Knowledge Base

July 24, 2024 – ROCHESTER, MINN. – In an effort to support a welcoming and inclusive community, commenting on City of Rochester social media channels, across all departmental pages, will be disabled, starting today, July 24, 2024. In following that alignment, the Mayor will also discontinue comments via her page. It will maintain the ability for individuals to connect and engage with the City through a variety of existing pathways and the forthcoming non-emergency 311 service will streamline and enhance those opportunities yet this year.

City Administrator Alison Zelms shares, “The City of Rochester believes it is important to help support and foster a safe and inclusive community. Unfortunately, like other communities across the state of Minnesota and the nation, we have seen comments and activity via our social media channels that is counterproductive to those efforts. Discontinuing the use of comments effectively reduces the potential for harmful content and negative interactions because it removes an unmoderated and monitored forum for those activities.”

To date, many of the City’s social media channels have been used as a one-way channel to inform and update the community and limited back-and-forth interactions have taken place. This is due to the focus and prioritization of resources on other organizational needs.

“With a focus on ensuring that Rochester is a place where all of our residents and visitors feel welcome and safe, I join the City in discontinuing the use of comments. Individuals and organizations will continue to have multiple ways to communicate with me including private messaging, email, phone calls and in-person meetings. Residents can continue to react to posts and reshare to their own pages with their thoughts. I believe this change will support our efforts to provide information, and also to create a better, safer digital environment for all,” shares Mayor Kim Norton.

The City and its departments have a variety of effective channels for residents, businesses and visitors to connect and interact with, which includes an ability for individuals to provide feedback, ask questions and obtain City services. This includes phone, e-mail, in-person facilities and public meetings. Individuals and organizations will still have the ability to react to and reshare posts.

“We continue to be committed to being accessible and available to our residents, businesses and visitors and believe we have been and will be positioned to do so. The forthcoming non-emergency 311 service is an example of improving our ability to connect and respond to community needs and focusing our resources to do so,” highlights Zelms.

By taking this step, the City hopes to create and support a more inclusive and supportive online environment and community where everyone feels valued.