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Mayoral Communications

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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 Latest 10 City of Rochester, MN Pinned Reports

January 11, 2025 : $2.5 Million RAISE Grant Awarded for Planning and Design of South Broadway Avenue Improvements
Impact Lvl1: Funding, Governance/Public Policy, Transportation
Impact Lvl2: Consultancy

The City of Rochester has been awarded $2.5 million in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This grant will support the South Broadway Avenue Planning Project, which aims to improve safety and connectivity on South Broadway Avenue between 4th Street and 9th Street Southeast. The RAISE funding will be utilized for planning and design phases of the project.


December 05, 2024 : City of Rochester, MN Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment
Impact Lvl2:

Mayor Norton Honors 2024 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients


September 30, 2024 : Economic Vibrancy & Growth Management
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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 

Transit Village

Business Development

Historic District


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


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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Latest 10 Pinned City of Rochester, MN organization and project reports

. Project Report of Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex : February 01, 2025 : Rochester Sports Complex Community Inputs
Impact Lvl1: Children & Youth, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Recreation & Open Space
Impact Lvl2:

ISIAH:  Ask Rochester City Council to Ensure Equitable Benefit of the Regional Sports Complex: "We believe it’s important that this complex offer equitable community benefit to residents and particular families who lack accessible recreation spaces and affordable, structured programs for their children."


Project Report of Planning To Succeed: Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan (P2S) : January 29, 2025 : 2024 Action Plan Mid-Year Update
Impact Lvl1: Education, Pandemic
Impact Lvl2:

City of Rochester’s Action Plan, first implemented in 2021, serves as our roadmap for success. It outlines current initiatives aimed at advancing City Council's Strategic Priorities. 


Project Report of Rochester Vision 2050 : January 25, 2025 : Rochester International Relations Committee
Impact Lvl1: Arts & Culture, Diversity and Inclusion, International, Networking
Impact Lvl2:

1. 2025 Sister City Trips: Japan, Germany

2. Rochester Sister City Application (Roles and Responsibilities)

3. Meeting Info: Dec 2024 Meeting Minutes; Dec 2025 Mtg Agenda


Organization Report: January 11, 2025 : $2.5 Million RAISE Grant Awarded for Planning and Design of South Broadway Avenue Improvements
Impact Lvl1: Funding, Governance/Public Policy, Transportation
Impact Lvl2: Consultancy

The City of Rochester has been awarded $2.5 million in Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This grant will support the South Broadway Avenue Planning Project, which aims to improve safety and connectivity on South Broadway Avenue between 4th Street and 9th Street Southeast. The RAISE funding will be utilized for planning and design phases of the project.


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : December 14, 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.

 PB Reporting regarding TIF $14M Requests (Sherman and Prairie Ridge) 2024-12-14 


Organization Report: December 05, 2024 : City of Rochester, MN Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment
Impact Lvl2:

Mayor Norton Honors 2024 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients


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.


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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: