Three Albert Lea City Council members and the city’s mayor were officially sworn in for another term in office Monday by City Clerk Shirley Slater-Schulte during the regular City Council meeting.

Second Ward Councilor Larry Baker and 4th Ward Councilor Reid Olson are beginning their second terms, while 6th Ward Councilor Al “Minnow” Brooks is beginning his fourth term.

All three councilors were unopposed in their race for re-election in November.

Mayor Vern Rasmussen is now starting his regular term in office after serving a brief period in the absence of a mayor.

He was in the middle of his second term as 1st Ward councilor when he was elected as mayor in November.

In other action, the City Council:

• Heard a demonstration about a streetscape proposal for downtown Albert Lea by architect Pat Waddick.

The plan begins at Front Street on the south and ends at Fountain Street on the north.

Look to Wednesday’s Tribune for more about the proposal.

• Approved a resolution supporting local government aid.

According to Interim City Manager Pat McGarvey, Albert Lea’s 2011 budget has been adopted with $5.32 million in expected local government aid by the end of the year. This is 36.8 percent of the total general fund revenues in 2011.

“Clearly the LGA appropriation may have serious adverse impact on city government in Minnesota, especially for the outstate cities,” McGarvey said.

Council members encouraged residents to contact their legislators and voice their opinions about the importance of LGA.

• Adopted the procedures the City Council will follow in 2011 when conducting business.

Procedures included meeting times and places, role of the presiding officer, public hearings, voting, ordinance, resolutions, motions, petitions and communications, rules for addressing the council and rules of decorum.

• Authorized a one-year extension of the city’s voluntary unpaid leave policy, which was initially adopted two years ago as a budget saving strategy.

• Witnessed a presentation from Freeborn County Partners in Prevention Coalition Coordinator Alice Englin to Albert Lea officer Jay Crabtree for the 2010 Program Partner of the Year Award.

Crabtree was given the award for his work with the Southwest Middle School Youth Advisory Committee. This committee is a student committee that implements events, raises awareness and educates their peers regarding the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.

• Authorized the city treasurer to make bond payments for 2011.

• Approved the city’s depositories and signatories.

• Amended the city’s building codes to reflect recent state statutory changes.

• Approved the appointments to boards and commissions within the city.