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Public Report by City of Rochester, MN
Last modified: August 30, 2023

Contents

Highlights

Mayor Norton PB Op Ed; 2023 Fall Fit City Challenge; End  Childhood Hunger Taskforce

Contents

 

City of Rochester Charter Explained

 

Abstracted from  Mayor Kim Norton's PB Op Ed, Rochester’s Charter outlines both the specific duties of the mayor and council (August 2023) 

 

 

Weak Mayor System

Many in our city mistakenly believe that the mayor has far more authority than our city’s Charter and historic practices designate – perhaps something that could change in the future given our growth and if the community desires.

In reality, Rochester’s Charter establishes what is referred to as a “weak mayor” system. This structure differs significantly from other cities where the mayor chairs the city council meetings and has a vote, or where the mayor serves as the city’s lead administrator.

 

Exceptions of Mayor Admin Authority

The Charter outlines exceptions in which the mayor is granted some administrative authority.

One such power afforded the mayor is to initiate an emergency order, which I exercised during the pandemic, to protect our city’s residents, medically vulnerable visitors and local businesses. The mayor also oversees the Police Department — but that’s for another column.

Rochester’s mayor is also given authority to veto any proposal passed by the council. As a mayor who ran on being more involved in policy making, I have exercised that power just six times when I believed that council and/or administration was not representing the best legal, ethical or financial decision based on resident values and/or the betterment of our community.

City Administrator's Role

Our administrator is to “serve in an advisory and consulting capacity as special assistant to the mayor and council” and “perform such special assignments of work as may be given by the mayor, council, or any standing committee of the council” and “formulate suggested policy and compile supporting data for city projects and matters broader in scope than those affecting individual departments, boards or commissions.”

The Charter states that the administrator should serve as a liaison between the mayor, council, department heads, commissions, boards, other governmental units and civic organizations/ groups. The administrator exercises “such specific authority as the mayor and council may grant, consistent with the charter and ordinances.”

 

Mayor and City Staff Working Together 

When the mayor and city staff work together in the direction-setting process, before taking ideas to the city council for the final decision making, it helps ensure that proposals have the broad perspective of our community for council input and consideration.

The outcomes of our city government are likely to be better when the mayor, staff and council are working together as a team.

 

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2023 Fall Fit City Challenge

 

 

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Short Term Taskforce End Childhood Hunger 

 

Dear Community Partner ~

 As part of the White House National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health and the Mayor’s Alliance to End Childhood Hunger by 2030, Mayor Norton is coordinating a short-term City-wide task force to develop a blueprint to achieve the goals. There will also be an opportunity to share what is already happening in our community as well as sharing ideas for partnership and promoting other’s activities. (Resources noted below.)

 Please feel free to forward this invitation to anyone in your organization and/or in the community who would be interested in participating! If you cannot attend, please invite someone else!

 Thank you for your interest and we look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, September 13 at 10 am at the Government Center, Conference Room 104 (come in door E).

 ~ Michon, on behalf of Mayor Norton

 

National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health

Mayors Alliance to End Childhood Hunger

Childhood Hunger in Minnesota

Mayors Action List

 

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Related Reports

 

Other City of Rochester, MN Pinned Reports

September 30, 2024 : Economic Vibrancy & Growth Management
Impact Lvl1: Business Process, Civic Engagement, Commitment, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Health, Housing, Public Safety, Recreation & Open Space, Transportation, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

City teammates providing an update on this work, specifically regarding legacy public infrastructure projects, Unbound, infrastructure investments and regulatory milestones.  


April 27, 2024 : 2024 Destination Medical Center (DMC) Updates
Impact Lvl1: Consultancy, Economic Development, Medical Services, Recreation & Open Space, STEM, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

DMC Updates April 29 Presentation to City Council Study Session 

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March 04, 2024 : City Council: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates; Housing; International Relations
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Co-design, Disabilities, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Housing, Metrics, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

DEI Presentation Topics: Language Access and Accessibility; Equity in the Built Environment; 2024 Initiatives

Economic Development Incentives for Housing

Mayor Updates: Black History Month, Luther College: Mutable City; International Relations Committee


January 25, 2024 : Announcing two new part-time roles to ensure accessible services to all communities.
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Civic Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, PPE
Impact Lvl2:

Two parttime roles

Community Connector – Somali Speaking

Community Connector – Spanish Speaking

 


December 04, 2023 : City of Rochester, MN
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment
Impact Lvl2:

Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients


March 17, 2021 : City of Rochester, MN Study Session on DEI
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Intelligence, Neighborhood, Pandemic, Transportation
Impact Lvl2:

Rochester City Council session on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion


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Pinned City of Rochester, MN organization and project reports

. Project Report of Rochester Vision 2050 : October 02, 2024 : Rochester Vision 2050
Impact Lvl1: Arts & Culture, Best Practice, Caring Relationship, Civic Engagement, Co-design, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Education, OpenBeam, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

Call for inputs: Mayor Norton YouTube Messages

Vision 2050 AI-Powered Interactive Survey LINK

Mayor Norton Memo to the Public

 


Organization Report: September 30, 2024 : Economic Vibrancy & Growth Management
Impact Lvl1: Business Process, Civic Engagement, Commitment, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Health, Housing, Public Safety, Recreation & Open Space, Transportation, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

City teammates providing an update on this work, specifically regarding legacy public infrastructure projects, Unbound, infrastructure investments and regulatory milestones.  


