
(covers the 20% local part of transit funding
model). City’s public transit system that
serves the region’s workforce and economy,
additional state funding will be needed for
bus rapid transit systems.
Other sources of potential funding are
already allocated toward transportation
projects in the area or can only be used
for capital/one-time expenses not ongoing operations of a system.
Solution
Dedicated, reliable, and predictable funding
for bus rapid transit system operations
from the state for Link Bus Rapid Transit.
This funding should be in addition to the
existing state support for Rochester Public
Transit system of 32 fixed route buses and
paratransit system that provided over
750,000 rides in 2022. Projected ridership for
new bus rapid transit is 2.8 million.
Bus rapid transit systems in greater MN,
including Rochester’s Link system, should
receive some of the additional MVST formula
funding for greater MN transit, due to
alignment with state goals around transit are
being achieved from Rochester’s BRT system.
Impact
Continued partnership of state funding
for public transit in greater MN allow for
additional service to residents who rely on
and can use public transit.
Public transit is an efficient way to
transport workers to employment,
customers to businesses, patients to
health care, families to entertainment and
public amenities, and provides residents
a great option that reduces carbon
emissions, parking costs, and other goals.
The Link bus rapid transit system will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, provides an
accessible option for getting to work, home,
school, and leisure activities along the route
which will go through the downtown corridor.
It also helps Rochester meet its goal to
reduce single-occupancy vehicle trips into
downtown by nearly 30% in the next 20 years.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
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Background
Rochester is the third largest city (pop.
125,000), is over 80% of the population
for Olmsted County, and is the only city
over 100,000 in greater Minnesota. All of
its neighboring cities are under 10,000
population. Rochester does not have a regional
metropolitan government unit that provides
consolidated services like the metropolitan
area. Rather, Rochester provides many of those services ‘in house’ (on the levy, or via
city of Rochester budget) such as library,
wastewater, transit, airport, parks system,
and public safety. Most of these services are
utilized by the region, visitors, and residents.
There have been recent efforts at the
legislature to make improvements and account
for the unique nature of services and formula
impacts to Rochester, including:
• 2021: Hold harmless provision for projected LGA
cuts post-pandemic (signed into law)
• 2023: Formula update & increase in LGA funding
overall at $564M (signed into law)
• 2024: $150 per capita floor for cities of the first
class (bill introduced)
Some previous one-time funding for services
have been shown successful to help support
regional centers in greater MN. Such as:
• Public Safety Aid (Chapter 64, 2023 Regular
Session)
• One-Time funding; Population-based aid
• 2023 appropriated $5.34M to City of
Rochester
• This funded 11 programs that would
have either otherwise not been funded
Local Government Aid
& Providing Regional Public Services
or been funded from different sources.
Programs funded included: victim services
support, training for police and fire,
vehicle replacement, firefighter turnout
gear in compliance with OSHA standards,
emergency management facilities, matching
federal grant for police department,
technology support for public safety, and
community services outreach efforts.
• Statewide Affordable Housing Aid (Minn.
Stat. 477A.36)
• Ongoing; aid is calculated based on % of
cost burdened households paying more than
30% of income on rent/housing via American
Community Survey
• 2025 amount for Rochester projected at
$250,117
• Funding from 2023 and 2024 funded fee
permit waivers for tax credit project and tax
abatement program (one-time aid increase
in 2023 and 2024 resulted in $545,926 to
Rochester).
• Accessible facilities/ADA public
infrastructure funding (2023 Regular Session: Chapter 68, Article 1, sec. 17,
subd 14)
• One-time appropriation
• $5M appropriate split among the four cities
of the first class with Rochester receiving
approximately $900,000.
• This funded 23 deficient pedestrian ramps
throughout the city in alignment with city’s
ADA transition plan (total need for ADA
transition plan estimated at $4M).
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
Local Government Aid- State/Local
Partnership (Continued)
9
Solution
• Protecting local government aid (LGA)
funding and updating formula
• Increase state appropriation to local
government aid (LGA) overall to allow for
upward projection, including inflationary
increase—governments encounter the same
inflationary pressures of anyone buying materials and supplies to serve the public
• Modernize and reform the local government
aid formula to better account for regional
centers in greater MN such as Rochester. This could include separate tier of formula
factors for these cities.
• Modernize and reform LGA formula factors
or other funding from the state for cities
that are implementing desired zoning for
increased housing (e.g. allowing multifamily
in more zones; allowing ADU’s city wide,
lower parking minimums, removing
aesthetic or design standards for single
family homes, encouraging housing density near transit corridors) while also allowing
for local context in consideration of zoning.
• Preserve and increase state funding
to Rochester for accessibility ADA
infrastructure, public safety aid,
microtransit funding, housing and
homelessness, and other similar funding.
Impact
Targeted aid at communities that provide
regional and state assets on a local level
that requires local resources not only for the
service, but ancillary impacts of providing those services (additional calls for service,
homelessness/housing supports).
Issue
Rochester and other regional centers
in greater MN are unique. Rochester
provides services for the region that other
communities, especially in the metro area,
have other ways to help fund. For example,
library, comprehensive parks and trails systems, airport, transit system, wastewater
treatment, and more. The current LGA formula
does not account for regional centers that
provide services used by residents, neighboring
communities, and visitors.
