2026 Annual Conference Materials

Tour Facilitator: Heidi Mason, wellness coordinator, Rochester

Wellbeing is a priority for staff in the City of Rochester – not just for those who work in public safety. On this mobile tour you will get a chance to see wellbeing in action and experience firsthand some of the support structures in place to ensure staff have resources that promote both mental and physical wellbeing. This tour will include a visit to a fire station, the Development Services & Infrastructure Center/North Police Station employee gym, and a police and fire tactical fitness demonstration. You will also get to hear about the city’s chaplaincy program, learn more about employee wellbeing programs, and see how supporting a healthy workforce helps employees better serve the community.

Materials:

• City of Rochester Wellbeing (pdf)

Tour Facilitators: Ryan Yetzer, assistant city administrator and Taryn Edens, assistant director of economic growth, Rochester

Cities of all sizes struggle with how to meet housing needs for their community. On this mobile tour you will join development services staff from the city of Rochester to see a variety of housing projects including developments that have implemented neighborhood protection standards, zoning updates, office-to-residential property conversions, and single-family homes. You’ll learn how the city has worked with residents and builders to navigate residential zoning changes, along with lessons learned and ideas you can apply in your own community.

Materials:

• Housing Tour One Pager (pdf)

Allyson Brunette, Founder/Owner, Allyson Brunette Consulting

Incivility is rising, public trust is fragile, and traditional engagement methods – whether they be in-person meetings, streamed meetings, or social media comment threads – don’t necessarily reach all residents. When participation relies on the same small group showing up, local governments only hear from a fraction of their community. 

This session introduces the People, Places, Purpose framework as a practical way to power up your community engagement. We want to re-energize participation by meeting residents where they already live, work, and connect.

Materials:

• Powering Up Modern Community Engagement (pdf)
• Participant worksheet (pdf)

Aimee Gourlay, Collaboration Services Manager, League of Minnesota Cities; Jenny Starr, Owner & Mediator, Starr Legal Solutions

Mayors play a valuable role in setting the tone in a city, and can be leaders in supporting conflict resolution. In this engaging workshop you will hear from experienced public-service mediators. You will learn three immediately usable skills to de-escalate conflict in your community:

• Asking questions to understand
• Exploring before solving
• Listening for values

This session also introduces the core stages of mediation, highlights real-world applications in local government, and provides take-home tools you can use with constituents, staff, councils, and community partners.

Materials:

• The Role of Mayors in Managing Conflict in Govt (pdf)
• Balanced Decision Process Prosser (pdf)

Corey Boyer, vice president, investment services, PTMA Financial Solutions; Brandon Swenson, senior portfolio manager, PTMA Financial Solutions

Local officials play a critical role in setting policy and ensuring accountability for public funds. This session explores Minnesota’s public funds investment framework, including a review of the current market environment, common investment strategies, and governance responsibilities. You will gain a clearer understanding of how investment decisions are made, how risks are managed, and how governing bodies can effectively fulfill their oversight role.

Materials:

• Power Up Your City Investments (pdf)

Rich Spiczka, city manager, Bemidji; Susan Arntz, city manager, Mankato

Is your city ready for a natural disaster? Even cities with emergency planning in place can be caught off guard by the type and timing of a crisis. In June 2024, Mankato experienced  extraordinarily heavy rain that caused flooding throughout the region. In June 2025, Bemidji experienced a storm with extreme winds that knocked down trees, took out power and gas lines, and stranded vulnerable people. Hear more about these two unprecedented storms and how the impacted cities reacted.

Materials:

• Natural Disaster Readiness (pdf)

Peter Lindstrom, manager, public sector & community engagement; Clean Energy Resource Team; Griffin Peck, energy and adaptation planner, West Central Initiative; Julie Bruhn, mayor, Vergas

Learn how your city can cut energy costs without upping the budget. This session breaks down how energy assessments can uncover hidden savings, how energy efficiency projects deliver fast paybacks, and how renewable energy can lock in long-term value. We’ll also spotlight  Cities best practices and other free resources that cities are using right now to turn smart energy moves (and grooves) into real financial wins. Come for the bright ideas, leave with the steps you can put into motion.

Materials:

• Electric Slide Into Savings (pdf)
• Fast Track Flyer (pdf)

Steve Simon, Secretary of State, State of Minnesota

Join Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for a conversation on how cities and other government agencies are working to ensure that Minnesota’s midterm elections will be fair, accurate and secure.  Learn how the State is preparing for an accurate and complete count, the role cities play in this, and messaging you can provide to your community regarding the actions being taken to ensure Minnesota provides an equal and just election process. 

