Rochester Charter Commission Meeting - September 11, 2026

The Rochester Charter Commission met on September 11, 2026, to discuss a citizen request regarding ranked choice voting, continue the review of the Home Rule Charter, and address ward boundary provisions. The meeting included a special recognition, a presentation by the mayor on the role of mayor, and multiple votes on subcommittees and charter amendments.

Consent Calendar

• Set Order of Agenda: Approved unanimously (11 ayes, 0 nays, 4 absent).
• Approve Meeting Minutes of May 12, 2026: Approved unanimously (12 ayes, 0 nays, 3 absent).

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mayor Norton presented preliminary results from a survey of 119 mayors across the U.S. on the role of mayor. Key findings: 108 can place items on the agenda; 96 chair council meetings; 58 get a vote; 65% have tiebreaker ability; 57 have veto authority; 31 also serve as city manager. Mayor Norton expressed frustration that Rochester’s mayor has limited power compared to other cities and suggested the city consider combining the roles of council president and mayor. She indicated she would return in January 2027 with more detailed findings and recommendations.

Discussion Items

• Ranked Choice Voting (New Business): The commission discussed a citizen request to review ranked choice voting. Commissioners expressed a range of views. Some noted that 19 states have banned ranked choice voting, others cited concerns about exhausted ballots and partisan funding, while some argued the commission should study the issue thoroughly. After three motions:
  • Motion to create a subcommittee (up to 5 members) to study and bring back a recommendation: Denied (5 ayes, 8 nays, 2 absent).
  • Motion to place discussion on the November 2026 agenda: Denied (6 ayes, 7 nays, 2 absent).
  • Motion to place discussion on the January 2027 agenda: Approved (12 ayes, 1 nay, 2 absent).
• Home Rule Charter Review (Unfinished Business): The commission continued reviewing Sections 5–15.
  • Section 6.02: Motion to change “by the third day after passage” to “by the third business day”: Approved unanimously (13 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent).
  • Section 6.03: Motion to change “within five days of receipt” to “within five business days”: Approved unanimously (13 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent).
  • Section 6.05: Motion to change “within five business days (Sundays excepted)” to “within five business days”: Approved unanimously (13 ayes, 0 nays, 2 absent).
  • Severance Motion: Motion to sever Sections 8.05, 9.00, and 15.00 from the current review, sending all settled items to the city council while those three sections are reconsidered by a subcommittee: Approved (8 ayes, 5 nays, 2 absent).
  • Subcommittee on Mayoral Authority: Motion to establish a subcommittee (up to 4 commissioners plus a city attorney representative) to return with recommendations to address inconsistencies in the authority of the mayor over the city administrator as stated in Sections 8.05, 9.00, and 15.00, by the end of 2027: Approved (10 ayes, 3 nays, 2 absent).
• Ward Boundaries (Unfinished Business): Commissioner Rothwell proposed a motion to establish a subcommittee in 2027 to examine the charter provision on ward boundaries (Section 1.02) and bring back recommendations. After debate, the motion passed (7 ayes, 6 nays, 2 absent).

Key Outcomes

• Approved charter amendments to Sections 6.02, 6.03, and 6.05 changing timeframes to business days.
• Severed Sections 8.05, 9.00, and 15.00 from the current review; settled items will be sent to council.
• Established a subcommittee to recommend changes to Sections 8.05, 9.00, and 15.00 regarding mayoral authority over the city administrator, with a deadline of end of 2027.
• Established a subcommittee to examine ward boundary language in Section 1.02, to report in 2027.
• Scheduled discussion on ranked choice voting for the January 2027 meeting.
• Directed staff to publish notice for expiring commission terms (6 members) throughout November 2026, with applications due to the chief judge by early December.
• Adjourned unanimously.