Rochester Downtown Development Authority Meeting - Jan. 16, 2019

The Rochester Downtown Development Authority’s regular meeting was held January 16, 2019. The board discussed 2019 priorities, including advancing the Marketplace City Center project, and noted that City Council was beginning its budget and goals-and-objectives process. Council’s update mentioned changes to the City’s services-contract relationship with the Community House, but the transcript provided no contract value, terms, or related procurement vote. No contract awards, bid approvals, or purchasing decisions were identified; the board did not approve a budget at this meeting. The motion to approve the December 12 minutes was supported and approved, and the board assigned Tony to chair the Site Development Committee and Lisa as liaison to the Principal Shopping District committee.

The economic development update covered downtown business openings and private building projects, including a planned $750,000 renovation of the former Mr. B’s into City Tavern, along with other redevelopment and construction activity. These were business and property updates rather than DDA procurement actions. The board also reviewed holiday promotions, donor-wall installation timing, and a planned student-art project for 2019 Christmas cards. The DDA recognized three downtown businesses and discussed an upcoming budget-planning session; no related spending authorization was reported.