• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Subscribe
Program Guide
Watch Live

CCX Media

Skip NavigationMenu
  • News
    • Close
        • CCX News
          • CCX News Home
          • News Stories
            • CCX Daily Newcast
          • CCX News Special Reports
          • CCX Media Schools
        • Feature Segments

          • Business Matters
          • School Spotlight
          • Standout Student
          • Weekend Showcase
          • Newsmakers
        • News Tip

          Send us a story idea or news tip!
          Facebook Instagram Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
        • Apple News
    • Close
  • Sports
    • Close
        • CCX Sports
          • CCX Sports Home
          • Sports Tips
          • Hall of Fame
          • Upcoming Event Coverage
          • Play of the Week
        • Sports Coverage

          Adapted SportsAdditional SportsBaseballBasketballFootball
          GymnasticsHockeyLacrosseSoccerSoftball
          Swimming & DivingTennisTrack & FieldVolleyballWrestling
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
          Shop/Order
    • Close
  • Cities
    • Close
        • CCX Cities
          • CCX Cities Home
          • The Connection
          • In The Community
          • Our Town’s Story
          • Community Resources
          • CCX Media Schools
          • City Meetings
        • Your City

          Brooklyn Center Local News and Events
          Brooklyn Park MN Local News and Events
          Crystal
          Golden Valley
          Maple Grove
          New Hope
          Osseo
          Plymouth
          Robbinsdale
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Create
    • Close
        • CCX Create
          • CCX Create Home
          • Channels
          • Resources
          • Meet The Create Team
          • CCX Create Virtual Tour
        • Get Creative

          • Make Your Own Show
          • Free Classes
          • Contact Us
          • Polka Spotlight
          • Diversity Minute
        • RueShare

          • Member Login
          • Member Guide
        • Social Media

          Facebook Twitter Instagram
          Watch Live
          CCX1 | CCX2 | CCX3
    • Close
  • Subscribe
  • Program guide
  • Watch Live

Brooklyn Center Mayor Gets City Hall Office

3:35 PM | Friday, October 4, 2019

After much debate and discussion, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott now has an office inside Brooklyn Center City Hall. The mayor has pushed for an office since the beginning of the year.

In a city that’s home to 32,000 people, Brooklyn Center Mayor Mike Elliott is kept busy with things like meetings and public appearances.

“Usually my days are taken up largely by this role, and most weeks it’s seven days a week,” Elliott said.

Elliott was first sworn in to the mayor’s role in January. For much of that time, he says he’s had to take meetings to coffee shops or restaurants.

“Sometimes it’s really great to be able to do that, to meet folks there,” Elliott said. “But it puts a kind of pressure on both the person you’re meeting with and yourself to always be buying stuff.”

That’s just one reason why Elliott wanted an office at City Hall where he could conduct business in a more professional setting. He pushed the matter in a February council meeting.

“A city the size of 32,000 people, your mayor needs a place where they can sit down and do email and call residents and have folks come and meet with them,” he said.

Elliott officially got his wish during the Sept. 23 Brooklyn Center City Council meeting, but it wasn’t met with unanimous approval.

Concerns over the mayor’s office and a ‘Perception of Power’

“What we need to do, each of us, is run within our own lane, work together as a body, rather than try to project the mayor’s office as strong mayor, but that the mayor is a part of a team,” Council Member Dan Ryan said during the meeting.

Some council members are concerned that a designated mayor’s office creates a perception of power for Elliott. Brooklyn Center has a system where the mayor and council share power, and the mayor acts as a ceremonial leader.

“I think it’s mostly a misinterpretation of intention,” Elliott said, when asked about the perception. “And for me, I’m really clear. There are so many other cities that have the same system and the mayor has an office, take Columbia Heights for example.”

But that’s not necessarily the case in the northwest suburbs. CCX News found that eight cities in our viewing area do not have an office solely for mayors at their city halls. Golden Valley did allow such an arrangement, but the mayor in that city never used it, and made it available for other uses.

In Columbia Heights, the mayor does currently have an office in city hall. The city hall used to share space with the police department, but when the police department moved out a few years ago, a number of unused offices opened up. There will not be a dedicated mayor’s office as part of the new Columbia Heights city hall, which is scheduled for construction next year.

Elliott, however, believes it’s a necessary part of his elected role.

“I invite residents or anyone who wants to schedule a meeting with the mayor to go ahead and call into City Hall,” Elliott said.

And while the Brooklyn Center City Council voted to approve the mayor’s office, it came with the condition that they have a work session to discuss the issue further.

Delane Cleveland, reporting

Brooklyn Center

Related Stories

Annual IgboFest Celebration will Showcase Diversity in Brooklyn Park.:  Saturday in Brooklyn Park,… Read More
Complaint: Brooklyn Center Police Arrest Suspect Who Pulls Out Gun:  Brooklyn Center police arrested a… Read More
State Senate Dist. 38 DFL Primary Results, Pha over Hiltsley:  In a primary contest for Senate… Read More
Brooklyn Center 2022 Primary Results:  GRAVES AND ELLIOTT ADVANCE IN BROOKLYN CENTER MAYOR'S… Read More
Hmong Sisters Serve as First-Time Election Judges in Brooklyn Center:  On primary Election Day in… Read More
Osseo School District Grapples with Teacher Shortage:  Students will head back to the classroom in a… Read More

Footer

NAVIGATE

  • CCX Media
  • NEWS
  • SPORTS
  • CITIES
  • CREATE
  • Job Opportunities
  • Meet the CCX Media Team
  • ABOUT CCX MEDIA
  • Annual Programming Reports
  • CABLE COMMISSION

SUBSCRIBE

Get email updates for daily story previews. “Week in Review” video links, and programming previews.

Subscribe Today

CONNECT

HAVE A NEWS TIP? CALL OUR TIPLINE AT:  763-533-1710
Send us story ideas and comments!
Get in touch with us
               
 NEWS   SPORTS
 SHOP/ORDER

LOCATION

CCX Media
6900 Winnetka Avenue North
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Main Phone:  763-533-8196

CCX Media serves the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, including Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Crystal, Golden Valley, Maple Grove, New Hope, Osseo, Plymouth and Robbinsdale.
Copyright © 2022 CCXMedia | All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
Web Design and Development by CEL Marketing PR Design and BizzyWeb | Log in