KARY TILLMANN
CLERK/TREASURER
ZIMMERMAN POPULATION (6,762)

The Zimmerman City Council meets three times each month, with formal business meetings held on the first and third Mondays, and a more informal workshop session on the second Monday. This schedule balances structured decision making with opportunities for open discussion and long-term planning.

Formal meetings are where the Council hears department reports, takes official action on ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and addresses other city matters. The workshop sessions, called Committee of the Whole meetings, provide space for in-depth conversations without the pressure of immediate votes.

Staff participation and support

The city administrator and clerk/treasurer attend every meeting, with other city and contracted staff participating as needed, particularly when agenda items relate to their departments or areas of expertise. Staff involvement ensures that the mayor and Council have access to information needed to make well-informed decisions.

Focus on transparency and preparation

Our current Council has placed a high value on transparency, which is one of the benefits of our schedule. It also improves Council preparedness, and supports greater collaboration among staff, elected officials, and residents. Workshop sessions have become especially valuable for exploring ideas and addressing challenges before they reach the formal agenda.

For the most part, staff and the Council find this schedule effective. However, one ongoing challenge is encouraging consistent public attendance at any of the Council’s meetings.

Zimmerman has followed this meeting structure for over two decades. This format was adopted as the city began to grow and needs became more complex, requiring more time for review and collaboration. Separating discussion from action has allowed the Council to be both efficient and deliberate in its decision-making process. We believe it helps create a more thoughtful process while also building stronger trust in our community.

WENDY ZYLKA
CITY CLERK
LITTLE FALLS (POPULATION 9,095)

The Little Falls City Council consists of eight members: two representatives from each of the city’s three wards, one at-large member, and the mayor. Unlike in many cities, it is the Council president — not the mayor — who presides over meetings.

Schedule and participation

As defined in the city code, regular Council meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of each month and are typically preceded by a special work session one hour earlier.

The city administrator, deputy clerk, police chief, and public works director/city engineer attend all regular and special work session meetings. Additional staff members participate as needed, depending on agenda items. These work sessions provide an important opportunity to review agenda items in detail, ask questions, and request more information, allowing for better informed discussions. Council members also use this time to discuss resident concerns and collaborate with staff, which often sparks new ideas or highlights issues that merit further attention.

Evolution of the work session format

When I began in 1992, the City Council already held special work sessions. At that time, meetings occurred every Monday, with work sessions scheduled about two hours before and sometimes continuing afterward. These sessions covered a wide range of topics, from committee reports to engineering updates and road projects. Over time, and with the adoption of a consent agenda, we streamlined the process into its current form — more focused, but equally effective.

In addition to our regular and special meetings, the City Council holds annual strategic planning and budget work sessions. The strategic planning session is a one-day event. The morning focuses on high-level goals, priorities, and long-term vision through discussions among the Council, city administrator, and city clerk. In the afternoon, department heads join to review upcoming capital requests and provide insight into operational needs.

This structured, collaborative approach has been invaluable in helping the City Council and staff work efficiently together to meet the needs of our community.