Special Meeting Set for Rochester City Council Votes on Mayor’s Vetoes

Rochester City Council to Hold Veto Override Votes During Special Meeting Monday Night

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council is set to host a special meeting to address recent vetoes issued by Mayor Kim Norton. 

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The Mayor has vetoed three actions taken by the council this month. Councilmembers need a 5-2 majority to override a veto. 

Two of the items vetoed by Mayor Norton involve the future Regional Sports Complex. The other vetoed item entails funding for the Salvation Army. 

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Rochester City Council to Hold Vote on Overriding Mayor Norton's Sports Complex Vetoes

On Monday, Mayor Norton vetoed a council-approved $28 million construction contract and a $24 million material purchasing budget for the sports complex. 

The item also called for using $1.7 million from the city’s sales-tax funded economic vitality fund to prevent cutting amenities included in the complex’s approved design. 

The other item relating to the sports complex that was vetoed involved entering an operator agreement for the sports complex. In 2023, Rochester voters approved using $65 million in sales tax revenue to fund construction of an indoor-outdoor sports complex. 

The $65 million is expected to cover most of the cost of building the outdoor portion of the facility. The city has not yet cemented plans for the indoor portion of the complex. 

In issuing the sports complex vetoes Mayor Norton argued the city misled voters by never saying the $65 million in sales tax dollars would only cover the outdoor portion of the complex. 

Read More: Rochester Mayor Vetoes Actions Taken by City Council on Sports Complex 

The Mayor also raised concerns about the complex’s location, which is to the east of Lowes in southeast Rochester, pointing out the city will need to add water and sewer infrastructure in the area to support the complex. 

Mayor Norton called on the project to pause to allow for more planning and raising revenue for the complex from the city’s sales tax. 

So far the city has spent $7.7 million on land acquisition and planning for the sports complex. The city council passed both sports complex items on 5-2 votes. 

Rochester City Council to Vote on Mayor's Veto of $20k for Salvation Army

Earlier this month, Mayor Norton vetoed a council-initiated action to use $20,000 from 2025 contingency funds to support the Rochester Salvation Army’s rental assistance program and to provide security for volunteers and staff at the Salvation Army dental and medical programs. 

The item passed on a unanimous vote. In issuing the veto, Mayor Norton stressed that her decision was based on several technical factors and “not a reflection of the policies, practices, or needs of the Salvation Army of Rochester.” 

Read More: Rochester Mayor Vetoes Council Plan to Aid Salvation Army 

She indicated that her veto “reflects my continued concern for good policymaking, solid processes, and improving practices to assure good governance and decision-making.” 

The special meeting of the Rochester City Council is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m.