Materials

• Ensuring Safe and Fair Elections (pdf)

Kevin Wright, community engagement coordinator, Chaska; Martin Godinez, crime prevention officer, Chaska Police Department; Michelle Leise, public information and engagement officer, Red Wing

Effective community engagement can be a tool for cities to build trust and strong relationships with residents. It is also essential for meaningful public participation. By using inclusive engagement strategies, cities can shape policies and projects that better reflect their community’s needs. This session will showcase how cities have gained public input, engaged with diverse communities, and built trust over time.

Materials

• Community Engagement in Local Government (pdf)

Sara Swenson, vice president of public relations, Goff Public

Misinformation isn’t new, but its speed, reach, and impact on local government has never been greater. If unchecked, it can compromise the safety and well-being of entire communities. As trust in public institutions erodes, cities face growing challenges in correcting false or misleading information about city policies, operations, and more. This session explores practical tools and strategies city staff and elected officials can use to understand and identify misinformation, set the record straight, communicate with credibility, and respond calmly and effectively. Gain a clearer awareness of how accurate, reliable information strengthens trust and supports healthy civic engagement.

Materials

• Setting the Record Straight: How Cities Can Respond to Misinformation (pdf)
• Social Media Response Flowchart (pdf)

Mike Humpal, manager, local government solutions, South Central Service Cooperative; Marlo Peterson, consumer directed benefits consultant, Minnesota Healthcare Consortium; Dan Weir, healthcare consultant, Minnesota Healthcare Consortium

Health care costs for Minnesota cities, employers, and residents are rising significantly. Explore ways your city can use medical spending accounts to attract and retain employees while also leveraging the associated tax saving against ongoing medical cost trends.

Materials

• Employee Retention and Attraction (pdf)

Alyson Fauske, senior project manager II, WSB; Allison Whitsitt, director of emergency management, WSB; Laura Christensen, city administrator, East Gull Lake; Joseph Masiarchin, parks & recreation director, Lakeville

In an era of tightening budgets and unpredictable funding streams, cities face growing challenges in sustaining vital programs and services. While traditional funding may be limited, there is money out there, cities just need to know where to look and how to leverage it. This session explores how to identify, access, and strategically utilize grants and alternative financing to build resilience and drive impact, even in uncertain times.

Materials

• Budgeting in Uncertain Times: Unlocking Grant Opportunities (pdf)

• Grant Readiness Checklist (pdf)

Dan Tienter, senior municipal advisor, Ehlers; Kari Carlson, deputy finance officer, Bloomington

The annual budgeting process should be anything but an annual exercise. It should be a robust and ongoing discussion that allows decision makers to weigh in on both the expense and revenue sides of the ledger. Join us in exploring the fundamentals of budgeting, property taxes as a primary source of revenue for every city, the importance of reserves and restrictions placed upon them, and how that knowledge informs a best practices budgeting architecture that fosters fiscal stability.

Materials

• Budgeting Best Practices and Understanding Reserves (pdf)

Andrew Biggerstaff, attorney, Kennedy & Graven Chartered; Sam Ketchum, attorney, Kennedy & Graven Chartered; Joseph Sathe, attorney, Kennedy & Graven Chartered

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.

Materials

• Dealing with Data Center Development (pdf)

Chad Adams, chief executive officer, Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership ; Rod Hamilton, EDA director, Mountain Lake; Tyler Franzky, City Manager, Dawson

Creating housing in small cities requires a joint effort to secure funding, engage the community, and address any barriers to ensure a thriving and equitable place to live.  Hear from one local partner in southwest Minnesota and a fellow small city on how their initiative supports local development.  You will gain practical next steps that will aide in getting your next housing project across the finish line. 

Materials

• Collaborate to Create Housing in Your Community (pdf)

Brian Simmons, municipal senior project manager, Bolton & Menk; Marc Culver, public works director, Brooklyn Park

Explore how AI and uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are transforming public infrastructure management. Learn about accessible UAV types and how they streamline operations — from routine inspections to complex data collection, as well as some best practices and considerations for using this technology in your city. Real-world applications will be highlighted, including AI’s role in stormwater management, infrastructure inspections, and pipeline assessments.

Materials

• AI in the Sky (pdf)

Panelists: Corree Johnson, sustainability and communications coordinator, St. Peter; Caroline Gregerson, city administrator, Wabasha; Phil Jents, communications director, Cottage Grove
Moderator: Don Reeder, public relations coordinator, League of Minnesota Cities

A picture really does paint a thousand words — especially in local government, where clear communication builds understanding and trust. From photos and videos to graphics and charts, visual storytelling helps cities explain complex topics quickly and connect with residents more effectively. This session offers simple, practical, and low-barrier tips for using visuals as a communications tool, whether you have formal communication training. It’s also ideal for elected officials looking to strengthen their own communications toolbox and better engage their communities.

