RCP’s community partner for the 2014-2015 academic year was the City of Rosemount, located in Dakota County. Today Rosemount is a rapidly developing outer-ring suburb located only 15 miles from the Twin Cities, but the city has a long, rich history and retains a small-town atmosphere. Settled by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the early 1850s, Rosemount organized as a township in 1858 and was incorporated as a city in 1974. During World War II, nearly 15% of Rosemount's land area was acquired by the federal government as the site for an ordnance works plant that operated for only a few months before the war ended. Today, that land is owned by the University of Minnesota and is known as UMore Park, the proposed site of a future sustainable community. With a land area of nearly 36 square miles, Rosemount is home to industry, commerce, agriculture, and a rapidly growing residential community.
RCP partnered with Rosemount on 29 projects that engaged 45 courses across 18 departments and 11 colleges at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Duluth campuses, and provided hands-on, applied research opportunities to more than 400 graduate and undergraduate students. University and city personnel celebrated the partnership at an end-of-year event on May 1, 2015. You can view a summary of the partnership and projects, or learn more about individual projects and browse news items about the partnership below.
Housing, Transportation and Land Use
Private Student Housing for DCTC
Goal: Investigate options for private student housing for Dakota County Technical College students.
Project Lead: Eric Zweber, Senior Planner, City of Rosemount
HSG 4461: Housing Development and Management (Dr. Lyn Bruin and Dr. Becky Yust)—Akron Flats: Proposal and Poster | Callan Circle: Proposal and Poster
Non-Motorized Transportation Assessment
Goal: Evaluate the impact of non-motorized transportation plans and investments in Rosemount and recommend strategies to increase biking and walking.
Project Lead: Jason Lindahl, Planner, City of Rosemount
PA 5311: Program Evaluation (Dr. Hanife Cakici and Jodi Sandfort)—Report
Travel Shed Analysis
Goal: Conduct a travel shed analysis of where Rosemount residents and employees work and live that can inform future transit and transportation planning, and provide recommendations for increasing transit use.
Project Lead: Eric Zweber, Senior Planner, City of Rosemount
PA 8202: Networks and Places (Dr. Yingling Fan)—Posters
GEOG 5564: Urban Geographic Information Science and Analysis (Jeff Matson)—Report and Poster
Community Gathering Spaces
Goal: Research the characteristics of place-making in a suburban setting and identify opportunities for place-making through redesign or redevelopment.
Project Lead: Dan Schultz, Parks and Recreation Director, City of Rosemount
LS 5100: Revitalizing Environmental Reform: Re-Imagining the Arts for Public Parks (Dr. Roslye Ultan)—Report
URB 3751: Understanding the Urban Environment (Paula Pentel)—Posters and Presentations
Communications and Public Engagement
Neighborhood Cohesion
Goal: Identify strategies to support healthy neighborhood cohesion among residents, as well as integration of neighborhoods into the larger Rosemount community.
Project Lead: Alan Cox, Communications Coordinator, City of Rosemount
SW 8551: Advanced Community Practice: Assessment, Organizing, and Advocacy (Liz Lightfoot)—New Immigrants Report | Senior Residents Report | Rosemount Woods Report
Homeowner Association Collaboration
Goal: Identify opportunities for collaboration and partnership with homeowners associations to provide public benefit and improved services.
Project Lead: Christine Watson, Public Works Coordinator, City of Rosemount
LAW 7750: Community Practice and Policy Development (Dr. Nancy Cook)—Report
PA 8081: Public/Private Partnerships (Jim Westcott and Kevin Gerdes)—Report, Presentation, and Handout
Resident Preferences and Community Amenity Capital Planning
Goal: Identify strategies for publicizing existing community amenities and engaging residents in future capital improvement planning.
Project Lead: Tom Schuster, Parks Supervisor, City of Rosemount
PA 5145: Civic Participation in Public Affairs (Dr. Kathy Quick)—Report
Cultural Integration
Goal: Inventory, evaluate, and identify gaps in services and programs geared toward new immigrant groups in Rosemount.
