David Zemens | Rochester City Council

I am pleased to report that I was elected to a four year term on the Rochester City Council as a result of finishing third in the November 3, 2009 election.

My thanks go out to all the residents who voted for me and to all of my friends and supporters who aided in the campaign process. Without your help my victory would not have been possible and I thank all of you for your contribution in whatever form it took.

Decision Making 101

I consider myself to be an independent decision maker.  My life experience is very broad.  I couple this broad experience with a healthy dose of common sense. I always listen to the viewpoints of all my fellow council members. During the past two years on the city council I have been swayed more than once by the discussion and point of view of another council member.  In the end, however, my decisions are mine and mine alone.  I won’t always make a decision that everyone will agree with, but rest assured my intentions are always to make the decision that is in the best interest of all stakeholders.

Please read on to see what I consider to be some highlights of the 2008 and 2009 city council policy initiatives and decisions.

Transparency

This city council worked long and hard to write, approve and now administer a city wide ethics ordinance. The final details of the implementation are just being formalized, but this ordinance demands transparency from all city employees, elected officials and city contractors and vendors. I am proud of this ordinance and was pleased to be involved in the process of enacting it.

City Adminstration

Our new city manager, Jaymes Vettraino, is taking our city to new heights as he implements the council’s goal of a more customer service oriented city administration. With council guidance, Jaymes had worked to have city council and other city meetings cablecase (live broadcasts should begin in June 2009), improved the city newsletter, and is moving toward implementing a new and improved city website that went live late in the summer of 2009.

Economic Development

In a step toward improving overal economic development in the city, this council has authorized the hiring of a Deputy City Manger – Economic Development for the 2009 budget year.

This position will work closely with the Downtown Development Authority and all area stakeholders to make certain that Rochester is best poised to attract and accomodate future economic development.

Downtown Development Authority

In an effort to improve and increase the vibrancy of our downtown, this council has worked closely with the DDA to make certain that all tax dollars are spent in the manner most appropriate and in the best interest of all city stakeholders.

Several new DDA board members have been appointed and our DDA is poised to help move Rochester ahead both in these trying economic times and into the future.

Although not without bumps in the road, I think the DDA has taken steps to make the adjustments necessary to work with the new city council. I look forward to new innovations and new ideas coming from the DDA, even as the economic climate in our state further deteriorates.

Police Department

Police Chief Steven Schettenhelm has taken firm control over the police department and I am pleased to report that both the administration and the line officers are pleased with his performance.

The chief has implemented the popular bike patrols and worked with both the DDA and the administration to implement a downtown foot beat that pays special attention to the times when bar traffic is at it’s highest.

In addtition, the chief has added a professional approach to law enforcement that had been missing in the past. This approach has filtered down through the ranks and permeated the entire department. We thank him for his daily work to improve the department!

Fire Department

Fire Chief John Cieslik came on board late last year and is taking the necessary steps to keep the Rochester Fire Department operating at peak efficiency. This includes a plan to implement an EMS system in our city that makes Advanced EMT’s available 24 hours a day.

Thanks to everyone for your support and most of all to the voters who rewarded me with a four year term on city council at the November 3, 2009 election. I appreciate your support and pledge to always work hard, be fiscally responsible make independent decisions in the best interest of the City of Rochester.