The Rochester City Council on Dec. 22 approved a $27,978,635 guaranteed-maximum-price amendment for the Regional Sports and Recreation Complex and voted to award an operator agreement to Sports Academy, but it did not secure a supermajority to fund a $20,000 contingency payment for the Salvation Army.

Supporters of the complex, including representatives of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, the Rochester Sports Foundation and local youth-sports organizations, told the council the outdoor complex would attract tournaments, boost hotel and restaurant revenues and expand access for local teams. "This project builds on our community's role as a regional center," Emma Esteb, member engagement director for the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, said during public comment. Clark Jones, head baseball coach at Rochester Community and Technical College, said teams were already lined up to play in Rochester if the approval goes forward and estimated the tournament opportunity could save his program "approximately $20,000 to $30,000 per year."

But several residents urged caution, arguing the current design no longer matches what many voters expected. "When I voted yes to the sports complex, it included an indoor facility," said Wyatt Ryan, who said that omission changed his view. Mayor Norton, who vetoed the council’s Dec. 8 approvals and spoke to the council Dec. 22, said: "The project before you is not a year‑around, community‑focused, indoor‑outdoor, and economically viable sports and recreation facility, and that is what the community thought they were voting for." She urged more public engagement and further negotiation with Rochester Community and Technical College (RCTC) on an indoor venue.

On the contract award (D1), Council Member Palmer moved to authorize Amendment No. 1 to the construction contract with Knudson Construction, citing a GMP of $27,978,635, a budget line listed in the motion packet as $24,000,207, and interim financing of $1,772,000 from the Economic Vitality Fund to cover early site work. The motion instructed staff to pursue value engineering and other funding opportunities to bring the project in line with the $65 million allocation voters approved. After council debate about project history, consulting estimates and legal limits on the use of the sales-tax authorization, the roll call vote was recorded as Keane Aye; Miller Nay; Wall Aye; Fredericks Aye; Palmer Aye; Doring Nay; Council President Schoebring Aye. The motion passed 5–2.

On the operator agreement (D2), Council Member Fredericks moved to approve the operator contract with Sports Academy. Some council members raised concerns about the operator’s financial exposure — "they told me reputational," Council Member Miller said — but a majority voted to approve the agreement, again by 5–2.

Separately, the council considered a Dec. 1 council‑initiated action (D3) to allocate $20,000 from contingency funds to help the Salvation Army with security for its medical and dental clinics and to support a rental-assistance program. Mayor Norton’s veto letter cited procedural and policy concerns, including that staff had not had a chance to present specific contract language or alternatives and that some services were being addressed by Salvation Army corporate and the Rochester Police Department. Council Member Palmer and others said the city attorney had advised the expenditure would be legally defensible as a public purpose and argued the need for volunteer safety and immediate rental-assistance support. The roll call on that motion was Keane Nay; Miller Nay; Wall Aye; Fredericks Aye; Palmer Aye; Doran Aye; Council President Schubert Nay. The motion failed by a 4–3 vote and did not meet the supermajority threshold required to override the mayoral veto.

The council adjourned to a closed executive session under Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subdivision 3(b), to discuss a pending litigation matter.

What’s next: Council members directed staff to continue negotiations with RCTC on indoor‑facility options and to return with refined financials and possible value‑engineering steps; the Salvation Army request may be revisited with revised process and clearer staff recommendations in January.

Sources: spoken remarks and votes at the Rochester City Council special meeting, Dec. 22, 2025.