Boards & Commissions Forum Recap

On August 29 Council Member Reich hosted a community meeting on the topic of the City of Minneapolis’ Appointed Boards and Commissions. Eighteen current and former Ward 1 representatives provided information about the focus and mission of the particular boards or committees they served on and described their experiences for the audience of community members. One enlightening highlight was former commissioner Sonja Peterson’s brief history of the Civil Rights Commission, including that Hubert H. Humphrey was instrumental in establishing it in the 1940s, making it the City’s oldest. At the other end of the spectrum, Matti Gurney and Peter Janelle, the former and current representatives respectively to the Pedestrian Advisory Committee, described the evolution and work of what is the City’s newest advisory board. City Clerk Casey Carl explained the semi-annual appointment cycle and offered information about how to apply for open positions.

One of the most striking elements of the forum was the high level of commitment of these representatives to their work on behalf of their neighbors and fellow citizens. JP Hagerty, a member of the Ethical Practices Board, told the audience that after enjoying living in Minneapolis for 10 years she was motivated by a desire to give back. Other representatives talked about the important contributions these entities make to City policy and legislation. If you are interested in learning more about this unique opportunity to engage with your community and the City of Minneapolis as a whole, click HERE.