City Council handbook Welcome to Mankato by Rick Buckmister, Mankato Fantastic night at the civic center by Ted Jacobson, Mankato 311 or 507-387-8600 l mankatomn.gov Contents Mankato’s vision and values ................................................................................................................ 4 Chapter 1: Overview and resources ...................................................................................................... 5 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Resources .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Chapter 2: Form of government ........................................................................................................... 7 Council‐manager plan ............................................................................................................................... 7 Mayor and council .................................................................................................................................... 7 Sources of city authority ........................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 3: City council ......................................................................................................................... 8 Council roles .............................................................................................................................................. 8 Chapter 4: City manager .................................................................................................................... 10 City manager’s role ................................................................................................................................. 10 Communication ....................................................................................................................................... 10 Professional associations ........................................................................................................................ 11 Council evaluation ................................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 5: City structure .................................................................................................................... 12 Restrictions on staff political involvement ............................................................................................. 12 City departments .................................................................................................................................... 12 Chapter 6: Support, technology and legal counsel .............................................................................. 15 Support.................................................................................................................................................... 15 Technology .............................................................................................................................................. 15 Legal counsel ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Chapter 7: Compensation ................................................................................................................... 17 City council compensation ...................................................................................................................... 17 Payroll information ................................................................................................................................. 17 Chapter 8: Training and travel policy for city council, city boards and commissions ............................ 18 Training budget ....................................................................................................................................... 18 Travel information/policies ..................................................................................................................... 18 Leading the Way as a Prosperous Diverse Regional Community •Responsive •Efficient •Greater Good • Innovative • Open • Neighborly 1 Commitment to training and representative advocacy .......................................................................... 19 Chapter 9: Communications and media relations ............................................................................... 22 Communications ..................................................................................................................................... 22 Media relations ....................................................................................................................................... 24 Chapter 10: Council meetings ............................................................................................................. 25 General .................................................................................................................................................... 25 Types of meetings ................................................................................................................................... 25 Meeting procedures ................................................................................................................................ 27 Chapter 11: Advisory boards, commissions, committees and task forces ............................................ 28 Volunteer appointments ......................................................................................................................... 28 Representation by council members ...................................................................................................... 28 Staff relationship to advisory bodies ...................................................................................................... 28 Committees by ordinance ....................................................................................................................... 29 Commissions created by charter and/or statute .................................................................................... 29 Committees created by local policy ........................................................................................................ 30 Joint powers boards ................................................................................................................................ 30 City manager committees ....................................................................................................................... 30 Task forces .............................................................................................................................................. 31 Committees or other associations .......................................................................................................... 31 Chapter 12: Open meeting law and data practices ............................................................................. 33 Open meeting law ................................................................................................................................... 33 Minnesota’s data practices act ............................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 13: Code of conduct .............................................................................................................. 36 Conflict of interest .................................................................................................................................. 37 Incompatible offices ................................................................................................................................ 37 Gifts ......................................................................................................................................................... 37 Liabilities ................................................................................................................................................. 37 Ethical leadership .................................................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 14: Rules to govern by .......................................................................................................... 39 Land use laws .......................................................................................................................................... 39 Leading the Way as a Prosperous Diverse Regional Community •Responsive •Efficient •Greater Good • Innovative • Open • Neighborly 2 Actions requiring ordinances .................................................................................................................. 40 Licenses and permits ............................................................................................................................... 40 Chapter 15: Financial aspects ............................................................................................................. 41 Strategic plan, budget for services and performance measurements ................................................... 41 Capital budget ........................................................................................................................................