Minneapolis will pay $1.4M for ‘coaching’ between mayor, council members

Minneapolis has brought in an outside consultant in hopes of improving relations between the city council and mayor’s office.

A $1.4 million contract for “leadership development” and “executive coaching” with Madison, Wisconsin-based Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting began in October and is in effect through September 2028, with the option for up to two additional years.

City Clerk Casey Carl initiated the contract in September, and the City Council approved it by a unanimous vote.

Carl said his office brought the proposal to the council with an eye toward the first full four-year term of the mayor and City Council under the new “strong mayor” structure of governance. Darcy Luoma will focus on establishing strategy, norms and collaboration for council members and the mayor’s administration.

In addition to quarterly group sessions with all 13 council members, the mayor and cabinet members, the contract also involves one-on-one sessions and onboarding training for new council members.

While Carl said bringing in outside consultants on leadership strategy is a “very common tool” for city governments, he acknowledged that the contract is “in part a response to what we’ve seen in the previous term,” a reference to the often acrimonious relationship between Mayor Jacob Frey and the City Council.

The mayor and council members frequently traded barbs over political disagreements, but perhaps the most extreme example came in August, when City Council Vice President Aisha Chughtai cursed Frey on stage at an Uptown music festival. Frey, for his part, has accused council members of engaging in “vote trading and political gamesmanship.”

Council Member Aurin Chowdhury said the first session was on its second day when a federal immigration agent shot and killed Renee Good in Minneapolis.

A second session recently took place, to positive reviews.

“I do see that there are differences and that people are trying, and it’s a matter of just, yeah, making an effort, and if we make mistakes, try to learn from those mistakes,” Chowdhury said.

Jamison Whiting, a newcomer to the City Council, said being on the inside opened his eyes to why this sort of coaching is necessary.

“This city knows about the toxicity and lack of civility that has happened at City Hall, and so it’s something I have been looking forward to, and it went well,” Whiting said. “Engaging in those conversations, open and honest conversations where we are allowing ourselves to be vulnerable and actively move forward for the City of Minneapolis.”

So far, Whiting said the sessions have produced some norms that guide how officials interact with each other: no personal attacks, communicate in private before having open conflict at the dais, and hold each other accountable.

Frey was not available for an interview on Friday, but in a statement, he expressed his hope that the sessions would lead to more productive governance.

“Minneapolis works best when the people elected to lead it can work through disagreements respectfully and get things done,” Frey said. “We don’t have to agree on everything, but residents expect us to solve problems, not create more of them. If better communication helps us deliver safer streets, more housing, and better city services, that’s a worthwhile investment.” 

Chowdhury was confident her constituents would find the $1.4 million price tag to be a wise expenditure.

“I have only heard from residents that they want us to work our stuff out,” Chowdhury said. “… They don’t like seeing city council members fight over personal things. They don’t like seeing the high level of polarity between the council and the mayor, especially if it isn’t about the issues at hand.”

She said the work will be ongoing to find a sustainable path forward.

“To figure out what skills we need to sort out conflict without a third party, that’s the goal,” she said.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS has reached out to Darcy Luomo for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

Minneapolis leaders will meet again for a coaching session in late July.

“I think that is how we build shared trust as a body that will hopefully move through the next four years,” said Whiting. “And if that comes at a cost, I think we better make sure we’re putting in the effort and time and trust to actually do that for our constituents.”