Dysfunctional Minneapolis city leadership undergoing nearly $1.4 million in counseling

In an effort to repair the dysfunctional relationship between Minneapolis city leaders, the city contracted with a consultant and will pay out nearly $1.4 million over the next few years. 

In the last few months, the City Council and Mayor Jacob Frey have fought over eviction notices, the reappointment of the commissioner of public safety, and most recently the resignation of Police Chief Brian O'Hara.

City documents reveal the contract with Darcy Luoma Coaching & Consulting will run up to $1,386,000 for a term of three years.

New City Council member Pearll Warren said it's time to get back to basics. Warren felt discord right away when she joined the council, saying she was "under attack."

"I'm trying to get things done for the constituents in my ward and the people that I intend on serving," Warren said. "I'm facing a lot of opposition coming into the door."

Warren described the sessions as strategic planning and leadership development. The council and the mayor met last week. 

Jamison Whiting, who's also new this term to the City Council, said they all found some level of agreement. He acknowledged the parameters they established should be the basis of any job. 

"No personal attacks whether that is in public or in private, pick up your phone and call each other before you pick up the mic, and then a shared level of accountability," Whiting said. 

He says he went into the relationship wanting to engage differently.

"We have some folks that sit over here and some folks that sit over there and so what we are trying to do, at least I believe, is that we have to get outside of this tale of two cities thing and we need to move Minneapolis in the same direction," Whiting said. 

Warren called the initial conversations productive.

"Change costs, effectiveness costs, right? So, when you look at how you invest in yourself, and how you invest in ensuring that individuals have the proper tools in order to help our city to be more successful, it doesn't come without a price tag," Warren said.

In a statement, Frey called the cost worthwhile.

"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." 

Minneapolis City Clerk Casey Carl said the mayor and council members first met in January, though when Renee Good was shot and killed, the session was cancelled. 

Carl said group meetings should happen each quarter. City Council members will also have access to individual coaching.