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CNG History

Community Networking Group has been sunset. Its mission--to co-create a community where opportunities and responsibilities are broadly shared--is being carried on by other community efforts.

 

This site has been repurposed to facilitate the operation of Community Mobilization Resouce Coalition (CMRC). 

 

The following information preserves the knowledge, insights and work products generated by CNG from 2013 to 2019.

 

 

 

Activities Log
CNG History

 

Working together to build a healthy and inclusive community where opportunity and responsibility are broadly shared.

 

2020/2019 News

January

CNG Closing Meeting

December

CNG 2.0 launch prep.

May

CNG Steering Committee Meeting

March Complete Count 2020 Kick-off
Jan Future of CNG

 

2018 Announcements/Meetings

November

December

Complete Count 2020, Rochester Area Non-profit Coalition , Race Exhibit Returns

October

Cradle to Career, Kids Count Data (Rescheduled), Community Dental Care Open House

September

Livable City

June

Complete Count 2020, Compass Points and Village Updates

March

Social Determinants of Health & Relationship with P2S

February

Newsletter (Cradle to Career, Complete Count)

CNG Survey Results

January

Olmsted County Administration Updates & CNG Survey

2017 Announcements/Meetings

December

Conversation with new Rochester City Administrator

October

Mental Health

July/August/September

Housing Message Reframing Workgroup

June

Housing Round 2

May

Focus on youth

April

Workforce Context: Housing, Transit and Childcare

March

Immigration

February

Transit

January

Compass Points Drill Down

 

2016 Meetings/Announcements

October

2016 Compass Points, City of Rochester and Olmsted County

September

Future Format of CNG

July/August

A call for agencies support for multi-node transit

June

Workforce concerns and resources

May

Housing

April

Healthy Community Design

Feb

Community Dashboard Gains/Pains

Jan

Healthy Community Design

 

2014 Meetings/Announcements

November

CNG Determination of Purpose

October

Rethinking CNG Approach

May

DMC Beam and Health Improvement

March

Opportunity Alliance

Collective Impact

Jan

Planscape

 

2013 Meetings/Announcements

December

Scoping of Group - Document of Understanding

October

Planning of CNG

 

What brought about the CNG network?

 

The following June 13, 2013 by the Post Bulletin provides some background information for this network.

While promoters of Mayo Clinic's Destination Medical Center initiative has focused largely on the economic benefits of the proposed 20-year expansion plan, a community group is meeting to focus on the societal impacts the growth will bring.


While promoters of Mayo Clinic's Destination Medical Center initiative has focused largely on the economic benefits of the proposed 20-year expansion plan, a community group is meeting to focus on the societal impacts the growth will bring.

 

"There's so many things that growth will produce that are positive; there's also challenges that growth produces," said Olmsted County Commissioner Sheila Kiscaden, who attended last week's meeting.

Mayor Ardell Brede also joined the group last week, and he said he plans to reconvene it sometime in July. It includes representatives from local nonprofits, city and county government, Mayo Clinic and business organizations and the University of Minnesota Rochester.

 

The school district and many other organizations that support the community are going to have to make adjustments to how they operate, Kiscaden said.

 

"It's everything from do we need more schools? Do we need more law enforcement personnel? Do we need more housing? How are we going to deal with all of these various challenges and demands for service that come with an expanding population," she said.

 

Also, as Brede pointed out, not all of the 35,000 new jobs projected for Rochester over the next 20 years are high-paying positions. In fact, a large portion will be in the hotel and restaurant industry, paying lower wages, and that means more people in Rochester struggling to get by.

 

Also, as Brede pointed out, not all of the 35,000 new jobs projected for Rochester over the next 20 years are high-paying positions. In fact, a large portion will be in the hotel and restaurant industry, paying lower wages, and that means more people in Rochester struggling to get by.

"So, that will put some pressures on the community" and county's social services, Brede said.

 

Brede and Kiscaden said some of the other people involved in the group are: Dave Beal of the United Way of Olmsted County; Jay Hesley of the University of Minnesota Rochester; former Olmsted County Sheriff Steve Borchardt, who is with the Rochester Area Foundation; John Wade, president of the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce; and Rochester-Olmsted Planning Director Phil Wheeler.

 

The group has discussed ways it might share information and coordinate planning, Kiscaden said.

 

"I think rather than having every group go off and work on their own, it's really helpful to be able to share what's being learned along the way ... and look for opportunities for synergy, not only in the planning process but in the future for service delivery," she said.