Project Lead: Lisa Maurer, Recreation Supervisor, City of Rosemount
PA 5281: Immigrants, Urban Planning, and Policymaking (Dr. Ryan Allen)—Report
SW 8551: Advanced Community Practice: Assessment, Organizing, and Advocacy (Liz Lightfoot)—New Immigrants Report | Senior Residents Report | Rosemount Woods Report
Comprehensive Planning Public Engagement Process
Goal: Develop a proposal for a broadly inclusive public engagement process for Rosemount's upcoming 2040 Comprehensive Plan update.
Project Lead: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director, City of Rosemount
PA 5253: Planning and Participation Processes (Dr. Carissa Schively Slotterback)—Learn, Participate, Lead Proposal and Presentation | MyRosemount Proposal and Presentation | PowerUp 2018 Proposal and Presentation
Youth Wellness
Safe Youth Driving Behavior
Goal: Investigate successful programs and partnerships to reduce teen traffic accident risks.
Project Lead: Chad Rosa, Police Officer, City of Rosemount
YOST 5032: Adolescent and Youth Development for Youthworkers (Dr. Ross VeLure-Roholt)—Report and Poster
Healthy and Safe Youth Behavior
Goal: Conduct a program inventory, evaluation, and gap analysis of mental health services and substance education and prevention programs that serve youth.
Project Lead: Chad Rosa, Police Officer, City of Rosemount
YOST 5032: Adolescent and Youth Development for Youthworkers (Dr. Ross VeLure-Roholt)—Report and Poster
City Administration
Daytime Staffing at Fire Department
Goal: Develop a strategic plan to increase the amount of on-call firefighters available during work week hours.
Project Lead: Rick Schroeder, Fire Chief, City of Rosemount
HRIR 6301: Staffing, Training, and Development (Dr. John Kammeyer-Mueller)—Report
PSY 5707: Personnel Psychology (Dr. Deniz Ones and Dr. John Campbell) and PSY 5708: Organizational Psychology (Dr. Aaron Schmidt)—Report and Poster
Employee Stress and Wellness Programming
Goal: Assess the health and wellness issues that are most prevalent for Rosemount city employees and provide recommendations for a comprehensive wellness program.
Project Lead: Emmy Foster, Assistant City Administrator, City of Rosemount
PSY 3960: Stress & Trauma (Dr. Patricia Frazier)—Presentation
Parks, Open Space, and Recreation
Recreational Programming for Children’s Interaction with Nature
Goal: Assess opportunities for nature-based recreation and play, and recommend improvements to park and recreation systems to provide more nature-based opportunities for children.
Project Lead: Tom Schuster, Parks Supervisor, City of Rosemount
REC 3281: Research and Evaluation in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies (Dr. Tony Brown)—Group 1 Report and Presentation | Group 2 Video
LS 5100: Revitalizing Environmental Reform: Re-Imagining the Arts for Public Parks (Dr. Roslye Ultan)—Report
EnEd 4315: Operations & Management (Dr. Ken Gilbertson) (UM Duluth Campus)—Report and Presentation
Recreational Opportunities for Underserved Populations
Goal: Evaluate how well current recreational offerings meet the needs of underserved populations (people with disabilities, seniors, new immigrants) and recommend improvements to better serve the needs of these groups.
Project Lead: Lacelle Cordes, Recreation Supervisor, City of Rosemount
PA 5281: Immigrants, Urban Planning, and Policymaking (Dr. Ryan Allen)—Immigrant Resident Needs Assessment Report
REC 3281: Research and Evaluation in Recreation, Park, and Leisure Studies (Dr. Tony Brown)—No report available
EnEd 4315: Operations & Management (Dr. Ken Gilbertson) (UM Duluth Campus)—Report and Presentation
Community Gardens
Goal: Assess Rosemount’s existing community gardening program and recommend programmatic changes to improve gardeners’ success, reduce the administrative burden on staff, and balance the use of public spaces for gardening against other recreational uses and needs.
Project Lead: Tom Schuster, Parks Supervisor, City of Rosemount
PA 5311: Program Evaluation (Dr. Hanife Cakici and Jodi Sandfort)—Community Garden Program Evaluation Plan
Mississippi Riverfront Greenway Restoration
Goal: Evaluate existing restoration activities in the Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor and recommend an overall restoration strategy or plan that builds on these efforts and incorporates additional public access opportunities.
