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Votes at a glance: council advances multiple public‑works, bond and leasing items; some URA items held for follow‑up
Summary
The Rochester City Council and review committees voted to advance bond ordinances, grant and professional‑service agreements, local improvement ordinances (many with public hearings set for April 24), and urban renewal actions; a URA item on Wegmans funds was held for amendment.
The Rochester City Council and its review committees advanced a slate of routine authorizations and local improvement ordinances on April 24, including bond ordinances for capital projects, grant and service agreements, and leases; several local improvement ordinances were set for public hearing on April 24 at 6 p.m. A Rochester Urban Renewal Agency (URA) item about reallocating a legacy Wegmans gift was held for amendment and return.
Notable approvals and procedural actions
- Introductory No. 94 — Authorizing the sale of real estate: passed (introductory passes). No further details were specified on the record.
- Introductory No. 95 — Local improvement ordinance: establishes the cost of special services for the East Avenue/Alexander Street Entertainment District for 2025–26; public hearing set for Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 6 p.m.; passed.
- Introductory No. 96 — Local improvement ordinance: authorizes special work/services for the South Avenue/Alexander Street open‑space district for 2025–26; public hearing set for April 24 at 6 p.m.; passed.
- Introductory No. 97 — Approving a lease for the Rochester Urban Renewal Agency for a parking lot (40 Broadway and portions of 50 and 70 Broadway) to be used by Inn on Broadway: passed. Council members clarified the lot is intended for Inn on Broadway use, not public parking; the council noted this lease is a recurring annual item.
- Introductory No. 98 — Authorizing acceptance of donated real estate: passed. Administration said the parcel will be combined with an adjacent development parcel at 151 Mount Hope Avenue to improve marketability for future redevelopment.
- Introductory No. 99 — Resolution approving appointments to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Rochester Preservation Board: passed.
Rochester Urban Renewal Agency (URA) committee actions
- URA 2 — Lease/parking lot resolution (40, 50, 70 Broadway): approved by URA committee (resolution passes).
- URA 3 — Rural budget performance measures and report (including discussion about increasing a cap on funds from a prior Wegmans gift for Driving Park Avenue projects): Council member Monroe requested an amendment to increase the maximum for that fund; administration said an amendment would be required and the item will return to the URA entity for approval. The committee held the item for amendment (held/tabled for follow‑up).
- URA 4 — Release of easements and restrictions over 71 Mount Hope Avenue: approved.
- URA 1 — Rochester Urban Renewal Agency annual report: accepted.
People, Parks & Public Works Committee actions and capital items
- Introductory No. 100 — Bond ordinance authorizing issuance of $2,000,594 to finance Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial electrical service upgrade: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 101 — Authorizing the mandatory agreement relating to the Blue Cross Arena electrical service upgrade: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 102 — Grant agreement related to renovation of the Norton Village Recreation Center: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 103 — Professional service agreement related to RS Center renovations in conjunction with the Rochester City School District (disclosure made by two council members who are district employees): motion carried.
- Introductory No. 104 — Bond ordinance authorizing issuance of $2,000,147 to finance Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park playground renovation: motion carried; members praised continued investment in parks and play infrastructure.
- Introductory No. 105 — Agreement for the MLK Jr. Memorial Park playground renovation: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 106 — Appropriating funds/amending an earlier ordinance related to a bridge rehabilitation project: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 107 — Bond ordinance authorizing issuance of $420,000 to finance the Grama Mills Common stabilization project: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 108 — Appropriations relating to the resurfacing project (amount as stated in the record): motion carried.
- Introductory No. 109 — Intermunicipal agreement with Monroe County related to the 131ks projects: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 110 — Local improvement ordinance establishing levy for special work/services and area way treatment at 2327 East Main Street for 2025–26; public hearing set for April 24 at 6 p.m.: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 111 — Local improvement ordinance for Arnold Park sidewalk enhancement for 2025–26; public hearing set for April 24 at 6 p.m.: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 112 — Local improvement ordinance establishing assessments for operation, installation and maintenance costs of a street‑lighting special assessment district for 2025–26; public hearing set for April 24 at 6 p.m.: motion carried. Council members noted the district uses custom concrete poles and fixtures rather than standard metal poles.
- Introductory No. 113 (held by administration) — Local improvement ordinance for care and embellishments of street malls for 2025–26: held at administration request; no vote taken.
- Introductory No. 114 — Local improvement ordinance establishing operating and maintenance costs for streetscape enhancements for 2025–26; public hearing set for April 24 at 6 p.m.: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 115 — Authorizing an amendatory agreement for LT2 compliance (long‑term enhanced surface water treatment rule) project for city reservoirs: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 116 — Authorizing a license agreement for the Attain Lab at the Honorable Loretta C. Scott Center for Human Services (moving an Attain Lab from another location to the Scott building; committee confirmed other Attain Lab locations exist): motion carried.
- Introductory No. 117 — Grant agreement with the United States Specialty Sports Association related to adult softball league: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 118 — Local improvement ordinance providing snow‑removal and security services at the Public Market for 2025–26; public hearing set for April 24 at 6 p.m.: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 119 — Authorizing grant appropriations for Fall Street remediation project: motion carried.
- Introductory No. 129 — Amendment to the 2024–25 budget to fund spay and neuter services and medication for Rochester Animal Services (transfer from council budget to Rochester Animal Services and Department of Recreation and Human Services; $20,000 toward medication was mentioned): motion carried.
Votes were recorded by voice; most items were advanced by motion and voice vote with no recorded roll‑call tally on the public record. Several items were scheduled for public hearings on April 24, 2025 at 6 p.m. and one URA item was held for amendment and return to the URA entity.
