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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.



Restorative Justice Circle Collaboration with RPS

2025 RPS Collaboration to improve school attendance; Circle Training

2024 Project Legacy Collaboration

 References

Last Updated October 26, 2025



DMC 2026 Budget and Workplan

2026 Budget and Workplan September DMCC Board Meeting

Reference(s): Concurring City Council Oct 6 2025 Approval Request 

 

Last Updated October 26, 2025



America's City for Heath and Older Elders Needs

AI Summary of Dave Beal's PB Op Ed:

"Include older adults in Rochester's Plans"

 

Last Updated October 23, 2025



HOME OWNERSHIP CREATION PROGRAM – LONDON BROOK PONDS

City Council Meeting Approval of Housing Support: Housing Funding Allocations; TIF approval

PB reporting

Last Updated October 21, 2025



Seneca Property Plan Shelved

2025: PB reporting: Plan to develop vision for former Seneca site shelved

2022: (1) RAEDI partners with Olmsted County to solicit Statements of Interest (SOI) for former Seneca property; (2) Olmsted County signs agreement with RAEDI to solicit development proposals for former Seneca property

Last Updated October 16, 2025



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

Press Release and focuses: Civic Engagement Scorecard, Civic Infrastructure Scan

References: AI summary of project, Community Forum

Last Updated October 15, 2025



DAP Funding Justification

Oct 15, 2025 D.A.P. Meeting Info Sharing - Building a community-owned data repository

 

 

Last Updated October 15, 2025



DMC 2015-2025 Review and Next 5 Years

DMC Board Sep 2025 Meeting: Next 5 Year Plan Update Briefing

July 2025 Reflections: DMC’s next decade will focus on deepening its impact—through infrastructure, entrepreneurship, and community engagement—while continuing to support Rochester’s evolution into a vibrant, health-focused destination.

Last Updated October 12, 2025



Discovery Square Shared Lab Infastructure

Sep 2025 Update Presentation

May 2025: Biolabs as shared space partner: A shared lab space for a community of like-minded entrepreneurs associated with one or more academic research partners, PB reporting

Nov 2023 DMCC Board Presentation

Last Updated October 12, 2025



Rochester Sports and Recreation Complex

Oct 6, 2025 City Council Meeting

July 28, 2025 City Council Study Session 

Sample of community feedbacks on Facebook

Last Updated October 11, 2025



Community Health Improvement Plan Update

Availability of 2025 Community Health Needs Assessment

  • Admin Message
  • Oct 2025 Newsletter 

PB Report

Last Updated October 07, 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



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 Oct podcast; 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