How Legislation is Adopted

Council Committees

The Council President, chosen by the nine members for a two-year term, assigns legislation to one of the Council's six standing Committees: Finance; Neighborhood & Business Development; Parks & Public Works; and Public Safety; Recreation & Human Services; or Committee of the Whole.

The primary function of these Committees is to review all proposed legislation and to recommend adoption, consideration or rejection by the entire Council, either as written or with amendments. Call (585) 428-7538 for specific times and dates of individual Committee meetings, or check the City's website at www.cityofrochester.gov for information. 

The six Committees are as follows:  

Finance

  • Mitch Gruber  (Chair)
  • Michael A. Patterson
  • Kimberly Smith
  • Miguel Meléndez, Jr.
  • Mary Lupien 

Neighborhood & Business Development

  • Michael A. Patterson (Chair) 
  • LaShay D. Harris 
  • Kimberly Smith
  • Miguel Meléndez, Jr.
  • Mary Lupien 

Parks & Public Works   

  • Willie J. Lightfoot (Chair) 
  • Mitch Gruber
  • Jose Peo
  • Miguel Meléndez, Jr.
  • Mary Lupien 

  Recreation & Human Services 

  • LaShay D. Harris (Chair) 
  • Willie J. Lightfoot
  • Stanley Martin
  • Miguel Meléndez, Jr.
  • Mary Lupien 

 Committee of the Whole

  • Miguel Meléndez, Jr. (Chair)
  • Mary Lupien 
  • Mitch Gruber
  • Willie J. Lightfoot
  • LaShay D. Harris
  • Stanley Martin
  • Michael A. Patterson
  • Jose Peo
  • Kim Smith

Regular Council Meetings - Your Voice Counts   

The "Speak to Council" session, at which citizens can address Council on any issue, is held on the Thursday before the regular meeting. In order to "Speak to Council" about an issue on a particular Council Meeting agenda, or to suggest an issue for a future Meeting, you must call 428-7538, or you may also email your request to council@cityofrochester.gov prior to 4:30 p.m. of the Speak to Council session. You will need to provide your name, address, telephone number, the organization you are representing (if any), and the topic you plan to speak about.   

City Council, following a calendar created each year, meets on certain Tuesday evenings. The Council Meeting itself begins at 6:30 p.m. Each Committee presents to the entire Council the legislation it has considered along with its recommendations. Council then votes on each individual piece of proposed legislation, including any amendments.  

After Council votes to adopt legislation, it is sent to the Mayor for signature. Enacted legislation is then filed with the City Clerk and printed in the annual "Proceedings of the Council of the City of Rochester".  

All meetings of the Rochester City Council and its Committees are open to the public. They are held in Council Chambers, Room 302A, in City Hall, 30 Church Street, at the corner of North Fitzhugh Street. Assistive devices for the hearing impaired are available.