Rochester City Council — Transcript
Monday, June 15, 2026
Public Comment Process & Accountability
Lime Rental Program Safety
Affordable Housing Bond Issuance
FEMA Safer Grant Application for Firefighters
Votes (3)
Removal of Item F18 from Agenda
Dissent: Council Member Palmer voted against the motion to remove the item.
Moved by Council Member Miller [0:18:29] · Seconded by Council Member Doring [0:18:32]
Council Member Miller moved to remove item F18, related to the Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) board, from the agenda. The rationale was to allow absent Council President Schubin and Mayor Norton, as well as Council Member Keane, who had engaged with the DMCC board, to be present for discussion and provide information. Staff confirmed that removing the item would not delay any work.
Issuance of Conduit Multi-family Housing Revenue Bonds (Devco Rochester Apartments)
Moved by Council Member Doring [0:35:46] · Seconded by Council Member Miller [0:35:54]
Brent Fenby introduced the resolution to issue up to $70 million in conduit revenue bonds for Devco Rochester Apartments, a 252-unit affordable housing development at 4395 23rd Avenue Northwest. The project aims for an average of 50% AMI levels. Trevor Martinez of Devco explained their company's extensive experience in affordable housing. Council members confirmed the city incurs no financial risk, as it acts purely as a conduit, with Devco responsible for all payments and associated legal fees. The project aligns with efforts to meet affordable housing needs.
FEMA Safer Grant Application
Dissent: Acting Council President Wall voted against the motion.
Moved by Council Member Miller [1:02:18] · Seconded by Council Member Fredericks [1:02:22]
Chief Puler presented the Fire Department's request to apply for a FEMA Safer Grant to hire 15 firefighters to meet NFPA minimum staffing standards, particularly for medium- and high-risk occupancies where Rochester is currently deficient. He outlined the grant's funding structure (75% federal for two years, 35% for the third), noting the city would be responsible for an estimated $2.5 million annually from the fourth year. Discussions centered on balancing public safety needs with the long-term financial impact on the city's levy and how city growth (both outward and upward) affects fire services. Concerns were raised about the commitment implied by applying and the challenge of potentially declining the grant if awarded, and the broader discussion about how new development contributes to the tax base versus increased service demands.
Notable Quotes (8)
I spoke with staff today noting that Council President Schub and Mayor Norton in addition to Council Member Keen are not here and asked if there was an urgency to opening the bids or if they might still be opened should we decide to move forward with that item on July 6th. They assured me that this would not delay any work and would give an opportunity to our colleagues to come back and participate...
I'm one of the people that pulled it and I um believe that it's an item that uh would be good for us to talk to in the community. So, I would not be in favor of this motion.
no money or assets of the cities will will be pledged or available to pay the bonds. The bonds will not um be a obligation of the city and they are not secured by any assets of the city. Um and they will not affect any of the debt limit levies of the cities. Um the borrower is totally responsible for the payments of the bonds.
The project, as they noted, is 252 units. The total development cost for this project is about $85 million. So a little under $340,000 a unit, which in the world of affordable housing is actually quite inexpensive in comparison to a lot of projects that you'll probably see in front of you.
We should have 28 firefighters available to respond to a fire in an open air strip mall. We only have 26 a day. So we are deficient in that national standard by two firefighters every day. Then we have high-risisk occupancies uh such as high-rise... we should have 43 firefighters available at any one time to respond to a high-rise fire.
The federal funding would cover 75% of those costs the first year, first two years, and 35% the final year. Um once that grant is up the fourth year, we would have a decision to make as a city on what do we do with that that new u amount of tax dollars.
The question for you is what is the per capita whether or not it makes sense to do it that way or whether or not it makes sense to consider a pathway where you would be adding something to the property tax at some point whether you have this grant or not.
I don't believe that uh this is a risk-free thing uh in terms of applying and then saying well you know in two months we can make another decision. I think that if our decision in two months was uh not to receive the grant I think that that would uh strain uh our uh capital not necessarily money capital but capital as a city of uh Rochester.
Ordinances & Resolutions (6)
Item related to the Destination Medical Center Corporation board, removed from the agenda for further discussion due to absent council members.
An item on the consent agenda, specifically voted against by Council Member Doring.
Resolution adopted to allow the issuance of multi-family housing revenue bonds for the Devco Rochester Apartments.
Federal grant program for municipalities to hire additional firefighters; application authorized by the council.
Ordinance repealing and replacing existing housing code chapters and creating new ones.
Studies referenced in discussion on reducing the need for affordable housing.