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Home My WebLink About20110207 - VIII-C-4 City Council Memorandum To: Mayor Hicks & City Councilmembers From: David M. Osberg Date: February 3, 2011 Item: Authorization to Submit Appolication to League of Minnesota Cities to serve as Host City for Community Conversations Council Action Requested: It is recommended that the City Council take action authorizing Staff to submit an application to the League of Minnesota Cities to serve as Host City for Community Conversations, as a part of the League's "Cities, Services and Funding: Broader Thinking, Better Solutions" project. Background Information: The League of Minnesota Cities has undertaken a project entitled: "Cities, Services and Funding: Broader Thinking, Better Solutions", which is intended to engage the public throughout Minnesota in a serious dialogue on the services Minnesotans expect to receive in their communities and how those services should be paid for. One of the key phases of the project is the community conversations phase. I have attached a copy of the actual application and the supporting material prepared by the League of Minnesota Cities. Note in the application material the goals of the program, which include the education and sharing information to the public about City services, the future of City services and the mechanisms to fund those services. It is also important to note that the discussions are not met to focus on any one particular City, but rather all Cities in general. While a host City may have its services referenced, it is intended to serve as a much broader discussion about City services. The City Council is encouraged to review in particular the sections of the handout material that illustrate the format of the community dialogue and the role of the City officials. In particular: "The primary expectation of elected officials in host communities will be to reach out to community leaders and to actively and enthusiasitically promote the events." Staff intends to complete the application material, and reference anticpated participation and/or assistance from the following organizations in the City of Hastings: East Side Improvement Association; Downtown Business Association; Community Ed/Joint Powers; YMCA; Chamber of Commerce; Democracy Project; Hastings Family Service; Regina Medical Center; Beyond the Yellow Ribbon members; Hastings Senior Citizens; "National Night Out" block captains; Hastings Family Service. Should the City Council have other entitities worthy of considering, please let us know. Financial Impact: While there may be some staff time, and perhaps some periodic meetings that may result in the use of City facilities and acquistion of cookies, coffee, etc., most of the expenses will be incurred by the League of Minnesota Cities, covered by a grant through the Bush Foundation. Advisory Commission Discussion: NA Council Committee Discussion: NA Attachments:  a.) Memorandum from LMC outlining the program and application material  b.) Application Ý·¬·»ô Í»®ª·½» ¿²¼ Ú«²¼·²¹æ Þ®±¿¼»® Ì¸·²µ·²¹ô Þ»¬¬»® Í±´«¬·±² ß°°´·½¿¬·±² °®±½» ¬± ·¼»²¬·º§ ¸±¬ ½·¬·» º±® ½±³³«²·¬§ ½±²ª»®¿¬·±² Þ¿½µ¹®±«²¼ Throughthe “Cities, Services &Funding: Broader Thinking, Better Solutions” project, the League of Minnesota Cities is seekingto engage people throughout Minnesota –the general public as well as key influencers of policy and public opinion. The goal is to have aserious, broad-baseddialogue on the services Minnesotans expect to receive in their communities, how those services can best be delivered, and how those services should be paid for. To date, the League’s implementation of Cities, Services andFunding has focused on research and awareness-building phases. The League is now moving into the “community conversations” phase.This phase of the project is being supported by a grant from the Bush Foundation and its InCommons initiative. Î»¯«»¬ º±® ¿°°´·½¿¬·±² The League is seeking applications from cities and community groups (if supported by their cities) to host one of these community dialogues.Successful applicants will provide evidence of a network of community partners to engage the public in a variety of activities and conversations. In other words, cities that are chosen as host communities will be those where there are a variety of groups and organizations in which city or area residents regularly and actively participate.Criteria for selection will include a demonstratedability to partner with other local leaders; enthusiasm for the project; commitment to continuing the conversation; and demographic representation. The League will select 6-10 cities as host sites using an application process.The goal is to hold the community dialogues over the spring and summer of 2011. Cities that are selected will play a critical role in the Cities, Services and Funding initiative. These conversations will inform the next step in the project: policy development. In addition to the pride that a community can take in knowing it is part of this process, the League will publicly recognize through media relations efforts and at the League’s Annual Conference in June 2011, and is offering one complimentary registration for the League’s Annual Conference to