Rochester receives $42 per capita of local
government aid (LGA) funding, while other
cities of the first class receive much more.
There are 13 cities smaller than Rochester which receive more LGA.
There are 102 cities over 10,000 population. All of their LGA is determined by the same four
formula factors:
1. Percent of housing built before 1940
2. Share of the city’s population age 65 and
over
3. Share of the city’s tax base classified as commercial, industrial, or utility property
4. Population decline from the city’s peak
population in the last 40 years
City of the
First Class 2024 Amount Per Capita
St. Paul $82M $265
Minneapolis $82M $191
Duluth $35M $406
Rochester $5M $42
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
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Housing Access
Issue
The 2025 Maxfield Housing Study of the City of
Rochester and Olmsted County demonstrated
a need for approximately 18,000 housing units
through 2035. This includes over 4,100 senior
housing units, over 4,700 rental units (including
market rate, income-restricted/workforce,
and subsidized), and over 5,000 new for-sale
homes. In 2024, approximately 200 single family
and 700 multifamily permits were issued. The
City of Rochester has a racial homeownership
gap, similar to the state as a whole: 23% of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
households are homeowners, compared to
70% homeownership rate for overall Olmsted
County population. A local community
engagement co-design effort related to BIPOC
homeownership was conducted. It was made up of key stakeholders from financial/lending
institutions, realtors, community housing
support stakeholders, developers/builders,
and BIPOC community. The report highlighted
themes of education, navigation, belonging,
safety and security, structural racial barriers, mentorship, and representation. These facets
were identified as barriers and opportunities
to address the racial homeownership gap. Born
out of that co-design effort was collaboration
with Three Rivers Community Action to build
upon their existing Achieve Homeownership program to create a BIPOC Homeowner
Mentorship Pilot program.
Cities play a critical role in local housing
and zoning by shaping district designations,
land use policies, development standards,
and administrative processes. Rochester
recently undertook a comprehensive overhaul
of its zoning code, now called the “Unified Development Code” (UDC).
Recognizing that complex regulations
can sometimes act as barriers to housing production, the UDC introduces significant
reforms to streamline the development
process. Key changes include reducing the
number of residential districts, eliminating
purely commercial districts, and shifting
neighborhood engagement to earlier stages of the process.
The UDC is a modern zoning code that creates
more predictability in the process, allows for more areas and flexibility of where housing
can be built (particularly for multifamily
housing), reduces minimum lot sizes, removes
artificial density limits, and creates additional flexibility around parking requirements for
multifamily housing.
The UDC includes built in flexibility,
predictability in development process and outcomes (for both developer, city, and
neighborhood), many approvals by right/at
city administrative level, and faster process
(typical approval for projects are 30-60 days).
The base zoning code:
• Allows multifamily projects in all
‘commercial’ type areas (zoning code
uses mixed use zoning rather than purely
commercial zones)
• Does not have aesthetic requirements for
single family homes (e.g. no brick fascade
requirement, no garage requirement, no
deck requirement)
• Reduced parking requirements to .5
spaces per unit or lower if closer to
transit corridor. No additional parking
requirement for adaptive reuse of existing buildings.
• Allows ADUs in all zoning districts
(requirement for owner to occupy at least
primary residence or ADU)
• Maintains important urban design for
mixed use and multi-family projects
with over 5 units. Standards are for
improved livability rather than aesthetics,
to support access to transportation alternatives and sustainable lifestyle. A
menu of options for developers focus on
building interface with public sidewalk and
resident connection to community.
• Does not include Floor-to-Area ratios
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
11
Problem
Approximately one-third of Rochester’s
households have a need for affordable
housing. While different measures might
be used to define affordability, the general
definition most often used is that housing
costs of more than 30% of a household's
income is not affordable. The greatest need
is for housing options at 30-55% Area Median
Income (AMI). Housing options at 70-90%
AMI level are also needed to address new job
growth in construction, education and health
care sectors.
The combination of higher borrowing and
construction costs, infrastructure challenges, and rising operational costs presents a
perfect storm for residential development. For
cities like Rochester, addressing these issues
requires innovative solutions such as public-
private partnerships, streamlined permitting
processes, and investments in infrastructure
to alleviate the financial burden on developers
and homeowners alike. Without these
solutions, the cost of housing will continue to
rise, placing additional strain on residents and
limiting access to affordable homes.
Infrastructure limitations, as seen in Rochester
and other growing communities, further
complicate development. As more homes are
built, the demand for public services like water,
sewer, and transportation infrastructure
increases. For example, the estimated $4.2
million to provide infrastructure for 500
single-family dwellings is a significant cost
that developers must incorporate into the
overall price of the homes. This, in turn, leads to higher housing costs for future residents,
making it even more difficult to provide
affordable housing options.
In places with constrained infrastructure,
developers may choose to create private
infrastructure (such as private roads) to
reduce the burden on local governments.
However, this often means additional costs
for homeowners, who are then required to pay
for the upkeep of these private roads through
Homeowners Associations (HOAs). These
additional expenses can add to the financial
strain on households, perpetuating the cycle
of high housing costs.
