Letter of the Law

May-June 2023

How to Identify and Prevent Theft by Fraudulent Instruction

Trends in Minnesota and nationwide indicate that there are an increasing number of incidents of theft by fraudulent instruction.

Mar-Apr 2023

First Amendment and Regulation of Signs

The First Amendment protects signs as speech; as a result, courts closely review attempts to regulate signs.

Jan-Feb 2023

Avoiding Pitfalls When Rehiring or Retaining Retirees

Rehiring someone who has retired can be a viable option for cities struggling with workforce shortages. There are some serious…

Nov-Dec 2022

How City Land Use Plans Can Be Preempted by State and Federal Laws

The Planning Act provides protections for certain uses, prohibiting cities from discriminating against them through zoning administration.

Sep-Oct 2022

Legal Duties of a City Fire Chief

Operating a fire department without an appointed fire chief can make fulfilling some vital operational duties unfeasible.

Jul-Aug 2022

Avoiding Legal Pitfalls When Recruiting for Diversity

Employers cannot discriminate in their employment selection process, but they can seek to be welcoming of all applicants and take…

May-Jun 2022

When and Why Should Your City Amend Its Zoning Ordinance?

The city’s zoning code is an important document, but it should not and cannot be written in stone. Ordinances may…

Mar-Apr 2022

Preparing Your City for an Emergency

It's important for every city to maintain and review emergency preparedness plans.

Jan-Feb 2022

Employee Compensation Laws Cities Need to Know

When it comes to employee compensation issues like equity and wage discrimination there are just a few primary laws for…

Nov-Dec 2021

Legal Requirements for Remote City Meetings

Remote meetings require cities to follow specific statutory procedures depending on how technology is being used.