LMC City Speak

Government & Organizations Local

What's LMC City Speak about?

A look at issues important to Minnesota cities.

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LAST EPISODE

I Wish I Could Say I’ve Nev...

12.24.2021

Crystal City Manager Anne Norris recalls how a budget process gone wrong provided a painful lesson on the importance of clear communication. She shares how owning the mistake helped rebuild trust with city officials and the community. Episode Transcript (pdf)

LMC City Speak episodes:

12.24.2021 I Wish I Could Say I’ve Never Made That Mistake Crystal City Manager Anne Norris recalls how a budget process gone wrong provided a painful lesson on the importance of clear communication. She shares how owning the mistake helped rebuild trust with city officials and the community. Episode Transcript (pdf)
12.10.2021 I Wasn’t Engaging the Community Buffalo Mayor Teri Lachermeier shares how a city redevelopment project taught her the importance of getting community input. She also describes her method to ensure people feel their opinion is heard. Episode Transcript (pdf)
11.26.2021 Staying Plugged In Chatfield Clerk Joel Young shares how seeing others become downtrodden and cynical reinforced the importance of maintaining connections and relationships with others in local government. He also reveals the one word that has helped him through some stressful times. Episode ...
11.12.2021 Mistakes Are Just Part of the Job Biwabik Mayor Jim Weikum shares how a mistake he made taught him the importance of doing your homework and anticipating the perspectives of others. He also talks with us about a simple practice that can help elected leaders work successfully ...
10.29.2021 Yeah, That Probably Wasn’t the Best Way to Handle It Melrose City Administrator Colleen Winter talks with us about leadership lessons the pandemic has taught her. She shares how these experiences reinforced the importance of active listening and ensuring people feel heard along the way. Episode Transcript (pdf)
10.15.2021 The Importance of Words Wyoming Mayor Lisa Iverson shares how a ride-along in a squad car gave her a new perspective on decision-making, and how the words she chooses in her city leadership role can help the public understand council action. Episode Transcript (pdf)
10.01.2021 Everyone Needs a Buddy Wadena Police Chief Naomi Plautz talks with us about the big role that mentors played in her leadership journey, and why we all need to have a buddy to support us and help do the hard things together. Episode Transcript ...
09.17.2021 Not Every Idea Is a Good Idea Marshall Mayor Bob Byrnes chats with us about a leadership lesson that taught him the importance of embracing community input, and shares what keeps him going after nearly 30 years of serving his city. Episode transcript (pdf)
09.03.2021 Failing Forward Baudette Clerk-Treasurer Tina Rennemo chats with us about lessons she’s learned in her career. She shares the importance of learning by making mistakes, and explains how focusing on the great things happening in her city helps her stay positive. Episode ...
08.20.2021 Don’t Lose Sight of the Things That Aren’t on Fire Brooklyn Park Fire Chief and President of the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association T. John Cunningham shares stories from his experiences as a public sector leader and some of the valuable lessons he’s learned. Cunningham also shares his advice on ...
07.30.2021 My First Leadership Test and I Didn’t Even Know It This teaser episode for season four of The City Speak features League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director Dave Unmacht. Dave shares a story about a surprise meeting early in his career where he learned that his transition to a new ...
01.15.2021 2021 Legislative Series: Responding to COVID-19 In this episode — one of three in a legislative series — League intergovernmental relations (IGR) representatives Daniel Lightfoot and Ann Lindstrom address federal support for cities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the need for any future aid ...
01.15.2021 2021 Legislative Series: Responding to Economic Challenges In this episode — one of three in a legislative series — you’ll hear about economic issues affecting cities that will likely be discussed in the 2021 legislative session. League Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Director Gary Carlson and Assistant IGR Director ...
01.15.2021 2021 Legislative Series: Addressing Racial Inequities In this episode — one of three in a legislative series — you’ll hear about the League’s new racial equity legislative policy. League Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) Counsel Irene Kao and IGR Representative Craig Johnson explain how the policy was developed, ...
01.08.2021 Two League Interns Talk Race Equity League of Minnesota Cities intern and college senior Laurel Poole takes over the hosting duties in this bonus episode, interviewing fellow intern and classmate Elijah Henderson. Henderson spent the summer focusing on research for the League’s race equity initiatives, including ...
10.30.2020 Focus on the Windshield, Not the Rearview Mirror As we approach the general election and the end of 2020, we check in with Brad Wiersum, president of the League of Minnesota Cities and mayor of Minnetonka. Wiersum shares valuable lessons he’s learned while in office and offers practical ...
10.16.2020 Talking Elections with David Maeda We talk with David Maeda, director of elections for the Minnesota Office of Secretary of State, who gives us the lowdown on all things elections – including safety and security of the voting process, absentee voting and naked ballots, and ...
10.09.2020 Partner Podcast: Center of Everywhere with Dave Unmacht We wanted to share with our listeners this Center of Everywhere podcast episode from our partners at the Center for Rural Policy and Development and featuring our own Dave Unmacht, executive director of the League of Minnesota Cities. Dave discusses ...
10.02.2020 Protecting the Mental Health of First Responders Community first responders are repeatedly exposed to trauma, and that trauma can take its toll. Dan Willis, retired police captain and author of Bulletproof Spirit, talks with us about proactive wellness strategies for first responders. He explains the cultural shift ...
09.18.2020 We’ve Got You Covered Dan Greensweig, administrator of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, shares some interesting takes on how the Trust partners with cities on managing risk and solving problems. Dan explains how preventing claims is just as important as providing coverage ...
09.04.2020 Two Mayors Talk City Budgets It’s that time again — budget season is here, and this year there’s the added twist of factoring in the impacts of a global pandemic. Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson and Bloomington Mayor Tim Busse share the challenges their cities face ...
08.21.2020 Women in City Government As we celebrate the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, we talk with three city leaders about the opportunities, challenges, and impact of women in city government today. Maplewood Assistant ...
08.07.2020 Bridging Social Capital Across Multicultural Communities Mahnomen City Administrator Mitchell Berg shares the results of his doctoral research on tribal and municipal relations. Even if your city doesn’t have the opportunity to work with a tribal nation, his findings on the trust, purposeful engagement, and skills ...
