New Governing Board for Mayo Civic Center Recommended

Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - The future of the Mayo Civic Center’s operations may be decided Wednesday by the Rochester City Council.

City Administrator Steve Rymer is recommending the council place oversight of the MCC under the control of a new “singular non-profit entity governed by a new board of directors.”

Rymer is recommending the entity also assume control of the Experience Rochester organization, which has used city lodging taxes to promote and help book events at the MCC. The city was told earlier this year “ that MCC expenses were increasing while revenues were expected to slightly decrease.” That led to the hiring of a consulting firm that reviewed the MCC’s operations and concluded the “need for a new governance and operational model.”

According to Rymer, “It is important for the City Council and community to understand the current model is not sustainable into the future and a change is necessary.” Rymer says the recommended 2019 budget for the operations of the MCC, Experience Rochester and Rochester Sports calls for lodging tax funds of around $5-million, a number that is forecast to increase in future years.

Rymer says the proposed entity that he is recommending “ would be a separate non-profit organization with a contractual relationship with the City of Rochester that is expected to meet or exceed the financial and service delivery outcomes clearly articulated in a contract to be approved by the City Council.”

The MCC is currently under the control of a city commission, which was established in 2013 at the recommendation of a consultant hired to find ways to improve the operations of the center. The Rochester Park Board had previous oversight.

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