In Rochester, there are commercial developments (10+ stories) that are located
right next to some of Rochester’s most
established single family home neighborhoods.
Having standards that allow for predictability
in these translation areas, for both developers
and neighborhoods is key, along with allowing
for neighborhood and developer communication
early in the process (as soon as any application is received by the city).
Solutions
• Maintain local control for cities in terms of
urban design standards (e.g. pedestrian
frontage, building and entrance orientation,
service locations, and facade variety) for
commercial/mixed use/downtown and for neighborhood transition areas.
• Examine tools and changes to assist with lot
availability and first time homebuyers.
• Consider increased efficiency and
predictability with final plat including public
hearing requirements for more than four
lots (single family subdivisions) and tax
considerations.
• Support increased state funding for housing
infrastructure bonds (HIBs) and general
obligation bonds, as well as sources for
public housing rehabilitation, to help address
the immediate and growing need for affordable housing.
Housing Access (Continued)
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
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• Support policies that will prevent and reduce evictions and increase notices of,
and protections for, those being displaced
especially during the winter. This could
include funding for Family Homeless
Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP)
and other similarly aimed programs.
• Support energy efficient new affordable
housing, as it will benefit lower-income
residents by lowering monthly costs and the
possibility that costs of poorly constructed buildings are shifted onto its residents, in
addition to aiding in the city’s climate action
plan.
• Support programs and funding for the preservation of current housing stock, and
tenant protections.
• Support programs and funding for
accessible housing opportunities, including the Emergency and Accessibility Loan
Program.
• State funding to assist local efforts around
increased access to home ownership
including BIPOC home ownership.
• Funding the Greater Minnesota Housing
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing
(NOAH) Fund.
• Consider tools and incentives, including
tax credits, for conversion of vacant
commercial/office property into housing.
• Changes to MN Housing Finance Agency scoring criteria to reward projects that
utilize existing transportation and other
service infrastructure.
• Targeted funding for temporary homeless sheltering, warming houses and other
support, including increased mental health
and chemical dependency treatment
programs to reduce future growth in
homelessness and to protect our residents
struggling with these issues. This includes support for programs to support capital
investment in local facilities, the Emergency
Services Grant Program (ESP), aid dedicated
to providing homeless services.
Impact
These solutions will help implement the near-
term and long-term Affordable Housing Policy Recommendations from the 2020
Affordable Housing Study to support the
creation and retention of affordable housing in Rochester. These solutions would also help
implement the BIPOC homeownership report
recommendations. To reduce barriers to housing
development, regulatory tools are essential.
Rochester’s Comprehensive Plan, Unified
Development Code, Sanitary Sewer Master
Plan, Growth Management Map, and Land Use
Map provide a framework for managing growth.
Via the updated zoning code, Rochester has
approved 1,266 multi-family units since 2023
through the more streamlined process. By being able to update the city’s zoning code
based on our unique character and factors, it
demonstrates importance of local control and
that one-size-fits-all, state-mandated housing
and zoning policies will likely not address the
unique needs of all communities.
The ability for Rochester to update its zoning
code based on local needs allowed for progress
on affordable housing, sustainability, and equity goals. Namely with reduced minimum lot size,
removed artificial density limits, allowing diverse
housing city-wide, parking reduction, affordable
housing incentives considered at staff level,
and process predictability.
The City also plays a key role in addressing
housing needs through targeted programs and
resources. For example, the Economic Vitality
project, supported by a local sales tax, will
generate up to $50 million over 16 years to fund
the newly established Homeownership Creation
Program, which provides fee reimbursements
for new for-sale homes. A recent $4 million
award to Prairie Ridge will support 201 new homes by 2027.
To incrementally increase density, Rochester
is exploring options like an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) pilot program and various home
rehabilitation
initiatives to
preserve the
existing housing
stock. Additionally, Tax Increment
Financing (TIF)
continues to
be used to
support both
multifamily and
for-sale housing
development.
Housing Access (Continued)
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
Issue
The State of Minnesota’s new regulations
for lake and river eutrophication standards
require the City of Rochester to have a more
stringent phosphorus limitation on wastewater
treatment plant discharge (less than 1 mg/l).
This will require different treatment technology
than is currently at the Water Reclamation
plant. The Point Source Implementation
Grant (PSIG) is a program that provides
local governments 80% grant funding up to
$7 million (current cap per project) to help
fund some of the costs to meet these new
requirements.
Amounts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS), often called ‘forever
chemicals’ in ground water and water sources
is of heightened interest at the state and
federal level. Rochester is participating in a
recent measuring effort in partnership with
the MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for
measuring PFAS being discharged to the Water
Reclamation Plant (WRP).
The City is developing strategies to help human
and natural systems become more resilient to
changes in precipitation levels and weather
patterns. A large part of that planning involves
assessing vulnerabilities and developing
plans to improve stormwater infrastructure
resilience and reduce localize flood risk,
improve the resilience of wastewater systems,
and adapt community services to meet the
needs of residents and businesses prior to,
during, and after an extreme event.
In 2023 the Minnesota Legislature created
the Lead Service Line Replacement Program
and appropriated $240 million to accelerate
replacement, coordinated by MN Department
Resources for Continued Water Quality and
Responsible Environmental Stewardship
13
of Health and the Public Facilities Authority
(PFA) with State Revolving Fund (SRF) dollars.
