LWV Minnesota Observer Corps Resources

Note that these materials focus on state government advocacy but provide a useful template and training for local government engagement as well.

• Observer Corps home page

• Observer Corps Videos & Training

• Observer Corps Handbook

• Observer Corps Report Form – submissions go to LWV Minnesota

• Action Alert Proposal Form – suitable for issues at local (school board, city, county), state (legislature, agencies, Governor), or federal (Congress, agencies, President) levels

LWVR list of local government bodies – updated July 2025

What meetings in our community govern the decisions made by our elected officials? Each of these bodies holds public meetings that you can attend and participate in. To learn more click on each entry:

Olmsted County public meetings: olmstedcounty.primegov.com/public/portal

• County Board of Commissioners - 1st Tues monthly 11am

• Adult Mental Health Local Advisory Council

• Chester Heights Sewer District Advisory Board

• Dodge & Olmsted (D&O) Joint Powers Board

• Extension Committee

• Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA)

• Mobilizing Olmsted Voices for Equity (M.O.V.E.) community council

• Olmsted County Justice Council (OCJC)

• Olmsted-Wabasha Lake Zumbro Joint Powers Board

• Parks and Trails Commission

• Planning Advisory Commission

• Public Health Services Advisory Board

• Rochester Housing Alliance - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AmI3edg9r3WPNGOwZpcEpWg4-N0EaIXzePbRhQWa-hs/edit?usp=sharing 

• Regional Railroad Authority

• Rochester Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG)

• Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission

• Soil and Water Conservation District Board

• Youth Commission

• Zoning Board of Adjustment

Rochester government public meetings: rochestermn.gov/meetings/council-meetings

• City Council meeting - most weeks Monday 6:00 PM

• City Council study session - some Mondays 3:30 PM

• Rochester Economic Development Authority - following some Council meetings

 Boards & Commissions: rochestermn.gov/government/boards-commissions/list-of-boards-commissions

Please note that the meeting schedule may change so please follow the link for the latest information.

• Airport Commision - 2nd Tues monthly 2:00 PM

• Board of Appeals - 1st & 3rd Wed monthly 5:00 PM

• Charter Commis Meeting - 2nd Tues on odd # months 4:30 PM
  LWVR Board members Rachel (2025-27) & Walt (2022-26) both serve

• Citizens Advisory on Transit - no fixed schedule, 4:30 PM

• Ethical Practices Board Meeting - no fixed schedule, 10:30 AM

• Fire Civil Service Commis - no fixed schedule

• Heritage Preservation Commis - generally 4th Tues monthly 5:00 PM

• Rochester Public Library Board - 3rd Tues monthly?? 4:30 PM

• Music Board - no fixed schedule 4:00 PM

• Outside Agency Oversight Committee - 4th Mon every 3 months 1:00 PM
  Walt is a regular observer

• Park & Recreation Board - 1st Tues monthly 4:30 PM

• Pedestrian/Bicycle Advis Commis - 2nd Monday monthly 6:30 PM

• Planning & Zoning Commis - 2nd & 4th Wed monthly 5:00 PM

• Police Civil Service Commis - no fixed schedule, 3:00 PM

• Police Policy Oversight Commis - 2nd Tues quarterly 3:30 PM

• Public Utility Board - last Tues monthly 4:00 PM

• Sustainability & Resiliency Commis - 2nd Wed monthly 4:30 PM

• Zoning Board of Appeals - 1st & 3rd Wed monthly 6:00 PM

Local community groups

• Am Assn of University Women (AAUW) / Rochester - website

• Bolder Options - Facebook

• Common Cause - website

• Community Engagement Response Team (CERT) - Facebook

• Comunidades Organizando el Poder y la Acción Latina (COPAL) Rochester - website

• First Unitarian Universalist Church (First UU) - website

• Indivisible 507 - website • Facebook

• Intercultural Mutual Assistance Assn (IMAA) - website

• ISAIAH Rochester - website

• NAACP Rochester Branch - 

• Rise for Youth Program - Facebook | website

• Rochester Community Initiative - website

• Rochester’s People Action Committee - Facebook