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Part I. Introduction <br /> <br />Regardless of how a city's government is organized (under statute or <br />home rule charter), the council has to make important decisions <br />about how it will distribute responsibilities to a variety of offices. <br />The challenge in structuring any government is to achieve the <br />appropriate balance between the elected leadership (democratic <br />representation) and professional management. <br /> <br />This memo discusses the similarities and differences between the <br />city clerk, city administrator, and city manager positions. In addition, <br />it outlines the duties and responsibilities of each position and <br />describes the different forms of government under which these <br />positions may exist. <br /> <br />Part II. Types of cities <br /> <br />There are two basic types of cities in Minnesota: statutory cities and <br />home rule charter cities. The following types of statutory cities exist <br />in Minnesota: <br /> <br />Standard plan statutory cities. This type of city has a council <br />that consists of a mayor, an elected city clerk, and tlu:ee (or <br />five) councilmembers. The city operates with the common <br />weak mayor-council. The treasurer is also an elected office <br />but is not a member of the council. <br /> <br />Plan A statutory cities. Tkis type of city also operates with a <br />weak mayor-council. The council consists of a mayor and <br />four (or six) councilmembers. Both the clerk and the <br />treasurer are appointed offices and neither is a member of the <br />council. <br /> <br />Plan B statutory cities. This type of city operates under the <br />council-manager plan. The council consists of a mayor and <br />four (or six) councilmembers, and the council appoints a city <br />manager who is responsible for managing the city staff. Like <br />the standard plan and Plan A statutory cities, this city also <br />operates with a weak mayor-council. <br /> <br />Most statutory cities in Minnesota have weak mayor-councils. This <br />means the mayor's powers are no greater than any other member of <br />the council except for presiding at council meetings and certain other <br />minor duties. Likewise, individual councilmembers have no power <br />by themselves. Instead, the council as a whole retains ultimate <br /> <br />City Admininstrator <br /> <br />-55- <br /> <br /> <br />