State law sets a goal to remove all lead service
lines in public systems by 2033.
Problem
To ensure that the City of Rochester is able
to access these PSIG funds in the future,
it is important to include the Public Funding
Authority (PFA) bonding request and final
legislative appropriation at a funding level that
will support the requests coming from local
government for this grant money.
PFAS chemicals take many years to degrade
and are very prevalent in commonly used
products. Residents and commercial and
industrial businesses discharge PFAS laden
wastewater which flows to WRP and is
not treated by conventional treatment
technologies. PFAS treatment at the WRP
is not economically feasible, so source
identification and reduction is the primary
solution. Sampling for PFAS, identifying
sources, and finding alternative products is
time-consuming and expensive. It is also a
global problem that cannot be solved one City
at a time. Funding is needed to cover the cost
of sampling and much more research is needed
on sources and alternative products.
Currently there are funds available to assist
with climate related assessments and planning
however implementation funding is not
available. The current funding mechanisms are
set up to address water quality impairments
and not proactive planning associated with
climate adaptation. Without funding support
for implementation projects, there will be
delays in implementation or the need to scale
back needed projects.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
14
Resources for Continued Water Quality and
Responsible Environmental Stewardship (Continued)
In 2023, the legislature funded a state grant
program administered through the Public
Facilities Authority that also included federal
funding via the Infrastructure Investment and
Jobs Act (IIJA). Minnesota Department of Health
estimates a $1.5 billion cost for replacement
and removal of all lead service lines. Need
exceeds available dollars for lead service line
replacement.
Solutions
• Support the inclusion of Public Facilities
Authority (PFA) request’s for Point Source
Implementation Grant (PSIG) in state
legislation (i.e. state bonding bill) at an
amount that would fully fund projects
awaiting funding from previous years and
current underway project at Rochester's
Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) that could
use PSIG funding.
• Assistance with managing additional PFAS
requirements in wastewater with funding
for sampling, assistance with research
and consumer education, and/or banning
PFAS materials at the source, along
with a narrowly focused protection for
municipalities to provide time to develop
holistic reduction strategies that protect
human health.
• Support continued funding for climate
resiliency efforts.
• Encourage innovative projects that
provide multiple benefits such as climate
resiliency, water quality, and recreational
opportunities.
• Support sales tax exemption on construction
materials for current Rochester Water
Reclamation Plant (WRP) update project.
(~$3M savings to $92M overall project).
• Additional and consistent funding for
Minnesota’s Lead Service Line Replacement
Program.
Impact
The MPCA recently changed the regulation on
phosphorous limits for surface water. Increasing
Rochester’s chance to receive PSIG funding
will support construction and work on current
wastewater and storm water treatment
facilities to meet these standards and
improvement the water quality in Rochester.
By partnering on monitoring and potential
funding for managing, cleaning up and
measuring PFAS, the issues associated with
these chemicals may be more likely to be
addressed in a productive manner. Banning
PFAS materials at the source would reduce
additional and future needs for remediation
and other costly impacts on local communities.
By providing implementation funding,
Rochester could move forward with valuable
climate adaptation projects like our Section 7
pond that will reduce the rate of flood water
entering the city and further consideration
of building the resiliency hubs that will be
identified through our climate resiliency hub
assessment and planning project.
Sales tax exemption for the current upgrade
project at the WRP would result in not needing
to use rate increases at projected levels to
support the current project. Expected savings
on project is on project is $3M.
Continued and additional funding of this lead
service line grant program is key to achieve
the health and safety goals related to
removing lead service lines for drinking water in
Minnesota. Many lines are on private property.
Dedicated state support avoids rate volatility
and ensures low-income neighborhoods, with
older housing stock and higher likelihood of
lead service lines, are able to be served. PFA
data already show significant private-side
cost shares in current projects. Contractors
invest in people and equipment when funding is
stable. Stop-and-start appropriations inflate
unit costs and slow delivery.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
15
Transportation
Issue
Similar to other cities in Minnesota, Rochester
is beginning to face major financial constraints
due to the cost of maintaining and repairing
the city’s network of streets, in addition to
a commitment to complete streets, active
transportation, bridge replacement, and street
reconstruction. Currently, there are over 100
miles of streets that are at least 51 years or
older in the city. Reliable and suitable funding of
a variety of state, federal and other resources
is vital to a vibrant transportation and transit
system for Rochester and the region, such as:
• The Local Bridge Replacement Program
(LBRP; Minn. Stat. 174.50) and Local Road
Improvement Program (Minn. Stat. 174.52)
provides local agencies transportation
funding for the reconstruction, rehabilitation
or removal of bridges or structures in their
local road system through general obligation
state bond funds via the state bonding/
capital investment bill.
• The Transportation Advancement Account
(TAA) which provides funding to local
agencies for transportation purposes
(Minn Stat. 174.49; Minn. Stat. 168E.09, subd
2, and Minn Stat 297A.94).
• MNDOT programs such as Safe Routes to
School and Transportation Alternatives that
align with the city's active transportation
plan, complete streets policy, and
comprehensive plan.
