You are here: Home / Community Activities / League of Women Voters: Know Your Local Government: City of Rochester

League of Women Voters: Know Your Local Government: City of Rochester

When Mar 18, 2021
from 07:00 PM to 08:00 PM
Where Zoom
Add event to calendar Outlook/Android
Apple iPhone/iPad
Add to Google Calendar Add to Google Calendar

 

 

Join Zoom Event: https://lwvmn-org.zoom.us/j/97932965757?pwd=Y3MzbGQyTlFYbS9qU1B0UnlzaVloZz09 

(See below for other ways to join.)

Do you ever wonder where the lines of authority are drawn between the city, the county, and the school district? Do you know what responsibilities the City Administrator and City Council have? How is our city financed and what does it spend money on? The League of Women Voters wants your committed active participation on issues concerning rights, duties, and qualities of life within your community. But, you might want to know more before you try to effect change. Please join us for the first in our “Get to Know Your Local Government” series. On Thursday, March 18, we’ll focus on Rochester city government. We will welcome guest speakers:

  • Alison Zelms - City Administrator
  • Brooke Carlson - City Council President
  • Nick Campion - City Council Member, 3rd Ward
  • Sarah Strauss - Rochester-Olmsted Youth Commission Member

Each will give an overview or discuss their work in city government on behalf of citizens, including case studies. They will then collectively take questions from our audience.

Other options for joining the Zoom event: 

If you are already logged in to Zoom, you can use

  • Meeting ID: 979 3296 5757
  • Passcode: 857890

To participate by phone only

  • Dial: (312) 626-6799 (note this is long distance and landline users will need to dial a 1 first)
  • Meeting ID: 979 3296 5757 (you will be told to follow with a #)
  • Participant ID: enter # to skip
  • Passcode: 857890 (you will be told to follow with a #)

More information about this event…

Two types of event information being shared in the following:

1. A list of Beam aware upcoming community events of all types. 

2. A list of noteworthy past events that have one or more of the following contents: presentation slides, video recordings as well as takeaways. 

Upcoming Events
Oct 2026 RPS Family Engagement Oct 06, 2026 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Virtual
2026 Rochester General Election City Council and Mayor Candidate Forum Oct 06, 2026 06:30 PM - 09:00 PM — Christ United Methodist Church
AARP Election 2026 - What Voters Need to Know Oct 07, 2026 11:30 AM - 01:30 PM — Cascade Meadows Wetlands & Environmental Science Center, 2900 19th Street Northwest, Rochester, MN, 55901
Managing Difficult Conversations with Constituents - Rochester (For Elected Officials and Admin Staff) Oct 13, 2026 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM — Rochester Public Utilities 4000 East River Road Northeast, #2813
Skills for Disagreeing Better - Rochester Oct 13, 2026 01:00 PM - 02:30 PM — RCTC Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904
All Things SBDC - 2026 Oct 13, 2026 02:00 PM - 02:45 PM — Virtual
Depolarizing Ourselves Oct 13, 2026 03:30 PM - 05:00 PM — RCTC Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904
Congressional Debate Oct 13, 2026 06:00 PM - 07:30 PM — KAAL Digital Platforms
Finding Community in Our Differences - Rochester Oct 13, 2026 06:30 PM - 08:00 PM — RCTC Heintz Center, 1926 Collegeview Road East, Rochester, MN 55904
Work Smarter with AI Oct 14, 2026 06:00 PM - 08:00 PM — Virtual
Upcoming events…
Community News

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



Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations

  • 2027 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations; Video Recording, Presentation 
  • 2026 Annual Action Plan - Community Development Block Grant Allocations; Video Recording, Presentation 

Last Updated September 20, 2026



Sherman Mixed Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

Sep 18, 2026: Ground Breaking

July 6, 2026: City Council Meeting - Extension of agreement

May 2026 DMCC Board Meeting: Status Update

June 3, 2024 City Council Meeting 

Council action is requested to continue development negotiations with Sherman Associates and conditionally approve development assistance of up to $13,000,000 in Tax Increment Financing (TIF) assistance and up to $3,000,000 in DMC General State Infrastructure Aid.  

Last Updated September 18, 2026



Momentum 30

Four pillars to drive Momentum 30

Case for Investment

Last Updated September 17, 2026



2027 Olmsted County Tax Levy

Sep 16, 2026 Press Release: Preliminary 2027 Olmsted County levy: $151,350,166, Preliminary 2027 Olmsted County billed levy: $149,769,949 (amount to be billed to taxpayers due to 2026 levy overpayment being applied to 2027).

