Local Government Innovations

This page contains information on innovative developments in Minnesota that occur in local government.

Articles

• Cities save by sharing lots of services() Cities save by sharing lots of services by Frederick Melo. Pioneer Press 4/6/11.
• Edina takes lead in state to find savings in sun(www.startribune.com/local/west/129427248.html) Star Tribune 9/7/2011
  

Citizen Participation

Commissions

• Council on Local Results and Innovation(www.osa.state.mn.us/default.aspx?page=20100916.000) This council: Reports to the Legislature regarding innovation ideas and unfunded mandates; Provides waivers to administrative rules and procedural statutes to local governments and non-profits; Offers grants to local governments for model service redesigns; Conducts policy innovation and research.
• League of Minnesota Cities, Local Government Innovation & Redesign(http://www.lmc.org/page/1/innovationguide.jsp) The Legislature created the Council on Local Results and Innovation in 2010 and charged it with developing 10 performance measures for cities.
• Legislative Coordinating Commission, Commission on Service Innovation(www.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/csi/csi.html) The Commission on Service Innovation was established to "provide the legislature with a strategic plan to reengineer the delivery of state and local government services, including the realignment of service delivery by region and proximity, the use of new technologies, shared facilities, centralized information technologies, and other means of improving efficiency.
• The Council on Local Results and Innovation(www.auditor.state.mn.us/Other/councils/LocalResultsandInnovation/040711/CLRI_ROMFramework.pdf) The Council on Local Results and Innovation Design of a Results Oriented Management (ROM) System Framework for Minnesota Local Governments, 03/2011.
• The Council on Local Results and Innovation 2011 Legislative Report(www.mncounties.org/redesign/statewidegroups/Local%20Results%20and%20Accountability%20Legislative%20Report%202011.pdf) Council on Local Results and Innovation is submitting its recommended “... standard set of approximately ten performance measures for counties and ten performance measures for cities that will aid residents, taxpayers, and state and local elected officials in determining the efficacy of counties and cities in providing services, and measure residents’ opinion of those services.” The recommended model performance measures are attached.

History

Issue/Trend Analysis

National Resources

Partnerships Top

• University of Minnesota, Local Government Innovation(www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/pnlc/lgi.html) The Local Government Innovation Awards program recognized outstanding cities, counties, and schools in Minnesota that demonstrate results in improving local services. The Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota partnered with the Association of MN Counties (AMC), the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), and the MN School Boards Association (MSBA) to conduct the 2010–11 Local Government Innovation Awards. The Public Strategies Group and Ehlers provided financial support for the awards.
• Collaborative Governance Council, Local Government Innovation & Redesign(www.auditor.state.mn.us/Other/councils/CollaborativeGovernance/011311/KiedrowskiPresentation.pdf) Local Government Innovation and Redesign Guide by Jay Kedrowski 1/13/2011.

Performance Management

Programs/Projects/Initiatives Top

• Minnesota Redesign - Governance, Transparency & Flexibility(www.mncounties.org/redesign/) REDESIGN is about finding better ways to provide many services for all Minnesotans through bold local leadership, increased collaboration, improved process efficiencies, and structural changes to the status quo. Redesign document.
• Minnesota Local Government, Navigating the New Normal(www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/pnlc/pdf/LocalGovernmentInnovationandRedesignGuideApril2011Update.pdf) The purpose of this guide is to assist local elected and appointed officials in finding new and better ways to deliver public services.

Reports Top

• Collaborative Governance Council, Local Government Innovation & Redesign(www.auditor.state.mn.us/Other/councils/CollaborativeGovernance/011311/KiedrowskiPresentation.pdf) Local Government Innovation and Redesign Guide by Jay Kedrowski 1/13/2011.
• Growth & Justice, Sustaining innovation and transforming the culture of government(www.growthandjustice.org/Sustaining_innovation_and_transforming_the_culture_of_government.html) Transforming the Culture and Machinery of Government Toward Sustained Improvement. 08/2011. Download report here.
• Minnesota Commission on Service Innovation(www.commissions.leg.state.mn.us/csi/CSI%20Report%2012-15-10%20final.pdf) Strategic Plan & Report to the Legislature.
• Minnesota Local Government Innovation & Redesign Guide (www.hhh.umn.edu/centers/pnlc/pdf/lgirg.pdf) A guide designed to bring clarity and consistency to what local government innovation is, produced from the association of representatives of the Association of MN Counties, the League of Minnesota Cities, and the Minnesota School Boards Association.
• University of Minnesota: Local Government Innovation Guide(www.mcknight.org) Funded in part by McKnight, this comprehensive guide provides an introduction to local government innovation for managers and elected officials in city government. It also serves as a logical framework for innovation and redesign efforts and details real-life examples from cities across the state of Minnesota. February 17,2011.