1. Community Conversations What Minnesotans Had to Say Cities, Services and Funding project of the League of Minnesota Cities with support from The Bush Foundation’s InCommons initiative

2. What is the League?  Membership organization  832 of 853 Minnesota cities are members  Provides information and guidance to council members, mayors, and city staff  www.lmc.org www.lmc.org

3. Background  “Cities, Services & Funding” project  Broader thinking, better solutions  Gather ideas and opinions of Minnesotans about the future of cities  Community Conversations  Development of guidance and new policy options for cities and the State

4. Community Conversation sites

5. Who helped make the conversations happen?

6. Community Conversation topics Conversation 4: Considerations & Values Conversation 1: City Services Conversation 2: Service Delivery Conversation 3: Funding

7. City services today

8. Future city services

9. Cuts to services  Participants are reluctant to cut services  Instead, they want cities to do things differently  Volunteers  Partnerships with other cities  Private sector relationships

10. Doing things in new ways

11. Volunteering to provide services

12. Should the state spend money ensuring quality services throughout Minnesota?

13. Should non-residents pay for services?

14. Do you prefer fees or taxes?

15. What do you think about sales taxes?

16. Values to keep in mind

17. What do you think?  General reactions?  Surprises?  Comments?  Questions?

18. Next steps  Get involved!!  Websites to learn more: YOUR CITY WEBSITE!!! www.youtube.com/citiesmatter www.citiesmatter.org www.community-conversations.org www.lmc.org Thank you!