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the council-manager plan. In this type of government, the council exercises the legislative power of the city and determines all matters of policy, similar to a board of directors in a private sector company. The city manager formulates policy recommendations to the city council, and administers and implements the policies--much as a CEO would do in a private sector company. The council-manager plan was first created in the early 1900s as a means through which government could be "professionalized." It reflects both the parliamentary approach to government and the corporate business model in its structure and ideals. Early proponents of the council-manager form of government believed it accomplished the following worthy goals: • It replaced the divisiveness of some other forms of goverment with a more unified model of government in which the council had both legislative and administrative authority. • It placed responsibility for day-to-day administration of city business in the hands of a professional manager rather than elected officials. A. Form of government See Part tI-C The city manager position is found in statutory cities that adopt to become Optional Plan B cities. The Plan B form of government is also called the council-manager plan. This form of government is also available to home rule charter cities that provide for the council- manager plan in their charters. Under the council-manager plan, the council retains policy-making and legislative authority, and delegates administration of local government to a manager. The manager is responsible directly to the council and subject to council removal. The manager appoints administrative department heads, usually without the necessity for council approval. Minn. Stet. §§ 412.611 The council as a whole retains ultimate administrative as well as and 412.621 legislative responsibility and authority, except where an independent board (such as an utilities commission) has one or more specific functions. B. Powers and duties The Plan B city manager's duties are found in state statute, although many councils will delegate additional responsibilities to this individual. In home rule charter cities, the responsibilities are often similar. City Admininstrator 23