More than 150 city officials are volunteering this summer to help shape the League of Minnesota Cities’ legislative agenda for the next year by participating in the League’s legislative policy committees. Hear first-hand from two of those committee members about their experiences in helping to develop policies that can have a state-wide impact. Spring Lake Park City Administrator Dan Buchholtz and Blaine City Clerk Cathy Sorensen share their stories about policies they helped to craft and the le...
Aug 02, 2019•16 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Just as resident engagement is the “holy grail” of city services, member outreach and engagement is key to the League of Minnesota Cities’ ability to provide the most relevant resources to Minnesota cities. League Executive Director David Unmacht reflects on the past year and how member feedback has helped to spotlight major areas of focus for member services. Host and LMC Education Manager Adriana Temali-Smith talks with Dave about those top priorities, as well as his thoughts on the League’s r...
Jul 19, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Duluth Councilmember Noah Hobbs wanted to get feedback from his constituents in a different way. So, he set a goal to have 100 cups of coffee with residents! Listen in as host Adriana Temali-Smith talks with Councilmember Hobbs about the lessons he learned through this experience. He’ll also offer a few tips to other elected officials who might be interested in embarking on a similar type of resident engagement journey.
Jun 21, 2019•23 min•Season 1Ep. 11
When you flush your toilet or run water down the drain, where does it go? Well, in most cases it ends up at your municipal wastewater treatment facility, where it is cleaned and returned for the public’s use. But what if you could take the byproducts from that wastewater—and add other byproducts like expired beer or brewing residue—and turn it into energy? Tune in as Pat Shea and Tracy Hodel of St. Cloud talk about how they are doing just that with their city’s state-of-the-art, award-winning Nu...
Jun 07, 2019•27 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Gov. Walz and legislative leaders announced the framework of a two-year budget agreement that would require a short special session in the coming week or so. Tune in as LMC lobbyists Gary Carlson and Ann Lindstrom give an update of where things stand 12 hours after the official end of the regular legislative session. Your hosts for this episode are LMC Education Manager Adriana Temali-Smith and LMC Deputy Director Luke Fischer.
May 22, 2019•18 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Young people are the city leaders of the future—but how can we recruit and retain them for city careers? Tune in to this episode to find out what cities have done to encourage young people to get involved with city government. Waconia City Administrator Susan Arntz and former Oakdale and North St. Paul City Manager Craig Waldron, professor at Hamline University, talk about their experiences encouraging the next generation of city leaders. Slayton City Administrator-Clerk-Treasurer Josh Malchow a...
May 10, 2019•29 min•Season 1Ep. 8
A good working relationship between a city’s staff and council will help ensure the success of the city. In this episode, Mayor Rita Albrecht and City Manager Nate Mathews of Bemidji talk about how the roles of elected city officials and city staff can complement one another and help build a collective wisdom. Your host for this episode is LMC Education Manager Adriana Temali-Smith.
Apr 26, 2019•21 min•Season 1Ep. 7
With about a month left in the 2019 legislative session, what kind of outcomes can cities expect? Tune in as LMC lobbyists Gary Carlson and Ann Lindstrom give an update of Capitol happenings and discuss bills that could impact cities. Your hosts for this episode are LMC Education Manager Adriana Temali-Smith and LMC Deputy Director Luke Fischer.
Apr 19, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Join City Speak Host Adriana Temali-Smith, LMC education manager, for a conversation with Clint Gridley, city administrator of Woodbury about how to acclimate new councilmembers and mayors to their roles as elected city officials. Get a copy of the City of Woodbury’s City Council Orientation Menu to see what they are doing by clicking on the PDF icon.
Apr 12, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Everyone can learn to interact more productively, whether you’ve been a mayor or councilmember for two decades or two months. During this episode, LMCIT Collaboration & Mediation Services Manager Pam Whitmore will join hosts Ed Cadman and Phil Trebatoski to share insights on how elected officials can avoid negative responses and proactively work together to model good governance and discourse.
Mar 29, 2019•20 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Whether you are a new councilmember, mayor, or city clerk, managing a city budget is a big responsibility and comes with a lot to learn. In this episode, we hear from Merrill King, finance director for the City of Minnetonka, to discuss tips for successful budget planning and creating a dialogue about city finances with the public, no matter how large or small your city.
Mar 15, 2019•22 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Winning an election is a huge accomplishment. Now, there is much to learn about your new role as a mayor or councilmember. Tune in as League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director David Unmacht and Edina City Councilmember and LMC Board member Kevin Staunton join podcast hosts Phil Trebatoski and Adriana Temali-Smith to offer some tips and guidance. They discuss interpersonal skills, setting expectations, agreeing to disagree, and ways to stay connected to residents once you are elected into loc...
Mar 01, 2019•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Two of the League’s lobbyists, Gary Carlson, Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Director, and Ann Lindstrom, IGR Representative, join podcast hosts Ed Cadman and Phil Trebatoski to discuss what might be around the corner for cities this coming legislative session. They discuss the League’s legislative priorities for cities, a new governor, new House leadership, and other new dynamics at the Capitol. Learn context about the political climate at the Capitol and tips for communicating with new legis...
Feb 06, 2019•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1
