How to Become a Member

The Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization driven by our city officials. The CGMC was organized 30 years ago with the belief that cities working together can be more successful than by working as individuals.

It is with this belief that member cities urge other greater Minnesota cities to join the coalition.

Membership benefits include invitations to CGMC-sponsored forums and conferences, access to media and public relations personnel, and much more including:

Regular communications: in addition to select emails and phone calls regarding specific legislative activity, members receive the CGMC in Brief, an update from our lobbyists at Flaherty & Hood, P.A., emailed weekly during session (less frequently in the interim);

Fiscal Analysis: CGMC city officials receive access to the CGMC property tax model which provides information on the property tax impacts on cities from proposed legislation; and

Policy Positions and Lobbying: members set policy positions for our legislative issues at our November fall conference. Members receive accurate and timely information to use with legislators, the media, and the public.

City officials interested in having their city join the coalition are encouraged to contact CGMC President Tom Kuntz, mayor of Owatonna, at 507.444.4389 or mayor@ci.owatonna.mn.us. You can also send an email to Shelly Walsh at slwalsh@flaherty-hood.com to request some sample materials or to set up a presentation for your council.

The dues are based on population, with larger cities charged at a higher rate than smaller cities (dues are also capped for larger cities). If your city has never been a member of the coalition, it is eligible for the following phase-in:

25% of the regular cost of dues the first year of membership,
50% due the second year,
75% due the third year, and
100% due the fourth year or membership.

If your city has not been a member during the last five years, it is eligible for the following phase-in:

50% of the regular cost of dues the first year of membership,
75% due the second year, and
100% due the third year of membership.