Minneapolis politics, slightly ground down

A Minneapolis politics podcast hosted by four-term Ward 2 city council veterans Cam Gordon and Robin Garwood, with longtime activist Jesse Mortenson

The Charter Commission Must Be Destroyed?

May 4, 2026

Once again the Mpls Charter Commission has proposed to diminish the power of the City Council, this time with confusing amendment language that would strip the Council's ability to review a number of high-level city staff appointments. This doesn't come out of nowhere: we trace the lineage of people using the Charter Commission as a decisive instrument of 'city father' politics over the last decade. We also discuss what democracy means to us at the local level, and how that intersects with shifts to government structure and unelected bodies putting a finger on the scale.

Recorded 4/29/26.

Shout-out: Attend the Public Hearing

This Wednesday, May 6, at 4pm, the Charter Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment. It will be held in Room 350 of the Public Service Center at 250 S 4th St, Minneapolis, MN 55415. You can also submit written comment

Alert

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Media Coverage

More recent material at the top, then going back to 2020 re: "Strong Mayor" charter amendment.

  • 2026: Mpls DFL convention endorses "no" position on charter proposal (source)
  • 2026: charter commisioner dissent thread (source)
  • 2026: Wedge thread on strong mayor campaign (source)
  • 2026: City Council "united" in opposing charter commission proposal (source)
    • “I have heard again and again and again,” Frey said, “that very talented, high-ranking people in government, in the private sector, won’t come to work at the City of Minneapolis out of concern for their own reputation.”
    • "... [council] denied the reappointment of Community Safety Commissioner Todd Barnette in a 7-6 vote while approving the reappointments of the city attorney and city operations officer. Frey described the actions as “vote trading and political gamesmanship.”
    • "Payne said he was frustrated that a lot of the commission’s technical work addressing non-controversial issues was getting tied into something that was removing accountability for the mayor’s administration."
    • "Chavez said he didn’t believe it was appropriate to remove the checks and balances currently in place, noting that the six department heads originally under discussion were in charge of a combined $700 million in taxpayer funds."
    • "moderate Council members Michael Rainville (Ward 3) and LaTrisha Vetaw (Ward 4) were in front of the Charter Commission (the same meeting where Payne and Chavez also spoke), where they revealed that on the topic of the Council approval process, the factions agree: To allow the mayor to appoint department heads unilaterally would reduce transparency in government."
  • 2025: Terry White - opinion piece advocating for Kansas City-style governance (source)
  • 2021: Mpls Charter Commission: elite, unelected, powerful (source)
  • 2020: Minneapolis voters will not decide future of police department in November
  • 2020: Can't abolish charter commission (source)
  • 2020: MNDaily Opinion: Patronizing, undemocratic, unrepresentative: The Minneapolis Charter Commission (source)

Charter Commission Basics

Draft Ballot Language of the current proposal, as of April

PDF source

Shall the Minneapolis City Charter be amended to align the provisions of the Charter regarding the organization of City departments and officers with the structure adopted by ordinance to implement the executive mayor, legislative council form of government, with the general nature of the amendments being briefly indicated in the explanatory note below, which is made part of this ballot?

Charter Commission Membership

  • Current Members

  • Five members still on the Commission who supported the pocket veto of the original police reform amendment in 2020

