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• Promote a shared understanding of important and complex issues and <br />potentially a shared consensus for tackling difficult issues. <br />• Highlight alternative strategies for meeting big challenges. <br />• Create an understanding of the relationships between issues and <br />strategies for meeting challenges. <br />2. The mayor's role in long-term planning <br />Certainly, mayors in statutory cities do not have the authority to initiate or <br />engage in long-term planning on their own initiative. However, as an <br />inspirational leader, mayors can advocate the importance of long-term <br />planning for a community —particularly when short-term considerations seem <br />overwhelming. <br />One of the most concrete ways that mayors can promote long-term planning is <br />in their role as presiding officer at city council meetings. Mayors can suggest <br />that debate consider the long-term implications of city actions or that city <br />decisions be evaluated for their consistency with long term plans already in <br />place. <br />C. New programs and initiatives <br />A mayor's initiative project or program is a common way to create or revitalize <br />interest in city services. Mayors in statutory cities must, of course, work closely <br />with their city councils to gain approval for and financing of any new programs. <br />However, it is important to stress that a mayor's initiative need not be a costly <br />or expensive campaign. An inexpensive mayor's initiative may center on <br />promoting use of community parks and recreational opportunities or <br />encouraging volunteerism. The mayor's role as ceremonial head of the city can <br />often be harnessed to generate interest in valuable community projects. <br />III. Ethical leadership <br />Ethical leadership on the part of the mayor is vital to the functioning of the city <br />and to maintaining the public's trust and confidence in both the city and the <br />democratic process. In their duties as ceremonial leader of the city and as <br />presiding officer at city meetings, mayors can play a significant role in <br />promoting ethical government. <br />A. Key traits of ethical leaders <br />While most people agree that it is desirable to be an ethical person, deciding <br />what is "ethical" in a given situation may be more difficult. Some common <br />traits of ethical public officials are: <br />Minnesota <br />Mayors Chapter 1-31 <br />Association <br />