This thread is for any development news related to the City of Rochester, Minnesota. I suspect that the thread will not be stickied until there is a decent amount of traffic in this thread, so any help in updating this thread is highly appreciated. I'll ofcourse will do the best I can at updating any news development related every day.

Cheers! :)

UMR reaches turning point in downtown campus planning
9/9/2010 11:01:25 AM
By Matt Russell

MINNEAPOLIS — University of Minnesota Rochester Chancellor Stephen Lehmkuhle told a Board of Regents committee Tuesday that the school envisions a plaza that serves as a gateway to the campus.

"We have a much better idea now of where we're going to be located, and what kind of facilities that we're really going to have to build on our own, so we'll start thinking about developing our own physical campus plan," he said.

The 20-minute presentation was among the most detailed public discussions to date about how UMR's roughly 10-acre campus and surrounding area may develop in the next two decades.

By design, UMR is not going to build all of the traditional buildings necessary for university operations.

"We will be looking to partner for those services and at times actually purchase those services from the private sector," Lehmkuhle said, an approach that will not only save money, but also make the school more flexible and sustainable in the long term.

A planned "Main Street" along First Avenue Southwest would extend south from the nine-story classroom and student housing building under construction in the 300 block to the proposed campus at Sixth Street Southwest. The street would be the main commercial area, supporting the campus, with shops, restaurants, and other businesses. The area could house 2,000 to 4,000 people, based on UMR and Mayo Clinic growth projections.

Retail will be at street level, with student housing above.

"If you look at the overall plan, the majority of those living opportunities that could serve our students would all be within four blocks of the campus," Lehmkuhle said.

A proposed arts and cultural district would take shape near where Fourth Street Southeast crosses the Zumbro River, about two and a half blocks from the proposed campus.

"The theme in this particular area would be to build an arts community," Lehmkuhle said. "A very healthy and vibrant arts community, cultural community, is critical as we grow the campus in downtown Rochester."

More work needs to be done to reduce the need for parking downtown and make it more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly.

"We certainly see bicycling as the way of the future," Lehmkuhle said. Increasing park-and-ride facilities that feed downtown, developing mass transit systems that serve the UMR campus, and more effectively linking the city's bike trails to downtown are options to consider, he said.

Lehmkuhle's presentation came at a turning point for UMR planning, with the university recently completing a downtown master plan revision in conjunction with the city of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, the Rochester Downtown Alliance, and the Rochester Area Foundation. Suggestions made by consultants during that process were the source of much of Lehmkuhle's presentation.

"This is our opportunity to start from scratch," said Steven Hunter, chairman of the regents' facilities committee. "I'm very excited to see this level of planning go into it."

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=468925

Rec Center makes its case for sales-tax funding
9/9/2010 1:37:48 PM
By Jeffrey Pieters

A major expansion of the Rochester Recreation Center is being presented as another candidate for funding under a renewal of the city's half-cent sales tax.

Project proponents on Wednesday asked the city Sales Tax Advisory Committee to consider the construction plan, which would include a new, combined senior center-community center, plus expansion and upgrade of athletic facilities. No precise cost estimate was presented.

"We think this thing could run up to $30 million," said Ron Bastian, director of the Park and Recreation Department. "It's all based on what we decide to add."

The senior center component is estimated to cost between $12 million and $15 million, but that estimate was based on a standalone facility, officials said.

The city is considering a $120 million, 15- to 18-year extension of its sales tax, first authorized by voters in 1983. The tax has been extended several times since then. Extending it again will require legislative and voter approval.

Senior center director Sally Gallagher said that demand for senior services in Rochester and the surrounding area has grown beyond what can fit in the senior center in the castle-like former armory building at 121 N. Broadway.

"We are currently at capacity — over capacity, actually," Gallagher said. "We are simply out of space." The demand will skyrocket as the baby boomer population ages, she said.

The number of 65-year-olds in Rochester was 13,392 in 2000. It is forecast grow to 19,330 by 2015 and to 33,490 by 2030. The number of 85-year-olds is expected to grow at similarly rates, from 2,020 to 4,100 over the next 30 years, Gallagher said.

The senior center provides activities, meals, advocacy and training. It has 1,700 paid members, and attendance last year was 124,000, Gallagher said.

A new, 60,000-square-foot center would be more than twice the size and would include classrooms, a fitness center and fitness pool, a woodworking shop, small kitchens and an industrial-sized one, and a library and computer lab. Some of the facilities, such as the fitness center and pool, could be shared with the Rec Center.

