Metropolitan Council hears community relations review, action plans and new tools for 2025

The Metropolitan Council received a presentation on Jan. 8 from its community relations staff summarizing 2024 engagement activity and outlining priorities for 2025, including an upcoming State of the Region event on Jan. 30 at Allianz Field and new district-level “investment sheets” intended to show Met Council activity by council district.

The presentation, led by Community Relations Director Sam O’Connell, described work last year to formalize engagement practices, staff training, tribal liaison capacity, and a push to make council data more accessible. “We’re small but we’re mighty,” O’Connell said, describing the team’s recent staffing changes and the addition of a full-time native communities relations coordinator.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said clearer, more usable information and earlier outreach would help local officials, businesses and residents participate in planning for transit and infrastructure projects. The presentation included specific outreach metrics staff said they compiled from 2024: 76 standing committee meetings, 43 advisory committee meetings, visits to almost 100 cities and townships,…