How to save a PDF
If you would like to save the page you’re viewing as a PDF document, here are the steps:
- Click icon with 3 stacked dots
/ or lines to the right of the URL bar at the top of your browser - Select the “Print” option
- A pop up window like this one should appear, ensure the Destination field is set to “Save as PDF” (this may be a dropdown or “Change” button)
- Click “Save,” then select the location and name for the file on your computer
or 
lines to the right of the URL bar at the top of your browser
In order by session
1. What is Brady-Giglio and How it Impacts Cities
2. Post-Puce: Imposing Exactions like Park Dedication Fees with an ‘Essential Nexus’ and ‘Rough Proportionality’
3. Office of Cannabis Management Update
4. Extreme Risk Protection Orders
5. Less-Risky Business: New Construction Manager At Risk Legislation
6. DWIs: Proving Impairment in Court
7. Unresolved Legal Issues for Municipal Cannabis Dispensaries: Banking, Federal Regulations, and Insurance
8. Walking the Tightrope: Strategies for Giving Legal Advice that is Contrary to Community Pressure and Council Wishes (and Keeping your Job in the Process)
9. Hot Topics for Today’s City Prosecutor
10. Sacred Communities and Micro Unit Dwellings — Navigating the New Landscape
11. Land Use 101: A Crash Course in the Best Practices and Nuances in of Zoning Applications
12. Responding to Requests for Adult and Juvenile Data
13. Abatement, Civil Injunctions, and Criminal Prosecution: An Overview and Best Practices for Handling Tricky Code Violations
14. Everything You Need to Know About the First Amendment and Social Media
15 Earned Sick and Safe Time
16. 2024 Minnesota Legislative Preview
17. Facing Forward Series: How Cities Use Reparations
Thursday, Feb. 8
1. What is Brady-Giglio and How it Impacts Cities
Jennifer Cross
Jennifer Cross joined the City of Bloomington’s Legal Department as a prosecuting attorney in 2012 and was promoted to Deputy City Attorney of the Criminal Division in 2023. During her time as a prosecutor, Jennifer has received individual awards from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the Minnesota Lawyer. Jennifer also served as the Project Manager for the Legal Department’s Racial Equity Action Team, which won a Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2022. Jennifer graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School and received her undergraduate degree from St. Olaf College. Jennifer and her husband Nate live in the Twin Cities and recently welcomed a second daughter into their family.
George Henry
George N. Henry is an attorney at the Metropolitan Council where he represents the Metro Transit Police Department, acquires property for transit projects, and assists with other projects as assigned. Prior to joining the Council, he practiced civil litigation at the City of Minneapolis and private practice. He is a 2010 graduate from the University of Minnesota Law School and a 2004 graduate from Macalester College.
Peter Zuniga
Peter Zuniga is the Deputy City Attorney for the City of Bloomington where he leads the civil division for the City Attorney’s Office. Peter provides timely and objective legal advice and solutions to the city’s Human Resources Department, City Clerk’s Office, Fire Department, and Police Department, where he works closely with the Commander of the Core Values Bureau responding to Brady-Giglio requests from prosecutors. Prior to the joining the city, Peter spent eleven and a half years at the State of Minnesota where he was Deputy Chief Counsel at the Minnesota Department of Transportation and most recently, General Counsel at the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.
2. Post-Puce: Imposing Exactions like Park Dedication Fees with an ‘Essential Nexus’ and ‘Rough Proportionality’
John Baker
John Baker is one of the six founding attorneys of Greene Espel, which has grown into a successful litigation boutique, well respected in the Twin Cities legal community—and beyond. He has practiced law in Minnesota since 1988. From his first day, he has represented cities and city officials in state and federal litigation. After making a name for himself as an exceptional brief writer, he became an appellate advocate and trial attorney—and is a leading authority in the areas of First Amendment and land-use law.
He is best known as an advocate, author, and speaker on constitutional law, land-use litigation, appellate practice, telecommunications law, and defamation. He routinely receives and accepts invitations to speak at annual state and national programs on topics related to one of these areas of focus, including many MACA conferences. John has presented oral argument on appeal more than 30 times.
