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- 5:36:49, May 15th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Though I hated to see you reference Glenn Beck by name [Three Times ... [Read More]
- 11:42:07, May 10th 2013 - yenken - I feel very sorry for those who have commented do far, as when you stand fa ... [Read More]
- 12:10:25, Apr 26th 2013 - Frank Hawthorne - Mr. "Cabtrom's" garbage-out[burst]--in response to Ms. Reisner's w ... [Read More]
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- 7:00:49, Apr 11th 2013 - Donald Pierce - Col. Stan Gudmundson hit most of the important nails squarly on the h ... [Read More]
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- 5:09:06, Apr 3rd 2013 - truthiness - I see this is dated April 1. That explains it! ... [Read More]
- 12:04:33, Apr 3rd 2013 - Frank W. Hawthorne - Say WHAT?!? Stan's American-Pie [In SKY] is Falling--Not Again? ... [Read More]
- 12:40:21, Mar 29th 2013 - Jacob - It's a shame that so few people care about making their voices heard. If we ... [Read More]
28
Should the Vikings be able to use the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium?
Rochester City Council opts against moment of silence
Mon, May 14th, 2012
Posted in Rochester Government
Posted in Rochester Government
Comments
The Rochester City council declined to institute the practice of holding a moment of silence for prayer and reflection before council meetings, rebuffing an effort by Mayor Ardell Brede to include the time in city meetings.
Mayor Brede initially proposed that city council meetings begin with a prayer to be led by diverse leaders of Rochester’s faith communities. After receiving input from the public, Brede altered the proposal to a moment of silence with text to be read beforehand by the council president.
Council member Sandra Means, a supporter of the proposal, offered an amendment to remove the text and simply hold a moment of silence.
Even in this less controversial form, the council did not find the proposed practice to be necessary or altogether non-offensive to community members.
“I don’t want us to get into telling people what they should think or what they should feel,” said council member Mark Bilderback. He and council president Dennis Hanson noted that city officials take time for reflection in their own ways, and felt that a sanctioned moment of silence would be unnecessary.
Mayor Brede said that he had received input from the public arguing that the idea would breach a separation of church in state. Brede clarified that no one religious view would be promoted above others, and so the proposal did not violate this tenet.
“While this might give some comfort to individuals to participate in a moment of silence, I’m also cognizant that it could cause some discomfort to others,” said council member Randy Staver.
Staver as well as council member Ed Hruska pointed out that the practice of beginning council meetings with the pledge of allegiance serves a similar purpose and that the moment of silence would be doubling up before getting to the council’s business.
Mayor Brede was not sure if he would make another push in the future to bring prayer and reflection into the city’s business, a cause that he has championed for some time.
“It’s disappointing for sure,” he said. “Why do we so flippantly say when something goes wrong, ‘we’ll pray for you’ but then we can’t even have a moment of silence?”
Other Council Business:
Steven Diaz, attorney for Rochester City Lines, addressed the council regarding a written protest sent from the company to the city, alleging bias and predisposition in awarding a contract to First Transit to be the city’s new public transit provider.
“There have been many efforts to engage the city to consider the situation and its proper resolution. Unfortunately, the city does not choose to engage,” said Diaz. “It’s on your conscience if you choose to act in the dark and without deliberation. It will not go without review.”
Later in the meeting, the council voted to deny protest made by Rochester City Lines.
Also, the council unanimously voted to deny approval of a contract and lease agreement with First Transit because no contract had been presented to be reviewed.
Rochester International Airport manager Steve Leqve presented a check to the city for $695,940, the amount of revenue earned above operating expenses.
Leqve, who will retire this year ,took time to thank the council and city staff for their past working relationship. He encouraged local residents to utilize the airport more
“I want to urge all residents of our community to fly local,” said Leqve. “It’s a tremendous asset that we have. We need to protect it.”
“We will miss him greatly,” said Mayor Brede. “Happy flights wherever you go.”
To offer better access to polling places than currently offered to the downtown residents in the city’s fourth ward, it was arranged for the second precinct to vote at Bethel Lutheran Church, which is along the bus line. This precinct had been polling at Hawthorne School, causing inconvenience to some downtown residents who have limited mobility.
“It’s a frustration of mine because I really want to see people vote in the precinct where they’re at,” said council member Mark Bilderback.
Discussion with University of Minnesota – Rochester had taken place, though the city clerk had concerns with this site because of potential problems with signage and lack of parking.
“I do think it’s kind of ridiculous that we have this many people living in buildings skyway attached with limited mobility downtown and we can’t give them a polling place where they can walk to,” said council member Michael Wojcik. “I don’t accept that there’s not enough parking there. I don’t accept that it’s not accessible enough.”
The motion passed 5-2 with council members Wojcik and Ed Hruska voting in dissent.
A public urination ordinance was adopted, making the charge more clear for people cited relieving themselves in public. Such actions had been given indecent conduct citations. The police department has seen an increase in these complaints corresponding with the increase in bars in the downtown area.
Rochester Downtown Alliance president Jon Eckoff stated that the organization is working to alleviate the problem by asking bar owners to keep their doors open after closing time so that patrons can return to use their restrooms and that they are also asking taxi services to be more available at closing times. He said that public restrooms are a possible solution and that portable restrooms may possibly be offered in lieu of public restrooms in permanent structures.
