The appointment process

Learn how the City appoints members to serve on boards and commissions.

Overview

The Office of City Clerk publishes open seats online.

See current openings

  1. We notify the public of the open seats:
    • By emails sent to our subscriber list. Sign up for email
    • Through local media outlets and neighborhood organizations.
  2. We accept applications online. Learn how to apply
  3. We forward the applications to the staff liaisons, who:
    • Review the applications.
    • Submit the nominees to City Council and the Mayor for consideration.
  4. Council votes on the appointments in both the committee and full Council meetings.
  5. Once approved, the Mayor signs off on the appointments.
  6. We publish the official appointment.
  7. Staff liaisons notify applicants of onboarding requirements.

See onboarding requirements

A meeting of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission

Key terms for board openings

Open seats

The City has openings on a board or commission when:

  • The board is newly established
  • A member's term expires
  • A member resigns or dies
  • A member fails to comply with:
    • Onboarding requirements
    • Attendance requirements
    • Duties and obligations required by City law or the board's bylaws

Terms

  • All seats have set terms that stay the same no matter who is in them. The term belongs to the seat, not the person. Terms run on a set schedule and don’t change if someone joins or leaves.
  • Most terms last two years, unless the rules say otherwise.
  • Terms usually start on July 1 each year. If someone is appointed at a different time, they finish the term that’s already in progress.

Appointing authority

  • The appointing authority is the person or group that officially appoints individuals to a seat on a board.
  • In most cases, this is the City Council and Mayor together.
  • If a seat is designated as a "ward representative," the Council Member from that ward nominates someone, but the full City Council must approve the appointment.
  • For some seats, outside agencies—such as the Park Board—may serve as the appointing authority. It depends on the rules that established the board or commission.

Qualified seats

  • Specific restrictions or requirements apply to some seats.
  • Qualifications are related to the core mission of the board. 
  • For example, seats may call for applicants who:
    • Have certain professional or lived experiences
    • Reside in a given area
    • Are selected by a designated official or authority