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Public Report on Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan led by City of Rochester, MN
Last modified: November 14, 2015

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The city of Rochester has the potential to become a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, according to two reports delivered at a Tuesday night Rochester Energy Commission special meeting.

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PB Reporting

Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 9:13 am

Andrew Setterholm, asetterholm@postbulletin.com

The city of Rochester has the potential to become a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability, according to two reports delivered at a Tuesday night Rochester Energy Commission special meeting.

DMC plan

Destination Medical Center plans are at the heart of the opportunity for energy action in the city. A report prepared by the Minnesota Center for Energy and Environment for the DMC Corp Board has aggressive recommendations for its focus area — two DMC districts in the downtown, Heart of the City and Discovery Square.

Those recommendations include establishing the two DMC districts as a sustainable energy zone to focus attention on all energy opportunities in the geographic area; building on Mayo Clinic's district energy and co-generation system; and building any new developments with Architecture 2030 standards, which strive for zero net carbon emission buildings by 2030.

More important than the specific energy goals, though, is the communitywide goal to establish a culture of sustainability, said Sheldon Strom, CEE president.

"We think it's important as we do this to establish a culture of sustainability," Strom said. "It makes a huge difference what the public thinks and what the users of a building think."

The focus area of the CEE's energy recommendations for the DMCC board is relatively small, but Strom hoped the area would become a model for more widespread practice.

"There is a limited focus to those areas, but we're hoping to develop strategies that can be expanded if proven successful," he said.

Strom and Jenny Edwards, CEE director of Innovation Exchange, also emphasized the importance of starting with practical, cost-effective measures.

CEE staff will present the energy update to the DMCC board at a Nov. 19 meeting.

Energy action plan

The city of Rochester is also in the process of evaluating its energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The Rochester Energy Commission, created in 2009, was tasked with creating anenergy action plan that would help the city reach energy goals set by the state of Minnesota, including to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent, relative to a 2005 baseline, by 2050.

With funding from the city, the energy commission hired Wenck Associates as a consultant to assist in formulating the plan.

After about four months of work, that plan has made significant progress, reported Erin Heitkamp, Wenck global sustainability practice leader. Wenck has completed the major tasks of reviewing its role with the city's comprehensive plan update and comparative analysis with other cities.

A large portion the work so far, Heitkamp said, has been related to: "Ultimately, understanding what the city's baseline greenhouse gas inventory looks like and then understanding what the real material opportunities are to influence that going forward."

As part of its greenhouse gas inventory, Wenck reported the city's emissions impact included more than 76,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2014 from city-owned and city-controlled sources; that was only a fraction of the emissions from indirect sources related to city activities.

A draft energy action plan is on schedule to be ready around the end of March, Heitkamp said.

Great to see this effort.

 

 

 

  

 

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Other Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan Pinned Reports

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Pinned City of Rochester, MN organization and project reports

. Project Report of Rochester Vision 2050 : October 02, 2024 : Rochester Vision 2050
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Project Report of Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization : August 05, 2024 : Second Half 2024 Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization Plan Reports
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3Q2024: July 2024 Admin Message and Reports

 

 


Project Report of Rochester Vision 2050 : August 02, 2024 : Rochester Vision 2050
Impact Lvl1: Arts & Culture, Best Practice, Caring Relationship, Civic Engagement, Co-design, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Education, OpenBeam, Vision/Identity
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The visioning effort calls for soliciting broad community input to help propose desired strategic initiatives based on desired outcomes through 2050.


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : July 17, 2024 : City Housing Support
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Housing
Impact Lvl2:

Home Ownership Creation Program - Prairie Ridge: "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Rochester, MN hereby approves the contribution of $4,000,000 to the Prairie Ridge development to support the creation of 201 for-sale homes via the Home Ownership Creation Program.

