| CITY OF MOUNT RAINIER, MARYLAND CITY MANAGER A rare Opportunity to manage this historic and highly unique council/manager community Mount Rainier is the historic Route 1 gateway community from Prince George’s County to Washington, DC at the District’s northeastern boundary. It is located within a 15-minute drive to downtown Washington DC. The City is approximately 1.7 square miles and has a population of about 8,500 (as of the 2000 Census). Mount Rainier is primarily a residential community with 1,100 single family homes and three large apartment developments. Mount Rainier is a city of contrasts. Known as a busy urban gateway to the nation’s capital, it is also known for its intimate, tree-shaded neighborhoods. Mount Rainier’s greatest asset—the source of its vibrant community life—is its ability to nurture and sustain a variety of interests old and new, progressive, and conservative, Bible-belt fundamentalists, rock-ribbed traditionalists, activists, recluses, empty nesters, and young families: all are at home in Mount Rainier. The City’s median resident age is thirty-five (35). Patterns of civic behavior established early in the City’s 100-year history laid a foundation of tolerance that persists to this day. Successive generations of government workers, trades people, artisans, and service professionals have lived in the one and two-story bungalows built by the first Mount Rainier families. They inherited, too, a small-town infrastructure, complete with retail stores, churches, schools, and narrow streets. Decades-old trees dominate the neighborhoods where cozy front porches vie with well-traveled sidewalks as venues for good conversation. Mount Rainier has been listed as an historic area due to its history not only as a primary streetcar suburb of Washington DC, but also due to the vast number of Sears houses, Craftsman-style homes, many of which have been restored, and thus have attracted home buyers. Although property costs are going up, with an average home closing price of $356K, Mount Rainier housing is still affordable by regional standards. There is a vibrant and treasured arts culture in Mount Rainier where more than 225 local artists live and can showcase their work. Mount Rainier is a “Sanctuary City” which grants voting rights to non-citizens and 16-year-olds. Mount Rainier has a Council–Manager form of government which is established by City Charter. Accordingly, all legislative powers of the City are vested in the Mayor and Council which consists of the Mayor and four Council members. The Mayor and Council members are elected to four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is elected at-large. Council members are elected two-each from the City’s two wards. The Mayor is a member of the Council and has all the rights, duties, powers, and obligations of a Council member as prescribed by the Charter. The Mayor serves as the Council’s presiding officer and may participate in all discussions and has a vote on all matters before the Council. The Mayor has no veto power. Three members of the Mayor and Council constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but no ordinance or other official act can be adopted without the affirmative vote of three members of the Mayor and Council The Mayor and Council shall, by a majority vote of its total membership, appoint a City Manager for a definite term, and fix the compensation and conditions of employment in accordance with a signed agreement between the City and City Manager. The City Manager may be removed before the expiration of the term of employment by the Mayor and Council. The City Manager shall be appointed solely based on executive and administrative qualifications. The City has approximately 45 full-time employees. Each department has specific duties to meet the needs of the community. City services provided include streets, police, parks, public works, and economic development. The City’s FY21 Total Expenditure Budget is $7,453,054,51 of which the General Fund Expenditure Budget is $6,958,054.21 The position of City Manager is established in the City Charter. The City Manager is hired by and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Council. The City Manager assists the Mayor and Council in the development of City policies and carries out policies established by ordinances and resolutions approved by the Mayor and Council. The City Manager is the Chief Executive Officer of the City. While the City Charter does not have a residency requirement for the City Manager, the Mayor and Council is looking for a City Manager who will become actively involved in the community. The City Manager must have the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with department supervisors, employees, vendors, and the public. Additionally, the City Manager must have the ability to develop, enact, and administer City policies, laws, and programs, as well as to prepare and administer the City budget and perform other work as assigned. |