The senior center will close a purchase agreement for land near the Rec Center, owned by Walt Podein, later this year, Gallagher said. The senior center board considered more than 20 sites and chose the Rec Center for its location and the partnership potential, she said.

"It saves resources by working jointly with park and recreation," Gallagher said. "It's really the best deal for our community, and it's something our community can get behind."

Increased operations costs would be offset by revenue rom renting out retail space or a coffee shop inside, Gallagher said. The city could recoup perhaps $1 million of its development costs by selling the current senior center site, which is city-owned.

The new facility would focus on senior services during the day and a community center atmosphere at night.

Swimming and skating groups have asked about expanding the Rec Center. The pool, one of two Olympic-size pools in the state, needs a $1.5 million mechanical overhaul, and the space around it cries out for improved concession stands, locker rooms and restrooms, and handicapped access, Bastian said.

A city task force several years ago studied Rochester's swimming facilities and recommended adding a water park at the Rec Center.

An indoor playground, fitness center and third ice rink are also being considered, Bastian said.

There's been no cost analysis for all that, but $30 million would certainly cover it, Bastian said.

"We could build an incredible facility with that kind of money," he said.

Committee chairman Jerry Williams asked Bastian and Gallagher to develop and present a more precise financial request.

Williams also led a discussion among board members about criteria for considering projects. The city has been asked by other cities, as distant as Lanesboro, whether they could submit projects for sales tax funding.

Assistant City Administrator Gary Neumann suggested the committee limit its scope to projects within the area covered by Rochester's 50-year growth plan. The city has spent past sales tax money to replace failing septic systems in the city's growth path and help fund Olmsted County roads. Rochester also is believed to be alone in the state in providing local funding for university development, officials said.

"We have been broader than anybody else, from my perspective," Neumann said.

City leaders expect perhaps $350 million in project requests. The committee previously heard requests for $15 million for a new airport terminal and for $18.2 million to expand the library.

Committee members agreed by consensus to limit requests to the immediate area covered in the 50-year growth plan and set an Oct. 10 deadline for proposals. Applicants may suggest projects having to do with higher education, transportation, economic development and community vitality.

"I don't want us to be exclusive of things," Williams said, "but I think we can be inclusive … of some things that are key to our area."

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=468942

Travel Scene: RST to receive $3 million upgrade
9/6/2010 6:10:06 AM
By Bob Retzlaff

The Mark G. Brataas Terminal at Rochester International Airport maybe 50 years old this month, but it doesn't look it — or at least won't look it when a $3 million-plus upgrade is completed in a few weeks.

The terminal opened in September 1960, and this project — the terminal's first rehabilitation in 10 years — should go a long way toward extending its future, airport manager Steve Leqve said.Here's what is happening or has happened at the terminal in the past few months:

• A new state-of-the-art explosive detection system that will screen all checked luggage is being installed by the Transportation Security Administration, at a cost $987,420. This system will electronically screen all checked luggage — not carry-on luggage — meaning TSA personnel no longer will have to open each passenger's luggage for inspection unless there is a specific reason to do so.

• A complete overhaul of the terminal's main-floor public areas is nearing completion, at a cost of $1,082,000. This project includes the installation of a new ceiling, lighting, flooring, carpet, a new lounge area that will enable visitors to order refreshments from the public side of the airport restaurant, and additional other amenities.

The latter includes the installation of numerous workstations that also will permit the use of laptop computers. Additionally, new ticket counters will be installed for RST's two aircarriers — Delta and American Eagle — and rental car counters also will be replaced.

• Remodeling of the mezzanine area has been completed, at a cost of $31,296. This includes new carpeting, painting, and new window treatments, as well as window glazing at the upper levels at anadditional cost of $36,687.

• Total cost of the new furniture that is being installed is peggedat $186,800, while asbestos abatement and structural-mitigation coststotal $129,928.

• Other major improvements are ongoing at the airport restaurant,the 331 Express, operated by brothers Tom and Jimmy Karabatson. The two also operate the 331 Restaurant, located at an adjoining site onairport property. Terminal restaurant improvements include a new kitchen and counters, improved ventilation, new equipment and furniture and numerous other amenities that will give the restaurant"a completely new look," Leqve said. The cost of that project totals

$650,250.

Overall cost of the terminal's rehab is split in various ways amongTSA funds, state Office of Aeronautics grants, Passenger FacilityCharges (these are ticket taxes paid by passengers flying out from or into the Rochester airport) and airport reserve funds.