City streets, including those designated by
cities as Municipal State Aid (MSA) routes, are
currently bound to follow the MnDOT state
aid design standards. The state aid design
standards for bicycle facilities were written
into the Minnesota administrative code in
2017. MnDOT published a new bicycle facility
design manual in October 2024 that applies to
MNDOT state road projects; however the older
standards apply to MSA streets instead of
MnDOT’s current manual for state roads which
promotes national best practices.
Problem
Bridge maintenance and replacement costs are
heavily outpacing the bonding dollars that have
been passed by the legislature. In addition, the
funds available for the program vary with each
legislative appropriation. Due to the similar
age of bridges in the community, an increased
and continued need for bridge repairs and
replacements is anticipated in the future. In
order to address the necessary work and plan
for these important infrastructure projects,
there needs to be consistent and adequate
funding into the Local Bridge Replacement
Program via the state bonding bill. The
City of Rochester has an upcoming bridge
preservation project for the key corridor of
37th Street NW (Bridge #55519) that could
benefit from this program’s funding. The
project cost is estimated to be $2.2M.
Additional tools and revenue for communities,
especially regional centers, for transportation
is key for continued investment in safety
and economic development. Current local
funding tools are appreciated but only provide
limited resources to fill the funding gap for
transportation. For example, Rochester
experiences approximately a $16M need each
year for transportation projects (with an
increase of $1M each year). Additional revenue
sources and policy tools are needed for street
infrastructure both new and reconstruction to
defray the impact on the property tax levy for
street improvements.
The City adopted an Active Transportation Plan
in 2022 which includes various opportunities
for multi-modal infrastructure that would
transform active transportation into a primary
mode of daily transportation for residents and
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
16
Transportation (Continued)
Active Transportation Pl
a
n
OCTOBER 2022
visitors. Consistent funding is not identified for
completing the active transportation network
developed in the plan, which would make the
envisioned multi-modal system a safe and
convenient reality.
In order for the city to potentially be allowed
to use proven best practices on city streets
adopted by MNDOT for state roads projects,
the city must apply for a potential design
exception to be considered by MNDOT. This
adds additional time, costs, and uncertainty to
projects that could benefit from implementing
proven safety features such as raised
crosswalks and traffic calming.
Solution
The City supports additional and consistent
funding into the Local Bridge Replacement
Program, Local Road Improvement Program,
and Transportation Advancement Account.
Support for an increase in funding for the
Local Bridge Replacement Program and
the Local Road Improvement Program are
critical for necessary regional infrastructure
improvements of bridges and roads, in
particular for projects like the 37th Street NW
bridge preservation and safety improvements
of intersections along 65th street.
Residents would benefit from additional
funding for multi-modal projects, as guided by
the active transportation plans and policies
adopted by city council. Additional funding
of state programs such as Safe Routes
to School and Transportation Alternatives
would allow for additional investment in the
active transportation infrastructure used by
Rochester residents and visitors regularly.
City supports legislation that could provide
positive opportunities for upcoming projects,
such as 6th Street Bridge, Roadway Safety,
and Riverfront Improvement Project to
implement goals related to pedestrian
safety, safe routes to school, and alternative
transportation identified in the city’s Active
Transportation Plan and strategic priorities.
Impact
Bridges and roads connect workers to jobs,
people to necessary services, and provide
critical access between different cities
and regions. Allowing bridges to continue in
states of disrepair will result in complications
for safety, mobility, and economic activity
in the City of Rochester and the State
of Minnesota. Safety is a top priority and
funding for preservation of bridges like the
37th Street NW Bridge can safely support
travel lanes and better serve those utilizing
and relying on the bridge.
Funding for safe, viable, and convenient
transportation options, including active
transportation options, and networks could
offer more appealing alternatives to single-
occupancy vehicle use and help meet citywide
greenhouse gas reduction and vehicle miles
traveled reduction targets, in addition to
reducing housing and transportation cost
burdens.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
17
Energy, Sustainability & Responsible
Environmental Stewardship
Issue
The City of Rochester has an opportunity to
lead in greenhouse gas emission reductions,
sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
According to the Minnesota Department of
Commerce, the building sector accounts
for 40.6% of the state's total energy
consumption, with 19.5% coming from the
commercial buildings sector. In Rochester,
over 70% of citywide greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions are attributed to building energy
use. To address this, the City is enhancing the
energy efficiency of public spaces, including
the Rochester International Airport, and is
integrating geothermal systems to heat and
cool City Hall, the Rochester Public Library, the
Mayo Civic Center, the Rochester Art Center,
and the Rochester Civic Theater. Additionally,
the City is considering a thermal energy
network to distribute renewable geothermal
energy to downtown buildings, including
private properties slated for redevelopment,
further reducing GHG emissions.
Furthermore, the City’s efforts to reduce
emissions include the Link Bus Rapid Transit
project that will include 12 electric buses,
the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades
saving $400,000 in energy and chemical costs
annually, and Rochester Public Utilities’ goal
of 100% net renewable electricity by 2030.
In 2022, the Rochester City Council adopted
updated GHG reduction targets in alignment
with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change (IPCC). These new goals include a
50% reduction in GHG emissions by 2030
and carbon neutrality by 2050. Commercial
buildings are required to comply with 2024
State Commercial Energy Code which adopts
the 2019 ASHRAE 90.1 standard.
