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Public Safety Related Projects

The following is a sample of public safety related projects. Please let us know if you know of more projects.

Project Phase Definitions

The following defines the various project phases:

Available - a product, program or service is in production
Develop - program or application is being developed
Plan - idea is solid, stakeholders are identified, and there is strong commitment to go forward from all parties.
Concept Phase - idea scoped out with enough details to give an early sizing and/or to build a proof of concept
demonstration
Pre-concept Phase - an early idea or a requirement.

Archive/Concept Phase	Planning Phase	Development Phase	Available Phase	Featured Projects
Bystander to Upstander Description: Bystander to Upstander Sessions are participatory scenario-based sessions that provide opportunities for individuals to learn about and practice responses to incidents they might encounter in business, on campus, and in their daily lives. Unlike traditional diversity training, these activity-based workshops focus on real-time interventions. The sessions include general instruction in courageous listening and observing, as well as culturally-specific insights and role-playing exercises with tips and tactics for de-escalation, respectful intervention, and accountability. Impacting : Diversity and Inclusion ; Public Safety Led by : Diversity Council Diversity Council Civic Equity Focus Area Description: Civic Equity is the realization of a society where all individuals receive equitable access to resources, protections, and opportunities. Each person enjoys: (a) equal treatment under law, both through law enforcement and the judicial system; (b) equitable access to and representation in the political process; and (c) equal opportunity to engage in the design of and benefit from inclusive public policy. Impacting : Caring Relationship ; Civic Engagement ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Legal Services ; Public Safety Led by : Diversity Council Minnesota Compass Description: Minnesota Compass is a social indicators project that measures progress in our state and its communities. Led by Wilder Research, Minnesota Compass provides nonpartisan, credible information and tracks trends in topic areas such as education, economy, workforce, health, housing, and a host of others. Data and analysis on www.mncompass.org gives everyone in our state – policymakers, business and community leaders, and concerned individuals who live and work here – a common foundation to identify, understand, and act on issues that affect our communities. Impacting : Best Practice ; Business Process ; Consultancy ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Economic Development ; Education ; Metrics ; OpenBeam ; Public Safety ; Reading ; Special Needs ; Sustainability ; Technology Enablement Led by : Wilder Research	Bounce Day (Community Resilience) Description: Bounce Day aims to improve community resilience through an integrated disaster response experience that provides opportunities for education, collaboration, and innovation. Bounce Day is put on by a collaboration of Mayo Clinic researchers, educators and students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Military medical personnel, local medical alliances, theatre groups and lay community members. Actors simulating illness (zombies) and those affected by the crumbling of society will interact with participants learning both medical and nonmedical response protocols ranging from vaccination and treatment to refugee camp management and security. Impacting : Public Safety Led by : Bounce Day DFO Community Corrections Comprehensive Plan 2015-2016 Description: Dodge, Fillmore, Olmsted (DFO) Community Corrections is placed under the umbrella of Community Services in Olmsted County. Dodge and Fillmore County Court Services are separate units housed in their respective courthouses, and managed from Olmsted County. Probation services are similar in Dodge, Fillmore and Olmsted counties with common goals and outcomes. Due to smaller probation volume and FTE in Dodge and Fillmore, specialization (specialized caseloads) is not as developed, although resources are shared and clients are transported or staff travel to clients, as needed. Impacting : Best Practice ; Business Process ; Governance/Public Policy ; Public Safety Led by : TBD	City of Rochestre - Better Public Meetings Description: Mayor Kim Norton and the Rochester City Council are excited to announce their participation in the “Democracy Innovations for Better Public Meetings” project, a collaboration with the National Civic League’s (NCL) Center for Democracy Innovation. Funded by the AAA-ICDR Foundation, the project aims to make public meetings more engaging while strengthening the relationship between community members and local government. Impacting : Best Practice ; Civic Engagement ; Governance/Public Policy ; OpenBeam ; Public Safety Led by : Office of the Mayor-City of Rochester	Allies & Advocates Description: Allies & Advocates is a community response program that nurtures and supports individuals experiencing heightened anxiety, uncertainty, or incidents of hate/bias in this challenging social and cultural climate. We have been receiving communications regularly and increasingly from individuals deeply affected by what is transpiring here in Rochester, in our state, nationally, even globally. We want to be able to field these calls with empathy and wisdom. We decided to tap our greatest resource – compassionate people. Impacting : Caring Relationship ; Civic Engagement ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Immigration ; Public Safety Led by : Diversity Council Be Smart for Kids Description: The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage—storing guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition—can save children’s lives. Be SMART emphasizes that it’s an adult responsibility to keep kids from accessing guns, and that every adult can play a role in keeping kids and communities safer. There are thousands of Be SMART volunteers in your communities and neighborhoods that are delivering the Be SMART message across the country in all 50 states. Impacting : Public Safety Led by : A program of © 2022 Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund Community Engagement Response Team - Rochester, MN Description: C.E.R.T (Community Engagement Response Team) is raising money to help keep downtown Rochester safe. Donations will be used to increase patrols of downtown Rochester. Right now C.E.R.T has six volunteer patrol team members that will be patrolling the streets every weekend from 12 am until 3 am. While the six patrol team members are volunteers right now, our goal is to be able to provide a small stipend for their time in helping keep the streets of Rochester safe. Impacting : Best Practice ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Mentoring ; Parenthood ; Public Safety Led by : Barbershop & Social Services Mobil Video Recorder Policy Description: TBD Impacting : Best Practice ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Governance/Public Policy ; Public Safety Led by : Police Policy Oversight Commission of City of Rochester Police Assisted Recovery (PAR Program) Description: Police find new pathways to treatment and recovery Drug addiction is a public health concern that can become a public safety concern when addiction drives criminal behavior. Police officers are first responders to emergencies on the street, but they’re also first responders to people in crisis, whether that crisis be a mental health concern or someone whose behavior is fueled by addiction. Impacting : Addiction ; Mental Health ; Public Safety Led by : Rochester Police Department Project Legacy Description: Project Legacy provides support and training to youth and young adults impacted by multiple barriers such as poverty, domestic violence, housing instability, incarceration, gangs, addiction and violence. Since 2008, we have served hundreds of youth through wraparound support including tuition assistance, mental health support and an alternative, positive peer group. Impacting : Basic Needs ; Best Practice ; Children & Youth ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Public Safety Led by : Project Legacy RPD Accountability Dashboard Description: The Rochester Police Department (RPD) is committed to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability throughout the Department, in order to improve and maintain the trust of the community we serve. The dashboard is an initiative which was proposed by community members at the “Proposed Actions for Justice” Virtual Town Hall on June 11, 2020. RPD was pleased to embrace the idea and committed to producing the first dashboard within 30 days. Impacting : Commitment ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Governance/Public Policy ; Legal Services ; Public Safety Led by : Rochester Police Department Rochester Police Department Expansion (More Space and Staff) Description: The needs of the Rochester Police Department are growing while the department itself is faced with increasing response times and staffing challenges, said Police Chief Roger Peterson. To meet these challenges, one thing is certain — the department will need to grow, either in its current space or in new space, he said. Today at the Rochester City Council meeting, he'll present options for future expansion in the downtown area and for a new precinct station in northeast Rochester. Impacting : Public Safety Led by : Rochester Police Department	Community Engagement Response Team - Rochester, MN Description: C.E.R.T (Community Engagement Response Team) is raising money to help keep downtown Rochester safe. Donations will be used to increase patrols of downtown Rochester. Right now C.E.R.T has six volunteer patrol team members that will be patrolling the streets every weekend from 12 am until 3 am. While the six patrol team members are volunteers right now, our goal is to be able to provide a small stipend for their time in helping keep the streets of Rochester safe. Impacting : Best Practice ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Mentoring ; Parenthood ; Public Safety Led by : Barbershop & Social Services Police Assisted Recovery (PAR Program) Description: Police find new pathways to treatment and recovery Drug addiction is a public health concern that can become a public safety concern when addiction drives criminal behavior. Police officers are first responders to emergencies on the street, but they’re also first responders to people in crisis, whether that crisis be a mental health concern or someone whose behavior is fueled by addiction. Impacting : Addiction ; Mental Health ; Public Safety Led by : Rochester Police Department Project Legacy Description: Project Legacy provides support and training to youth and young adults impacted by multiple barriers such as poverty, domestic violence, housing instability, incarceration, gangs, addiction and violence. Since 2008, we have served hundreds of youth through wraparound support including tuition assistance, mental health support and an alternative, positive peer group. Impacting : Basic Needs ; Best Practice ; Children & Youth ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Public Safety Led by : Project Legacy RPD Accountability Dashboard Description: The Rochester Police Department (RPD) is committed to fostering a culture of transparency and accountability throughout the Department, in order to improve and maintain the trust of the community we serve. The dashboard is an initiative which was proposed by community members at the “Proposed Actions for Justice” Virtual Town Hall on June 11, 2020. RPD was pleased to embrace the idea and committed to producing the first dashboard within 30 days. Impacting : Commitment ; Diversity and Inclusion ; Governance/Public Policy ; Legal Services ; Public Safety Led by : Rochester Police Department

