The League of Minnesota Cities offers a variety of learning and networking opportunities for city elected officials and staff to provide the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to effectively run a city. Virtual workshops & webinars, online courses, and in-person events are offered year-round.

Planning ahead for annual training opportunities? The League offers the following recurring annual programs in addition to topical trainings and webinars. Note that some programs are aimed at specific city roles.

Elected Leaders Institute

  • Audience: Elected officials
  • When: February or early March, Friday-Saturday; registration opens in November
  • Where: 2-3 cities across Minnesota

Each year, the League of Minnesota Cities provides elected city officials the core knowledge they need to succeed and become a city leader who can meet challenges, act as stewards of city resources, and advocate on behalf of residents.

The Elected Leaders Institute is offered in multiple locations each year and has two programs, Foundational and Advanced:

  • The Foundational program is designed for newly elected officials (with two years of experience or less) and provides essential skills and knowledge for city governance. This program has a consistent agenda each year that also includes online learning that is expected to be completed before the in-person event.
  • The Advanced program is designed for elected officials who have the basics of governing a city down and are looking to enhance their leadership skills. The Advanced program changes yearly to focus on topical leadership skills for experienced elected officials (with two or more years or experience) who are mastering teamworking, communication and community impact.

Both Elected Leaders Institute programs are packed with opportunities to network with other city officials, LMC staff, and subject matter experts.

Minnesota City Attorneys Annual Conference

  • Audience: City attorneys
  • When: Early February, Thursday-Friday; registration opens in early December
  • Where: Bloomington

This event is designed for attorneys representing cities and other units of local government. The two-day program consists of expert speakers who provide updates on the latest legal news and key issues city attorneys need to know, and time to build connections with other city attorneys and League staff. The program is also submitted for approval for continuing legal education (CLE) credits each year.

City Day on the Hill

  • Audience: All city officials
  • When: March; registration opens in January
  • Where: St. Paul

City Day on the Hill is your opportunity to help ensure city voices and perspectives are heard at the Capitol. This one-day event includes morning educational sessions that dive into important legislative issues impacting cities, and time in the afternoon to meet with state legislators at the Capitol.

Spring Safety and Loss Control Workshops

  • Audience: All city officials
  • When: Late March through April; registration opens in January
  • Where: 7-8 cities across Minnesota

These one-day workshops offered by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) are packed with sessions and topics that change year over year to provide city staff and elected officials with practical tools, updates, and best practices for managing risk and safety in their cities. Featuring learning tracks for administrative staff (clerks, human resources, administrators/managers), public works and parks & recreation staff, public safety staff, and insurance agents and claims adjusters, this low-cost training has learning opportunities for a wide variety of city staff. In addition, the program is typically approved for continuing education credits for peace officers (POST), insurance agents, claims adjusters, and water & wastewater operators.

Annual Conference

  • Audience: All city officials
  • When: Late June, Wednesday-Friday; registration opens in March
  • Where: Duluth or Rochester

The League of Minnesota Cities’ largest annual event brings more than 500 city officials together for three days of keynote speakers, information-packed educational sessions, and connection. The conference agenda offers a variety of opportunities to network with fellow city officials, League staff, and exhibitors, as well as hear from government and industry leaders. Attendees leave each year with new connections, inspiration, and ideas to bring back to their city.

Minnesota City Attorneys Legislative Update

  • Audience: City attorneys
  • When: Early July; registration opens in May
  • Where: Location varies

This one-day event provides updates on current legislative and judicial actions that impact municipal practice for city attorneys. The program is also submitted for approval for continuing legal education (CLE) credits each year.

Clerks Academy

  • Audience: New city clerks
  • When: September, Thursday-Friday; registration opens in early summer
  • Where: St. Paul or Staples

The Clerks Academy is designed for new city clerks and has a consistent agenda built around 10 core competencies that clerks need for success. The program blends on-demand, online courses with a two-day, in-person cohort in St. Paul or Staples — giving clerks from across Minnesota the opportunity to learn, network, and prepare for challenges in their complex role.

Fall Forums

  • Audience: All city officials
  • When: Late October; registration opens in September
  • Where: Online

Fall Forums is a week of webinars that tackle pressing issues facing Minnesota cities. Speakers at the Fall Forums come from subject matter experts at the State, sector or national level. Topics vary and attendees are welcome to join live or watch the recordings later, making this virtual learning opportunity convenient and accessible for all schedules.

Fall Safety and Loss Control Workshops

  • Audience: Public safety staff
  • When: September, October, or November, workshops vary in length; registration opens in late summer
  • Where: Various locations

Each fall, the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) offers workshops that are generally focused on topics for police and public safety staff. The program is typically approved for continuing education credits for peace officers (POST).