Minnesota’s current Right of First Refusal
(ROFR) statute (Minnesota Statute § 216B.246)
grants incumbent transmission owners the
exclusive rights to construct new transmission
lines that interconnect with their existing
facilities. While originally intended to ensure
reliable expansion of the transmission grid,
the policy has had the unintended effect
of concentrating transmission ownership in
the hands of a few large utilities, excluding
municipal and joint-action utilities like
Rochester Public Utilities (RPU) and Southern
Minnesota Municipal Power Agency (SMMPA).
Minn. Stat. § 216B.2421 currently defines any
electric generating facility of 50 megawatts
(MW) or greater as a Large Energy Facility.
This designation requires the developer to
obtain a Certificate of Need (CON) from
the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) before
construction can begin. The threshold was
originally designed to prevent overbuilding and
protect ratepayers, but it no longer reflects
the realities of today’s energy system.
Minnesota adopted its net metering statute
(Minn. Stat. § 216B.164) in 1983 to encourage
small-scale renewable generation. The law
requires all utilities to credit customer-owned
systems at the retail rate for installations
up to 40 kilowatts (kW), and, in for investor-
owned utilities, up to 1 MW. This structure
was effective in jump-starting adoption of
solar and small wind at a time when those
technologies were prohibitively expensive.
However, the state’s net metering framework
no longer fits with the state’s energy
landscape.
Currently, the Energy Conservation and
Optimization (ECO) Act (Minnesota Statutes
§ 216B.241) requires utilities to achieve 1.5%
annual energy savings through conservation
programs measured in kWh reductions.
ENERGY STAR provides an independent,
nationally recognized standard that utilities
and consumers’ trust. Federal support avoids
the need for duplicative local testing or
certification efforts,
lowering program
administration costs
for utilities and
customers. Expanding
ENERGY STAR to cover
new technologies will
help utilities meet
carbon reduction
goals, support
electrification, and
maintain consumer
confidence in
emerging clean
energy markets.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
18
Energy, Sustainability & Responsible
Environmental Stewardship (Continued)
Problem
Funding for renewable energy and energy
efficiency projects is both complex and
dynamic, driven by advancing technologies and
evolving opportunities in redevelopment and
facility management.
The original purpose of Minnesota’s ROFR
statute was to prevent duplicative construction
and maintain reliability by assigning new
projects to existing transmission owners.
However, with regional planning and
coordination now managed through MISO,
this protection has become unnecessary and
counterproductive, limiting competition and
excluding municipal utilities from ownership
opportunities.
When the definition of large energy facility
statute was written in the 1970s, 50 MW
represented a substantial investment that
could significantly affect ratepayers if
unneeded. The low threshold ensured careful
regulatory review at a time when even relatively
modest facilities could have major system
impacts. However, in today’s market, a 50
MW facility is considered relatively small.
Renewable and firming resources frequently
exceed this size due to economies of scale.
Also, with coal retirements accelerating and
electricity demand increasing, Minnesota must
bring new resources online quickly. Requiring
smaller projects to undergo a lengthy CON
process delays construction and risks shortfalls
in capacity. In other states, regulatory
thresholds for what constitutes large
generation are often higher than Minnesota’s
50 MW, reflecting today’s industry standards.
When the net metering law was originally
enacted, solar and wind technologies were far
more expensive than they are today. The rapid
growth of distributed generation has shifted
fixed system costs onto customers who do
not participate in small-scale renewable
generation, while also complicating long-term
resource planning. A simple retail-rate credit
made customer adoption financially viable.
Since then, costs have fallen dramatically, and
larger systems and aggregations have become
more common. As a result, net metering has
shifted from being a tool to promote early
adoption to one that now raises questions of
cost allocation and equity.
The Minnesota Energy Conservation and
Optimization (ECO) Act sets ambitious energy
savings targets for utilities. While effective in
promoting energy efficiency, modernization
and flexibility to the current framework would
allow for better capacity and operational
benefits of modern technologies and reduce
administrative burdens on Rochester Public
Utilities.
ENERGY STAR’s modest budget (~ $40
million annually across EPA and DOE) is
disproportionately small compared to the
program’s economic and environmental
benefits, yet it is frequently targeted for cuts.
Instability in federal support threatens
program continuity, undermines consumer
trust, and complicates utility program
planning. Without consistent ENERGY STAR
certification, utilities like RPU would need to
create duplicative testing and verification
processes to ensure rebate programs are
credible and effective.
Solution
• Federal funding allocated to the State
for renewable energy, energy efficiency,
or other green building projects should
be easily accessible to cities, including
municipal utilities and airports, with
priority given to projects that align with
greenhouse gas emission reduction goals or
other State and City objectives.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
19
Energy, Sustainability & Responsible
Environmental Stewardship (Continued)
• State resources, including funding,
technical assistance, incentives and tools,
to assist with energy-related efforts such
as:
°Converting fleets to electric vehicles
(EV)
°Installing EV chargers for public use,
°Upgrading electric infrastructure
needed to support EV chargers
°Renewable energy, such as geothermal
or solar, on public buildings
°Decarbonization for commercial
buildings
°Building performance standards
• Sales Tax Exemptions for on not-for-profit
utility projects (i.e. meter installations)
• Support legislation introduced to remove
the moratorium or further study advanced
reactor designs; if new nuclear facilities
are built or existing plants are relicensed
with major reinvestment, municipal utilities
should be offered ownership opportunities
based on their statewide load ratio share.
