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PURPOSE, PROCESS AND PRINCIPLES OF CITY POLICIES <br />The League of Minnesota Cities is dedicated to promoting excellence in local government through <br />effective advocacy, expert analysis, and trusted guidance for all Minnesota cities. Each year, the <br />League's member cities identify common needs and goals, and the Board of Directors adopts <br />policies designed to help cities overcome obstacles and reach those goals. These policies serve as <br />the foundation of the League's advocacy work on behalf of Minnesota cities. <br />The League represents 832 of 853 cities, as well as 11 townships and 59 special districts. The <br />League's members include the smallest rural cities in Greater Minnesota and the largest cities in <br />the urban core; they include suburban communities in the Metropolitan Area and regional centers <br />in every corner of the state. Every member of the League has a voice in developing the following <br />policies. <br />Two core principles guide the development of City Policies and the actions of the League: <br />1. Local units of government must have sufficient authority and flexibility to meet the <br />challenges of governing and providing citizens with public services. The Legislature must <br />avoid imposing unfunded and underfunded mandates that erode local control and create <br />liability and financial risk for city taxpayers. <br />2. The increasingly complex and costly requirements necessary for cities to provide services <br />to their citizens require a strong partnership between federal, state, and local governments. <br />This partnership should be based upon a shared vision for Minnesota and should allow <br />individual communities to tailor that vision to the unique needs of their citizens. <br />Because of the fluid nature of emerging issues, state and national politics, and current events, <br />additional and alternative policies may be proposed after the policies are adopted by the Board of <br />Directors. The League will make every effort to notify members of substantial changes or additions <br />to policies after they are adopted by the Board of Directors. <br />League of Minnesota Cities <br />2016 City Policies Page xi <br />