Minneapolis’ quiet tug-of-war over who picks the people running key city departments is heating up, and residents are being pulled into the middle of it.
The city’s Charter Commission has called a special meeting for Thursday, April 9, to consider a proposal that would strip the City Council of its power to confirm several high-level department heads. Ward 9 Council Member Jason Chavez flagged the move on social media, warning it would concentrate appointment power in fewer hands and shrink the public’s ability to vet top city leaders.
What the Charter Commission Is Reviewing
The Charter Commission’s online calendar shows a special meeting at 4:00 p.m. in Room 350 of the Public Service Center at 250 S. 4th St., with a follow-up session listed for Wednesday, May 6. Residents can check the Charter Commission calendar for the official meeting time, room information and livestream details.
What Is in the Proposal
In a Facebook post, Chavez said the draft language would remove the Council’s confirmation authority for six department heads: the Minneapolis Health Department, Community Planning & Economic Development, Regulatory Services, Assessing, Civil Rights and Public Works. According to Chavez, those departments together oversee nearly $700 million in taxpayer funds.
The post urges neighbors to show up if the commission moves ahead with a May 6 public hearing on the appointment changes. The outline tracks with Mayor Jacob Frey’s earlier recommendation that only a small group of top cabinet posts, along with the police and fire chiefs, should require Council confirmation, while other department heads would be hired by cabinet officers. Frey laid out that approach in an August 20, 2025 letter to the Charter Commission.
Why Critics Say It Matters
City Council President Elliott Payne, in a letter to the Charter Commission, pressed commissioners to keep the Council in the loop on key appointments, arguing the city needs “sufficient checks and balances” to avoid an over-accumulation of executive power.
Opponents of the change, including some council members, argue that confirmation hearings are one of the few highly visible chances for the public to hear from department head nominees directly, and to raise questions about priorities, performance and accountability. For broader context on the ongoing fight over trimming Council confirmation powers, see reporting by the Star Tribune.
How the Charter Could Actually Change
The city’s charter office outlines two legal paths to change the charter: a ballot question that voters approve, or an ordinance passed by the City Council and signed by the mayor. That second route is a high bar, since it requires a unanimous vote of the full Council.
The City’s guide on Amending the Charter spells out how those processes work, including timelines, petition rules and the specific role the Charter Commission plays in sending recommendations down either path.
How to Follow or Weigh In
The Charter Commission accepts public comment both during meetings and in writing. Its calendar currently lists the April 9 special meeting and the May 6 session that could double as a public hearing if commissioners decide to move forward.
For meeting materials, remote access links and instructions on submitting comments, residents can check the Charter Commission calendar or contact the City Clerk’s office for accommodations and sign-up procedures. Anyone who wants their views in the official record should plan to attend or send written testimony before any hearing is formally set.
If the Commission does set a public hearing, its final recommendation could go to the City Council for unanimous enactment, or be packaged for voters as a ballot question, which is a choice that will decide whether elected officials or Minneapolis voters ultimately call the shot on this shift in appointment power. Expect more public debate as the Commission weighs the proposal and as the mayor’s office and City Council members push their competing visions of accountability and how Minneapolis recruits its top staff.