Materials

• Visual comms panel (pdf)
• Wabasha EMS Week press release
• Wabasha ambulance press release
• Wabasha EMS week 2026
• Wabasha Public Works Week 2026
• Saint Peter PD Football challenge (video)
• Saint Peter PD Santa Christmas Gift Giveaway
• Saint Peter State of the City Vlog 
• Saint Peter June 2026 Utility Flyer
• Saint Peter Newsletter

Panel: Courtney Johnson, mayor, Carver; Justin Miller, city administrator, Lakeville; Lindy Crawford, city manager, White Bear Lake

Moderator: Joyce Hottinger, assistant HR director, League of Minnesota Cities

How are you ensuring that city hall leaders and city council are leading together? Clear roles, open communication, trust and transparency are the foundation of an organizational culture that promotes and grows strong leadership. This panel discussion explores how city hall leaders and city council members can strategically align to reduce role confusion and micromanagement, while strengthening psychological safety, professional development, and a culture of recognition for teamwork, making you an Employer of Choice.

No materials are available for this session.

Soren Mattick, shareholder, Campbell Knutson

Contentious meetings are becoming increasingly more common and causing heated debates over controversial local issues and mismanaged public comment periods. These meetings feel unproductive and discouraging to everyone involved. This session will review some of the common causes of friction and disruption, as well as management techniques you can use to turn down the heat at your next meeting.

Materials:

• Successfully Managing Disruptive Meetings (pdf)

Darin Narlock, associate director of cooperative contracts, Sourcewell; Nick Broyles, city administrator, Brainerd

If you’ve ever asked, “How do we modernize our public safety technology without getting stuck in a year-long procurement process?” or “How do we reduce risk while still moving fast?”, this session is built for you. From computer-aided dispatch and records platforms to turnout gear, fleet and asset tech, and integrated data systems, you’ll learn how cooperative purchasing can remove friction, compress timelines, and give you immediate access to competitively solicited, compliant contracts. Gain real-world insights on evaluating solutions, aligning internal stakeholders, navigating budget considerations, and implementing technology successfully. Come away with a clearer understanding of how cooperative purchasing can accelerate modernization efforts while reducing administrative burden and risk.

Materials:

• From Procurement to Protection – Public Safety Tech for Cities (pdf)

Alex Smith, community and economic development manager, SEH; Allie Vollhaber, community development representative, SEH; Tad Farrell, mayor, Floodwood; Cory Suonvieri, deputy clerk, Floodwood

As public infrastructure needs grow and traditional funding models face increasing constraints, small cities must understand emerging trends and opportunities — from resilient‑driven strategies to leveraging Opportunity Zone 2.0 designations for continued local economic investment. This session provides a clear, forward‑looking view of where infrastructure funding is currently at, where it’s headed, and practical strategies for positioning projects to compete successfully. Explore the rapidly evolving landscape of infrastructure funding and the strategic considerations shaping state, foundation, and federal investment decisions.

Materials:

• Navigating & Securing Modern Infrastructure Funding (pdf)

Panel: Ryan Yetzer, assistant city administrator, Brooke Carlson, director of public experience for strategic infrastructure, Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency; Karen Finneman Killinger, Regional Chair of Facilities & Support Services, Mayo Clinic 

Moderator: Alison Zelms, city administrator, Rochester

Cities deal with construction disruption all the time, including impacts on traffic, businesses, neighborhoods, and public confidence. In Rochester, those challenges are amplified by the scale of Bold Forward Unbound and the geographically constrained downtown where multiple projects are underway simultaneously. Explore how the City of Rochester, Mayo Clinic, and Destination Medical Center came together to establish shared guiding principles that shape coordination, decision-making, and communication during a period of intense construction. Learn how partners are managing impacts to residents and businesses, keeping policy decision-makers informed, and maintaining transparent, consistent communication with the public.  Gain practical insights into cross-sector collaboration, construction coordination, and community engagement strategies that can be applied in cities of all sizes.

Materials:

• Bold Forward Unbound in Rochester (pdf)

Andrew Biggerstaff, attorney, Kennedy & Graven Chartered; Sam Ketchum, attorney, Kennedy & Graven Chartered; Joseph Sathe, attorney, Kennedy & Graven Chartered

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.

