The Minneapolis City Council today organized its membership for its 2024-2025 term. Council Member Elliott Payne (Ward 1) was elected council president and Council Member Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10) was elected council vice-president.

The council also approved a new standing committee structure proposed by Payne for the new term. Standing committees exercise primary oversight of specific areas of municipal policy and operations. They review, refine, and make recommendations on all matters within their assigned subject-matter jurisdictions, which generally form the basis of formal action by the City Council. The committees are also the primary forum for public engagement in local legislative and policymaking functions, including public hearings and comment periods.

Committees meet during the two-week period immediately preceding the regular meetings of the full City Council, referred to as a “council cycle.” Each council member serves on a number of standing committees in addition to numerous external agencies and organizations as representatives of the City government.

The 2024-2025 committee structure includes:

Standing Committees

• Administration & Enterprise Oversight Committee, chaired by Council Member Robin Wonsley (Ward 2), will exercise oversight and evaluation on all matter related to general government, enterprise and administration operations not assigned to other committees. It will also receive regular reports and presentations about the City’s Strategic Racial Equity Action Plan and evaluate the Mayor’s Office and administration on efforts to recruit and retain employees, eliminate corruptions and unnecessary waste of taxpayer resources, and foster a healthy, ethical enterprise culture. Council Member Linea Palmisano (Ward 13) will be the vice-chair and committee members will include Council Members LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4), Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5), Katie Cashman (Ward 7), and Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10). The AOE Committee will conduct regular meetings on Mondays in the first week of the cycle starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Business, Housing & Zoning Committee, chaired by Council Member Jamal Osman (Ward 6), will exercise oversight and evaluation on all matters related to community and economic development and related matters; housing and housing policy; land-use and zoning policy and all related administrative and quasi-judicial functions; and employment and training programs. Council Member Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5) will be the vice-chair and committee members will include Council Members Michael Rainville (Ward 3), Katie Cashman (Ward 7), Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8), and Aurin Chowdhury (Ward 12). The BHZ Committee will conduct regular meetings on Tuesdays in the first week of the cycle starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Public Health & Safety Committee, chaired by Council Member Jason Chavez (Ward 9), will exercise oversight and evaluation on all matter related to public health and social service programs and initiatives, including civil rights, labor and workers’ rights, environmental justice, opioid epidemic response, and all policies and service delivery related to community safety services including but not limited to emergency management and response, fire and emergency medical services, police and safety-beyond-policing initiatives and programming, and related matters. Council Member Robin Wonsley (Ward 2) will be the vice-chair of the committee and committee members will include Council Members Elliott Payne (Ward 1), Michael Rainville (Ward 3), Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5), and Linea Palmisano (Ward 13). The PHS Committee will conduct regular meetings on Wednesdays in the first week of the cycle starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Climate & Infrastructure Committee, chaired by Council Member Katie Cashman (Ward 7), will exercise oversight and evaluation on all matter related to community infrastructure and the shared infrastructure grid, and policies and programming related to the built environment, including but not limited to: climate resilience and sustainability initiatives and programming; transportation; public works; improvements; traffic and traffic-management issues; broadband capacity and information technology as a component of the community grid; utilities; special service districts and assessments; bicycle and pedestrian programming; recycling, solid waste, and zero-waste measures; severe weather mitigation and response; and appeals relating to block events and encroachment permits. Council Member Emily Koski (Ward 11) will be the vice-chair of the committee and committee members will include Council Members LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4), Jamal Osman (Ward 6), Jason Chavez (Ward 9), and Aurin Chowdhury (Ward 12). The I&C Committee will conduct regular meetings on Thursdays in the first week of the cycle starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Budget Committee, chaired by Council Member Aisha Chughtai (Ward 10), will exercise oversight, evaluation, and coordination with respect to the Council’s power of the purse, which includes reviewing and refining priorities outlined by the Mayor in the annual State of the City Address, reviewing and refining annual budget proposals and recommendations, conducting budget hearings, and performing markup functions, and ensuring the financial wellbeing of the City, including a balanced budget and health bond and credit ratings, as well as approval of all City financial policies. Council Member Koski will be the vice-chair of the committee and committee members will include all Council Members. The Budget Committee will conduct regular meetings on Mondays in the second week of the cycle starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Committee of the Whole, chaired by Council Member Jason Chavez (Ward 9), will exercise oversight and evaluation on all matters related to strategic goals and enterprise-wide initiatives; receive reports, studies, and presentations not otherwise included in the jurisdiction of a different standing committee as well as reports that are enterprise-wide in nature; and consider actions related to the appointment of the Mayor’s Cabinet. Council Member Aurin Chowdhury (Ward 12) will be the vice-chair of the committee and committee members will include all Council Members. The COW will conduct regular meetings on Tuesdays in the second week of the cycle starting at 1:30 p.m.
• Under the Committee of the Whole, a Settlement Agreement & Consent Decree Subcommittee is established to have oversight and evaluation on the Mayor and Administration’s implementation of the court-enforceable settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights; receiving reports and information, providing policy-level coordination and direction, and considering and taking other appropriate actions with respect to the United States Department of Justice investigation into the City’s Police Department; and considering related matters associated with police reform and accountability outside the scope of authority of the Public Health and Safety Committee. Council Member Elliott Payne (Ward 1) will chair this subcommittee and Council Member Andrea Jenkins (Ward 8) will be the vice-chair of the subcommittee. All Council Members are members of this standing subcommittee. Regular meetings of the subcommittee will be called by the chair.

Special Committees

• Intergovernmental Relations Committee, chaired by Council Member Aurin Chowdhury (Ward 12), will exercise primary oversight, evaluation, coordination, and direction with respect to the City’s federal and state legislative platforms, policy proposals, and related issues. The IGR Committee will act as the primary lobbying authority to advance the Council’s legislative and policy interests with any and all governmental agencies. Council Member Michael Rainville (Ward 3) will be the vice-chair of the committee and all Council Members will be members of the IGR Committee. Regular meetings of the IGR Committee will generally be aligned with the state legislative session and be called by the chair.

Public access to meeting calendars, notices, agendas, and reports for City Council and its committees is available through the City’s Legislative Information Management System (LIMS) which is available at lims.minneapolismn.gov or from the City’s website at minneapolismn.gov. Those who need assistance accessing these materials may contact the Office of City Clerk during its regular operating hours: 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (except for holidays) at 612-673-2216 or by contacting Minneapolis 311.