Other projects

This has been a busy construction summer at the airport, and variousother projects outside of the terminal are under way and should be completed soon, Leqve said. Completion of the interior work atthe terminal is anticipated by mid-October.

Outside projects include a $530,000 upgrade of Brataas Drive, which leads to the general aviation area and to FedEx operations, plusa new Rochester International Airport sign at the airport's mainentrance. Additionally, there is some $1.5 million worth of mainly resurfacing work being done on taxiways and aircraft parking ramps inthe airfield itself.

"It's been a busy year, but an important one, for our operations,"Leqve said. "Our airport is an important economic tool both forthe city and the entire region, and we have to continue to maintain the facility at a high level."

While the existing terminal is being improved to the tune of $3 million-plus, plans continue to move ahead for the ultimateconstruction of a new midfield facility and other airfield improvements. That project is still eight to 10 years away, Leqve said, and it's the major portion of the airport's 20-year improvement plan that has been mapped out as required by federal regulators.

The estimated cost of those improvements is around $70 million, including $43 million for the new terminal. Leqve estimates that work on cost-benefit ratios and environmentalreports likely will begin next year. When a new terminal is constructed, Leqve believes that the existing facility — with some small changes — can be used for expanded charter operations,international flights and custom operations.

"I figure that the existing terminal will be useful for a significant number of years,"Leqve said.

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=21&a=468450

I had to fix about 15 areas where the spacebar didn't work from the original article, gah! haha

City, county considering 2011 tax increases
9/10/2010 11:51:19 PM
By Jeffrey Pieters

A year in local government drenched in financial struggle — including worker furloughs, state-aid cuts and a failed attempt to start a streetlight utility fee —will apparently end with talk of tax increases.

The Rochester City Council and Olmsted County Board both are scheduled next week to approve preliminary property tax levies, the first official step in a budget-setting process that runs through late December. Once the preliminary levy is set, taxes can't go any higher.

For Rochester, the recommendation from City Administrator Steve Kvenvold is for an 8.4 percent tax increase — "the demands for services haven't gone down," he said. The council will vote on it Monday.

Olmsted County Administrator Richard Devlin will propose an increase of slightly less than 3 percent, which will cost the county 15 to 25 jobs in 2011, he said.

"We expect to do it through attrition," Devlin said. The county board will vote on his recommendation Tuesday.

Both administrators said they are acutely aware of public expectations to hold the line on taxes, and both noted a strong likelihood of unannounced state-aid cuts next year that would put a wrinkle in their plans.

Rochester's state aid was cut $5 million in 2010. The city is promised a restoration of funding in 2011, but Kvenvold distrusts that.

"Unfortunately, it's the ninth year of somewhat the same process for us," he said. "I always try to recommend an amount (in taxes) that is realistic."

Under Kvenvold's proposal, the city levy would rise by about $3.7 million, to $48 million. A handful of new financial pressures will eat up most of the increase and possibly all of it, Kvenvold said in a memo to the city council.

Those new costs include $1.6 million in deferred pay raises employees agreed to forego in 2010; $800,000 in debt repayments for the city's new public works garage; and $400,000 to assume responsibility for landscape maintenance on U.S 52.

Meanwhile, the city is entering labor negotiations with all of its employee bargaining groups with no idea how those will affect next year's bottom line. City departments also plan to ask the city council for new positions costing $1.45 million. That includes $870,000 in requests from the police and fire departments, Kvenvold said.

Under state levy limits, Rochester could have increased its levy another $3 million or so — "which I understand would not realistically happen," Kvenvold said in his memo.

As for whether his relatively scaled-back proposal will be adopted, "I'm not overly optimistic," Kvenvold said. "But we shall see."

Devlin took his marching orders from the county board, which capped him at 3 percent.

"We told staff we wanted to hold down that levy," said board Chairwoman Judy Ohly. "We don't want an increase above three. It's going to be between 2.5 (percent) and 2.9 (percent)."

Like the city, the county foresees deep state-aid cuts next year — $4 million was Devlin's budget assumption, he said. Also like the city, all of the county's employee bargaining groups are up for contract negotiations.

With all of its taxes, aid and fees combined, the county expects to see less revenue in 2011 than in 2010, Devlin said. The 20 non-essential jobs already vacant will not be refilled before the county makes its additional 15 to 25 job cuts, he said.

