Rochester council approves community-based initiatives after split vote on Milwaukee ‘forest’ pilot

Rochester City Council on a May 2025 meeting approved an appropriations measure to fund multiple community-based initiatives but rejected an amendment that would have struck a proposed Milwaukee-style urban forest pilot from the package.

The amendment to remove “section 11” — the item councilmembers described as a pilot to plant a small urban forest on a vacant city lot — failed in a roll call vote, and the overall appropriations measure (introductory number 1-60) then passed as amended in committee.

The contested exchange focused on community input, program timing and legal protections for city-owned lots. Councilmember Mary Lupien moved to send the item back to committee early in the discussion, saying she wanted “a little bit more time to see if we can either, have that be its own introductory or to learn a little bit more about, how the community feels about this.” The motion to return the measure to committee was seconded and discussed but ultimately withdrawn in favor of a written amendment.

Councilmember Michael A. Patterson requested a brief recess so councilmembers could draft an amendment. As Patterson put it on the floor before the recess, “So we will take a brief — we’ll call it less than 5 minutes recess to prepare an amendment, and then we will return.” The body recessed and returned with a written amendment to strike section 11.

Councilmember Bridget Monroe, whose district includes the proposed pilot site, defended the project as neighborhood-driven and described its scale and aims. Monroe said the pilot “can be on as little as 1,000 square feet. The one we’re looking to do will probably be about 2,000 square feet,” and said the project could provide long-term neighborhood benefits: it “would be giving back to this community for could be a whole 100 years.” She also said the plan was intended to be funded from cash capital to defray costs.

Lupien pressed for legally binding assurances that lots improved under the pilot would not be redeveloped: “Do we have assurance that these lots will not be redeveloped for housing? Or any other purpose.” The request for written assurance prompted further discussion about how the city would protect the investment.

Councilmember Patterson and Vice President LaShay Harris argued the appropriations timeline was time-sensitive for summer programs supported by the package. As Harris and Patterson explained, some summer programs require immediate contracting and recruitment; a delay of a month “puts us directly into the summer” and would be “detrimental to our work,” councilmembers said.

Corporation Counsel advised that council rules require any amendments to be in writing before a vote. Councilmember Stanley Martin asked whether the body could split the legislation on the floor or amend out district-specific projects to allow time-sensitive items to proceed; counsel said an amendment in writing would be required but suggested striking particular projects tied to individual districts as a possible approach.

The written amendment to strike section 11 was moved and seconded, but failed on a roll call (Gruber: No; Lupien: Yes; Monroe: No; Patterson: No; Vice President LaShay Harris: No; President Miguel A. Melendez Jr.: No). After the amendment failed, the full appropriation (introductory number 1-60) was adopted by roll call vote as amended in committee (motion carries).

Council discussion also included procedural questions about tabling versus recessing to prepare amendments; Corporation Counsel clarified that tonight’s action was a recess to permit drafting of a written amendment rather than a formal tabling of the item.

Outcome: The amendment to remove the Milwaukee-style forest pilot failed; the appropriation package (intro 1-60) was approved as amended in committee. Councilmembers asked for follow-up documentation about protections for city-owned lots and said they expect additional written assurances or legal language clarifying how the city will protect the investment in site improvements.