Project Lead: Eric Zweber, Senior Planner, City of Rosemount
HORT 5071: Ecological Restoration (Dr. Susan Galatowitsch)—Presentation and Site Restoration Plans
Turf Management and Athletic Stadium Turf Options
Goal: Identify strategies or opportunities to reduce long-term turf and landscaping maintenance costs; analyze the lifecycle costs of using synthetic turf versus natural turf grass on athletic fields.
Project Lead: Jim Koslowski, Public Works Supervisor, City of Rosemount; and Tom Schuster, Parks Supervisor, City of Rosemount
HORT 4061: Turfgrass Management (Dr. Eric Watkins)—Final Report | Student Videos
Invasive Species Management and Environmental Education
Goal: Design an education and outreach approach for Rosemount residents to inform them about invasive species and how to manage them on private property
Project Lead: Tom Schuster, Parks Supervisor, City of Rosemount
EnEd 5325: Sustainability Issues Investigation (Ken Gilbertson, UMD)—Report, Presentation, and Poster
Climate, Energy, and Green Technology
Alternative Sources of Energy
Goal: Assess and make recommendations for the use of solar, wind, and other alternative energy sources to power municipal facilities.
Project Lead: Christine Watson, Public Works Coordinator, City of Rosemount
PA 5242: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (Carissa Schively Slotterback)—Report and Presentation
Climate Adaptation
Goal: Identify potential local impacts of climate change in Rosemount, as well as specific strategies to reduce the community’s vulnerability to these impacts, including an education and outreach campaign.
Project Lead: Jason Lindahl, Planner, City of Rosemount
LAW 7012: Environmental Sustainability: Land Use and Water Policy (Jean Coleman)—Report and Presentation
OLPD 5204: Designing the Adult Education Program (Catherine Twohig)—Report and Poster
PA 5242: Environmental Planning, Policy, and DM (Carissa Schively Slotterback)—Report and Presentation
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study
Goal: Develop a climate action plan that identifies specific strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the community.
Project Lead: Jason Lindahl, Planner, City of Rosemount
SUST 4004: Sustainable Communities (Amir Nadav and Samantha Grover)—Report, Presentation, and Poster
PA 4790/5790: Sustainable Infrastructure and Cities (Anu Ramaswami)—Memo and Presentation
OLPD 5204: Designing the Adult Education Program (Catherine Twohig)—Report and Poster
SUST 4004: Sustainable Cities (Julia Nerbonne)—Report and Presentation
Water Management
Storm Water Management
Goal: Identify opportunities or design strategies for storm water infiltration that balance aesthetics and functionality, reduce long-term maintenance costs, manage winter snow melt, and provide opportunities for other passive uses.
Project Lead: Andy Brotzler, Public Works Director/City Engineer, City of Rosemount
PA 5242: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (Carissa Schively Slotterback)—Report and Presentation
Water Reuse and Conservation
Goal: Investigate the feasibility of reusing storm water or treated effluent for irrigation, industrial applications, or other uses.
Project Lead: Andy Brotzler, Public Works Director/City Engineer, City of Rosemount
PUBH 6132: Air, Water, and Health (Matt Simcik)—Report and Presentation
LAW 7012: Environmental Sustainability: Land Use and Water Policy (Jean Coleman)—Report and Presentation
OLPD 5204: Designing the Adult Education Program (Catherine Twohig)—Report
Economic Development Projects
Asset-Based Community Development
Goal: Identify community assets that can be leveraged for community and economic development purposes.
Project Lead: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director, City of Rosemount
PA 5512: Workforce and Economic Development (Dr. Brent Hales)—Report and Presentation
Analysis of Dakota County Business Clusters
Goal: Analyze existing business clusters in Rosemount and Dakota County, identify opportunities for synergies between existing businesses and clusters, and create a marketing strategy to attract or grow synergistic businesses.