Soren Mattick
Soren M. Mattick is a shareholder with Campbell Knutson and practices in the areas of general municipal, land use, litigation, labor and employment, and real estate. Soren graduated in 1994 from Luther College, majoring in Biology. In 1997 Soren received his law degree from Hamline University Law School. Soren is the attorney for the Cities of Plymouth, Big Lake, Lindstrom, North St. Paul, Orono, and St. Louis Park, and for Stillwater Township. He handles general matters for all of the firm’s municipal clients. Soren has also been retained by several communities to serve as a hearing officer for administrative citations regarding violations of the city code. In addition, Soren has lectured at Government Training Services Seminars on land use issues for planners and city clerks. Soren was an Assistant Rice County Attorney from 1997 to 2000, with primary responsibility for land use, waste management and forfeiture issues.
3. Office of Cannabis Management Update
Katie Knutson, Chief of Staff, Office of Cannabis Management
Katie joined the Office of Cannabis Management in September of 2023, coming most recently from the Department of Public Safety where she was also the Chief of Staff. Katie has also served in a variety of legislative roles at the Departments of Public Safety, Administration, and Human Services. She was also the Government Relations Manager for the City of Saint Paul under Mayor Christopher B. Coleman. Katie lives in Saint Paul with her 3 year old Beagle Winston, loves a good book, and stays active playing volleyball.
Eric Taubel, General Counsel, Office of Cannabis Management
Eric joined the Office of Cannabis Management with experience in legal work at two other state agencies and in private practice. Prior to joining OCM, he served as the general counsel for the Minnesota Department of Education, and previously was an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, where his primary portfolio included health insurance and pharmacy benefits managers.
4. Extreme Risk Protection Orders
William (Bill) Everett
Bill Everett spent the early years of his career as a police officer. Since law school, he has been active in peace officer education and training and defending officers and agencies in civil litigation. Bill has served as an undergraduate and graduate-level college instructor, has trained police audiences across Minnesota and the United States, and is the lead content developer for the League of Minnesota Cities’ PATROL program, which provides Minnesota-specific training to thousands of officers throughout the state.
Friday, Feb. 9
5.Less-Risky Business: New Construction Manager At Risk Legislation
Elisa Hatlevig
Elisa Hatlevig is a partner with Jardine, Logan & O’Brien, P.L.L.P. currently serving as the firm’s managing partner. Elisa is a top-rated attorney helping clients with Construction Litigation, Municipal Liability Defense, Appellate Law and Insurance Coverage.
Her clients appreciate her honest and accurate assessment of their case, as well as the comprehensive analysis of liability she provides. Her commitment to providing exceptional client service is evident in her accessibility, responsiveness and communication style. Elisa has had many successes at the trial court, federal court, and appellate court levels.
Elisa Hatlevig attended University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Jim Strommen
Jim Strommen is a past president of Kennedy & Graven, Chartered. He is currently of counsel to the firm and practiced in the areas of Public Construction, Public Utilities, Joint Powers, and Right-of-way Use.
Jim Strommen is well-regarded in the areas of construction and public utilities law. Since 1990, he has been general counsel to the Suburban Rate Authority, a joint powers organization of metropolitan area cities totaling over one million in population, which intervenes in electric, gas, and telecommunications matters before the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. He also serves as general counsel to the Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. In his litigation practice, he represents cities and school districts in all phases of and delivery systems used in public construction projects.
Mr. Strommen attended the University of Minnesota Law School and has been admitted to state and federal courts, including the Eighth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals. He has drafted or advised on legislation concerning utility franchises and municipal right-of-way authority. Mr. Strommen has been a frequent presenter in his specialty areas for Minnesota city attorneys and public works organizations and has assisted in trial practice classes at the William Mitchell College of Law.
6. DWIs: Proving Impairment in Court
David Bernstein
David Bernstein is the deputy city attorney of the criminal division of the Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office, which prosecutes the largest number of DWIs in the state of Minnesota. David attended the full two-week DRE School and specializes in alcohol and drug-impaired driving as well as traffic fatality prosecutions at the district and appellate courts. He regularly presents trainings to law enforcement, attorneys, and members of the public. David is also the Chair of Minnesota’s DWI Task Force. In that capacity, he has helped draft numerous DWI-related legislative proposals and testified before the Minnesota legislature.
