Back in 2011, Northfield was one of 12 cities around the state selected to participate in 4 meetings convened by the League of MN Cities called Community Conversations.  The final report is now out.  The conversations started from the sobering projection that

if cities remain on their current financial path and no policy changes are made, all types of cities in all regions of the state will be broke by 2015.

 

The meetings covered what services cities provide, new ways to provide services, paying for the services and guiding decision makers.  The report doesn’t go nearly as far as Strong Towns does in evaluating how cities have grown and spent money, especially on infrastructure, but it’s a good start and great community engagement.