The City of Waite Park operates as a statutory plan A city. This is a weak-mayor form of government with five members elected at-large including the mayor and four council members. All members including the mayor have equal voting power and its governing authority is derived by the State Legislature. Under this form of government, the council appoints a city administrator-clerk-treasurer to oversee the operations of the City.
Council members are elected to four year terms and the mayor is elected to a two year term.