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(sover:imeutal Structure, Local Economic Coudition ansl Outlook The Ciry, incorporated in 1948, is part of Che St.Paul-Minneapolis, Minnesota metropolitan area, and is 13.7 square miles in size and has a population of 34,014. The City is in Ramsey Counry and adjoins St. Paul on its northern border, and Minneapolis at its eastern border. The downtown areas of both St. Paul and Minneapolis are within a 10-mile drive from the Ciry. The City has operated under the council-manager form of govemmenC since January l, 1974, when it became a statutory city. Policy making and legislative authority are vested in the City Council, which consists of a mayor and a four-member council. The Council is responsible, among other things, for passing ordinances, adopting the budget, appointing committees, and hiring the City Manager and Ciry Attorney. The Ciry Manager is responsible for carrying out the policies and ordinances of the City Council, for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the city, and for appoiating the heads of the Ciry's departments. The Council is elected on a nonpartisan basis, to four year staggered terms on an at-large basis. The economy of the metropolitan Twin City area has continued to experience significant growth during 1997. Unemployment ended the year at approximately 2.4% as compared to the U.S. average oi 4.�%. Roseville, as part of suburban Ramsey County, had an unemployment rate of appro�cimately 1.6%, which is at the slighdy below the 1996 level. The Twin Cities Metro Region is now considered by many economists, a labor-short region. The City has a diverse economy. While Roseville is considered a major regionai retail center, empioyment in the computer, m�ical> and printing industries has been significant. While major employers in the community have decreased their employment substantially, smaller emerging firms are growing and employ nearly l0,OQ0 persens. The most recent retail sales data indicates that the Ciry of Roseville is continuing to be one of the major retailing eenCers of the metropolitan area. Retail sales within the Ciry have had a 9.3% compounded growth over the past 10 years. This rate is more than one and one-half times greater than the retaii sales growth in the state as a whole. The location of the City and the community emphasis on economic growth indicates a strong potential for the City to continue to be a viable part of the Twin City Metropolitan Area for geople to live and work. City Iuitiatives and Financial Highlights During 1997 The City provides a full range of municipal services as authorized by state statute. This includes general government, public safery, public works, parks and recreation, water and sewer utilities, and communiry development. Within those areas of responsibilities, the City's goals for 1997 were a continuation of those established in 1943 by the community-basetl Vista 2000 �rocess. 1.To continue to strengthen the business environment with an emphasis on retaining as wel( as attracting new businesses. �