Better Public Meetings Initiative

Rochester is proud to be one of two cities nationwide selected to participate in the Democracy Innovations for Better Public Meetings project. In partnership with the National Civic League’s Center for Democracy Innovation, this project aims to improve how public meetings are experienced by community members, elected officials, and municipal staff.

 

Thanks to funding from the AAA-ICDR Foundation, this work builds on national efforts to make public meetings more civil, effective, and connected to community values.

 

Your local government offers a host of ways for the public to get involved in civic and community affairs. One way for the public to get involved is to attend and participate in an official public meeting, like your city council or board and commission meeting. These meetings are a cornerstone of local decision-making, offering the public an opportunity to participate through open public comments. 

 

The City of Rochester aims to build upon its existing programs and opportunities and is committed to providing new avenues for public engagement in official meetings. In partnership with the National Civic League, the City will review the opportunities it offers to the public to further enhance, broaden, and potentially create new avenues for diverse members of the public to participate in local governance. 

 

Better Public Meetings is a project aimed at increasing community satisfaction, improving transparency, and creating space for more voices to be heard. By testing new tools, gathering community input, and exploring creative approaches, this project helps Rochester reimagine how local democracy can work for everyone.

 

Over the next year, Rochester residents will have opportunities to reflect on and shape the future of public meetings.

 

Key activities include: 

 

Tell us how we're doing. This simple digital tool lets you share feedback about your experience at City Council meetings. Scorecards are anonymous and will help shape future improvements. 

 

We’re conducting interviews with community members, leaders, and organizers to understand what’s working—and what’s not—when it comes to participation in public meetings. This information will help identify opportunities to build more inclusive processes.

 

Based on community feedback, the National Civic League will recommend specific improvements to test out—from new meeting formats to digital engagement tools. Residents will help guide and evaluate these changes throughout 2026.

 

 

 - Attend a public meeting. Then fill out the Civic Engagement Scorecard.

 - Join a community forum to share your ideas and reflect on research findings.

 - Stay informed by signing up for email updates or checking the City's page regularly.

 

We need your voice. This is about building a local democracy that works better for everyone—and that starts with you.

 

This project is a collaboration between:

 

 - The City of Rochester

 - The National Civic League

 - And community members like you!

 

 

 - Michon Rogers, Office of the Mayor

 - Nick Vlahos, National Civic League

 

Let's make meetings that matter. Your experience. Your voice. Your city.