2012 Annual Conference and Marketplace

Connecting, Exploring, Growing, Guiding

City officials from throughout Minnesota gathered in Duluth in June for the League's 2012 Annual Conference and Marketplace. Handouts and related resources from the sessions are posted below, as available and as permitted by the presenters.

View materials from these sessions types:
Opening Keynote Speaker
Concurrent Sessions I
Concurrent Sessions II
Concurrent Sessions III
Concurrent Sessions IV
Closing Luncheon Session
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Opening Keynote Speaker Rebecca Ryan

Rebecca Ryan, founder of Next Generation Consulting (NGC), leads the team that has been called “one of the most reliable sources for leaders who want to attract and retain the next generation of creative workers.” Through their Next Cities initiative, NGC has learned that today's young up-and-comers pick their cities—those with the amenities and “vibe” they value—and then look for jobs. Rebecca's team helps clients design strategies to retain their young, future leaders, and they have helped cities including Nashville, Milwaukee, and Columbus, OH design award-winning workforce strategies. The drawing at the link below is a "graphic recording" of what took place during this session.

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Concurrent Sessions I

Opening Dialogue with Keynote Speaker Rebecca Ryan
Take this opportunity to ask questions of our opening keynote speaker, Rebecca Ryan. As founder of Next Generation Consulting (NGC), Ryan leads the team deemed, "one of the most reliable sources for leaders who want to attract and retain the next generation of creative workers." Now, through their Next Cities initiative, Ryan and her team help communities design strategies to retain their young, future leaders and residents.

  • No handouts are available for this session.

Worrying about How to Build Public Support for Redesign?
Necessity breeds innovation—and nowhere can this idea be applied more in local government right now than in the delivery of city services. How can you rethink your city’s current approach, but still deliver quality services to your constituents? In this session, you will discover collective knowledge that will help your city build community support for implementing new ways to deliver services. The drawing at the first link below is a "graphic recording" of what took place during this session.

What Elected Officials Need to Know About Unions and Labor Relations
Union missteps by your city can have disastrous long-term effects. What types of decisions do you have to negotiate? What rights does management have? What should you do if your employees are thinking of joining a union? Explore these questions, as well as strategies for maintaining effective relations with unions in tough budget times.

Branding Your City to Build Citizen Engagement
How is your city perceived by the public? Branding your city can help the people in your community feel more connected to their city and encourage community engagement. Learn how to develop a city brand on a budget, or how to take what you already have a refine it.

  • No handouts are available for this session.

Infrastructure: Good Management, Good Partnerships
Your city’s “stuff” is getting old—but your resources for maintaining (let alone upgrading) the infrastructure of your city are limited. So what does a city do? Our public sector experts will give you the tips necessary to create solid plans for doable infrastructure projects. Learn how to get the most from your constrained budget through smart planning, financial creativity, and partnering with others.

The Aging Population: Impacts on Cities
Our overall population is aging more quickly than ever before—so how do you make sure your city is prepared for this demographic shift?

Rethinking Infrastructure and Land Use Planning
Times have changed—and so must your city’s approach to land use planning. Explore alternative ways of thinking about planning and development that will renew prosperity in your city.

  • There are no handouts available for this session.

Generational Changes in the City Workforce
With more generations working together now than ever before in history, how does your city respond to create a positive and productive culture for employees of all ages?

Minnesota Design Team: A Resource for Your Community
Community Planning will help ensure the future success of your city, but it may seem daunting—the Minnesota Design Team (MDT) will share how they can be a cost-effective resource for your city.

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Concurrent Sessions II

Tapping Your Assets to Ignite Economic Development
Build your community development toolbox by evaluating other cities’ approaches to economic development. You will identify key issues, consider challenges and how to overcome them, and offer ideas for how various approaches could be replicated by different cities.

City Approaches to Waste Management
What options does your city have for waste management—and which approach is the best for your community? Hear directly from other cities about methods they are using, including the risks and benefits of each option, the results achieved, how to get started, and what to watch out for.