Amy Tripp-Steiner
Amy Tripp-Steiner specializes in alcohol and drug-impaired driving cases, illegal street racing activities, and other complex matters. She attended the full two-week DRE School and has effectively applied that training in the courtroom as well as being a frequent presenter at educational seminars to attorneys and law enforcement around the State of Minnesota and throughout the country. Amy is a member of Minnesota’s DRE Steering Committee, in which she provides legal guidance to the committee members. Amy also specializes in criminal appellate matters including authoring briefs and arguing cases before Minnesota appellate courts. Amy previously worked as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Minnesota litigating implied consent cases.
7.Unresolved Legal Issues for Municipal Cannabis Dispensaries: Banking, Federal Regulations, and Insurance
Mitchel Chargo
With more than three decades of legal experience as both outside counsel and corporate counsel, Mitch Chargo is a business lawyer with a practice focused on commercial real estate, business transactions, and legalized cannabis. Mitch recently served as General Counsel for a Minnesota-based licensed manufacturer of medical cannabis, where he counseled on legal, compliance and regulatory affairs, real estate management, corporate governance, and human resources issues. He currently represents a variety of clients—-tribal entities, growers, and real estate companies—who are seeking to take advantage of opportunities in the Minnesota cannabis and hemp spaces.
8.Walking the Tightrope: Strategies for Giving Legal Advice That is Contrary to Community Pressure and Council Wishes (and Keeping Your Job in the Process)
Michael Couri
Mike Couri is a partner with the law firm of Couri & Ruppe, which represents 15 smaller cities throughout the state and a large number of Townships. Mr. Couri received his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Illinois State University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois. Mr. Couri has been practicing Municipal Law in Minnesota for thirty-three years.
Tom Jacobson
Tom Jacobson is an attorney and shareholder at the Swenson Lervick Law firm in Alexandria, Minnesota, where he serves as the city attorney for the cities of Alexandria, Starbuck, Parkers Prairie, and Henning. Certified as a Labor and Employment Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, Tom also helps employers and employees navigate the sometimes rough and rocky waters of workplace law. Originally from Marshall, Minnesota, Tom earned his undergraduate degrees from the University of North Dakota and his law degree and a master’s degree in mass communications from Drake University. Tom and his wife live in Alexandria and have three adult sons. When he’s not at the office, he can often be found at a CrossFit box, enjoying the outdoors, or traveling.
Charles Ramstad
Charlie Ramstad serves as City Attorney for Detroit Lakes, Callaway, Sebeka and Barnesville Minnesota and is a past president of the Minnesota City Attorney’s Association. The law firm of which he is a principal represents 9 municipalities located in Becker, Clay, Otter Tail and Wadena Counties. He is a Real Property Law Specialist certified by the Minnesota State Bar Association. In addition to 34 years of municipal law, Charlie practices in the areas of real estate, real estate litigation and probate law. In his spare time, he enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, cycling and camping.
9. Hot Topics for Today’s City Prosecutor
Blair Buccicone
Blair has been a prosecutor for 15 years, serving 9 years as a county attorney and 6 years with Coon Rapids. Currently Blair is an assistant Coon Rapids City Attorney that prosecutes offenses from Coon Rapids and Fridley as well as advises on planning matters, firearms, data practices, and general civil issues.
Heather Monnens
Heather Monnens focuses her practice on family law and municipal prosecution, where her exceptional ability to cut through confusion and focus on actionable steps serves her clients best.
Heather acts as City Prosecutor for various cities in Anoka, Ramsey, Washington, and Isanti Counties. Heather’s acute knowledge in municipal and criminal prosecution matters is apparent, as is her well-established relationships with those she frequently works with in various courthouse settings.
Katie Nolting
Katie Nolting is currently the Bemidji City Attorney. Prior to becoming City Attorney, she was an Assistant Bemidji City Attorney for 4 years where she has primarily handled criminal cases and an Assistant Beltrami County Attorney for 12 years, handling adult and juvenile criminal cases, child support, guardianships/conservatorships, probates, civil commitments, and child protection matters.
Katie was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Committee on the Rules of Civil Commitment in 2014, and then the Minnesota Supreme Court Advisory Subcommittee on Criminal Rule 20 in 2016. Katie has presented on numerous occasions on topics of juvenile law, child support, civil commitment, guardianships/conservatorships, civil commitment, and Criminal Rule 20.