    • Barry Clegg - merger/acquisitions lawyer for $250m firm
      • Strong Mayor Advocate
      • Inteview with Civic Caucus "Also, we have a very active Council. ** During the unrest in 2020, there was a Council member on the street trying to give orders to the police that were contrary to the orders through the chain of command."** (source)
      • Interview with LWV: (source)
      • Lawyer, Lathrop GPM (source)
        • practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, tax law, cooperative law, agricultural law and closely held businesses. Barry has worked extensively with corporate, partnership, joint venture, cooperative and individual clients to achieve their business goals in the most tax-efficient means possible. He is also a frequent lecturer at seminars on corporate and tax issues.
        • " Lathrop GPM is an AmLaw 200 firm" (source)
        • "With the addition of Hopkins Carley’s San Jose and Redwood Shores Offices, the combination increases the firm’s coast-to-coast reach to 13 offices across eight states and Washington, D.C. The national combined firm will have an approximate annual revenue of $250 million."
    • Jill Garcia
      • MN Dept of Commerce Energy Contacts Coordinator (source)
      • Consultant: García Project Management and Multicultural Political Consulting
      • Treasurer on Board of Growing Community Roots (source)
        • "Growing Community Roots (GCR) raises funds for water catchment systems, sanitation facilities, community gardens, and tree farms for schools in the poverty-stricken area of West Kenya."
      • 2009-2013: Supportive Housing Manager, Beacon Interfaith
    • Peter Ginder (CHAIR) - city deputy attorney
    • Andrew Kozak - registered lobbyist for cigarettes, AmEx, Koch oil refinery (as of 2020, per MN Daily)
      • registered lobbyist
        • Common Cause called for recusal on redistricting (source)
      • MNDaily: registered lobbyist as of 2020 for: (source)
        • RAI (Newport, Camel, cigarettes)
        • American Express
        • Dunbar Development
        • Flint Hills Resources, LLC, the oil refining company owned by the politically influential Koch family.
    • Matthew Perry - retired(?) software engineer and IT services consultant, president Southwest Biz Assoc (source)
      • Also current Chair of Zoning Board of Adjustments (source)
      • President of SW Business Association (source)
      • Matt Perry, was the treasurer of a political action committee called “Minneapolis Works!” that worked with another Republican PAC to funnel business money into city elections. In 2017, Minneapolis Works! spent $275,000 trying to stop challengers to the left of then-city councilors, like conservative Democrat Barb Johnson, who ultimately lost to Phillipe Cunningham, a current leader of the police reform efforts. (source)
      • More on "Mineapolis Works!" (source)

  • Two members opposed the 2020 pocket veto and are still on the commission:

    • Andrea Rubenstein (Vice Chair)
    • Christopher Smith

  • Eight members not on the charter commission in 2020

    • Sherri Boone
    • Ben Cooper (has publicly opposed this proposal)
    • Mariam DeMello (former city council candidate in 2025, Ward 11)
    • Julie Doherty
    • Samantha Holquist
    • Joshua Ney
    • Eric Prindle (has publicly opposed this proposal)
    • Jeff Schneider - retired longtime city staff
      • Organized in favor of strong mayor back in 2021
      • "*Jeff Schneider is a long-time Minneapolis resident, retired city employee, and volunteer with Charter for Change, a grassroots, nonpartisan volunteer group that is presenting fact-based information on the amendment. *(source)
      • honored by city resolution (source) (source)

History of This Proposal

Proposal history and documents in city system

Broader history as a selected timeline (saving you some time from perusing the LONG list of documents on that page above)

  • Jan 2021: Summary of the interview(s) with former elected officials and department heads related to government structure (2021)
    • Barry Clegg, Jill Garcia, Greg Abbot authors
  • 2021 "Strong Mayor" charter amendment passes
  • 2023 Casey Carl report (source)
  • Oct 2023 proposed change to appointments in charter amendment (first time?) (source)
    • Comm Safety
    • City Ops Officer
    • City Attorney
    • Fire
    • Police
  • Jan 2024 revised amendment draft (source)
  • March 2024 Frey Letter (source)
    • requests "An appointment process that depoliticizes and professionalizes the department head hiring process"
  • March 2025 revised amendment draft (source)
  • May 2025 memo changes proposed ocnfirmations to ADD dir of Public Works and CPED to council review
  • Aug 2025 Letter from Mayor Frey (source)
    • "All other department heads would be hired by the cabinet member they report to, in consultation with the Mayor." (outside Ops, Attorney, Safety Comm, Police, Fire)
    • "Many potential nominees have expressed that the Council confirmation process is intimidating, overly political, and a public threat to their reputation and future employment beyond the City... a political process that may deter talent."
    • ". By removing this political lens from the hiring process, we can recruit strong public servant leaders who want to run their departments effectively, regardless of the political views of the Mayor or Council."
    • "Ideally, these changes would be approved by a unanimous vote of the City Council. " #hmm
  • Sept 2025 Letter from Elliot Payne (source)
    • "Even in a strong mayor system, it is important to ensure sufficient checks and balances to prevent an over-accumulation of power in a single branch or even a single official. The Council is the only substantive check on an otherwise all-powerful Mayor. "
    • quotes Commisison's own report: "Our proposal leaves the Council as the primary actor in matters of local legislation and policymaking. While the Mayor recommends proposals, it is the Council that dominates and drives the City’s legislative process, reflecting the multiple perspectives, voices, opinions, priorities, and needs of the many communities that constitute the City as a whole. The Council stands as the proxy of the public"
    • "we also recognize the need for a process that is both efficient and consistent. We are open to thoughtful collaboration on refining the appointment process to ensure a positive experience for candidates, while preserving Council’s meaningful involvement and oversight."
  • Jan 21 2026 meeting
    • Received a report on "Comparable research on municipal councils in select jurisdictions"
      • and "addendum report on the department head appointment and confirmation process from select comparable jurisdictions"
  • April 9 2026
  • Public Hearing May 6 on this proposal
    • It’s going to be on May 6 at 4 p.m. in room 350 of the Public Service Center, located at 250 South 4th Street in Minneapolis. (source)