Forty-five vacancies would equal about 4 percent of the county's 1,050-member work force.

Asked which programs might be targeted for cuts, Devlin said, "It's too early for that yet, until we get into it in more detail."

Neither Devlin nor Kvenvold has yet received budget requests from department heads. The administrators review the budget requests in the light of the preliminary tax levy and other financial information and projections. Elected city and county officials receive budget proposals in early December, hold public discussions and adopt budgets by the end of the year.

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=469206

UMR reaches turning point in downtown campus planning
9/9/2010 11:01:25 AM
By Matt Russell

MINNEAPOLIS — University of Minnesota Rochester Chancellor Stephen Lehmkuhle told a Board of Regents committee Tuesday that the school envisions a plaza that serves as a gateway to the campus.

"We have a much better idea now of where we're going to be located, and what kind of facilities that we're really going to have to build on our own, so we'll start thinking about developing our own physical campus plan," he said.

The 20-minute presentation was among the most detailed public discussions to date about how UMR's roughly 10-acre campus and surrounding area may develop in the next two decades.

By design, UMR is not going to build all of the traditional buildings necessary for university operations.

"We will be looking to partner for those services and at times actually purchase those services from the private sector," Lehmkuhle said, an approach that will not only save money, but also make the school more flexible and sustainable in the long term.

A planned "Main Street" along First Avenue Southwest would extend south from the nine-story classroom and student housing building under construction in the 300 block to the proposed campus at Sixth Street Southwest. The street would be the main commercial area, supporting the campus, with shops, restaurants, and other businesses. The area could house 2,000 to 4,000 people, based on UMR and Mayo Clinic growth projections.

Retail will be at street level, with student housing above.

"If you look at the overall plan, the majority of those living opportunities that could serve our students would all be within four blocks of the campus," Lehmkuhle said.

A proposed arts and cultural district would take shape near where Fourth Street Southeast crosses the Zumbro River, about two and a half blocks from the proposed campus.

"The theme in this particular area would be to build an arts community," Lehmkuhle said. "A very healthy and vibrant arts community, cultural community, is critical as we grow the campus in downtown Rochester."

More work needs to be done to reduce the need for parking downtown and make it more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly.

"We certainly see bicycling as the way of the future," Lehmkuhle said. Increasing park-and-ride facilities that feed downtown, developing mass transit systems that serve the UMR campus, and more effectively linking the city's bike trails to downtown are options to consider, he said.

Lehmkuhle's presentation came at a turning point for UMR planning, with the university recently completing a downtown master plan revision in conjunction with the city of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, the Rochester Downtown Alliance, and the Rochester Area Foundation. Suggestions made by consultants during that process were the source of much of Lehmkuhle's presentation.

"This is our opportunity to start from scratch," said Steven Hunter, chairman of the regents' facilities committee. "I'm very excited to see this level of planning go into it."

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=468925

I've never been to Rochester, but I know that in any campus-near-downtown setting that linking the campus to downtown always helps both entities. I like what I read about the new Main street developements and the new bike trails linking campus to downtown.

Rochester International Airport nets $938,000 grant for new baggage screening systems
9/13/2010 3:06:56 PM
By Jeff Kiger

A federal award of $938,000 is scheduled for a landing at Rochester International Airport to build a new, more secure baggage handling system.

The Transportation Security Administration announced the funding for the construction of a new two in-line baggage screening systems at the Rochester International earlier Monday.

The baggage screening systems will be located at the Delta and American Eagle ticket counters.

"This project will streamline the ticketing and boarding process for all RST passengers …" said Airport Manager Steve Leqve in the announcement.

The TSA says the system will increase efficiency and the speed of passenger screening as well as improving security.

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=469464

I've never been to Rochester, but I know that in any campus-near-downtown setting that linking the campus to downtown always helps both entities. I like what I read about the new Main street developements and the new bike trails linking campus to downtown.
I haven't either, that I can remember. I lived in Winona, MN for about 7 years while I was a wee kid, so I might have and not remember. But I agree, connecting the campus to downtown would encourage more students to head to downtown on any given night.

Well, I've slacked from this thread I see. Shame there isn't a Rochester poster on here, but I gues I'll do for now. Kinda limited on resources and in-town news.

Rochester poised to adopt Downtown Master Plan
By Jeffrey Pieters
The Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN

A widely praised 20-year development plan for downtown Rochester will be the subject of a public hearing and vote by the city council on Monday.

