Agenda - Council Work Session - 03/09/2010

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I. Introduction Whether organized under state statutes or a home rule charter, the city council has to make important decisions regazding how it distributes responsibilities to a variety of offices. The challenge in structuring any govenunent is achieving the appropriate balance between the elected leadership, who represent the voters, and professional management. This memo discusses the similarities and differences between the city clerk, city administrator, and city manager positions. In addition, it outlines the duties and responsibilities of each position and describes the different forms of government under which these positions exist. Types of cities Minn. Stat. gin. d12. Minnesota has two basic types of cities: statutory cities, which operate Minn. Stat. ch. d 10 primarily under Chapter 412 of the Minnesota Statutes; and home rule charter cities, which operate under a local charter. Statutory cities may choose from three forms of government organization: Standard Plan statutory cities, Plan A statutory cities, and Plan B statutory cities. Handbook, chapter ~. Statutory cities have weak mayor-councils. This means the mayor has all the rights, powers, and duties of a councilmember in addition to those specific to a mayor. The council as a whole retains ultimate administrative and legislative responsibility and authority, except where an independent board, such as a utilities commission, has one or more specific functions. Handh~wk. chapter a. II7 home rule charter cities, the city charter defines the powers of elected officials and appointed staff. Home rule charter cities should consult their charters to determine the specific powers a particular city official possesses. A. Standard Plan cities Minn. Stat. ~ 412.02, subd. The Standard Plan city has a city council consisting of the elected mayor I; Mi"°. stat. s312.191, subd. I. , an elected ci clerk, and three or five elected council members. The see 1-iandbook. (.:ltapter ~, Standard Plan city operates with a weak mayor-council. The treasurer is an Section IIA The Standard elected position, but not a member of the council. The clerk and treasurer P~°"~ positions may be combined into one elected position. There are 102 Standazd Plan cities in Minnesota. Minn. titat. § &12.5T_, I11 1967, all Standazd Plan cities were required to assume the Plan A form subs. i. by Jan. 1, 1970, unless the city voters rejected the Optional Plan A between May 4, 1967, and Jan. 1, 1970. Minn. star. ~ 412.5 1. Cities operating under Plan A or Plan B may choose to revert to the sends. ~~ 5 Standard Plan if the voters approve it at a special election. LEAGUE OF MINNES07A CTTIES