• Explore model legislation from other states
to allow access to nuclear generation to
non-for-profit utilities on a pro-rata share
• Reforming Minnesota’s Right of First Refusal
for Transmission Development
°A reform that allocates ROFR
investment opportunities based on
load ratio share, ensuring that all
utilities who pay for and rely on the grid
also have the opportunity to invest in
and benefit from it would benefit RPU
customers.
°If such reform proves unattainable, RPU
would support rescinding ROFR entirely
in favor of competitive transmission
development.
• Modernizing the definition of large energy
facilities (update the 50 Mw threshold)
• Updating the state’s net metering
framework to maintain fairness, allow
distributed energy to continue growing, and
ensure that utilities can recover the costs
of essential grid services, in particular:
°Credits RECs and EACs to load-serving
entities without creating unnecessary
administrative burdens.
°Compensates excess generation at
avoided cost rather than retail.
°Allows customers to install larger
systems; while ensuring excess output
is compensated fairly and utilities can
apply a grid access fee.
°Avoids unnecessary sizing caps.
°Moves away from permanent
grandfathering arrangements.
°Treats batteries and storage in a way
that is consistent with cost-of-service
principles.
16% reduction in GHG emissions since 2007
Rochester Citywide Emissions
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
20
Energy, Sustainability & Responsible
Environmental Stewardship (Continued)
°Reforming to the Minnesota Energy
Conservation and Optimization (ECO)
Act, such as:
°Amend Minnesota Statutes § 216B.241
to allow verified kW reductions from
demand response and load-shifting
technologies to count toward energy
savings targets, using a standardized
kW-to-kWh conversion factor set by
the Department of Commerce
°Standardize statewide reporting and
assessment tools
• Stabilize, maintain, and/or expand the
current federal funding for the ENERGY
STAR program.
Impact
Achieving the State's GHG emission reduction
goals will require significant improvements
in building efficiency and the expansion of
renewable energy sources. With the challenge
of the State meeting its statutory targets,
State support for emission reduction initiatives
is critical to accelerating progress, enabling
cities and businesses to implement the
necessary changes to meet these critical
goals.
In 2023, the legislature passed the
benchmarking requirement and provided
funding to support local entities to help
implement the program’s requirements (Minn.
State. 216C.331). A similar approach of pairing
funding with any additional requirements would
be helpful to help support commercial buildings
in reducing energy use.
Modernizing ROFR will ensure that utilities of
all sizes, including RPU, share fairly in both the
responsibilities and opportunities of building
the next generation of the transmission grid to
serve our customers.
Updating the definition for large energy
facilities would allow for faster deployment
of small to medium-scale generation facilities
that are critical to meeting Minnesota’s
growing capacity needs, ensuring that the
PUC’s CON process remains focused on the
large, systemwide projects.
Modernizing net metering framework enables
continued growth of distributed energy
resources while ensuring fairness and long-
term sustainability for all customers. The state
can support continued adoption of distributed
resources while protecting non-participating
customers and giving utilities the tools needed
for effective long-term planning.
Minnesota can lead by modernizing ECO to
recognize demand response, storage, and
managed charging as eligible measures
ensuring conservation goals align with evolving
grid needs and technologies.
ENERGY STAR is one of the most effective
public-private partnerships in the history
of U.S. energy policy. For a modest federal
investment, it delivers sizable consumer
savings, carbon reductions, and efficiency.
Sustained funding from DOE and EPA is
essential to preserve this program, support
utility demand-side programs, and help
customers manage energy costs. Geothermal well installation at Rochester city hall
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
21
Other Areas of Support
The City of Rochester supports:
The legislative platforms adopted by the
League of Minnesota Cities, to the extent
they do not conflict with the City’s Legislative
Priorities, or related Council action, including:
• Protecting local government aid (LGA)
funding and inflationary increase
• Ongoing funding for mental health injury
prevention and treatment related to
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to
address ongoing duty disability expenses
• Alternatives to print newspaper
publication requirements
• Protecting local authority related to
development fees, zoning, and planning
• Efforts around housing and race equity
that align with the city’s goals, including
reducing racial disparities in home
ownership and cost burdens for renters
• Transportation infrastructure funding
tools such as impact fee and public
infrastructure utility
• Efforts around racial equity in Minnesota
• Veterans preference promotional
probationary period
• Updates to the arbitration process
• Updates to open meeting law requirements
for interviews
• Allow virtual meetings attendance for
boards and commissions
• State involvement in massage therapy
regulation, including consideration of a
centralized database
• State funding to local governments in
implementing the Data Practices Act (in
2025, Rochester experienced over a 70%
increase since 2020)
• Liquor license updates such as allowing
cities to issue full intoxicated liquor
licensure for businesses such as food halls,
health/wellness service providers, group
art classes, bridal boutiques, museums,
and art exhibits in the City of Rochester;
also consideration of social district
concept authorization at state level for
liquor licensing for downtown area
• Granting cities the statutory authorization
and flexibility related to establishing new
special service districts (Minn. Stat. 428A.01-
.101 currently sunsets authority to create
new SSDs in 2028) and opposes efforts to
restrict general authority of the tool
• Parkland dedication authority for
redevelopment (parity with current
authority for new platted sites)
• Exempt election judges from the 31-day
payment requirements in Minn. Stat. 181.101
(b) due to the training timing and duties of
election judges that extend beyond 31 days
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
22
Other Areas of Support (Continued)
Preserve and increase state funding to Rochester for accessibility infrastructure, public
safety, microtransit, housing and homelessness, and other similar funding.