Karen Skoyles
Karen Skoyles began law practice in 1986. She concentrates in Criminal Law prosecution. Karen is the City Prosecutor for Detroit Lakes, Frazee, Lake Park, Callaway, Audubon, Sebeka and Menahga.
She formerly served as a Minnesota District Public Defender. She currently serves as the attorney for the Pelican River Watershed District.
10. Sacred Communities and Mirco-Unit Dwellings – Navigating the New Landscape
Therese Skarda
Therese has been with the City Attorneys office for over 20 years. She began her career as a prosecutor and was the Deputy City Attorney in the Criminal Division before changing her focus to civil work. Therese now provides advice to St. Paul’s Department of Safety and Inspections, advising on issues such as homelessness, business licensing, building code inspections and enforcement, property code violations, and rental inspection programs.
Rachel Tierney
Rachel has over 20 years of experience in local government law. She spent most of her career as an Assistant City Attorney and Deputy City Attorney for the City of Saint Paul and moved to Kennedy and Graven in February of 2022. Rachel’s background includes general municipal work, economic development, employment law, data practices, and negotiating and drafting contracts. Rachel is currently the City Attorney for the City of Roseville.
11. Land Use 101: A Crash Course in the Best Practices and Nuances of Zoning Applications
Jason Kuboushek
Jason is a Partner at Iverson Reuvers and has been with the firm since its inception. His practice involves helping clients throughout Minnesota. This includes cities, counties, townships, individuals, and businesses. He has handled numerous trials and appeals involving individual owners, contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals.
Jason enjoys working with companies and entrepreneurs with a broad range of business-related services. Specifically, he advises clients on business law, start-up assistance relating to the formation of an entity, the protection of a trademark or license agreement and assist with buying or selling a business and estate planning.
Prior to law school, Jason worked as an environmental consultant and in the construction industry. This has provided him the knowledge to provide comprehensive assistance in these industries. Jason is also a frequent lecturer on land use and environmental law topics (including the intricacies of environmental review) and is involved in many related organizations. At the present time, he is a member of the Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Defense Lawyers Association, Governmental Liability Committee, and the Defense Research Institute. He also volunteers for Junior Achievement and coaches youth basketball, baseball, and softball. At the end of the day, he enjoys relaxing with his wife and four children.
12. Responding to Requests for Adult and Juvenile Data
Taya Moxley-Goldsmith, JD
Taya Moxley-Goldsmith is the Director of the Data Practices Office at the Minnesota Department of Administration. Ms. Moxley-Goldsmith received a B.A. with Honors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a J.D. from Hamline University School of Law. Prior to joining the Department in 2008, Ms. Moxley-Goldsmith was employed as a Senior Attorney Editor at Thomson-Reuters and a Staff Attorney at the National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse.
13. Abatement, Civil Injunctions, and Criminal Prosecution: An Overview and Best Practices for Handling Tricky Code Violations
Henry Schaeffer, III 
Henry (“Skip”) Schaeffer, is an associate attorney who has prosecuted for Campbell Knutson for over twelve years. He began his career as a criminal defense attorney, including a mix of twelve years of part-time and full-time work for the First Judicial District Public Defender’s Office. Today, he is an exclusive full-time prosecutor with Campbell Knutson, handling countless court trials, jury trials and other contested evidentiary hearings each year, and manages the City’s response to all petitions for expungement of police and prosecution records.
Henry has nearly twenty-five years of experience in the area of criminal law in the State of Minnesota. In his current practice, Henry works closely with the patrol officers and investigators of the cities that he serves and is available 24/7 for consultation by officers and command staff of each department. His position requires the prosecution of a wide range of traffic and criminal cases from pretrial hearings through trial, including DUI’s, domestic assaults, stalking, harassment, thefts, and housing code violations.
Alina Schwartz
Alina is a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law. She is a full-time prosecutor with Campbell Knutson. She handles all aspects of criminal cases – from the charging decision and briefing to the contested hearings and jury trials. Over the years, Alina has handled multiple code violation cases both for the firm’s prosecution and civil clients. Alina is also an appellate specialist, having successfully briefed and argued numerous criminal appeals in the Minnesota Supreme Court and the Minnesota Court of Appeals, including several appeals related to code violations.
