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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Apr 23, 2024 01:00 PM April 2024 Rochester Vision 2050 Community Engagement ('co-design', 'governance', 'community', 'key', 'openbeam') Our city has undertaken a broad array of initiatives to create a bright future for her citizens and constituencies. These should be guided by a clear, optimistic, aspirational vision. 2050: Far enough for limitless possibilities; close enough to begin today to serve Rochester’s next generation and beyond. Vision 2050 Steering Committee guides this initiative A large volunteer group will put “Vision in Action”, using co-design to engage the community to share ideas and priorities for Rochester’s future.
Apr 22, 2024 05:00 PM Community Townhall Uplifting Student Voices ('community health', 'diversity', 'community') Convened by NAACP, Rochester, MN
Apr 22, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC April 22, 2024 Meeting ('diversity', 'openbeam', 'key', 'Diversity', 'CMRC') Topics: City of Rochester DEI Action Plan Updates ; CMRC Collaboration Status
Apr 20, 2024 11:00 AM NAACP Not In Our Town ('Diversity', 'community') We, the Rochester Branch of the NAACP, stand united in condemning the recent hateful incident involving the use of a racial slur against black and brown people in the immediate vicinity of Rochester Century High School. This reprehensible act not only undermines the values of our community but also sends a disturbing message to our youth who should feel safe and respected.
Apr 19, 2024 05:00 PM RPS School Board Listening Session ('Education', 'community') Hosted by Pamoja Women
Apr 19, 2024 11:30 AM Panel Session for Still We Rise: Rochester’s Black Legacy ('community',) This special event is open to all community members, while centering black voices and lived experiences. Lunch will be provided by Jersey Jo’s. Registration is required for food planning purposes. Please use the link below to register.
Apr 17, 2024 07:00 PM Barbershop Talk: Racism in Rochester ('diversity', 'community') Moderators: Bud Whitehorn, Andre Crockett, Tawonda Burks; In response to the racial slur written in cups on a bridge crossing East Circle drive near Century High school this weekend, a group of our local community leaders are coming together to have a conversation about racism in Rochester at a Community Town Hall. This event will be Wednesday from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Century High School.
Apr 17, 2024 04:00 PM Community Involvement Session: Candidate Training ('Education', 'Diversity') Join United Way of Olmsted County and BIPOC community leaders for a training for individuals interested in running for office
Apr 16, 2024 05:00 PM Journie: Open Road Workshop ('youth', 'Education', 'diversity', 'CMRC') The main objective is to enhance access to higher education opportunities for minorities and low-income families in Olmsted County.
Apr 13, 2024 10:00 AM Our Kids and Our Future: A Vision for Rochester Public Schools ('youth', 'Education', 'tech', 'community')
Apr 11, 2024 06:30 PM Stories Embracing Inclusion with Compassion ('community engagement',) Meeting Hunger with Compassion
Apr 10, 2024 12:00 PM Empowering Women in the Workplace ('DMC', 'Diversity', 'CMRC', 'key') Heather will provide a brief overview of the significant legislative milestones enacted by the Minnesota Legislature since women's Suffrage. Additionally, she will delve into Minnesota-specific data concerning women, shedding light on pertinent details regarding recent legislation and its implications for women in the workforce.
Apr 10, 2024 10:00 AM April 10, 2024 Coalition for Rochester Area Housing Alliance: "Rural Trends 2024: Housing Supply and Demand" ('RAF', 'housing', 'openbeam', 'key') "Rural Trends 2024: Housing Supply and Demand" (Ben Winchester from the U of M Extension office) "Economic Vitality Funding Update" (Taryn Edens, City of Rochester)
Apr 09, 2024 10:00 AM RPS April 2024 Family Engagement Meeting ('RPS', 'diversity', 'rps', 'community', 'key', 'education') Youth Voice & Student Leadership, with a presentation facilitated by Sarah-Louise Henry, RPS Coordinator of Youth Empowerment, Department of Equity and Engagement.
Apr 04, 2024 06:00 PM 2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Study Public Forum 2 ('diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Apr 02, 2024 12:30 PM 2025 Minnesota Joint Disparity Public Forum 1 ('Diversity', 'Entrepreneurship')
Mar 28, 2024 12:00 PM MPR Rochester RDAC Spring 2024 Meeting; Chandra Kavati, Senior Vice President, Chief Partnerships & Revenue Officer. ('diversity', 'MPR', 'Diversity') Topics include: Quarterly updates Possible Topics;
Mar 26, 2024 05:30 PM Year of Respect: Respect & Calm: Reduce the Rancor ('Civic Equity', 'community engagement') Guest: Bill Doherty, National Co-Founder of Braver Angels [email protected]; Additional Guest: Dr. Steve Lansing Co-Founder: Veterans Empowered “The significance of valuing others” “Amazingly simple steps of action”
Mar 26, 2024 04:30 PM 6th Stree Bridge and Riverfront Improvements Project Open House ('transit',) Project Manager Ian Cochran shares, “The City of Rochester is excited to kick off this next public engagement phase that builds upon previous community conversations about connecting the neighborhoods on either side of the Zumbro River with a bridge at 6th Street S. The community-informed design will be about more than just the bridge; the project will benefit the community in various ways including improved connections to the riverfront and a safer 6th Street for all users.”
Mar 25, 2024 04:30 PM CMRC March 25, 2024 Meeting ('diversity', 'openbeam', 'key', 'Diversity', 'CMRC') Topics: University of Minnesota Rochester Campus & Climate Action Plan; Three Rivers Community Action, BIPOC Homeownership Mentor Outreach, CMRC Updates: ACHLA and Pamoja Women actions regarding Post Secondary assists
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October 2021 Activities

FORUM  WITH INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT DR. KENT PEKEL- October 21, 6:30 to 8:00:

In the City for Good will be presenting an online forum to give all in the community an opportuniy to hear from Rochester Public Schools Interim Superintendent Kent Pekel. Dr. Pekel will give an overview of his time so far in the district, along with more information on the strategic plan he will be proposing. Interested Rochester residents may submit questions ahead of time or during the meeting to be used in a Q&A time period after his primary presentation. The October 21 forum will be from 6:30 to 8.

 

Steering Committee- Tuesday, October 5, 4:00 p.m.

Topic: In the City for Good Steering Committee

Time: Oct 5, 2021 04:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)

 Join Zoom Meeting

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info. 

 

Housing Team- Monday, October 11 7:00 p.m.

Our next In the City for Good Housing Team meeting will be on October 11 at 7 pm. We will be discussing the proposed Unified Development Code with Ryan Yetzer, Interim Deputy Director, Community Development for the City of Rochester leading the discussion along with others in the Community Development area. We will especially focus on what some of the proposed changes could mean related to Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and the role of ADUs in addressing the concerns around the affordability of workforce and senior housing. This will be an online meeting, with the link to be sent out later this week.

 

Age-Friendly- Oct 12th and 26th 2:30 to 4:00

Meeting Information:

Age-Friendly Olmsted County Planning Group

Tues. Oct 12 and 26

2:30pm - 4pm

 

Contact [email protected] for Zoom info

 

Social Services/Social Justice- Watch for info of upcoming November meeting

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Purpose of the site
A sub-site of Community Beam, the City4Good website is being prototyped by openBEAM.net  to help the "In the City For Good initiative" to better collaborate.
Community Status/News

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



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 

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



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



2026 Budget and Workplan

 2026 Budget and Workplan September DMCC Board Meeting

 

 

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