Council awards downtown public‑realm plan, approves fee schedule first‑reading direction and renames road to Game Day Drive

The Rochester City Council on June 1 approved several operational and code items: it awarded a contract to Gamble and Associates to develop an enhanced public‑realm plan for the area adjacent to Mayo’s Bold Forward/Forward Unbound project; approved staff’s request to prepare an ordinance establishing an amended 2026 master fee schedule for first reading on July 6; adopted an ordinance renaming a roadway to Game Day Drive Southeast; and passed an amendment to the city’s dangerous‑dogs code.

The DMC‑funded public‑realm assignment followed a widely issued request for qualifications that drew 10 proposals. Staff said the selection process involved multiple departments (parks, public works, community development, DMC and Mayo) and interviews of two finalists; Gamble and Associates were recommended for their understanding of scope, timeline and engagement approach. Council Member Miller urged the consultant to prioritize “innovation” and tie the plan to an actionable construction schedule; two council members (Wall and Palmer) voted against the contract citing concerns about scope and staffing.

On fees, staff said the proposed 2026 fee‑schedule amendment corrects an index look‑back oversight and is intended to keep development‑related fees aligned with construction cost indices. Council approved directing the city attorney to prepare an ordinance for first reading on July 6, 2026. Council also voted to rename the roadway linking 45th Street Southeast at St. Bridget Road Southeast eastward to the sports complex site as Game Day Drive Southeast and adopted a revision to section 3‑1‑17 of the city code governing dangerous dogs.

What’s next: the public‑realm consultant will begin work and coordinate with Mayo construction schedules; staff will bring the fee‑schedule ordinance to the July 6 meeting for first reading, and public‑works will update signage and maps for the roadway renaming.