State & Local Cybersecurity, High-Speed Internet, and Broadband Grant Award to be
based with consideration of city size and needs including opportunities for broadband
to Rochester International Airport for emergency preparedness and services.
Legislative authority for Rochester to use design-build for public infrastructure projects
(similar to current authority for some counties in Minn. Stat. 16C.33) and to advance public
private partnership authority.
Incentives to encourage reinvestment in historic properties through tools such as the
Mills Act in California where local governments can create programs that limit property
tax increases when qualified investments are made and also State’s Historic Tax Credit
program and tools such as tax credits for potential conversion of underutiltized buildings
into housing or other uses.
Evaluation of Minnesota Rules to allow flexibility for School Districts to design schools on
smaller sites in urban areas.
Updating Minnesota Statute to align with federal interpretation by Federal Transit
Administration (FTA) to allow for small commercial/retail at transit stops.
Additional funding and economic flexibility for coordination with state and federal
partners around federal funding opportunities.
Funding for retrofitting sprinklers in privately owned multi-family properties.
Local fee options and continued, permanent state funding to support emerald ash borer
and urban forestry.
Funding for the state arts board, including regional grants that can help provide additional
opportunities for Rochester Public Music, Rochester residents, and visitors.
Funding for the Greater MN Parks and Trails priorities, to the extent they do not conflict
with the City’s Legislative Priorities, or related Council action.
Partnerships and funding around workforce development and readiness through
Department of Employment and Economic Development and others.
Removing regulatory barriers and giving all local jurisdictions in Minnesota the option to use
Ranked Choice Voting.
Support intellectual freedom and access to information in alignment with the Library
Board's Freedom to Read Resolution adopted on October 19, 2022.
Support MN Library Association efforts to provide more stability and funding for library
services and Library Construction Grants, with the understanding it would not diminish
local government aid or other city funding. This includes ensuring equitable terms and fair
pricing for e-books (RPL has one of the highest digital circulations per capita).
Reduce or eliminate the State surcharge on parking tickets (currently $12 per ticket).
City of Rochester supports authorization to install signage, warnings, and allow for
enforcement of automated speed cameras similar to Minn. Stat 169.147.
CITY OF ROCHESTER 2026 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES - ADOPTED BY CITY COUNCIL ON 11/17/2025
23
2026 Federal Priorities*
The City of Rochester works with Sustainable Strategies DC to continuously evaluate federal
opportunities that are in alignment with city priorities. Some examples of 2026 federal priorities
could include:
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Program for assessment and
redevelopment of vacant parcels
• USDOT programs such as Bus & Bus
Facilities Program, BUILD, Electric Vehicle
charging, and other sources that would
continue to advance transportation
priorities around mode shift and reduction
of greenhouse gas emissions and
community infrastructure investments.
• National Parks Service (NPS) programs
for parks, historic preservation, trails,
park development, and/or riverfront
development
• National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
funding for public music, alley activation,
and community programming and needs
related to department mission and council priorities
• Department of Energy and other energy/sustainability related programs that could include
affordable housing components, airport energy efficiency, public private partnership
opportunities, advanced metering infrastructure, smart thermostats, stormwater
management, and other similar aims.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) programs such for individual and public
assistance after emergency impacts.
• Congressionally directed spending requests that align with council adopted capital
improvement plan, council priorities and council action.
As a member-city, Rochester also joins with priorities from the National League of Cities to the
extent they do not conflict with the City’s Legislative Priorities, or related Council action.
*List subject to updates as opportunities become available that align with city priorities.
City of Rochester
201 4th Street SE
Rochester, MN 55904
Questions?
Heather Corcoran, Legislative Affairs & Policy Director
hcorcoran@rochestermn.gov 507-269-9893
Alison Zelms, City Administrator
azelms@rochestermn.gov 507-328-2004
Aaron Parrish, Deputy City Administrator
aparrish@rochestermn.gov 507-328-2006
Cindy Steinhauser, Deputy City Administrator
csteinhauser@rochestermn.gov 507-328-2015
Ryan Yetzer, Assistant City Administrator
ryetzer@rochestermn.gov 507-328-2954
Mayor Kim Norton Randy Schubring
City Council President
Patrick Keane
City Council Member
1st Ward
Nick Miller
City Council Member
2nd Ward
Norman W. Wahl
City Council Member
3rd Ward
Andy Friederichs
City Council Member
4th Ward
Shaun C. Palmer
City Council Member
5th Ward
Dan Doering
City Council Member
6th Ward
2026 Mayor and City Council Members