Jared Shepherd
Jared Shepherd is an attorney for Campbell Knutson, P.A. Jared serves as the lead city attorney for Burnsville, Elk River, Elk River Municipal Utilities and Shorewood. His municipal practice focuses on litigation and advice on day-to-day municipal operations, including land use planning, zoning, code drafting and enforcement, contracts, and constitutional issues. Jared represents his firm’s clients in affirmative and uninsured litigation and serves as a litigation defense counsel for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Jared and his family enjoy living in the diverse community of Richfield, Minnesota. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to vinyl, attending concerts, frequenting breweries, and nodding off while attempting to read books after 8 p.m.
14. Everything You Need to Know About the First Amendment and Social Media
Jana O’Leary Sullivan
Jana O’Leary Sullivan has worked as an attorney in the litigation department of the League of Minnesota Cities for almost 20 years, currently serving as the assistant litigation supervisor. Jana primarily practices employment law, splitting her time between representing cities in litigation and working on loss control efforts, including consulting with, and presenting to, cities on employment matters.
15. Earned Sick and Safe Time
Susan K. Hansen
Susan Hansen has been an attorney with the law firm of Madden Galanter Hansen, LLP for more than 25 years. She practices exclusively in the representation of employers in labor law and employment law matters and represents a number of counties, cities and other public sector organizations in the State of Minnesota. She represents employers in collective bargaining, contract administration, grievance and interest arbitration hearings, appellate matters, and other administrative hearings. She regularly provides advice on discipline and training to public sector organizations on employment law, labor relations and personnel matters.
Mary D. Tietjen
Mary is shareholder with the law firm of Kennedy & Graven Chartered and has been representing cities for more than 25 years. In addition to her role as general counsel for five metro area cities, Mary’s practice focuses on providing employment and labor advice to clients on a wide variety of matters, including personnel policy reviews, compliance with federal and state requirements (FMLA, ADA, Veteran’s preference, data practices), PERA matters, employee discipline and termination, labor contract interpretation and grievances, and civil service matters.
16. 2024 Minnesota Legislative Preview
Brooke Bordson
Brooke Bordson is an Intergovernmental Relations Representative with the League of Minnesota Cities where she represents the interests of member cities before the state legislature and administrative agencies on topics related to civil law, data practices, and procurement. Before joining the League of Minnesota Cities, Brooke worked in government relations for the Metropolitan Council on transit, wastewater systems, and regional planning issues. Brooke also worked as a Committee Administrator at the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her undergraduate degree is from the College of St. Scholastica, and she earned her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law.
17. Facing Forward Series: How Cities Use Reparations
Tasheik Kerr
Tasheik Kerr is currently the Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Evanston. She earned her master’s in public administration at Northern Illinois University. Prior to her position with the City of Evanston, she worked with the City of Newberry, Florida, while completing her BA degree at the University of Florida. She also interned for Little City Foundation and the Village of Dolton. Upon graduating with her MPA, she worked as a Management Analyst for the City of Ames, Iowa, from 2017 to 2020.
Ms. Kerr now provides analytical and administrative support to the City of Evanston City Manager’s Office. Her current responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of the City’s Reparations program; staffing various boards, commissions, and committees; and leading several special projects within the City Manager’s office.
Nicholas Cummings
Nicholas the founder of Osiris Professional Services, LLC, and the former Corporation Counsel/City Attorney for the City of Evanston, the first person of color to serve in the role. Prior to being appointed to Corporation Counsel, Nicholas served as the Deputy City Attorney, where he advised Evanston’s Reparations Subcommittee regarding the legal hurdles facing restorative justice programs.
Prior to joining the City of Evanston, Nicholas was a Chief Attorney in the Chicago Transit Authority’s Law Department, where he was responsible for complex litigation of personal injury cases and an Assistant States Attorney for Cook County, where he represented the County in a multitude of matters. Nicholas has spent his entire legal career providing advice, counsel and representation to municipal entities on a variety of legal matters.
He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Human-Computer Interaction from DePaul University and his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Nicholas was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, but he has lived in Chicago over 20 years.
Bridget Nason
Bridget Nason is a shareholder at Kennedy & Graven, Chartered where she practices exclusively in the area of municipal law, representing several cities in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.