Coalition of Greater MN Cities

“…bottom line is that this year, lawmakers need to focus on critical investments in our deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure and protecting LGA for our cities, while leaving the sweeping one-size-fits-all mandates behind.” #mnleg greatermncities.org/blog/press-rel…

It's only been a week since #CGMC_LAD26 & we're already feeling nostalgic! Check out our event photo album & recap reel below for more highlights. TY again to everyone who attended! Photo album👇 photos.app.goo.gl/yFeX2kuQPJWoX1…

As is tradition, we capped off #CGMC_LAD26 w/ engaging conversations while enjoying a delicious meal. TY to the wonderful staff at Mancini’s Char House for a fantastic evening!

Thank you to @Senmarkjohnson for speaking to our group! We appreciate the opportunity to hear your perspective on the legislative session. #CGMC_LAD26

CGMC Exec Dir Bradley Peterson shares lobbying tips & tricks so members can level up their Greater MN advocacy this session! #CGMC_LAD26

Will #mnleg pass a bonding bill this session? CGMC Lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel lays out the possible paths forward in a presentation to members

Keeping our members informed means keeping them engaged. CGMC staff provide policy updates so members are armed w/ the information they need for their meetings w/ legislators. #CGMC_LAD26

Thank you @GovTimWalz for speaking at our 2026 Legislative Action Day! We appreciate the time you’ve taken to address our members at our event year after year.

Today’s the day! CGMC President Keri Johnson & Exec Dir Bradley Peterson kicked off #CGMC_LAD26 w/ a warm welcome to attendees.

Make sure you're signed up to join us for #CGMC_LAD26! Registration closes 3/20 @ 5pm. This event focuses exclusively on legislative advocacy by arming members w/ policy knowledge & connecting them w/ their legislators. Don't miss out! Register at bit.ly/CGMC_LAD26

Aging facilities, stricter regulations, & rising construction prices have increased the cost of shoring up water infrastructure. CGMC's Elizabeth Wefel speaks to the challenges local gov'ts face in providing reliable wastewater & drinking water services. minnpost.com/greater-minnes…

"Outside of the metro, factors aside from zoning rules — a shortage of developers and workers, high material costs worsened by tariffs, labor costs and a lack of infrastructure — are bigger factors when it comes to high housing prices, Peterson said." minnesotareformer.com/2026/03/13/hou…

After a year+ worth of research & outreach, CGMC's housing policy report is finally here! This report highlights efforts cities are making to address the housing shortage in their communities while underscoring the challenges they face. Check it out! 👉bit.ly/CGMC_HP26

With everything going on at the state & local level, there's no shortage of work to be done. If you're as fired up as we are, make sure you register to join us for #CGMC_LAD26!

Sadly, this is the reality for many of our Greater MN communities. #mnleg "Things are very expensive... cities & municipalities can only raise their rates so much before it gets unaffordable... state will need to elevate core infrastructure on its spending priority list."

Lost in this discussion are the efforts that cities are already making to review & update their zoning & land use ordinances. Advocates who believe the best solutions will come from St. Paul dismiss cities' efforts to address these issues w/in their own communities. #mnleg

There’s no reason #mnleg shouldn’t be able to pass a bonding bill. Critical city projects, such as wastewater infrastructure, depend on it. “This is not a situation where this is a want,” [New Ulm Mayor] Backer said. “This is a need, a very basic need.” minnpost.com/greater-minnes…

Happy first day of session! #mnleg Are you ready to get to work?

"The attention to those big issues, Peterson said, is not the problem; the coalition is just asking lawmakers to think beyond them." #mnleg inforum.com/news/minnesota…

“The state’s fiscal situation has changed, and so any dollar ask is going to be tough,” [Peterson] said. “But on lead service lines specifically, we think if the legislature is going to spend money on anything, it should be something like this.” #mnleg mprnews.org/story/2026/02/…