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supplemented by a wide range of
<br />neighborl-tood parks and several municipal
<br />sports complexes such as the Blaine
<br />Baseball and Blaine Soccer Comple~es.
<br />Extensive City-County trail system and indoor
<br />ice arenas are coupled with larger County
<br />parks, pool facilities and campgrounds and
<br />nature parks. The City of Blaine is served
<br />by three school districts (Anoka-Hennepin
<br />~11, Centennial ~12 and Spring Lake Park
<br />#16) with over 11,000 local students, as well
<br />as one community college and one technical
<br />college. The University of Minnesota, the
<br />University of St. Thomas and six other
<br />colleges/universities are within easy
<br />commuting distance from Blaine.
<br />
<br /> Residents may also take advantage of
<br />the numerous cultural and recreational
<br />amenities of the Twin Cities' area. Museums,
<br />galleries, world-class zoos, wildlife and
<br />nature conservatories are abundant in the
<br />region. Numerous historic sites, professional
<br />sports (NFL Vikings, MLB Twins, NBA
<br />Timberwolves, NHL Minnesota Wild and St.
<br />Paul Saints Baseball) and world class dinin~
<br />entertainment are available nearby.
<br />
<br /> Ultimately, the one ingredient that makes
<br />Blaine a unique and special place is the
<br />people: its residents, business community,
<br />municipal staff and those utilizing the
<br />extensive and world-class facilities found in
<br />Blaine. Populated by many long-term and
<br />second/third generations of families, as well
<br />as many newcomers, Blaine offers an overall
<br />environment where people care about their
<br />community, their ~'~eighbors and each other.
<br />
<br />CITY GOVERNMENT
<br />
<br /> The City of Blaine operates as a Home-
<br />Rule Charter City and is governed under the
<br />Council-Manager form of government. The
<br />
<br />City Council is a seven-member elected
<br />body, with the Mayor elected att-large for
<br />a four-year term. Councilmembers are
<br />elected for four-year, staggered terms on
<br />a District basis. The City has three Council
<br />Districts with District #1 representing the
<br />southern part of the City; District
<br />constitutes the central area; and District #3
<br />is identified with the northern section of
<br />the City. While two Councilmembers
<br />represent each District, only one of the two
<br />District representatives is up for re-election
<br />in any given year. The iVlayor and Council
<br />are elected on a non-partisan basis.
<br />
<br /> The City Council appoints the City
<br />Manage'r who serves as the City's Chief
<br />Administrative Officer responsible for the
<br />day-to-day management of the City, its
<br />operations and overall financial
<br />administration/condition. The City employs
<br />149 K~il-time and 34 part-time personnel and
<br />functions with a $1.6.7 million operating
<br />budget. Several Commissions and
<br />Committees support municipal government
<br />including, but not limited to, the Charter
<br />Comm.ission, Citizens Environmental
<br />Committee, Parks Advisory Board, Planning
<br />Commission, Senior Center Advisory
<br />Committee and Transportation Committee,
<br />as well as others on an as-needed basis.
<br />
<br /> Foct.~s areas for the City Council and City
<br />Manager include emphasis on:
<br />
<br />· Developing long-term strategies for the
<br /> needs of seniors and youthful citizens
<br />
<br />I'i i i : ' i
<br />
<br /> to include housing, recreational and
<br /> related services.
<br />· Strengthening and developing
<br /> neighborhood organizations while
<br /> enhancing involvement processes.
<br />· Development of strategies for current
<br /> and future economic development
<br /> efforts.
<br />· Preservation of open space and master
<br /> plans for trail development and parks
<br /> renovation/creation.
<br />
<br /> The City has established strong working
<br />relationships with Anoka County
<br />government througl~ such joint-powers
<br />agencies as the Anoka County-Blaine
<br />Airport, Anoka County Economic
<br />Development Partnership, the various
<br />school districts, the Metropolitan Council
<br />(MC), Metropolitan Transit Council
<br />Operations (MTCO) and neighboring
<br />communities of Coon Rapids, Lino Lakes,
<br />Mounds View, Spring Lake Park and others.
<br />Mounds View, Spring Lake Park and Blaine
<br />combine to provide a joint Fire
<br />Department.
<br />
<br /> The City of Blaine has several collective
<br />bargaining units representing employees
<br />including Law Enforcement Labor Services
<br />(LELS), International Union of Operating
<br />Engineers Local ~49 (long established
<br />public works field and technical union) and
<br />Teamsters for Police Supervisors. The City
<br />subscribes to a collaborative labor relations
<br />bargaining philosophy, and strong, positive
<br />relationships currently exist between labor
<br />and management. The strongest emphasis
<br />possible is placed on fair and equitable
<br />treatment of employees and a philosophy
<br />of internal customer service/respect
<br />prevails.
<br />
<br /> ~POSITiON OVER~i'EW
<br />~ '~1:{~' P~ISI'iC semites: Miana~e~, p~sitibri:
<br />;5'~i~:w1¥ ti'earned responsibility which results
<br /> from a recent reorganization that created
<br /> three executive level positions: Managers
<br /> of Public Services; Support Services and
<br /> Safety Services. The component divisions
<br /> making up Public Se~ices include Building
<br /> Inspections, Economic Development,
<br /> Engineering, Parks and Recreation,
<br /> Planning and Public Works. Housing and
<br /> Neighborhood Services functions could be
<br /> attac~ed to the responsibilities of the new
<br /> Manager in t~e near future. Consolidation
<br /> of physical and economic development,
<br /> maintenance and infrastructure
<br /> improvement tkmctions under one structure
<br /> is expected to greatly improve the flow of
<br />
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