Assessing Your City’s Approach to Democratic Governance
How well is your city engaging the public? Learn about the key building blocks—including official meetings, social media, diversity outreach, neighborhood engagement, and others—and evaluate how well your city is doing in each of these areas. Then, determine the best place for your city to either start or expand its current efforts.

ROI: Preserving and Getting the Most from Your Existing Infrastructure
As city budgets remain tight, getting the most from your existing streets, sewers, water systems, buildings, and other infrastructure becomes more and more crucial. Learn how asset management tools—including GIS (geographic information systems), goal-setting, and wise financial planning—will help you reach your ROI objectives and make sure the community is getting its money’s worth.

City Success Stories

Albert Lea: Using PIT Crews to Drive Improvements in City Operations
Last fall the City of Albert Lea created five Process Improvement Teams—or PIT Crews—to look at internal processes that needed improvement, including how the city handled land use and zoning applications. See how the city used this method to develop a more clear process for reviewing land use proposals.

Waconia: Improving City Services through Performance Measurement
The City of Waconia’s new performance measurement system has resulted in tangible process improvements to reduce costs, create new revenue, and free-up staff time to focus on city priorities. Using outside facilitators, city staff learned how to translate key objectives into strategies that return results. Learn about the city’s program and how your city might implement a similar approach.

311 Mankato: “One Call Does It All”
311 Mankato is a call center for Mankato residents to contact with questions about city services. Learn about the city’s efforts to launch this project to improve customer service by allowing city staff to resolve residents’ inquiries on the first call.

Franklin: Eco-Friendly Alternative for Heating City Buildings
A system designed to use fuel pellets, produced from farm-grown biomass, is now used to heat Franklin’s City Hall, the fire hall, and a city shop building. Learn more about the city’s biomass heating project and find out how your city might use this technology to save on city heating costs and support rural economic development.

Madelia: Tapping Local Resources to Decommission Wastewater Ponds
When faced with a short timeline for decommissioning the city’s wastewater ponds, the City of Madelia opted for an environmentally friendly alternative to the standard process that saved the city money and employed local companies. Find out more about the city’s decommissioning plan and how your city might benefit from this approach.

New Brighton: Consolidating Services to Enhance Public Safety
New Brighton’s consolidated police, fire, and emergency management services has demonstrated numerous results including more efficient operations, a healthier public safety force, and lower crime rates and fire incidents. Hear from the city’s public safety leaders about how this unique approach has benefited the city and the broader community.

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Concurrent Sessions III

Funding City Services in the Future
The way city services have been paid for in the past will no longer sustain communities into the future. So how can you rethink your approach to funding city services? In this session, you will explore one city's new approach, learn about multi-year investments for long-term financial stability, and hear what the League has learned about what the public thinks.

Public-Private Partnerships
Has your city ever considered using private contracts to deliver public services? Hear case studies of Minnesota cities that have turned delivery of public service over to the private sector, learn about the key elements of a successful contract for service delivery, and get tips for managing contracts so you get what you pay for and avoid liability.

Government 2.0: New Strategies for Engaging the Public
In a time of shrinking public resources, how are cities leveraging technology to engage the public in local government decisions? Explore how cities are strengthening democracy and promoting more effective local government by using 2.0 technologies. Identify key questions to ask when considering how to use 2.0 approaches to build public engagement and brainstorm with your city colleagues about how the approaches could be replicated by different types of cities. We’ll share participants’ collective list of key questions to ask when considering Government 2.0 engagement strategies with all conference delegates after the event.

  • No handouts are available for this session.

The Current Economic Development Toolbox
If there is one word on the mind of every public leader, it is jobs. Yet the traditional tools of economic development seem more and more limited. Learn which strategies—including TIF (tax increment financing), public finance, private use, and infrastructure improvements—might still work to help promote economic development in your city.

Running Better Public Meetings
Would you like to learn proven techniques for running more orderly meetings that achieve their purpose? Explore the top five best practices, and hear what works for other cities.

