Minneapolis City Coordinator Steven Bosacker stepping down

Minneapolis City Coordinator Steven Bosacker announced Thursday that he is stepping down after six years on the job to spend a year traveling the world.

Once Gov. Jesse Ventura's chief of staff, Bosacker made his mark on City Hall by implementing a results-based management system that helped city officials and the public track progress across all departments. Bosacker's post is a significant one at City Hall, overseeing a handful of key city departments.

Bosacker said he sold his condominium in January and will also sell his possessions. His 12-month journey will include stops in Peru, Brazil, Portugal, Morocco, Lebanon, Egypt, Vietnam, Cambodia and India.

It's not his first extended trip abroad. After leaving the Ventura administration, Bosacker lived to Germany for nearly two years where he spent time consulting.

"There's a bit of a world history with me that I can't quite shake," Bosacker said. "I'm not quite done with the rest of the world."

He said he loves his job "as much as I've ever loved it" and no events at City Hall precipitated his exit. He said the mayor intended to reappoint him.

"We're just sad, because he's wonderful. Just a brilliant guy," said City Council president Barb Johnson. "I'll tell you I've always worried about him because sometimes I call him on a Sunday, he's at work. He just is a workhorse."

"Steven Bosacker is one of the most gifted public administrators in the history of Minnesota and his work for Minneapolis had been nothing short of transformative," Rybak said.

Bosacker's management system was on display every Tuesday morning at City Hall, when departments present the public with their progress meeting different targets.

"It's great for people like us because we can go and sit in and hear what that department has to say, what they've accomplished, what they're working on, where they're having difficulties," said council member Meg Tuthill. She added: "I think it's fabulous."