Project Report of Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization : August 05, 2024 : Second Half 2024 Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization Plan Reports
Impact Lvl1: CMRC, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Housing, OpenBeam, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

3Q2024: July 2024 Admin Message and Reports

 

 


Project Report of Rochester Vision 2050 : August 02, 2024 : Rochester Vision 2050
Impact Lvl1: Arts & Culture, Best Practice, Caring Relationship, Civic Engagement, Co-design, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Education, OpenBeam, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

The visioning effort calls for soliciting broad community input to help propose desired strategic initiatives based on desired outcomes through 2050.


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : July 17, 2024 : City Housing Support
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Housing
Impact Lvl2:

Home Ownership Creation Program - Prairie Ridge: "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Rochester, MN hereby approves the contribution of $4,000,000 to the Prairie Ridge development to support the creation of 201 for-sale homes via the Home Ownership Creation Program.

 


Project Report of Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization : July 01, 2024 : First Half 2024 Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization Plan Reports
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Housing, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

2Q 2024: June 2024; May 2024 - Admin Message, TBE Report; April 2024 - Admin Message, TBE Report

1Q 2024: Feb 2024 - Admin Message, TBE Report; Jan 2024: Admin Message, TBE Report

Special callouts: Women in Construction; City of Rochester Equity in Development 


Project Report of City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan : June 26, 2024 : City of Rochester - Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (JEDI) Audit Status
Impact Lvl1: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Metrics
Impact Lvl2:

June 24, 2024 City Council Study Session: Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Audit per Goodenough 

Departmental Audit reports of: Human Resources; Rochester Public Library; Parks & Rec 

 


Project Report of City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan : June 20, 2024 : Community Building Fund
Impact Lvl1: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Funding, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

The City of Rochester welcomes applications for the Community Building Fund.  This fund is all about supporting projects, programs, and events in the city that actively promote equity and inclusion.


Organization Report: April 27, 2024 : 2024 Destination Medical Center (DMC) Updates
Impact Lvl1: Consultancy, Economic Development, Medical Services, Recreation & Open Space, STEM, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

DMC Updates April 29 Presentation to City Council Study Session 

Transit Village

Business Development

Historic District


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : April 22, 2024 : Mayowood Phase II for fee waivers
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

Allocate $272,959.00 to Mayowood Phase II for fee waivers (frees funding for Home Ownership creation program)

2. Allocate $ 272,967 to revolving Abatement program for homeowners


Project Report of Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) : April 01, 2024 : EBE Presentation to City Council Study Session
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Education, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2: C2C: Post-Secondary, C2C: Workforce Participation

1. Part of Feb 26, 2024 City Council Study Session on DEI: Presentation Slides include actions and measures to City Council Study Session and Link to City Council video 

2. Career Opportunities for Women of Color


Project Report of City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan : March 21, 2024 : Requests for Action Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan
Impact Lvl1: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

City Council Approved Requests for City Council Approval of two DEI Contracts: 

Contract 1: 2024: Professional Development: Cultural Humility Series $41.3K; 

Contact 2 : Critical Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Audit ($30K); Cultural Humility Professional Development Series: Digging Deeper $13.5K ;  

Video clip of council discussions and voting and related info about GoodEnough.


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : March 19, 2024 : Action Request March 18, 2024
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Caring Relationship, Commitment, CMRC, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, International, Intelligence, Mediation, OpenBeam, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

Comment at the 3/18/2024 City Council Meeting:

To act on September 21, 2020 council resolutions for the city staff to develop a Intercultural City action plan.  


Project Report of Planning To Succeed: Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan (P2S) : March 18, 2024 : P2S Implementation and Comprehensive Plan Request for Proposal
Impact Lvl1: Business Process, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

P2S Implementation Report

P2S Update Request for Proposal 


Organization Report: March 04, 2024 : City Council: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates; Housing; International Relations
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Co-design, Disabilities, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Housing, Metrics, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

DEI Presentation Topics: Language Access and Accessibility; Equity in the Built Environment; 2024 Initiatives

Economic Development Incentives for Housing

Mayor Updates: Black History Month, Luther College: Mutable City; International Relations Committee


Organization Report: January 25, 2024 : Announcing two new part-time roles to ensure accessible services to all communities.
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Civic Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, PPE
Impact Lvl2:

Two parttime roles

Community Connector – Somali Speaking

Community Connector – Spanish Speaking

 


Project Report of Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) : January 10, 2024 : Trade Readiness
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