 

Brede said two members of group will be talking with the Humphrey School of Public Affairs, which is part of the University of Minnesota, to inquire about possible consulting services.

Purpose and Goal

Purpose

Change power dynamics to create a pluralistic and intercultural community where all people benefit equitably. 

Goal

Create equitable access to community resources and civic involvement. 

 

Community Status/News

This panel displays the latest community news. For a standalone view please click this LINK.



Community Health Improvement Plan Update

Availability of 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment

  • Admin Message
  • Oct 2025 Newsletter 

Last Updated October 07, 2025



Mayor and City Council Launch ‘Democracy Innovations for Better Public Meetings’

 Press Release:

  • Civic Engagement Scorecard
  • Civic Infrastructure Scan

Last Updated October 06, 2025



2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations

  • 2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations
  • Presentation 

Last Updated October 06, 2025



2025 Local Sales Tax Update

  • City Council Study Session:
  • Sales Tax Renewal Projects - Utilization of Sales Tax: Street Reconstruction. Flood Control and Water Quality, Economic Vitality, Home Ownership
  • AI summary of PB Reporting  

Last Updated October 02, 2025



Destination Medical Center (DMC) Plan Status Reports

2025 Report: Videos, 10 year reflection

2016 Report: In addition to the December 2016 status report, DMC EDA shows a useful diagram that positions the relationships of various studies going on within Rochester.

Last Updated October 01, 2025



September 2025 Charter Commission

  • City Governance Work Item
  • Application for replacement member

Last Updated September 28, 2025



2024-2025 RPS Data Analysis

Sep 2025 MCA Improvement Action Plan 

2024-25 Fastbridge Data Analysis and Literacy Plan Update

PB reporting on MCA

Last Updated September 27, 2025



Healthy Living Wellness Tips

2025 Sep Newsletter

2025 Conference Materials

2020 Lifestyle Medicine Symposium (March 19-20)

Last Updated September 27, 2025



Collaboration & Conflict Insights

Minnesota State - Office of Collaboration and Dispute Resolution Sep 2025 Newsletter

Last Updated September 27, 2025



Rebranding RPS 2025

Sep 23, 2025 School Board Prep

  • Superintendent Video recording clip 
  • Presentation Slides
  • Proposed New Logo

PB Reporting

Last Updated September 26, 2025



City of Rochester 2026-2027 Budget Planning

  • 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.

Last Updated September 23, 2025



Second Street LINK Transit Construction

City, DMC PSA: 

  • Beginning September 22, traffic on 2nd Street SW will shift to maintain one lane in each direction between 18th Avenue SW and 23rd Avenue SW.
  • Affected areas

Last Updated September 19, 2025



Maxfield Housing Status Report Sep 2025

  • City Council Memo
  • Presentation
  • Video

 

Last Updated September 16, 2025



Building Bridges Discussions

Admin Messages

Presentation Slides for Conversations 

Last Updated September 13, 2025



Mayowood Road Redevelopment

September 10, 2025 Housing Alliance Meeting

  • Video Recording 
  • Presentation Slides - From Concept to Opening

Last Updated September 13, 2025



Housing as an Element of America's City for Health

DMC Housing Presentation at Rochester Housing Alliance September, 2025 Meeting 

  • Video Recording
  • Presentation Slides

Last Updated September 13, 2025



Plug into the Future: A Residential Electrification Journey

The City of Rochester is offering another set of workshops to help residents improve indoor air quality, reduce utility costs, and enhance housing safety.

Last Updated September 09, 2025



Downtown Mobility Network

Press Release: City of Rochester Launches “Reimagining Sixth Avenue W” to Reconnect Downtown Mobility Network

Last Updated September 05, 2025



Registration for the 2025 A Litter Bit Better Fall Cleanup

September 3, 2025 - ROCHESTER, MINN. – Registration is now open for the third annual A Litter Bit Better fall cleanup, continuing the effort to keep Rochester litter-free year-round. Litter collection in the fall helps prevent it from being trapped under the snow, reducing the amount of litter we see in the spring. 

Last Updated September 04, 2025



Start-up Funds for International Relates Committee

  • Video Recording City Council Approval
  • Request to approve $20,000 contingency to create a start-up funding for the International Relations Committee. 
  • Adjacent work streams

Last Updated September 04, 2025