We’re getting ready to change our nameplates in the Council Chambers. I’ve seen the new ones. They look great. It will be a big upgrade from the plain ones we use now that people can’t read because they’re too small, but that’s enough about that…..
So as staff began the process of ordering the nameplates the topic came up about how we ought to refer to the people who are Members of the City Council. Currently, and for as long as anyone can remember, we’ve been calling them “Councilmember” in Eden Prairie. One word. Councilmember.
Other cities use terms like “Councilperson” or “Councilor”. But the most common title is “Council Member”. Two words. Council Member.
Staff debated this via email until I said that we would see what other comparable Twin Cities suburbs did on the matter and then ask our Councilmembers for their opinion. We did a quick survey of the websites of the eleven other cities of the Municipal Legislative Commission. Here are the results:
Councilmember cities: Eagan, Apple Valley, Maple Grove, Bloomington, Shoreview and Eden Prairie.
Council Member cities: Maplewood, Lakeville, Burnsville, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Edina, and Woodbury.
I then raised the question at the Council meeting Tuesday night. There was what seemed to me to be a long pause, then Councilmember Sherry Butcher said that she thought the title ought to be Council Member. The other Council Members agreed. The issues was resolved in about two minutes. We now have Council Members in Eden Prairie instead of Councilmembers.
Not a huge deal or anything, but I thought you’d all like to know.