1. PB Reporting Empowering 11th-grade students

2. Trade Readiness: Message from program manager and program flyers; Trades Readiness Certificate program

3. Video recording at Jan 10. 2024 Equity Alliance Talk 

4. Star Tribune Feb 17, 2024 Reporting


Organization Report: December 04, 2023 : City of Rochester, MN
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment
Impact Lvl2:

Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients


Project Report of Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization : May 25, 2023 : Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Barriers Study
Impact Lvl1: CMRC, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, OpenBeam, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

(1) DBE Study Session to City Council April 17, 2023 , (2) Memo to DMCC Board; 


Project Report of City of Rochester Initiates New Budget Process and Publishes Digital Format : August 27, 2022 : Rochester, MN 2023 Budget Supplemental Budget
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Governance/Public Policy, Housing
Impact Lvl2:

2022-08-22 City Council Study Session on 2023 Supplemental Budget


Project Report of Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan : March 03, 2022 : Green Business Recognition Program
Impact Lvl1: Clean Air & water, Diversity and Inclusion, Health, Sustainability
Impact Lvl2:

An initiative to recognize local businesses for taking strides toward sustainability.


Project Report of Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) : February 03, 2022 : 2021- 2022 Global Mayors Challenge Status Reports
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

 (1) Updates to Feb. 2022 DMCC Board; 

(2) 2022-01-18 Press Release City of Rochester Winner;

(3) September 2021 DMC Presentation;

(4) References: 90 Second Pitch Video, Public Media 


Project Report of Planning To Succeed: Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan (P2S) : January 19, 2022 : Planning 2 Succeed 2022
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Housing, Transportation, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

City of Rochester 2022 Actions extracted from the city website. 

 


Project Report of Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan : June 17, 2021 : Sustainable, Resilient Rochester
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Clean Air & water, Economic Development, Health, Housing, Sustainability, Transportation
Impact Lvl2:

Sustainability Task Force: Presentations to CMRC, Housing and Feedback from survey and action plan


Organization Report: March 17, 2021 : City of Rochester, MN Study Session on DEI
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Intelligence, Neighborhood, Pandemic, Transportation
Impact Lvl2:

Rochester City Council session on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : September 22, 2020 : Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Major Milestone
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, OpenBeam, Technology Enablement, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

(1) City Council approved ICI Resolution

(2) City Council Study Session on ICI Index  


Project Report of City of Rochester Initiates New Budget Process and Publishes Digital Format : September 15, 2020 : City of Rochester Initiates New Budget Process and Publishes Digital Format
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Governance/Public Policy, Housing
Impact Lvl2:

2021 Budget Discussions


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : August 20, 2020 : ICI index draft released for City Council review
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, OpenBeam, Technology Enablement, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

  The City of Rochester, in partnership with the Diversity Council and others, announced the release of the draft Intercultural Cities Initiative program index report and an upcoming virtual site visit. 


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : January 30, 2020 : Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Presentation to City Council Study Group
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Technology Enablement, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

Updating the city council on the ICI workgroup summary of ICI data. 


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : June 15, 2018 : Mayor Brede signed ICI pledge
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

On Wednesday, June 13th, 2018 at 11:00 am, the Journey to Growth team, the City of Rochester and citizens of Rochester will gather in the City Hall Atrium for a special Signing Ceremony, designating Rochester as the first U.S. City to join the Council of Europe’s ICI (Intercultural Cities Initiative) program.


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : September 21, 2017 : City Council Discussing Affordable Housing
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Housing
Impact Lvl2: Governance/Public Policy

City Council's Committee at Large discussed Affordable Housing and Councilman Michael Wojcik's counter proposal. 


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Site Information
Project Phase Definitions
The following defines the various project phases:
  1. Available - a product, program or service is in production
  2. Develop - program or application is being developed
  3. Plan - idea is solid, stakeholders are identified, and there is strong commitment to go forward from all parties.
  4. Concept Phase - idea scoped out with enough details to give an early sizing and/or to build a proof of concept
    demonstration
  5. Pre-concept Phase - an early idea or a requirement.
About Beam

Community Beam (dmcbeam.org) is a registry of private and public resources (organizations, projects, initiatives, programs) that underpin economic and social developments of greater Rochester:

  • For the commercial sector, we tend to register startup activities (new companies and new commercial projects) that bring diversification and high-impact opportunities to the area.
  • For the non-profit sector, we wish to shine light on all the organizations and services that otherwise labor under relative obscurity.
  • Our hope is that dmcbeam.org will encourage cross-sector collaborations and creative solutions.

While there are a number of registries in the community, dmcbeam.org's  distinct value is to pilot a database with a data structure and categorizations that answer the questions such as: What organizations or projects/programs in our community that have purported relevance with some of the over-arching focuses put forward by initiatives such as DMC, J2G and Health Improvements?

This database could be used as one of the ways to explore the capacities of the community. If you are someone on an exploratory journey to learn about the greater Rochester community. dmcbeam.org could be an interesting first step.

Links to Beam sub-sites 
Sample of Beam sub-sites: