Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - The Rochester City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to approve the 20-year Destination Medical Center Development Plan and an accompanying increase in the city’s sales tax.

The votes marked another key milestone in a process that’s designed to result in the transformation of Rochester into a world-class destination for health care.

City Attorney Terry Adkins advised the council it approved only the conceptual framework of the plan, not the specific provisions it contains. Decisions on the various recommendations and proposals are expected to be made over a period of years.

The vote does obligate the city to cover its $128-million dollar share of the cost of the DMC initiative under the provisions of the state law approved last year and the City Council has chosen to use revenues from a quarter point increase in the city’s current half-cent sales tax to fund that requirement. The resolution approved Monday night calls for the tax hike to take effect January 1st.

The Development plan will now be formally presented to the DMC Corporation Board during its next meeting on Thursday, while another public hearing on the plan and a possible vote by the DMCC Board will take place in April.

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