07.24.2020 Everything’s Better with Better Broadband Access to reliable, high-speed internet is vital to the economic success of a community — a big reason why Minnesota has a goal of border-to-border broadband by 2026. But building a broadband infrastructure in a community takes more than technical ...
07.10.2020 Finding Silver Linings: Brainerd’s Reopening Story Brainerd City Administrator Jennifer Bergman and Human Resources Director Kris Schubert share the unique challenges their city faced (including a fire at City Hall) while working to reopen the city during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear how their preparedness plan, a ...
06.26.2020 Jump-Starting Main Street Discover how the City of Watertown created its own economic stimulus package to help Main Street businesses and residents weather the COVID-19 pandemic. Watertown Mayor Steve Washburn shares how partnerships, innovative thinking, and quick work got $96,000 worth of “Chamber ...
06.09.2020 A Conversation With U.S. Representatives Craig and Stauber Hear from two members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation as we talk with Rep. Angie Craig (2nd Congressional District) and Rep. Pete Stauber (8th Congressional District). They share their opinions about direct federal aid to cities responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, ...
04.17.2020 #WeGotThis Series: Mark Ruff In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Minneapolis Interim City Coordinator Mark Ruff, a public finance expert, shares his thoughts on basic actions cities can take now to help weather economic uncertainty, where cities can find opportunity ...
04.13.2020 #WeGotThis Series: Mike Goldstein In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Plymouth Police Chief and Director of Public Safety Mike Goldstein shares how his city’s emergency management planning prepared them for the pandemic (including a stockpile of PPEs), and how creative ...
04.09.2020 #WeGotThis Series: Jenny Max In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Nisswa City Administrator Jenny Max discusses the steps her city has taken to keep things running and the positive relationships they’ve forged with other entities as they work together to ...
04.06.2020 #WeGotThis Series: Tracy Bertram In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, we talk with Becker Mayor Tracy Bertram, whose city dealt with a large fire just prior to the current COVID-19 crisis. Hear how that first incident helped to build the ...
04.03.2020 #WeGotThis Series: Andrea Lauer In this episode of the #WeGotThis Series on pandemic response, Royalton Mayor Andrea Lauer shares the impact the COVID-19 crisis has had on her community and what it’s like to lead a city in times like these. Hear about the ...
03.25.2020 #WeGotThis Series: David Unmacht Minnesota cities are facing the challenge of pandemic response, but working together, #WeGotThis! In this first episode of the #WeGotThis Series, we talk with League of Minnesota Cities Executive Director David Unmacht about how the League has responded during the ...
02.07.2020 2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Irene Kao Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, ...
02.07.2020 2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Daniel Lightfoot Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, ...
02.07.2020 2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Gary Carlson and Anne Finn Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, ...
02.07.2020 2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Anne Finn Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, ...
02.07.2020 2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Gary Carlson Prep for the 2020 legislative session with this episode — one of five in a special series with League of Minnesota Cities Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) staff covering the top issues affecting cities at the Capitol this year. In this episode, ...
01.17.2020 Joys and Challenges of Our First Year in Office How did your first year go as an elected city official, what did you learn, and what advice would you give others? We check in with two elected officials as they wrap up their first year in office. Warren Mayor ...
01.03.2020 Go Big So Minnesotans Can Go Home Housing is a critical infrastructure issue in cities across Minnesota, and it intersects with many other basic needs and services. One of the partners working to solve this complex problem is Minnesota Housing Assistant Commissioner for Policy and Community Development ...
12.20.2019 The Ballet of the Snow Plows We live in a winter wonderland in Minnesota, which is great until you need to drive in it. In this episode, we talk about a crucial city service — snow plowing and clearance — and the policies that cities enact ...
12.06.2019 2020 Census: Why a Complete Count Matters Is your city ready for the 2020 census? Minnesota State Demographer Susan Brower explains why the census is so important and how it’s used at the local level (including the distribution of billions of dollars in funding). Brower also discusses ...
11.22.2019 Mental Health Crises and How Police Respond Across Minnesota, police are responding to an increasing number of calls for those who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. We talk with Crystal Police Chief Stephanie Revering to find out what this means for police departments, the types ...
11.08.2019 Collaboration in Scott County SCALE, the Scott County Association for Leadership & Efficiency, is helping local governments forge innovative ways to collaborate. Learn how this collaboration leads to providing superior service while making the most of limited resources. SCALE members Janet Williams, mayor of ...
10.25.2019 How We Lead Starts with Who We Are What does leadership in race equity look like in other organizations and what does it take to be a leader in this area? In this episode, Damon Shoholm, director of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute and Amherst H. Wilder ...
10.11.2019 Greater Minnesota Cities: We Can Lead in Achieving Race Equity When we talk about race equity in city government, we’re talking about city services, policies, and practices that work for everyone in a community, regardless of their race. Cities — even smaller ones and/or those in Greater Minnesota — have ...
09.27.2019 My Word Is My Bond: Award-Winning Mayor Shares Sage Advice Mayor Jerry Faust’s long career in public service for the City of St. Anthony Village has taught him a lot about how best to govern his city. The recipient of the League of Minnesota Cities 2019 C.C. Ludwig Award, Jerry ...
09.13.2019 Engineering City Success When Steve Bot became St. Michael city administrator in 2012, he was assigned the goal of expanding the number of lanes on I-94 near his community. Winner of the League of Minnesota Cities 2019 James F. Miller Leadership Award, Steve ...
08.16.2019 Do Well by Doing Good: Thoughts on a 40+-Year Career in City Government If you’ve been involved in Minnesota city government in the last several decades, you’ve likely heard of or met Kevin Frazell, director of member services at the League of Minnesota Cities. As Kevin prepares to retire after a 40+-year career, ...
08.02.2019 Your Stories Make a Difference at the Capitol More than 150 city officials are volunteering this summer to help shape the League of Minnesota Cities’ legislative agenda for the next year by participating in the League’s legislative policy committees. Hear first-hand from two of those committee members about ...

