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Community Events/News

Start Date Title Tags Description
Sep 08, 2025 06:00 PM Public Hearing 2 - Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan ('city', 'governance', 'community') Recognizing that cities are dynamic places shaped by shifting economic, social and technological trends, the Comprehensive Plan is designed to be a living document. To remain relevant and actionable, it is updated every five years.
Sep 07, 2025 01:00 PM Cascade Lake Park: Celebrate New Public Art Installations with Artist Cassandra Buck ('Culture', 'art') – All are invited to attend a series of special events celebrating the completion of public art installations by MNPAiR (Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence) artist Cassandra Buck. Installed at three local parks — Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, Quarry Hill Nature Center, and Cascade Lake Park — these vibrant works highlight nature, community, and connection to place. Each celebration will include a short artist talk, a hands-on public art activity for all
Sep 03, 2025 05:30 PM Coming to the Table September 2025 ('compassion', 'Diversity', 'community') This session's theme will be 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐈𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲: 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭, and will focus on ways our community can positively support our immigrant neighbors.
Aug 30, 2025 07:00 PM Quarry Hill Nature Center: Celebrate New Public Art Installations with Artist Cassandra Buck ('art',) – All are invited to attend a series of special events celebrating the completion of public art installations by MNPAiR (Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence) artist Cassandra Buck. Installed at three local parks — Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, Quarry Hill Nature Center, and Cascade Lake Park — these vibrant works highlight nature, community, and connection to place. Each celebration will include a short artist talk, a hands-on public art activity for all
Aug 28, 2025 05:00 PM Sketches of Minnesota ('Culture', 'arts', 'community health') The Minnesota Humanities Center, Danger Boat Productions, and Rochester Art Center look forward to seeing you this Thursday, Aug. 28th for Sketches of Minnesota.
Aug 27, 2025 05:00 PM Public Hearing 1 - Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan ('city', 'governance', 'community') Recognizing that cities are dynamic places shaped by shifting economic, social and technological trends, the Comprehensive Plan is designed to be a living document. To remain relevant and actionable, it is updated every five years.
Aug 26, 2025 09:30 AM Aug 2025 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting ('Diversity', 'global', 'governance', 'culture', 'key', 'education') Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents
Aug 23, 2025 01:00 PM Oxbow Park: Celebrate New Public Art Installations with Artist Cassandra Buck ('art',) – All are invited to attend a series of special events celebrating the completion of public art installations by MNPAiR (Minnesota Parks Artists in Residence) artist Cassandra Buck. Installed at three local parks — Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo, Quarry Hill Nature Center, and Cascade Lake Park — these vibrant works highlight nature, community, and connection to place. Each celebration will include a short artist talk, a hands-on public art activity for all
Aug 22, 2025 11:00 AM IRC and World Festival ()
Aug 21, 2025 06:30 PM C4G Library Discussion Forum ('c4g', 'rpl', 'key') All are welcome. Please join us. Share this with those in the community for this important discussion. This is an opportunity for input on Library plans and added considerations for our public library system. Discussion Moderator: Jim Miner; Special Guest Library Representative: Library Director Karen Lemke
Aug 20, 2025 12:00 PM DMC Going Local, Thinking Big: A Conversation with Steve Grove ('DMC', 'education', 'community') How can cities grow without losing their sense of place? Join us for a thought-provoking discussion with Steve Grove—author, former Google executive, and CEO of the Star Tribune—as he sits down with DMC Executive Director Patrick Seeb to explore how communities like Rochester can grow with equity, health, and purpose. Grove will share insights from his new memoir, How I Found Myself in the Midwest, and reflect on leadership, reinvention, and what it takes to thrive in today’s world. Books will be available on-site from Garden Party Books. Don’t miss this inspiring conversation about the future of Rochester and the power of local leadership
Aug 19, 2025 05:00 PM Nonprofit Big Brothers Big Sisters Open House ('mentoring',)
Aug 16, 2025 12:00 PM Back to School Block Party 2025 ('youth', 'education', 'community engagement') Community organizers are gearing up for Rochester’s annual Back to School Block Party, a beloved community event that supports local families and helps students start the school year with confidence.
Aug 13, 2025 11:00 AM Bullpen | Mayo Clinic Pitch Fest (By Invitation Only) ('EDA', 'DMC') This is an opportunity to introduce yourself to an elite ecosystem of Life Science Dealmakers to share your expertise and innovations:
Aug 14, 2025 05:30 PM Olmsted County M.O.V.E.: Multicultural Resource Community Center Presentation ('community engagement', 'CMRC', 'key', 'public sector work product') Presentation to Olmsted County M.O.V.E. Council Culture Center Proposal
Aug 13, 2025 10:00 AM Rochester Housing Alliance Aug 13, 2025 ('RAF', 'housing', 'governance', 'openbeam', 'key') Half Year Real Estate Stats; Presentation/Discussion: Maxfield 2025 Housing Needs Update
Jul 29, 2025 09:30 AM One Minnesota Listening Tour – Rochester Stop ('commerce', 'education', 'diversity', 'Diversity Council') This summer, we’re traveling across the state to listen, connect, and co-create. Join us in Rochester for a day designed to deepen community dialogue, foster regional partnerships, and surface insights that will shape how Minnesota engages across differences, distance, and more.
Jul 22, 2025 09:30 AM July 2025 Mayor's International Relations Committee Meeting ('Diversity', 'global', 'governance', 'culture', 'key', 'education') Coordinate the Sister Cities Program; support international affairs in the city; provide a welcoming and supportive climate for international residents
Jul 19, 2025 04:30 PM ICAM: Utsav 2025 (Festival of Colors) ('Culture', 'Diversity') 5K Run/Walk; DJ Music/Dance, Food Mela, Color Splash
Jul 17, 2025 04:30 PM Community Joins John Lewis Day of Action ('diversity', 'NAACP') We urge every person who believes in justice, dignity, and democracy to join us. Let’s honor the life of John Lewis not with words, but with action. Let’s create Good Trouble—together. Event Details – Thursday, July 17: ‘Good Trouble Lives On’ • Location: Soldiers Field • Time: 4:30 PM – 7:00 PM
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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.



National Small Business Initiative & National 311 Day

November 6, 2025 - Rochester Selected as One of Six Cities for National Small Business Initiative

March 11, 2025 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – The City of Rochester is excited to celebrate National 311 Day. 

Last Updated November 07, 2025



Opioid Settlement-Funded Iniatives

November 4, 2025 Olmsted County Board of Commissioners Meeting; 

- Video Recording; Credible Mind Tool

PB ePaper Reporting 

Last Updated November 06, 2025



Rochester Public Utilties

2026 Rate Increase

2019 Residential Rate Structure Survey

Last Updated November 05, 2025



Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program

Application Open

Background: The current Rochester-Olmsted County 4(d) Affordable Housing Incentive Program application is for the Tax Assessment Year 2025 - Tax Payable Year 2026, the tax savings for this application will not be realized until the Tax Payable Year 2026.

 

Last Updated November 03, 2025



Restorative Justice Circle Collaboration with RPS

2025 Restorative Justice Circle Training; RPS Collaboration to improve school attendance

2024 Project Legacy Collaboration

 References: About Restorative Justices

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 Adults 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
  • Video Recording, 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