host cities. (In addition, there will be four regional conversations where residents from several communities come together. Identifying the sites for those events will also be driven by an application process. More information will be shared once the format of these regional conversations has been finalized.) Cities, Services and Funding: Broader Thinking, Better Solutions Application process to identify host cities for community conversations Page 2 The information provided in this packet is designed to help you complete an application on behalf of your city or community.Please keep in mind that these conversations are designed to be focused on cities overall –not on any one particular city. While some examples of a host city’s services, service delivery approaches, and funding sources may be referenced, the conversation will NOT focus on addressing the host city’s own service-or funding-related challenges. It will, however, provide participants with context that could prove helpful to localized conversations held by the city in the future. Õ»§ ¼»¬¿·´¿¾±«¬ ¬¸» ¿°°´·½¿¬·±² °®±½» Applications to host community conversationsare due by February 11, 2011. Applications should be submitted via e-mail to Rachel Walker, League of Minnesota Cities, at rwalker@lmc.org.Contact Rachel with questions at (651) 281-1236 or (800) 925-1122. Applicants can be city staff or elected officials or leaders from community organization(s). If an application is submitted by a community organization, it must demonstrate that o members of that organization have the city’s support forits application. Applications will be reviewed by a panel comprised of League staffand selections will be made in consultation with a representative from University of Minnesota Extension Service (our facilitation partner) and the Bush Foundation (our financial partner). Applicants that rise to the top may be asked to provide additional information to the o review panel. Host sites will be determinedby March 1, 2011. Ù±¿´ ±º ¬¸» ½±³³«²·¬§ ½±²ª»®¿¬·±² The primary goal of the community conversations phase is to engage thegeneral public (city residents, businesses, non-profits, etc.) in conversation about city services, service delivery, and funding for the purpose of informing better, more sustainable policy solutions for Minnesota’s communities. Additional goals are toeducate and inform the general public about: The city services Minnesotans rely on, including similarities and differences across the state. The future cities faceand what will shape that future. Why it is important for the public to engage in dialogue around the future of city services and how they are paid for. Gather the public’s opinions, ideas, and insights related to what services cities should provide, how they should be delivered, and how they should be paid for. Cities, Services and Funding: Broader Thinking, Better Solutions Application process to identify host cities for community conversations Page 3 Ú±®³¿¬ ±º ¬¸» ½±³³«²·¬§ ¼·¿´±¹«» In each community, four conversations will be held over the course of a week (ideally, over two to three consecutive days).Three of these conversations will be designed to go to where the people are. They will be held in conjunction with work or events that currently draw people in –for example, a lunch-time gathering in the conference room or lunchroom of a local workplace, a dinner gathering at a school following parent-pickup time, and morning donuts in a church basement between services. The plan for these events is as follows: The first conversation will focus on what services cities should provide, and at what service levels. The second conversation will focus on how city services should be delivered. The third conversation will focus on how city services should be paid for. The fourth conversation will be a culminating event in a community venue where those who participated in one or more of the first three sessions and the broader community are invited to gather –a community center, library, or school, for example. This fourth conversation will focus on bringing together the perspectives gathered during the first three conversations and discussing trade-offs. Û¨°»½¬¿¬·±² ±º ½·¬§ »´»½¬»¼ ±ºº·½·¿´ ¿²¼ ½·¬§ ¬¿ºº ·² ¸±¬ ½·¬·» The primary expectation of elected officials in host communities will be to reach out to community leaders and to actively and enthusiastically promote the events. City staff will be expected to: Promote and marketthe events through a variety of vehicles, including the city website, the city newsletter, utility bill inserts, public notices and signage (draft text and materials provided by the League) Work with local partners to promote the events and boost participation Provide LMC staff with ideas and contacts for managing the logistical details (facilities, food, etc.) ÔÓÝ ®±´» ·² ¬¸» ½±³³«²·¬§ ½±²ª»®¿¬·±² League staff will be responsible for the following activities: Reviewing applications and selecting the host cities Working with local partners to promote participation in the events Designing and implementing the four conversation events Booking facilities, hotel accommodations, food and other logistical support Creating handouts and other communication pieces to promote the events