City manager announces new homeless-assistance haircut program; fire-permit and food-truck inspection updates

City Manager reported several community initiatives during the Rochester City Council meeting on Aug. 5. The manager said the fire department received 12 pyrotechnics permit applications for July 4 and approved nine of them. He also said the fire marshal has coordinated with building and licensing staff to add fire inspections as a step in the food-licensing process for mobile food vendors, with the goal of earlier communication and inspections. The manager announced a new initiative led by the welfare department called "Cutting into Homelessness," which will partner with local barbershops and salons to provide interview-ready professional haircuts for residents experiencing homelessness beginning Aug. 15. The manager said details are available in an article in the Rochester Post and that Director Marsh and local partners were quoted in that article. The manager also thanked organizers of a recent downtown bridal event and highlighted community fundraising by Gaia Travel, which raised $28,000 to provide 748 backpacks to students.