Minneapolis City Council

Palmisano elected vice president

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On Jan.10, 2022, the new Minneapolis City Council met for the first time and elected two southwest area council members to lead the council this term. Ward 8 Council Member Andrea Jenkins was elected president and Ward 13 Council Member Linnea Palmisano vice-president.
At the meeting the council also approved committee assignments, Casey Carl to continue as city clerk, and the council meeting calendar for 2022.
While the election of former Vice President Jenkins, to be president was unanimous, the election of vice-president was contested with both Ward 1 Council Member Eliot Payne, and Palmisano seeking the seat. Council Member Jeremiah Ellison from the 5th Ward nominated Payne, and Council Member Lisa Goodman, from the 7th, nominated Palmisano.
There were also two competing proposals for committee assignments, one offered by Jenkins, who supported Palmisano for vice-president, and one offered by Payne.
After some discussion, the council voted 8 to 5 to approve Palmisano as Vice President and the Jenkins committee structure. The five who voted in the minority were Payne, Rodin Wonsley Worlobah, Jason Chavez, Aisha Chughtai, and Jeremiah Ellison.
One of the big winners, in terms of the number of assignments and likely getting the heaviest workload, is Palmisano. She is now vice-president, chair of the Committee of the Whole, chair of the Government Structure Subcommittee, vice-chair of the Budget Committee and chair of the Audit Committee, which will likely be taking on a bigger role under the government structure charter change. She is also a member of the Public Health and Public Safety Committee.
Another southwest council member, Emily Koski from Ward 11, will chair the Budget Committee. She is only one of two new council members who will be chairing a committee. The other is council member Latrishs Vetaw, who will be chair the Public Health and Safety Committee. Koski will also serve on the Audit Committee.
Almost all matters acted on by city council are reviewed first by a committee, where they may be revised before being considered by the full council. Committee chairs are responsible for both setting the agendas and running the meetings. They tend to work closely with staff and can influence priorities, work plans and timetables of committees.
For more about committee roles, responsibilities, and membership see https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-council/about-city-council/committees/.

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