Brooklyn Center Commissions Offer Great Opportunity To Get Involved in City Government

Opportunties to serve on the City of Brooklyn Center’s advisory boards and commissions may be an introduction for anyone interested in serving in city government.

“It’s a good place to start, and it’s not a huge time commitment, and you can see the inner workings of how the city works,” said Stan Leino, who has been on the Brooklyn Park Charter Commission since the late 1990s and the city’s planning commission since 2020.  “I think it gives you the chance to put your finger on the pulse a little bit.”

Stan Leino is a member of the Brooklyn Center Planning and Charter Commissions.

Leino said the Charter Commission takes up matter’s related to the document that governs how the city operates.

“It’s a pretty bareboned document, because it’s not meant to be detailed and picky,” he said. “It can’t conflict with state law, it can’t conflict with U.S. law, and so when we take action, it’s usually in the form of advice. We recommend a change to the charter.”

He said the makeup of the charter commission is pretty broad; it’s a 15-person board that is appointed by a county judge.

“We are very diverse: retirees, people who have had backgrounds in law enforcement, just as private business owners. One of our current members runs a day care, but it’s a great way to test the waters, too, to see if it’s something you’re interested in,” said Leino.

As for the planning commission, it is mandated to be a necessary step in the process for approving development-related matters in the city, and items that pass the commission move on to city council for approval.

“It gives us a preview of developments coming into the city, whether they be commercial or residential, and it’s really fun to see the vision the city has,” said Leino. 

For more information about openings and the application process (all commission members are appointed by city council), visit the City of Brooklyn Center’s website.

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