The council is expected to approve the Downtown Master Plan, a 150-page document produced in a year-long planning process led by Sasaki Associates Inc., an urban planning consulting firm with offices in Boston and San Francisco. The plan was published in August.

Mayo Clinic, the University of Minnesota Rochester and the Rochester Downtown Alliance were also participants in the planning effort. All three wrote letters endorsing the master plan.

Earlier this month, the city Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approving the plan.

"The plan itself is very, very good," said city council member Michael Wojcik, who read the plans several times and posted his reactions to it on his Facebook page.

"There just aren't a whole lot of places in the world that have the potential of downtown Rochester," Wojcik said.

Development potential

The plan spotlights development potential along First Avenue Southwest, along the Zumbro Riverfront, and near Soldiers Field, where UMR plans to develop its campus.

Following the plan for the next 20 years, downtown Rochester could add as many as 4,000 residences 143,000 square feet of retail space, 1,000 hotel rooms and 360,000 square feet of classrooms and offices, according to forecasts included in the plan.

The plan also calls for stepping up mass transit services to reduce individual parking demand and traffic congestion, and it includes guidelines for aesthetics and inclusion of landscaping and small parks, called "pocket parks."

"The council needs the courage to demand the high standards that are in here, even if it's politically unpopular," Wojcik said. "A great plan is nothing without the resolve to do it."

His only criticisms of the plan, Wojcik said, were that core neighborhood leaders were left out of the planning process, and that the plan is silent on historic preservation.

"I think we have some other districts (of the city) that could use some TLC, too," he said.
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=483788

http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/front/article/1365268

Not specifically a Rochester Article but
Mayo is mentioned prominently

Medical tourism could provide growth
Published Tuesday December 28th, 2010


King Hussein of Jordan stayed on a floor of the Methodist Hospital at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota for treatment of lymphatic cancer this year. The clinic is an example of the impact of medical tourism in the Rochester area.



The first opportunity falls under the heading of 'medical tourism'. Medical tourism is used to describe the fast growing practice of travelling across borders to access health-care services. The most common services offered through medical tourism include elective as well as more specialized surgeries such as knee- or hip-joint replacement, dental surgery, cardiac and cosmetic surgery. In recent years, the scope of medical tourism has expanded to include just about every type of health care activity where there could be a cost or quality advantage to accessing it outside a local area.

According to the 2008 book, The Medical Tourism Travel Guide: Your Complete Reference to Top-Quality, Low-Cost Dental, Cosmetic, Medical Care & Surgery Overseas, there are over 50 countries that have identified medical tourism as an economic development focus. Even China recently announced it would be pursuing the international medical tourism market.

It is important to point out this is not just about lowering the cost of health care. Many jurisdictions are building niche areas of excellence and attracting patients from near and far. For example, Michigan is becoming a hub for both domestic and international patients to access specialized medical services. A Detroit Free-Press story cites the example of the Beaumont Hospital's ophthalmology practice which brings in patients from all over the U.S. and around the world each day. The article states that approximately 70 per cent of patients are from other states or countries.

The world famous Mayo Clinic started in Rochester, Minnesota (population 95,000) and now is the main driver of that economy employing 28,000 people and drawing over 2 million visitors to the city each year.

Mayo and medical tourism is great for Rochester. Rochester has always made up for what Minneapolis and St. Paul already have. Medical tourism may not seem important to many, but it has been a great thing for Rochester and has helped them become what they are today. Without Mayo, I couldn't think what Rochester would be like.

Downtown development plan passes!

http://postbulletin.com/news/stories/display.php?id=1439726

Hello being my first post here I thought I would shair a link from the Minneapolis Star Tribune. It states how over a six billion vision will help transform Rochester into an even more global destination for medical care!
Please give it a read! Now if only HSR would connect to Minneapolis. I could really see Rochester turning into an even larger player in global medical care.

Mayo offers $6 billion vision to remake Rochester

The Mayo Clinic is asking the state to inject half a billion dollars into the Rochester area to ensure that the city's development keeps pace with the medical institution's ambitious growth plans.
Mayo executives and Gov. Mark Dayton said Wednesday that the money would act as a catalyst for perhaps $2 billion in private investment, on top of $3.5 billion Mayo has already pledged to upgrade its own facilities in the coming years.



http://www.startribune.com/local/189061761.html

^^ Welcome Chauncey!

This $6 billion investment in the Rochester area sounds very exciting. Rochester will have to grow quite a bit once all the talent is hired after all this growth.