  • No handouts are available for this session.

Avoiding Employment Lawsuits
Discover simple methods for making sure your city can either avoid a lawsuit, or react quickly and appropriately if one is filed.

Supporting Soldiers and Military Families in Your Community
Find out how different Minnesota cities are supporting soldiers and their families, including specific programs and actions to build awareness and create community support networks.

Managing Your City’s Electronic Information
Find out what state law requires when it comes to storing and sharing your city's electronic information, as well as what resources are available to help your city manage electronic records and data.

Using Volunteers
As more cities rely on volunteers to help provide city services, learn about the ins and outs of setting up a volunteer program (including liability and workers' compensation issues.)

Military Leave Law and Employing Veterans: What Your City Needs to Know
More and more returning veterans are working in Minnesota cities—find out what your city needs to know about the trends, benefits, and issues around employing veterans.

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Concurrent Sessions IV

Becoming a Next City
Who will make up the next generation of leadership in your city? Consider questions that will help you understand how to attract and engage young, talented citizens to take advantage of the economic horsepower they bring to the community—as well as ways to harness their energy to ensure the future vitality of your city.

Applying the Redesign Framework and Tools
How does a city take an idea for innovation and make it reality? Using real city examples, collectively explore ways to move redesign and innovation beyond the idea stage. Brainstorm with other city officials about how to transfer innovations from different types of cities. Has your city undertaken innovation and redesign efforts? Please plan to attend this session and share your experiences!

Create a Dynamic Workforce Out of Your Workplace
Is your city looking for a way to attract the next generation of workers—and at the same time engage and motivate your current employees? Explore a contemporary solution that centers on a results-focused work environment, and how your city can create a culture where both morale and productivity increase.

  • No handouts are available for this session.

Community Conversations: The International Falls Experience
Structured as small meetings involving city residents, Community Conversations focus on the services cities provide, how they are delivered and paid for, as well as the values and considerations that drive service preferences. Learn about this model and how it was applied in International Falls, as well as how it might be adapted for use in your own city.

  • No handouts are available for this session.

The Four E’s of Great Governing
Why is making decisions in government often so difficult? Usually, because it requires balancing the competing goals of equity, efficiency, economy, and effectiveness (and sometimes ethics). Learn more about these Four E’s, and how to both tolerate and explore the tradeoffs between them.

Democratic Spaces for Young People
Young people are part of the civic fabric of our communities—learn about structures that can bring them to the table and how the City of Brooklyn Park is rising above boundaries through positive youth engagement.

Ongoing Deliberative Processes on Key Issues and Decisions
Through its “Spirit of Community Initiative,” the City of Delano is collaborating with 50+ civic groups and organizations to involve already active community members in policy discussions and decisions. Learn how the city has successfully partnered with and supported its civic groups to achieve common objectives and deliver quality services and projects in an efficient and effective manner.

Engagement Leadership
Consider strategies that ensure a wide range of your residents serve in leadership roles and get the training they need to be effective leaders.

Encouraging Innovation and Problem-Solving by Citizens
Don't just inform citizens about problems—understand the possibilities for connecting them to city employees for collaboration on key community issues.

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Closing Luncheon Session

Community Voices: What the League Learned from Everyday Citizens About the Future of Our Cities
What do residents think about cities, services, and funding? In 2010 the League launched a multi-part initiative to find out. This effort—Cities, Services & Funding—focuses on how we can shape a new way forward for Minnesota’s cities by prioritizing the services cities provide, rethinking how those services are delivered, and reexamining how we pay for them. This spring the League completed Phase 3 of this initiative—holding 48 community conversations in 12 cities around the state. During these small meetings, we asked city residents about the values and considerations that drive their service preferences. At this year’s closing session, you’ll hear about the results of these meetings, what the League is planning to do based on what we’ve learned, and how cities might adapt this model to hold conversations with their own local residents. The drawing at the last link below is a "graphic recording" of what took place during this session.

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