Blaine City Departments

City Departments

Administration

The administration department is made up of the city manager’s office as well as the city clerk, communications, and human resources divisions.

The City Manager is selected by the Blaine City Council to manage the day-to-day operation of all functions of city government. The city manager, along with the management team, evaluates issues and makes recommendations to the city council. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/Administration.

The City Clerk’s Office is responsible for running local elections, licensing businesses, maintaining official city records, and managing Blaine City Council meeting agendas. The city clerk also maintains a record of all council proceedings, publishes legal notices and newly adopted ordinances, and responds to city code inquiries. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/CityClerk.

Human Resources coordinates recruitment and hiring, conducts contract negotiations, and administers employee benefits, compensation, and job classifications. For job opportunities, visit BlaineMN.gov/Jobs.

Communications develops and presents relevant, timely, and helpful public information to the community. It is the city's intent to help foster community involvement, confidence, and pride by keeping residents informed and providing opportunities for community engagement. Learn more at BlaineMN.gov/Communications.

Parks and Recreation in Blaine provides a comprehensive, year-round recreational activity program for residents of all ages and includes the senior center facility and senior programs. Parks and recreation also works in cooperation with community organizations, agencies, and associations in an effort to facilitate a broad variety of recreational opportunities within the city.

Parks and recreation also plans and manages city parks and recreational facilities for community use. For additional information, visit BlaineParks.com.

Finance Department

The finance department is composed of three divisions – finance, GIS, and information technology (IT).

Finance oversees all financial activity of the City and manages four subdivisions: accounting, which oversees the payroll and accounts payable functions and is responsible for the City’s financial reporting; budgeting, which manages the City’s financial and capital planning functions; treasury and debt management, which manages the City’s banking, investment, and debt issuance functions; and utility billing, which is responsible for the billing, receipting, and account maintenance of Blaine water, sewer, refuse, and recycling accounts.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) produces maps, reports, analysis, and geospatial data as well as creating and maintaining a vast array of point, line, polygon, raster, and tabular data for the City of Blaine and surrounding area. GIS staff also maintains an online web mapping application, giving the public and city staff quick and easy access to GIS data. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/GIS.

Information Technology is responsible for managing the City’s computerized system of hardware and software and its supporting infrastructure that allows the exchange of information, both internally and externally, through the use of voice, data, and video. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/Finance.

Community Development

The community development department consists of three divisions: planning, economic development, and building inspections.

Planning functions revolve around reviewing and processing the development proposals for the Blaine Planning Commission and Blaine City Council as well as interpreting and enforcing zoning and subdivision codes. This division prepares and implements the comprehensive municipal plan, which guides land use, zoning, sewer extension, transportation, and community facility improvements or anticipated changes. They also prepare special reports and studies of redevelopment and long-range plans.

Planning also oversees all land development within the City of Blaine. Staff is available to answer questions on past, current, and future development, zoning, building code changes, home

occupations, business signage, and variances to the codes. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/Planning.

Economic Development offers assistance to businesses in finding available sites and coordinating the site planning process. In some cases, financial assistance is available through the Blaine EDA for projects which address City goals.

Blaine has a strong and growing industrial and commercial business sector. Blaine is home to over 1,500 businesses, has eleven industrial parks, competitive land costs, a strong labor pool, and excellent freeway and highway access as well as the Anoka County Airport. Blaine has an abundant supply of development opportunities for growing and emerging businesses. For additional information, visit BlaineBiz.com.

Building Inspections reviews and inspects all new construction and remodeling within the City. All building permits and licenses are issued from building inspections through the iMS online permitting system at BlaineMN.gov/IMS.

A building permit is needed for any new construction, remodeling, sprinkler systems, plumbing, heating, fence, deck, shed, in-ground pool, or mobile home setup. Visit BlaineMN.gov for permit requirements for common home improvement projects. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/BuildingInspections.

Safety Services

The community standards department consists of three divisions: neighborhood services, fire inspections, and housing services.

Neighborhood Services enforces City ordinances relating to the public health, safety, and general condition and upkeep of the community. This department responds to inquiries about code issues. Neighborhood services strives to work cooperatively with residents and business owners to gain voluntary compliance of community standards.

Fire Inspections is responsible for new construction plan review and inspection. Fire inspections also conducts routine fire inspections of commercial and industrial buildings.

Housing Services is responsible for the rental license program for all single and multiple family rental property within the City of Blaine. All rental properties are required to obtain an annual license and scheduled inspections. Housing services is also responsible for conducting the fire inspections of all apartments and residential board and care facilities as well as responding to property complaints. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/CommunityStandards.

Public Facilities staff provide day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of city buildings. This division is also responsible for longterm planning and capital improvements to city buildings to keep them operating in a safe and cost-effective manner, extending the life of the structures.

Public Works

The public works department is divided into several divisions providing services for the maintenance of, and some construction of, public facilities such as streets and parks and the provision of utility services.

Engineering ensures that municipal sewer, water main, storm drainage, and street improvements are constructed in accordance with city specifications. Engineering coordinates engineering services during the planning and construction stages of residential and industrial development as well as maintaining compliance with all applicable wetland requirements. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/Engineering.

Streets and Parks maintains city streets, parks, buildings, and grounds through weed cutting, street sweeping, traffic signs, snow and ice removal, and related activities.

Water and Sewer operates, maintains, and repairs all water mains, sanitary sewer mains, and storm sewers within the City, including wells and lift stations.

Maintenance provides a program of preventive maintenance and repair work for city vehicles and equipment.

Forestry helps balance the preservation of our natural resources with the growth and needs of our community. This includes insect and disease control, tree preservation, hazard tree management, Arbor Day, and other planting events. City staff are available to answer any questions regarding trees and shrubs.

Public works can be reached at 763-785-6165 during regular business hours or 763-427-1212 after hours and weekends. For additional information, visit BlaineMN.gov/PublicWorks or email PW@BlaineMN.gov.