Last Updated September 16, 2026



Braver Angels News

  • 2026 - Oct events: Sep 2026 Newsletter; Aug 2026 Newsletter, Mar 6 Volunteer Opportunities, Feb Citizens Commission on Immigration Outreach
  • 2025, 24 - Mar 2025 Newsletters: End birthright citizenship? Apr 2024 Braver Angels Newsletter: 2024 National Convention; National Debate: Should we be colorblind?

 

Last Updated September 16, 2026



RPS Family Engagement Opportunities

Sep 2026: Care Giver & Parent Empowerment (CAPE); Supporting Youth: Mental Health  

Apr 2026 Family Engagement Policy Meetings

Jan 2026 Announcements: Family Engagement, Caregiver and Parent Empowerment 

Last Updated September 11, 2026



Reimagining 6th Ave West - Project Update

Sep 9, 2026 City Council Update

Mar 2 2025 City Council: Memo, Video, Presentation

Sep 2025 Press Release: City of Rochester Launches “Reimagining Sixth Avenue W” to Reconnect Downtown Mobility Network

Last Updated September 10, 2026



CHATEAU THEATRE OPERATING ANALYSIS UPDATE

Sep 9, 2026 City Council Action Chateau Strategy

Aug 10, 2026 City Council Study Session  Council to review planning-level capital investment needs identified through both the City’s facility assessment and the Legends Global operating analysis.

Last Updated September 08, 2026



Director of Equity & Organizational Development Introduction

 Sep 2026: Introducing Crystal Fairchild, Director of Equity & Organizational Development

 

Last Updated September 06, 2026



6th Street Bridge RAISE grant

Aug 2026: Revised to "Up to $19.9 million from USDOT." 

Aug 2022: The City of Rochester has been awarded a $19.9 million dollar United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant.

Last Updated August 24, 2026



Rochester Public Transit

Aug 23, 2026 City Council Study Session: Transit Financial Sustainability - Rochester Public Transit (RPT) is currently operating under financial conditions that are not sustainable over the long term.

Last Updated August 24, 2026



Rochester, MN Supplemental Budget

2026 Aug 23 City Council Study Session, Apr 13 City Council Study Session on 2027 Supplemental Budget

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

Last Updated August 23, 2026



Economic Vibrancy & Growth Management

Aug 24, 2026 City Council Study Session: Economic Mobility Updates

Sep 2024 City Council Study Session: City teammates providing an update on this work, specifically regarding legacy public infrastructure projects, Unbound, infrastructure investments and regulatory milestones.  

Last Updated August 23, 2026



OpenBeam events log

Sep 2026: Metrics LINKS

Aug 2026: Tech related info

Aug 2026 Notable Beam Events Log: Topics Include: Q2 Real Estate Stats; Workforce Housing & Regional Workforce Trends; Building Trust in an Age of Skepticism; Land Use Revenue Analysis; Tax Increment Financial Studies

Last Updated August 21, 2026



Broadway 309-317 Appeal of Certificate for Appropriateness

Aug 17, 2026 City Council Meeting: In a 4-3 vote, the Rochester City Council overturned a decision by the Heritage Preservation Commission to reject a redevelopment proposal for five historic buildings on the 300 block of South Broadway Avenue.

Aug, 2026  PB reporting

Last Updated August 20, 2026



Transportation: ROCOG Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

2027-2030: Transportation Improvement Plan, Press Release

2024 - 2027 Transportation Plan 

2023 - 2026 Transportation Plan: The Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) has released a draft of the 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), for a 30-day public comment period. 

Last Updated August 18, 2026



National Community Survey

2026 City Survey: Open to residents responses

2024 and 2022 NCS Surveys: Presentation/Reports

2018 City Survey.: June 2018 Resident Survey Summary

Last Updated August 17, 2026



SBDC Rochester, Spring 2025

Sep 2026: Small Business Support Series

SBDC Apr 2025 Business Workshops...SBDC Day and workshop opportunities: "If you have an upcoming business event or celebration, please let us know! We would love to stop by for a RIBBON CUTIING for any of your business." milestones:

 

Last Updated August 14, 2026



Homelessness Dashboard, Street Medicine, The TABLE and Any Path Home Info

Aug 14, 2026:Homeless Info: Any Path Home Dashboard; Mayo Clinic Street Medicine

Mar 2026 Rochester Area Housing Alliance: Any Path Home and The TABLE

 

Last Updated August 14, 2026



Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Barriers Study

Aug 10, City Council Study Session: Equitable Economic Development

Apr 2025 City Council Study Session:  (1) DBE Study Session to City Council April 17, 2023 , (2) Memo to DMCC Board; 

Last Updated August 13, 2026