Dan Greensweig, administrator of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, shares some interesting takes on how the Trust partners with cities on managing risk and solving problems. Dan explains how preventing claims is just as important as providing coverage protection, and talks about Trust efforts to help cities deal with some of the bigger challenges and issues they are facing these days. Episode Transcript (pdf)...
It’s that time again — budget season is here, and this year there’s the added twist of factoring in the impacts of a global pandemic. Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson and Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse share the challenges their cities face as they make difficult decisions on spending and city services. Hear about the importance of transparency and educating others on the budgeting process, and how tenacity and creative approaches are helping these mayors tackle complex budget issues this year. Episod...
As we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, we talk with three city leaders about the opportunities, challenges, and impact of women in city government today. Maplewood Assistant City Manager Michael Sable, Sartell City Administrator Anna Gruber, and Richfield Mayor Maria Regan Gonzalez share their experiences and insights on the importance of listening to understand, making space for others, and mentoring to encourage the ne...
Mahnomen City Administrator Mitchell Berg shares the results of his doctoral research on tribal and municipal relations. Even if your city doesn’t have the opportunity to work with a tribal nation, his findings on the trust, purposeful engagement, and skills needed to build intergovernmental collaborations can be applied to strengthen relationships with partners of any background. Episode Transcript (pdf)...
Access to reliable, high-speed internet is vital to the economic success of a community — a big reason why Minnesota has a goal of border-to-border broadband by 2026. But building a broadband infrastructure in a community takes more than technical know-how. Blandin Foundation’s Bernadine Joselyn, director of public policy & engagement, and Bill Coleman, community broadband coach, talk about how technology is just a small piece of the broadband puzzle and how hope, tenacity (gird your loins!)...
Brainerd City Administrator Jennifer Bergman and Human Resources Director Kris Schubert share the unique challenges their city faced (including a fire at City Hall) while working to reopen the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear how their preparedness plan, a priority on safety, pride in their city, and ability to find the positives during a crisis helped them get their City Hall up and running again. Episode Transcript (pdf)...
Discover how the City of Watertown created its own economic stimulus package to help Main Street businesses and residents weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Watertown Mayor Steve Washburn shares how partnerships, innovative thinking, and quick work got $96,000 worth of “Chamber Checks” into residents’ hands to help boost the local economy and morale in the community. Episode Transcript (pdf)
Hear from two members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation as we talk with Rep. Angie Craig (2nd Congressional District) and Rep. Pete Stauber (8th Congressional District). They share their opinions about direct federal aid to cities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the role of federal government should be as we look toward meaningful change to address the racial injustices in our country.
In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Minneapolis Interim City Coordinator Mark Ruff, a public finance expert, shares his thoughts on basic actions cities can take now to help weather economic uncertainty, where cities can find opportunity in a down market, and what financial changes will most impact cities. He also offers advice for communicating with the public about city finances (be honest, be direct, be bold), and reminds us that cities are forever — we have lived t...
In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Plymouth Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Mike Goldstein shares how his city’s emergency management planning prepared them for the pandemic (including a stockpile of PPEs), and how creative scheduling and staffing plans help to ensure the safety of their officers. He also discusses the challenge of providing the level of service they take pride in while shifting away from direct interactions, and the encouragement he gets d...
In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Nisswa City Administrator Jenny Max discusses the steps her city has taken to keep things running and the positive relationships they’ve forged with other entities as they work together to do what’s right and keep everyone safe. She also shares her concerns for the local tourism economy and the challenges of moving everyone forward as a team. Get more information and resources regarding COVID-19 from the League at www.lmc.org/covid19...
In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, we talk with Becker Mayor Tracy Bertram, whose city dealt with a large fire just prior to the current COVID-19 crisis. Hear how that first incident helped to build the leadership team and trust that are so crucial today. She also shares how she makes decisions (including the toughest decision she’s made so far), what lessons the city has learned, and how impressed she is with the positivity of the people in her community and their wi...
In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Royalton Mayor Andrea Lauer shares the impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on her community and what it’s like to lead a city in times like these. Hear about the challenges of using technology for meetings (sound familiar?), her concerns about the safety of city staff and the survival of local businesses, and how the actions of the wonderful people in her city bring her hope and assurance that they’ll get through this together. Get mo...
Minnesota cities are facing the challenge of pandemic response, but working together, #WeGotThis! In this first episode of the #WeGotThis Series, we talk with League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director David Unmacht about how the League has responded during the COVID-19 pandemic. He shares advice he has for city leaders (be human!), what he has learned, what has surprised him, and what gives him hope during these rapidly changing times. Get more information and resources regarding COVID-19 fr...
Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, IGR Director Gary Carlson and Assistant Director Anne Finn share updates on elections and data collection; paid family leave and earned sick time for employees; massage therapist licensure and background checks; how the state biennium works; and the regu...
Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, IGR Representative Daniel Lightfoot discusses resources and tools for affordable and workforce housing; city authority for land use planning, zoning, and assessing fees associated with residential development; and funding for reliable broadband access an...
Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, IGR Director Gary Carlson shares what’s on his radar for this session, including the process to impose a local sales tax; streamlining of the sales tax exemption for public project construction materials; local government aid; employer aid restoration fo...
Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, IGR Counsel Irene Kao dives into the topics of street improvement fees and the need for legislation that supports residential development while protecting the interests of current taxpayers. She also provides an update on the League’s #BuildItRight campa...
Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, IGR Assistant Director Anne Finn explains the process around the bonding bill — which will include projects like transportation and water infrastructure — and also provides a preview on city street funding issues. Check out the other episodes in this leg...
How did your first year go as an elected city official, what did you learn, and what advice would you give others? We check in with two elected officials as they wrap up their first year in office. Warren Mayor Mara Hanel and Oak Park Heights Councilmember Carly Johnson share what they found rewarding, challenging, and surprising this past year, and offer advice to the newbies out there as they start on their new adventure in public service.
Housing is a critical infrastructure issue in cities across Minnesota, and it intersects with many other basic needs and services. One of the partners working to solve this complex problem is Minnesota Housing Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Community Development Ryan Baumtrog. His agency’s goal is for everyone in Minnesota to have a safe, affordable home in the community of their choice, and he discusses the programs and tools his agency offers to cities to help achieve that goal. (Read a...
We live in a winter wonderland in Minnesota, which is great until you need to drive in it. In this episode, we talk about a crucial city service — snow plowing and clearance — and the policies that cities enact to keep us safe on the roads. Hear from two cities that are taking a leading approach to snow maintenance: Shoreview’s Public Works Director Mark Maloney; and Duluth’s Chief Administrative Officer Noah Schuchman, and Director of Public Works and Utilities Jim Benning. They share how envir...
Is your city ready for the 2020 census? Minnesota State Demographer Susan Brower explains why the census is so important and how it’s used at the local level (including the distribution of billions of dollars in funding). Brower also discusses ways your city can promote the census, especially to those who may feel uneasy about participating. More information, tools, and resources about the 2020 census are available at www.mn.gov/2020census .
Across Minnesota, police are responding to an increasing number of calls for those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. We talk with Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering to find out what this means for police departments, the types of training needed to respond appropriately, the importance of partnerships across agencies, and how city officials can understand and support this work.
SCALE, the Scott County Association for Leadership & Efficiency, is helping local governments forge innovative ways to collaborate. Learn how this collaboration leads to providing superior service while making the most of limited resources. SCALE members Janet Williams, mayor of Savage, and Jon Ulrich, Scott County commissioner, share their thoughts on the benefits of multi-jurisdictional cooperation. They’ll discuss the successes they’ve seen and how SCALE can serve as a model to help build...
What does leadership in race equity look like in other organizations and what does it take to be a leader in this area? In this episode, Damon Shoholm, director of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute and Amherst H. Wilder Foundation takes a broad look at race equity and what this work means for leaders across many sectors in Minnesota. Damon shares his thoughts on the importance of examining your beliefs and why you hold them. He also discusses the need to make changes to the systems and s...
When we talk about race equity in city government, we’re talking about city services, policies, and practices that work for everyone in a community, regardless of their race. Cities — even smaller ones and/or those in Greater Minnesota — have an opportunity to lead in this work. Hear Gordon Goodwin, Midwest region project manager with the Government Alliance on Race and Equity, discuss his recent work with a cohort of Minnesota cities. The group has worked on using race equity analysis to begin ...
Mayor Jerry Faust’s long career in public service for the City of St. Anthony Village has taught him a lot about how best to govern his city. The recipient of the League of Minnesota Cities 2019 C.C. Ludwig Award, Jerry talks about some of the challenges he’s faced and how integrity, strategic goals, and willingness to listen are key to successfully serving as an elected city official. (Check out St. Anthony Village’s Strategic Plans , and read more about Jerry Faust in the League’s Minnesota Ci...
When Steve Bot became St. Michael city administrator in 2012, he was assigned the goal of expanding the number of lanes on I-94 near his community. Winner of the League of Minnesota Cities 2019 James F. Miller Leadership Award, Steve shares how collaboration with city staff, elected officials, and key partners helped to make what seemed like an impossible goal a reality. Hear how this city leader approaches major challenges by focusing on the “what” and not the “how” to keep projects moving forw...
If you’ve been involved in Minnesota city government in the last several decades, you’ve likely heard of or met Kevin Frazell, director of member services at the League of Minnesota Cities. As Kevin prepares to retire after a 40+-year career, he reflects on his experiences working with city officials and offers his thoughts on the leadership skills that can help elected officials succeed.
