Rochester City Council member started a conversation Monday that could tweak 2018 vision and strategic priorities. 10:21 pm, Jan. 25, 2021 ×
Some priorities appear to be shifting with changes in the Rochester City Council.
“There are new values at the table, and that, to me, is understood and expected,” council member Patrick Keane said Monday. “That’s what elections are about.”
At the same time, he suggested some consistency is required to ensure the city has a unified direction.
He pointed to his own election, which came months after the city adopted a 303-page comprehensive plan that defined a vision for the city’s development and transportation efforts.
Want to see who s new at City Hall?
New Rochester City Council members, city administrators are slated to be part of an online community forum Thursday.
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Post Bulletin staff reports | 3:33 pm, Jan. 24, 2021 ×
Brooke Carlson
Rochester’s newest city council members, along with the new city attorney, will be part of an online community forum this week.
In the City for Good, a grassroots community organization focusing on a variety of issues amid city growth, is hosting the event, set to start at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
Rochester City Council moves forward with plans expected to lead to demolition of former AFL Labor Temple. 8:06 pm, Jan. 20, 2021 ×
The former Legends Bar & Grill location along the Zumbro River in downtown Rochester. Photo taken Jan. 20, 2021. (Andrew Link / alink@postbulletin.com)
A split Rochester City Council gave the green light Wednesday to end the city’s lease with Legends Bar and Grill and move forward with potential demolition efforts.
“This building has been slated for demolition since I joined the council,” said council member Nick Campion, who’s starting his seventh year on the council.
He added that the goal is to move toward the eventual redevelopment of the city-owned property that runs along the west side of the Zumbro River between Second Street Southeast and Fourth Street Southeast.
Could Rochester liquor license fees see another cut?
New City Council members discuss potential reduction of liquor license fees after proposed increases were paused last month. 9:03 pm, Jan. 20, 2021 ×
A plan to back off proposed Rochester liquor license fee increases could face deeper cuts.
“I feel it’s really important that we do consider a reduction,” Rochester City Council member Mark Bransford said Wednesday. “I’ve heard from a lot of restaurants and business owners that they are really struggling.”
In December, the City Council responded to similar concerns and opted to pause on the planned increases that were initiated earlier.
City council voices a desire to see more public engagement before committing to park spending plan 5:42 am, Jan. 12, 2021 ×
Brad and Carol Timmerman play with their grandchildren on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at Cascade Lake Park in Rochester. (Traci Westcott / twestcott@postbulletin.com)
Plans for spending the annual $2 million in park referendum funds need greater community involvement and perhaps new priorities.
That was the message Monday from some Rochester City Council members Monday after they reviewed a six-year spending plan for referendum funds, along with anticipated city spending on park infrastructure.
“To me, in the last two months, when we’ve known we have $2 million, we haven’t done any public engagement, and that’s disappointing to me,” council member Shaun Palmer said.