Mayor Evans Appoints Erik Frisch as NBD Commissioner Following Retirement of Dana Miller

ROCHESTER, N.Y.  — Malik D. Evans has appointed Erik Frisch as commissioner of the city’s Department of Neighborhood and Business Development, following the retirement of longtime commissioner Dana Miller, city officials announced Wednesday.

Dana Miller (L) and Erik Frisch

Frisch, who previously served as deputy commissioner of the department, was confirmed by Rochester City Council on Tuesday. Miller retired March 27 after nearly two decades in City Hall leadership roles.

Evans said Frisch’s promotion reflects both his experience and the legacy left by Miller.

“I can’t think of a better testament to Dana Miller’s proud legacy and decades of service than the elevation of Erik Frisch,” Evans said in a statement. “I am excited to have Erik lead the team and continue our work revitalizing our city’s neighborhoods and business corridors.”

Frisch joined the city in 2007 as a transportation specialist in the Department of Environmental Services and later rose to manager of special projects in 2018. He has served as deputy commissioner since 2022, when Evans began his first term.

A trained urban planner, Frisch has emphasized the importance of walkable neighborhoods and mixed-use development in shaping Rochester’s future growth. His work has been tied to several major city initiatives, including the Bicycle Master Plan, the Complete Streets policy, and redevelopment efforts such as the Inner Loop East and North transformation projects, the Roc the Riverway waterfront program and the Bull’s Head revitalization.

As commissioner, Frisch will oversee a department of roughly 170 employees, making it the city’s second-largest non-uniformed department. The agency is responsible for housing development, neighborhood preservation, zoning and permitting, and efforts to expand economic opportunities, particularly in underserved communities.

City officials said the department’s work will continue to focus on strengthening neighborhoods, improving housing quality and affordability, and supporting business development along commercial corridors.

Before joining city government, Frisch worked as a program manager for the Genesee Regional Transportation Council. He holds degrees from Clark University and the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Miller, a lifelong Rochester resident, leaves behind a lengthy record of public service. He served three terms as an at-large City Council member from 2006 to 2018, including a stint as vice president.

After joining the city administration in 2018 as director of business and housing development, Miller was promoted to deputy commissioner in 2019 and later appointed commissioner in 2022.

Known for his focus on neighborhood-based leadership, Miller also spent decades involved in community organizations, including the 19th Ward Community Association and Greater Rochester Fights Back. He previously worked for Xerox Corporation for more than three decades after graduating from Monroe Community College and later earned an MBA from the University of Rochester.

City officials said the transition marks a continuation of the administration’s broader development strategy under Rochester’s long-term comprehensive plan, known as Rochester 2034.