Home Rule Charter City

Brooklyn Center adopted a home rule charter, December 8, 1966. State law allows any city to adopt a charter, which in effect is a local constitution that the local voters approve. Cities have a wide range of discretion in adopting charters; the charters may provide for any form of city government, subject only to state laws that apply uniformly to all cities in the state.

How Statutory Cities and Home Rule Charter Cities Differ

The major difference between home rule charter cities and statutory cities in Minnesota is in the kind of enabling legislation under which they have incorporated. Statutory cities derive their powers from Chapter 412 of Minnesota Statutes. Home rule charter cities obtain their powers from a home rule charter, although many state statutes grant or limit the powers of charter cities. The distinction between them is one of organization and powers and does not depend on any classification of population, size, area, geographical location, or other physical features. One distinction between statutory cities and home rule charter cities is citizen control. All statutory city powers come from state law. In the absence of that authorization, such cities have no powers to undertake anything. Home rule charter cities, on the other hand, can exercise any powers that their locally adopted charters give them as long as those powers do not conflict with state laws. Voters in such cities have much more control over the powers which their city government can exercise. Charters, therefore, become of interest to statutory cities which have encountered special problems they cannot solve under general city laws. If a statutory city finds itself in this situation, it can ask the Legislature to change the City Code or adopt a special act, or it can become a home rule city with a voter-approved charter.

• The Brooklyn Center City Charter was first published in the Brooklyn Center Post Newspaper on the 20th day of October 1966.
• A referendum vote was conducted on the 8th day of November 1966.
• The Brooklyn Center City Charter was effective on the 8th day of December 1966. The Brooklyn Center City Charter was last amended effective the fifth day of October 5, 2016, by Ordinance No. 2016-06.
• The Brooklyn Center City Charter was last amended effective the 16th day of December 2019, by Ordinance No. 2019-08.
• A referendum vote was conducted on 8th day of November 2022.

Brooklyn Center City Charter

The City Charter is a public record. Here is the City Charter.

Brooklyn Center City Charter Commission

Brooklyn Center is a Home Rule Charter City. The Charter Commission reviews the existing charter, considers proposed changes and makes recommendations to the City Council, and safeguards the concept of Home-Rule under the existing charter and Home Rule provisions in the State Statutes. Commissioners serve a four-year term. The Charter Commission consists of fifteen members, duly appointed and certified by the Chief Judge of Hennepin County. The qualifications for membership require that the individual be a qualified voter in Brooklyn Center.

• Charter Commission Rules of Procedure
• Charter Commission Members
• Charter Commission Application

Meeting Times & Location

Generally, meets quarterly, January, April, July, and October at City Hall. Please check the calendar for exact dates and times. 

However, additional meetings may be called by the Chairperson; or by any four (4) commissioners may petition the Chairperson to call a special meeting; or as required in Minnesota Statutes 410.105, Subd. 2. (BC Home Rule Charter Commission - Rules of Procedures, IV, B)

Agenda Packets and Adopted Minutes

Charter Commission public records are located in Laserfiche WebLink, the City's electronic records management system.

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