 


Project Report of Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization : July 01, 2024 : First Half 2024 Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization Plan Reports
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Housing, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

2Q 2024: June 2024; May 2024 - Admin Message, TBE Report; April 2024 - Admin Message, TBE Report

1Q 2024: Feb 2024 - Admin Message, TBE Report; Jan 2024: Admin Message, TBE Report

Special callouts: Women in Construction; City of Rochester Equity in Development 


Project Report of City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan : June 26, 2024 : City of Rochester - Justice, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (JEDI) Audit Status
Impact Lvl1: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Metrics
Impact Lvl2:

June 24, 2024 City Council Study Session: Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Audit per Goodenough 

Departmental Audit reports of: Human Resources; Rochester Public Library; Parks & Rec 

 


Project Report of City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan : June 20, 2024 : Community Building Fund
Impact Lvl1: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Funding, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

The City of Rochester welcomes applications for the Community Building Fund.  This fund is all about supporting projects, programs, and events in the city that actively promote equity and inclusion.


Organization Report: April 27, 2024 : 2024 Destination Medical Center (DMC) Updates
Impact Lvl1: Consultancy, Economic Development, Medical Services, Recreation & Open Space, STEM, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

DMC Updates April 29 Presentation to City Council Study Session 

Transit Village

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Historic District


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : April 22, 2024 : Mayowood Phase II for fee waivers
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy
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Allocate $272,959.00 to Mayowood Phase II for fee waivers (frees funding for Home Ownership creation program)

2. Allocate $ 272,967 to revolving Abatement program for homeowners


Project Report of Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) : April 01, 2024 : EBE Presentation to City Council Study Session
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Education, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2: C2C: Post-Secondary, C2C: Workforce Participation

1. Part of Feb 26, 2024 City Council Study Session on DEI: Presentation Slides include actions and measures to City Council Study Session and Link to City Council video 

2. Career Opportunities for Women of Color


Project Report of City of Rochester: 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan : March 21, 2024 : Requests for Action Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan
Impact Lvl1: Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

City Council Approved Requests for City Council Approval of two DEI Contracts: 

Contract 1: 2024: Professional Development: Cultural Humility Series $41.3K; 

Contact 2 : Critical Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Audit ($30K); Cultural Humility Professional Development Series: Digging Deeper $13.5K ;  

Video clip of council discussions and voting and related info about GoodEnough.


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : March 19, 2024 : Action Request March 18, 2024
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Caring Relationship, Commitment, CMRC, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, International, Intelligence, Mediation, OpenBeam, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

Comment at the 3/18/2024 City Council Meeting:

To act on September 21, 2020 council resolutions for the city staff to develop a Intercultural City action plan.  


Project Report of Planning To Succeed: Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan (P2S) : March 18, 2024 : P2S Implementation and Comprehensive Plan Request for Proposal
Impact Lvl1: Business Process, Governance/Public Policy
Impact Lvl2:

P2S Implementation Report

P2S Update Request for Proposal 


Organization Report: March 04, 2024 : City Council: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Updates; Housing; International Relations
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Co-design, Disabilities, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Housing, Metrics, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

DEI Presentation Topics: Language Access and Accessibility; Equity in the Built Environment; 2024 Initiatives

Economic Development Incentives for Housing

Mayor Updates: Black History Month, Luther College: Mutable City; International Relations Committee


Organization Report: January 25, 2024 : Announcing two new part-time roles to ensure accessible services to all communities.
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Civic Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, PPE
Impact Lvl2:

Two parttime roles

Community Connector – Somali Speaking

Community Connector – Spanish Speaking

 


Project Report of Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) : January 10, 2024 : Trade Readiness
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

1. PB Reporting Empowering 11th-grade students

2. Trade Readiness: Message from program manager and program flyers; Trades Readiness Certificate program

3. Video recording at Jan 10. 2024 Equity Alliance Talk 

4. Star Tribune Feb 17, 2024 Reporting


Organization Report: December 04, 2023 : City of Rochester, MN
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment
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Mayor Norton Honors 2023 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients

Mayor Norton Honors 2022 Mayor's Medal of Honor Recipients


Project Report of Targeted Business Enterprise Utilization : May 25, 2023 : Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Barriers Study
Impact Lvl1: CMRC, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, OpenBeam, Workforce Development
Impact Lvl2:

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


Project Report of City of Rochester Initiates New Budget Process and Publishes Digital Format : August 27, 2022 : Rochester, MN 2023 Budget Supplemental Budget
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2022-08-22 City Council Study Session on 2023 Supplemental Budget


Project Report of Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan : March 03, 2022 : Green Business Recognition Program
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An initiative to recognize local businesses for taking strides toward sustainability.


