2027 Minnesota City Attorneys Annual Conference Agenda

This session will discuss recent cases which apply the Dock v. City of Waconia Minnesota Supreme Court decision in short-term rental licensing scenarios.  It will also discuss other short-term rental cases, non-conforming uses and explore options for cities to regulate short-term rentals.

*Real Property Credit

Presenter: Jason Kuboushek, Iverson Reuvers

Data centers present new and difficult questions for local governments across Minnesota. Attorneys from Kennedy & Graven will provide insight into addressing these questions. Learn more about this type of land use, recent regulatory developments, public policy considerations, legal tools and pitfalls, and practical takeaways.

*Real property credit

Presenters: Andrew Biggerstaff, shareholder, Kennedy & Graven, Chartered; Sam Ketchum, associate, Kennedy & Graven, Chartered; Joe Sathe, associate, Kennedy & Graven, Chartered

We will explore the ethical, legal, and practical challenges Minnesota municipal attorneys face as artificial intelligence becomes part of everyday government work. The session will examine confidentiality, accuracy, disclosure, billing, public records, and professional responsibility. 

*Ethics credit

Presenter: Frederic W. Knaak, attorney, North Star Law Group/HKB Law PA 

*This session is concurrent with breakfast

Law enforcement surveillance technology has provided support to law enforcement agencies and created challenges for law enforcement agencies. Minnesota statutes place restrictions on use of said technologies but legal compliance alone may not achieve the outcomes cities desire in protecting data collected by the technology. Cities have options through policy and practices to balance benefits and concerns associated with Automated License Plate Readers, Portable Recording Systems, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, and other law enforcement technology. This session will provide real life examples from Minnesota cities.

Presenter: Christina Benson, attorney, Eckberg Lammers

Breakout session 1: Criminal Topic

Restorative Court: A Comparative Perspective
Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park host Restorative Court for gross misdemeanor and misdemeanor adult court offenses, which both seek to address underlying causes of criminal behavior.  Learn about two different approaches to alternative prosecution models which both strive to leave offenders and their communities better off. 

Presenters: Megan Griffin, senior assistant attorney, City of Minneapolis; Amanda Grossman, city prosecutor, City of Brooklyn Park; Jennifer Cross (moderator). deputy city attorney, City of Bloomington

Breakout session 2: Civil Topic

State of Faith: Beyond the Theoretical for Local Government*
A primer on the intersection of religion and local government from a practitioners’ point of view, including current hot topics and an emphasis on land use concerns under RLUIPA and the First Amendment.

Presenters: Petra Asani, attorney, Campbell Knutson, P.A., Jared Shepherd, shareholder, Campbell Knutson, P.A.

*Real Property Credit

Breakout session 3: Civil Topic

Data Requests in a Changing Landscape: Clean Slate Laws, AI, and Other Emerging Trends
As law and technology evolve, new challenges arise for cities when handling data requests. This session will explore emerging issues, such as how cities are navigating AI-generated requests and requests affected by the Clean Slate Act, and examine how these issues are changing cities’ approach to data retention and response to data requests.

Presenters: Christina Benson, attorney, Eckberg Lammers, Josie Rosene, staff attorney, League of Minnesota Cities

Breakout session 1: Criminal Topic

Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO): Practice Considerations from Rochester and Bloomington
Join us for a panel discussion highlighting ERPO implementation and success stories from the Cities of Rochester and Bloomington. Our panel brings together professionals who engage with ERPOs at various stages of the process, united by a shared commitment to providing meaningful community protection from real threats. Members of this experienced team have delivered presentations to others in the system and offer technical support to other jurisdictions statewide. Effective ERPO execution requires significant technical expertise and broad provider awareness. Our panel will share practical insights to support successful implementation.

Presenters: Sarah Clayton, J.D., administrative services manager & ERPO coordinator, Rochester Police Department; Samantha Hoyt, ERPO coordinator, Minnesota Department of Public Safety; Peter Zuniga, deputy city attorney, City of Bloomington

Breakout session 2: Civil Topic

Please Make it Go Away*
How to remove hazardous buildings, hazardous conditions, and junk using Minn. Stat. 463, 429 or an abatement process. You will hear real life examples, horror stories, and success stories and learn how to choose the right tool for addressing each type of neighborhood problem.

*Real Property Credit

Presenter: Kori Land, shareholder, LeVander, Gillen & Miller, P.A.\

Breakout session 3: Civil Topic

Federal Reforms to Grants Regulation: What Municipal Attorneys Should Know
This session will focus on the Office of Management and Budget’s (currently proposed) changes to the Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. Part 200) and their potential operational impacts on municipalities as grant recipients.

Presenter: Jocelyn Bremer, senior assistant city attorney, City of Minneapolis

Breakout session 1: Criminal topic

The Blair and Katie Show – Featuring Hot Topics in Criminal Law
Come join the fun of all the hot topics in criminal law!  From the new domestic assault and victim statutes to Brady-Giglio, this is your one stop to get all the criminal law updates that effect city prosecutors.  You will also get a preview of any bills currently in working its way through the legislature that prosecutors should know about.

Presenters: Blair Buccicone, assistant city attorney, City of Coon Rapids; Katie Nolting, city attorney, City of Bemidji

Breakout session 2: Civil Topic

Methods and Lessons Learned from Three Projects
Does your city have an upcoming capital improvement project?  Bloomington has three concurrent projects that each used a different construction delivery method.  This presentation will cover the various construction delivery methods available to Minnesota municipalities, the advantages and disadvantages of each, and when to use one method over another.  Contract documents, the use of sales tax exemption for materials, and lessons learned from the three projects will also be discussed.

Presenter: Kevin Toskey, assistant city attorney, City of Bloomington

Breakout session 3: Civil Topic

Contractually Speaking: The Basics Every City Attorney Should Know
Contracts are everywhere in municipal practice and even the smallest provision can have significant legal, financial, and risk management implications for a city. This session will focus on practical issues to introduce newer city attorneys to the fundamentals of drafting and reviewing municipal contracts. We’ll examine insurance requirements, indemnification, limitations on liability, contractual pitfalls, and explore strategies for protecting the city’s interests. Whether you’re reviewing your first agreement or negotiating a complex construction contract, you’ll leave with practical tools and greater confidence to spot potential problems, ask the right questions, and turn contract review into an effective risk management tool for your city.

Presenters: Lexi Kinach, staff attorney, League of Minnesota Cities; Christopher Smith, assistant general counsel, League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust Programs

A complaint is only the beginning. How a city responds can determine whether a workplace issue is resolved—or becomes a lawsuit. This session examines how cities can respond effectively to workplace complaints, select the right investigator, address conflicts of interest, and handle sensitive information. This session will also walk through the lifecycle of an employment investigation, from initial intake and planning to interviews, credibility assessments, findings, and follow-up action.

Presenter: Cally Kjellberg-Nelson, attorney, Resolute Law, LLC

Gain a better understanding of the pros and cons of the various options for public bodies to conduct public hearings on planning applications, brush up on how courts review city’s decisions, hear some cautionary tales, and pick up some helpful tips to help set your City Council up for success in this area.

*Real Property Credit

Presenter: Kate Swenson, partner, Greene Espel

A practical look at recognizing concerning behavior, assessing and managing potential threats, and knowing when and how to engage law enforcement and behavioral threat assessment resources.

Presenter: Michelle Franscone, special agent in charge, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension