Roles and Powers

A resource for practical and legal issues concerning Minnesota city mayors. Focuses on leadership, meeting and public hearing management skills.

Learn common ways council members may overstep their proper role and the personal liability that may ensue.

Understand the council’s role, including eligibility for office, council powers versus individual council member roles, and delegation of council power.

Understand how state laws affect a city’s ability to prohibit guns on city property.

Understand when and why administrative search warrants are needed in certain circumstances.

Legal concepts related to constitutional free speech rights. How to balance them with public safety concerns.

Learn responsibilities of city officials to avoid prohibited personal or financial benefits in contracts.

Find out what records should be in a personnel file, and which should be in other special types of files.

Get answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) on what cities need to know regarding Minnesota's new law on adult-use cannabis.