Older episodes

LMC City Speak

What's LMC City Speak about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

LMC City Speak episodes:

I Wish I Could Say I’ve Never Made That Mistake

I Wasn’t Engaging the Community

Staying Plugged In

Mistakes Are Just Part of the Job

Yeah, That Probably Wasn’t the Best Way to Handle It

The Importance of Words

Everyone Needs a Buddy

Not Every Idea Is a Good Idea

Failing Forward

Don’t Lose Sight of the Things That Aren’t on Fire

My First Leadership Test and I Didn’t Even Know It

2021 Legislative Series: Responding to COVID-19

2021 Legislative Series: Responding to Economic Challenges

2021 Legislative Series: Addressing Racial Inequities

Two League Interns Talk Race Equity

Focus on the Windshield, Not the Rearview Mirror

Talking Elections with David Maeda

Partner Podcast: Center of Everywhere with Dave Unmacht

Protecting the Mental Health of First Responders

We’ve Got You Covered

Two Mayors Talk City Budgets

Women in City Government

Bridging Social Capital Across Multicultural Communities

Everything’s Better with Better Broadband

Finding Silver Linings: Brainerd’s Reopening Story

Jump-Starting Main Street

A Conversation With U.S. Representatives Craig and Stauber

#WeGotThis Series: Mark Ruff

#WeGotThis Series: Mike Goldstein

#WeGotThis Series: Jenny Max

#WeGotThis Series: Tracy Bertram

#WeGotThis Series: Andrea Lauer

#WeGotThis Series: David Unmacht

2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Irene Kao

2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Daniel Lightfoot

2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Gary Carlson and Anne Finn

2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Anne Finn

2020 Session Preview: Legislative Short Takes with Gary Carlson

Joys and Challenges of Our First Year in Office

Go Big So Minnesotans Can Go Home

The Ballet of the Snow Plows

2020 Census: Why a Complete Count Matters

Mental Health Crises and How Police Respond

Collaboration in Scott County

How We Lead Starts with Who We Are

Greater Minnesota Cities: We Can Lead in Achieving Race Equity

My Word Is My Bond: Award-Winning Mayor Shares Sage Advice

Engineering City Success

Do Well by Doing Good: Thoughts on a 40+-Year Career in City Government

Your Stories Make a Difference at the Capitol