Agenda - Charter Commission - 04/21/2005

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CHAt'TER $ Mmo. Slat. §§ 412.601-,751. City administration, including tim duties or'file city rrmnager is also discussed in League researcl~ tnemo C/t3' ,.tdmini.wratio~t: Clerk, .,ltJminixlrt~tor, Manager (369.3). Mim]. Slat. ~5 412.601-.75 I. See Minn. Stat, § 471.59. Minn. Stat. § 412.1 l I. Chy administration, including thc duties <)f an admims~tor is also di:~cttsscd in League research memo City ,.ldmimWrotio,: Clerk. ,4~hniuivtrr~tor, (369.3), 7. Managers (Plan El cities) Plan B cities and some charter cities have a city manager. The council exercises the legislative power of the city and determines all matters of policy. The city manager exercises the administrative power of the city, and is responsible to the council for the proper administration of all city affairs. In other words, the manager performs all the administrative duties, such as hiring employees, enforcing city ordinances, and preparing the budget. In Plan t3 cities, department heads are directly responsible to the city manager, and as a result, must make reports, submit the budget, and be directly subordinate to the manager. B. Non-statutory offices Although the law does not require it, most cities appoint an attorney and a police chief. Other positions that many cities have are administrator, librarian, liquor store manager, recreation director, street superintendent, engineer, and utilities superintendent. Small cities often hire several part-time employees, or one or two full-time employees to perform many duties. Sometimes, small cities share the services of an employee with other small cities under the Joint Powers Act. While certain positions are common to large and small cities alike, tile actual duties of these employees often depend on the size ora city and the complexity of its organizational structure. A supervisory administrative official may or may not devote some time to direct participation in the functional activities of the department. For example, police chiefs in smaller cities may spend a major portion of their time working in patrol cars, while devoting only a few hours per week to supervisory activities. 1. City administrator The city council may appoint employees for the city as deemed necessary tbr its proper management and operation. Standard Plan and Plan A city councils may establish, by ordinance or resolution, a chief administrative office, often called the city administrator position. The city may assign coordinating duties of the city administrator to the city clerk, deputy clerk or special administrative officer. l IANI ~[tOOK FOR MINNESOTA CITIES This chapter last revised 12/14/2004 8-11 -71-