Project Lead: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director, City of Rosemount
PA 5590: Topics in Economic and Community Development (Lee Munnich)—Report and Presentation
Eco-Green Business Park
Goal: Explore opportunities for attracting green businesses and encouraging adoption of green building/manufacturing standards for a future green business park in Rosemount.
Project Lead: Kim Lindquist, Community Development Director, City of Rosemount
MBA 6504: Carlson Consulting Enterprise (Toby Nord)—Report
PA 5242: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (Dr. Carissa Schively Slotterback)—Report and Presentation
PA 5512: Workforce and Economic Development (Dr. Brent Hales)—Report and Presentation
Urban Agriculture
Goal: Explore opportunities to capitalize on the existing local agricultural economy in Rosemount by supporting locally grown food and value-added agribusinesses.
Project Lead: Eric Zweber, Senior Planner, City of Rosemount
SUST 4004: Sustainable Communities (Samantha Grover and Amir Nadav)—Food Producers Final Report and Presentation | Wholesale Food Consumers Final Report and Presentation
PA 5242: Environmental Planning, Policy, and Decision Making (Carissa Schively Slotterback)—Report, Presentation, and Poster
RCP–Rosemount Partnership in the News
- City considers how to make the most of Resilient Communities Project results, Rosemount Town Pages, January 14, 2016
- City notes: Events keep residents engaged, Rosemount Town Pages, July 30, 2015
- U works with Rosemount to tackle urban issues, Minnesota Daily, June 24, 2015
- Rosemount reaps results of U students' research, Star Tribune, June 13, 2015
- University-Rosemount partnership "a gift", Institute on the Environment News, June 9, 2015
- U of M Planning Students Help Advance Resilience in Rosemount (pdf), Planning Minnesota (American Planning Association Minnesota Chapter), May-June 2015
- City notes: Water conservation is a focus for city, Rosemount Town Pages, May 28, 2015
- Handing over the keys: U of M students complete projects for Rosemount, Sun This Week, May 8, 2015
- Sustainability Partnership with University of Minnesota Gives Rosemount a Lot to Work With, Rosemount Town Pages, May 7, 2015
- City Notes: City Working Toward Sustainability, Rosemount Town Pages, April 30, 2015
- Building Citizenship Skills through School, University, and Community Partnerships, American Public Education Foundation—Generation 9/12 Project Blog, April 22, 2015,
- Residents discover Rosemount has a lot to offer, Rosemount Town Pages, April 9, 2015
- City Notes: Rosemount has made progress, Rosemount Town Pages, March 26, 2015
- Mayor Bill Droste's prepared remarks (pdf; RCP mention on pp. 6-7), Rosemount State of the City Address, March 25, 2015
- Input Needed for Resilient Communities project, Rosemount Town Pages, March 14, 2015
- U students work with Rosemount to boost resident involvement, Star Tribune, January 20, 2015
- Kicking off the Rosemount Partnership, RCP Blog Post, October 6, 2014
- City, U of M kick off partnership, Rosemount Town Pages, September 25, 2014
- Rosemount elected officials, city staff and residents to join U of M faculty in launching year-long partnership aimed at educating students and boosting community resilience, UMN News Service, September 18, 2014
- City Notes: Rosemount puts focus on sustainability, Rosemount Town Pages, May 29, 2014
- STAR evaluation continues, Rosemount Town Pages, May 14, 2014
- Everything's Coming Up Rosemount, Eye on Earth (Institute on the Environment), April 11, 2014
- Rosemount Laying the UMore Park Groundwork, Star Tribune, April 8, 2014
- Resilient Communities Project Partners with Rosemount to Advance Community Sustainability (pdf), CURA Reporter, Spring 2014
- U Will Partner with Rosemount for Special Projects, Star Tribune, March 29, 2014
- UMN, Rosemount to partner on sustainability issues, Pioneer Press, March 27, 2014
- Resilient Communities Project Chooses Rosemount as 2014-15 Partner, Rosemount Town Pages, March 26, 2014
- Rosemount selected as 2014–2015 community partner, UMN News Service, March 26, 2014
- Editorial: U of M program could be a good resource, Rosemount Town Pages, February 7, 2013
- City hopes to become 'resilient', Rosemount Town Pages, February 6, 2013