Charter Commission and Govt Structure History

Did you know at some points the City Council had DOZENS of members? (source)

  • Members were required to be "freeholders" (property owners) until 1961: "It was not until a 1961 statute update that this was changed to the Charter Commission, yet it was required to be made up of 'freeholders and qualified voters' until 1967." (Source)
    • "In modern times, Orfield said, the Commission has become 'dominated by lawyers who are in the service of established interests, more conservative and representing the interests of big business and the mayor, a consensus of powerful people.'"
  • City Clerk Casey Carl's Minneapolis charter history report
  • John Edwards of Wedge LIVE! on police charter history - 1961
  • 1951: council as currently structured - Referendum No. 12 passed
    • Retained the existing thirteen wards into which the City was divided;
    • Reduced the number of aldermen to one per ward, from twenty-six (since 1891) to thirteen, which remains in place today;
    • Reduced the term from four years to two years;
    • Applied the two-year term to the other municipal officials (mayor, treasurer, and comptroller).
  • 1961 - police charter amendent to enshrine guaranteed minimum number of police officers
  • 1967 - referendum 22 passes
    • Reduced the members on the elected Park & Recreation Board of Commissioners from sixteen to nine, removing those serving in ex officio capacity;
    • Divided the park district into six districts, with one commissioner elected from each district;
    • Provided for the popular election (at-large) of three commissioner
  • 1975: Charter Amendment No. 67, adopted by referendum,
    • set terms for Park Board Commissioners at four years (reduced from six years), consistent with other municipal offices.
    • Charter Amendment No. 68, adopted by referendum, provided that all acts of the Park & Recreation
      • Board were subject to approval or disapproval of the popularly-elected mayor, similar to the City Council
  • 1976: treasurer and comptroller combined
    • 1 Mayor;
    • 1 Comptroller;
    • 13 Council Members, each by ward, constituting the City Council;
    • 7 School Board Directors, all elected at-large;
    • 7 Library Board members (unclear data);
    • 9 Park Board Commissioners, six by district and three at-large; and
    • 2 Board of Estimate & Taxation Members, elected at-large
  • 1980: charter Amendment No. 81, enacted by referendum, set the elective term for mayor at four years
  • 1983: comptroller-treasurer eliminated
    • Pursuant to Laws of Minnesota 1983, Chapter 160, the elective office of Comptroller-Treasurer in the City of Minneapolis is eliminated, and the duties are transferred to the newly-established appointive position of Finance Officer, which consolidated all accounting, budget, financial management, and related functions into a single position. Under the home rule charter, the Finance Officer is made the treasurer and/or financial officer of all City agencies, departments and divisions, and offices of the City of Minneapolis
    • Referendum No. 97 passes; this proposal changes the title of office from “Alderman” to “Council Member.”
  • 1984: Charter Amendment No. 102, enacted by referendum, sets the elective term of Council Member at four years.
  • 2006: STV / RCV
    • Charter Amendment No. 161, enacted by referendum, instituted the Single Transferable Vote (also referred to as Ranked-Choice Voting) for the election of municipal officials, eliminated a municipal primary, all to become effective with the regular municipal election in 2009.
  • 2007: library board merges into Hennepin
  • 2008: Davnie-driven school board re-org
    • Divided the city into six school districts;
    • Established the School Board as a nine-member governing board having supervision over the Minneapolis Special School District No. 1 (Minneapolis Public Schools);
    • Six directors would be elected from each of six districts;
    • Three directors would be popularly elected (at-large) from the entire city
  • 2010: referendum Redistricting re-assigned to Charter Commission
  • 2013: Plain language rewrite of whole charter
  • 2020: Charter Commission pocket vetoes council police structure change
    • "The Charter Commission voted to take more time to review amendment eliminating police, blocking it from reaching the ballot in the fall" (source)
    • ". But if the commission delays their action past August 5"

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