Public Safety Related Status

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City of Rochester 2026-2027 Budget Planning (September 23, 2025)

Sep 22, 2025 City Council
Sep 15, 2025 Study Session, Sep 3, 2025 Study Session; Aug 25, 2025 Study Session; Press Release;
June 23, 2025 Study Session: 2026 Capital Improvement Plan & Outside Agency Funding Budget Update
May 27, 2025 City Council Study Session ; Apr 28, 2025 City Council Study Session Material
Press Release: The City of Rochester is beginning its 2026-2027 budget process and invites residents to learn more about the factors shaping the City’s financial outlook.

The 6th Street Sessions (September 03, 2025)

Press Release: A series of conversations designed to dig into the components of 6th Street Bridge, Neighborhood Safety and Riverside Improvement project.

Olmsted County rolling out new mobile crisis response process in 2025 (December 16, 2024)

Press Release: ROCHESTER, Minn. – Mental health continues to be a top concern for Olmsted County residents. When someone is experiencing a mental health crisis, timely assistance from trained mental health professionals is critical.

Restorative Practices Advisory Committee (November 14, 2024)

Press Release: Olmsted County residents encouraged to apply for Restorative Practices Advisory Committee (RPAC)

This new RPAC will bring together residents, justice system representatives, and community organizations to promote and sustain restorative practices throughout Olmsted County.

Economic Vibrancy & Growth Management (September 30, 2024)

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