Materials:

• Dealing with Data Center Development (pdf)

Jaime Wascalus, director & chief information officer, Saint Paul; Rick Shute, director of emergency management, Saint Paul

When ransomware struck the City of Saint Paul, IT and Emergency Management delivered their greatest value not as parallel functions, but as trusted partners operating together. This session takes a case study exploration of the complex cyber incident experienced by the City of Saint Paul in July 2025. Hear how the city worked across departments to enable a coordinated response, continuity of services, and effective engagement with leadership throughout this incident. The discussion highlights how people and process, supported by technology, drive progress during complex cyber incidents.

Materials:

• Power of Partnership St. Paul Cyber (pdf)

Adam Martin, senior operations manager, Xcel Energy; Brian Hansen, development coordinator, Bloomington

A notable increase in utility damage across numerous cities has stemmed from various excavation activities, including utility work for gas, electric, or fiber installations; roadway projects; landscaping; and private development. The key to addressing these challenges lies in continuous collaboration, effective communication, and the exchange of best practices among all stakeholders. Let’s come together to share insights, innovate solutions, and build a more resilient infrastructure for our communities. Join an engaging and collaborative discussion centered on minimizing utility damage in public rights of way and fostering better coordination between cities and utility partners.

Materials:

• Cities and Utilities Building Resilient Infrastructure (pdf)

Nichole Bjornrud, senior investigator, Office of the State Auditor

The three major categories of occupational fraud according to the ACFE are corruption, asset misappropriation, and financial statement fraud. This session will provide you an overview of recent fraud cases involving Minnesota cities. Attendees will hear the “stories” behind each case, specifically focusing on how each issue was discovered. We will discuss the difference between “red flags” and evidence of fraud and will explore the resources available to cities when questions or concerns come up.

Materials:

• Fraud Schemes and How to Spot Them (pdf)

Kori Land, attorney, LeVander, Gillen and Miller PA; Eric Larson, attorney, Eckberg Lammers

Navigating city government is not easy – there are laws and rules that can feel like a direct barrier to accomplishing what you want, which is to make your community better. In this session, hear from two city attorneys on the important legal areas that might be causing unease or confusion in your city. Dive into the areas of roles and responsibilities, contentious meetings, the First Amendment and social media, fraud, leave laws, understanding how to reply to data requests, and more – with the goal of helping you avoid any legal missteps from the beginning so you can focus on bettering your community.

Materials

• Top 6 Legal Areas to Involve Your City Attorney (pdf)

Laurie Hokkanen, city manager, Chanhassen; Ryan Pinkalla, water resource technician, Chanhassen; Jason Tait, deputy chief of police, Minnetonka; Mike Funk, city manager, Minnetonka

Moderator: McKaia Dykema, staff attorney, League of Minnesota Cities

From public safety to public works, drones are transforming how cities get things done. This session highlights practical and effective ways cities are using drone technology in law enforcement operations, infrastructure inspections, capital projects, and environmental initiatives. Learn how cities are implementing these tools responsibly to improve efficiency and deliver better outcomes for their communities and residents. This session will also explore lessons learned and key considerations for implementing drone technology to enhance operations and services while maintaining public trust.

Materials

• How Cities Are Putting Drones to Work (pdf)
• LMC Information Memo – Drones: Municipal Use and Regulation

Jaime Wascalus, director & chief information officer, Saint Paul; Rick Shute, director of emergency management, Saint Paul

When ransomware struck the City of Saint Paul, IT and Emergency Management delivered their greatest value not as parallel functions, but as trusted partners operating together. This session takes a case study exploration of the complex cyber incident experienced by the City of Saint Paul in July 2025. Hear how the city worked across departments to enable a coordinated response, continuity of services, and effective engagement with leadership throughout this incident. The discussion highlights how people and process, supported by technology, drive progress during complex cyber incidents.

Materials:

• Power of Partnership St. Paul Cyber (pdf)

Ruben Dominguez-Matheis, outreach supervisor, Office of Cannabis Management; Ryan Russel, legislative coordinator, Office of Cannabis Management; Heather Slechta, city clerk, Faribault

This session will cover the latest updates for both cannabis and lower-potency hemp edible licensing, and highlight the important role local governments play in an applicant’s journey to licensure.

No materials are available for this session.

Sara Swenson, vice president of public relations, Goff Public

Misinformation isn’t new, but its speed, reach, and impact on local government has never been greater. If unchecked, it can compromise the safety and well-being of entire communities. As trust in public institutions erodes, cities face growing challenges in correcting false or misleading information about city policies, operations, and more. This session explores practical tools and strategies city staff and elected officials can use to understand and identify misinformation, set the record straight, communicate with credibility, and respond calmly and effectively. Gain a clearer awareness of how accurate, reliable information strengthens trust and supports healthy civic engagement.

Materials

• Setting the Record Straight: How Cities Can Respond to Misinformation (pdf)
• Social Media Response Flowchart (pdf)