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General Policy Statement <br />The League of Minnesota Cities serves as a forum for cities to define common problems and develop <br />policies and proposals to solve those problems. <br />The League of Minnesota Cities represents 818 of Minnesota's 853 cities as well as 11 urban towns and <br />28 special districts. All sizes of communities are represented among the League's members (the largest <br />nonmember city has a population of 173) and all regions of the state are represented. <br />The policies that follow are directed at specific city issues. Two principles guide the development of all <br />League policies: <br />1. There is a need for a governmental system that allows flexibility and authority for cities to meet <br />the challenges of governing and providing citizens with services while at the same time <br />protecting cities from unfunded or underfunded mandates, liability or other financial risk, and <br />restrictions on local control; and, <br />2. The financial and technical requirements for governing and providing services necessitate a <br />continuing and strengthened partnership with federal, state, and local governments. This <br />partnership, particularly in the areas of finance, development, housing, environment and <br />transportation, is critical for the successful operation of Minnesota's cities and the well -being of <br />residents. <br />Statement of Intent <br />There are many issues affecting the effectiveness of city government to improve community life, <br />improve the fiscal future and service delivery of city government, and improve the local economy. <br />What follows are statements of the issues facing cities and the League of Minnesota Cities' proposed <br />responses to these issues. These statements of issues and proposed responses form the policy of the <br />League of Minnesota Cities. Additional and alternative responses to those issues may be proposed after <br />the Policy Adoption Conference, and the members of the League authorize its Board of Directors to <br />consider and support additional or alternative responses, if necessary, to resolve the issues identified in <br />this policy statement. <br />vlll <br />