Hruska asked that the building and safety department consider increasing the size of restroom facilities offered by downtown businesses.
“I think we should look at the requirements a little bit more so when it gets busy and things are going strong that you don’t have to wait in line for 20 minutes. It doesn’t seem right.”
9th Street southeast between Broadway and 3rd Avenue will be restriped after it is resurfaced this summer. The new layout will reduce the number of lanes from four to three and add a bike lane ,which will connect the Slatterly Park neighborhood to Soldier’s Field Park.
Council members Bruce Snyder and Hruska voiced concern about the design of the bike lane, which would be between the right and left car turn lanes heading westward. They voted against the project which won approval on a 5-2 vote.
Mayor Brede initially proposed that city council meetings begin with a prayer to be led by diverse leaders of Rochester’s faith communities. After receiving input from the public, Brede altered the proposal to a moment of silence with text to be read beforehand by the council president.
Council member Sandra Means, a supporter of the proposal, offered an amendment to remove the text and simply hold a moment of silence.
Even in this less controversial form, the council did not find the proposed practice to be necessary or altogether non-offensive to community members.
“I don’t want us to get into telling people what they should think or what they should feel,” said council member Mark Bilderback. He and council president Dennis Hanson noted that city officials take time for reflection in their own ways, and felt that a sanctioned moment of silence would be unnecessary.
Mayor Brede said that he had received input from the public arguing that the idea would breach a separation of church in state. Brede clarified that no one religious view would be promoted above others, and so the proposal did not violate this tenet.
“While this might give some comfort to individuals to participate in a moment of silence, I’m also cognizant that it could cause some discomfort to others,” said council member Randy Staver.
Staver as well as council member Ed Hruska pointed out that the practice of beginning council meetings with the pledge of allegiance serves a similar purpose and that the moment of silence would be doubling up before getting to the council’s business.
Mayor Brede was not sure if he would make another push in the future to bring prayer and reflection into the city’s business, a cause that he has championed for some time.
“It’s disappointing for sure,” he said. “Why do we so flippantly say when something goes wrong, ‘we’ll pray for you’ but then we can’t even have a moment of silence?”
Other Council Business:
Steven Diaz, attorney for Rochester City Lines, addressed the council regarding a written protest sent from the company to the city, alleging bias and predisposition in awarding a contract to First Transit to be the city’s new public transit provider.
“There have been many efforts to engage the city to consider the situation and its proper resolution. Unfortunately, the city does not choose to engage,” said Diaz. “It’s on your conscience if you choose to act in the dark and without deliberation. It will not go without review.”
Later in the meeting, the council voted to deny protest made by Rochester City Lines.
Also, the council unanimously voted to deny approval of a contract and lease agreement with First Transit because no contract had been presented to be reviewed.
Rochester International Airport manager Steve Leqve presented a check to the city for $695,940, the amount of revenue earned above operating expenses.
Leqve, who will retire this year ,took time to thank the council and city staff for their past working relationship. He encouraged local residents to utilize the airport more
“I want to urge all residents of our community to fly local,” said Leqve. “It’s a tremendous asset that we have. We need to protect it.”
“We will miss him greatly,” said Mayor Brede. “Happy flights wherever you go.”
To offer better access to polling places than currently offered to the downtown residents in the city’s fourth ward, it was arranged for the second precinct to vote at Bethel Lutheran Church, which is along the bus line. This precinct had been polling at Hawthorne School, causing inconvenience to some downtown residents who have limited mobility.
“It’s a frustration of mine because I really want to see people vote in the precinct where they’re at,” said council member Mark Bilderback.
Discussion with University of Minnesota – Rochester had taken place, though the city clerk had concerns with this site because of potential problems with signage and lack of parking.
“I do think it’s kind of ridiculous that we have this many people living in buildings skyway attached with limited mobility downtown and we can’t give them a polling place where they can walk to,” said council member Michael Wojcik. “I don’t accept that there’s not enough parking there. I don’t accept that it’s not accessible enough.”
The motion passed 5-2 with council members Wojcik and Ed Hruska voting in dissent.
A public urination ordinance was adopted, making the charge more clear for people cited relieving themselves in public. Such actions had been given indecent conduct citations. The police department has seen an increase in these complaints corresponding with the increase in bars in the downtown area.
Rochester Downtown Alliance president Jon Eckoff stated that the organization is working to alleviate the problem by asking bar owners to keep their doors open after closing time so that patrons can return to use their restrooms and that they are also asking taxi services to be more available at closing times. He said that public restrooms are a possible solution and that portable restrooms may possibly be offered in lieu of public restrooms in permanent structures.
Hruska asked that the building and safety department consider increasing the size of restroom facilities offered by downtown businesses.
“I think we should look at the requirements a little bit more so when it gets busy and things are going strong that you don’t have to wait in line for 20 minutes. It doesn’t seem right.”
9th Street southeast between Broadway and 3rd Avenue will be restriped after it is resurfaced this summer. The new layout will reduce the number of lanes from four to three and add a bike lane ,which will connect the Slatterly Park neighborhood to Soldier’s Field Park.
Council members Bruce Snyder and Hruska voiced concern about the design of the bike lane, which would be between the right and left car turn lanes heading westward. They voted against the project which won approval on a 5-2 vote.
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