Three Reasons Why You Should Join an LMC Policy Committee

It’s almost summertime, which means it’s time for city festivals, enjoying Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes, getting out in your community to meet with community members, and …solidifying city priorities by joining a League of Minnesota Cities policy committee! Check out three reasons you should add signing up for a policy committee to your summer bucket list before the first committee meeting on July 22.

1. Be a voice for your city and cities around the state

Joining a policy committee is a great opportunity to advocate for your city’s priorities. For League staff to sufficiently represent all Minnesota cities at the Capitol, we need to hear from you and learn what issues your community members are concerned about. Sign up for a policy committee to assure your residents you gave them a voice during the policy development process.

2. Connect with fellow League members

It’s easy to become siloed when tackling important, ongoing city initiatives and addressing community members’ concerns. Participating in a policy committee will give you the chance to connect with other city officials across Minnesota, build common ground, learn from others’ experiences, and find others who are just as passionate about city policies as you are!

Plus, you can connect with other members in person or over Zoom; the League is happy to provide a hybrid format for each policy committee meeting.

3. Choose from a wide range of policy topics

You don’t have to be a subject matter expert on every topic to join a policy committee. The League’s policy committees offer members a chance to weigh in on a wide variety of issues impacting Minnesota cities.

• Improving Service Delivery Committee: unfunded mandates, environmental mandates, elections, charter law, data privacy, government innovation and cooperation, and public safety.
• Improving Local Economies Committee: growth management, land use, boundary adjustments, housing, transportation, economic development, and telecommunications.
• Human Resources & Data Practices Committee: employment law, labor relations, data practices, Open Meeting Law, personnel, and pensions.
• Improving Fiscal Futures Committee: municipal financial management, property and other taxes, state aid programs, and financial reporting requirements.

Learn more about this opportunity by reading the League’s policy committee FAQs and sign up to advocate for city priorities today.