Project Report of Equity in the Built Environment (Bloomberg) : February 03, 2022 : 2021- 2022 Global Mayors Challenge Status Reports
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, Entrepreneurship, Governance/Public Policy, Workforce Development, Vision/Identity
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 (1) Updates to Feb. 2022 DMCC Board; 

(2) 2022-01-18 Press Release City of Rochester Winner;

(3) September 2021 DMC Presentation;

(4) References: 90 Second Pitch Video, Public Media 


Project Report of Planning To Succeed: Rochester 2040 Comprehensive Plan (P2S) : January 19, 2022 : Planning 2 Succeed 2022
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Housing, Transportation, Vision/Identity
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City of Rochester 2022 Actions extracted from the city website. 

 


Project Report of Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan : June 17, 2021 : Sustainable, Resilient Rochester
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Clean Air & water, Economic Development, Health, Housing, Sustainability, Transportation
Impact Lvl2:

Sustainability Task Force: Presentations to CMRC, Housing and Feedback from survey and action plan


Organization Report: March 17, 2021 : City of Rochester, MN Study Session on DEI
Impact Lvl1: Civic Engagement, Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, Governance/Public Policy, Intelligence, Neighborhood, Pandemic, Transportation
Impact Lvl2:

Rochester City Council session on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : September 22, 2020 : Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Major Milestone
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Commitment, Diversity and Inclusion, OpenBeam, Technology Enablement, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

(1) City Council approved ICI Resolution

(2) City Council Study Session on ICI Index  


Project Report of City of Rochester Initiates New Budget Process and Publishes Digital Format : September 15, 2020 : City of Rochester Initiates New Budget Process and Publishes Digital Format
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Governance/Public Policy, Housing
Impact Lvl2:

2021 Budget Discussions


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : August 20, 2020 : ICI index draft released for City Council review
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Economic Development, OpenBeam, Technology Enablement, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

  The City of Rochester, in partnership with the Diversity Council and others, announced the release of the draft Intercultural Cities Initiative program index report and an upcoming virtual site visit. 


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : January 30, 2020 : Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Presentation to City Council Study Group
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Technology Enablement, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

Updating the city council on the ICI workgroup summary of ICI data. 


Project Report of Update Intercultural Cities Initiative (ICI) Index : June 15, 2018 : Mayor Brede signed ICI pledge
Impact Lvl1: Best Practice, Business Process, Diversity and Inclusion, Vision/Identity
Impact Lvl2:

On Wednesday, June 13th, 2018 at 11:00 am, the Journey to Growth team, the City of Rochester and citizens of Rochester will gather in the City Hall Atrium for a special Signing Ceremony, designating Rochester as the first U.S. City to join the Council of Europe’s ICI (Intercultural Cities Initiative) program.


Project Report of City of Rochester Home Ownership Creation Program : September 21, 2017 : City Council Discussing Affordable Housing
Impact Lvl1: Diversity and Inclusion, Housing
Impact Lvl2: Governance/Public Policy

City Council's Committee at Large discussed Affordable Housing and Councilman Michael Wojcik's counter proposal. 


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About Beam

Community Beam (dmcbeam.org) is a registry of private and public resources (organizations, projects, initiatives, programs) that underpin economic and social developments of greater Rochester:

  • For the commercial sector, we tend to register startup activities (new companies and new commercial projects) that bring diversification and high-impact opportunities to the area.
  • For the non-profit sector, we wish to shine light on all the organizations and services that otherwise labor under relative obscurity.
  • Our hope is that dmcbeam.org will encourage cross-sector collaborations and creative solutions.

While there are a number of registries in the community, dmcbeam.org's  distinct value is to pilot a database with a data structure and categorizations that answer the questions such as: What organizations or projects/programs in our community that have purported relevance with some of the over-arching focuses put forward by initiatives such as DMC, J2G and Health Improvements?

This database could be used as one of the ways to explore the capacities of the community. If you are someone on an exploratory journey to learn about the greater Rochester community. dmcbeam.org could be an interesting first step.

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