What to know about City Council

City council members oversee city operations, pass laws and address community needs.

“We are responsible for passing laws, approving the city’s budget [and] providing oversight of our of the city’s operations,” Council member-at-large, Dimple Ajmera told QCity Metro. “We are responsible for addressing the community’s needs, such as public safety, affordable housing infrastructure, creating good paying jobs and retaining good paying jobs and supporting small businesses.” 

The council also sets the property tax rates, sales tax, and property tax rates as well as oversees zoning. 

“Everything that you see when you walk out the house, the council has a role in what’s happening,” Malcolm Graham, who represents the city’s District 2, said. “ In terms of how [land] is zoned to the streets that you drive on; in terms of whether or not it has been paved, whether or not there are sidewalks in your neighborhood, how other commercial properties have zoned when you drive down the street and you see the Starbucks and the Bojangles restaurant.” 

The council is comprised of the mayor, Vi Lyles, and 11 members, who are elected into their respective positions. Four of the 11 members are “at large,” and the remaining seven represent specific districts around Charlotte.

At-large members, like Ajmera, represent and make decisions for the whole of the city.

“​​At large members are looking at it from the entire city’s perspective,” Ajmera said. “That’s not just in the district’s best interest, but what’s in the city’s best interests as a whole.”  

District members, like Graham, make decisions on behalf of the districts they represent. 

The city council also appoints the city manager, the city attorney, the city clerk and other key officials.

Charlotte’s government is a council-manager form of government, meaning the city manager, Marcus D. Jones, leads day-to-day operations. 

“The mayor is the spokesperson for the council, but the mayor doesn’t even vote,” Graham said. 

Instead, Lyles only votes in case of a tie. 

The city manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Charlotte Graham said. 

Meetings 

Meetings are held typically every Monday, with each week of the month serving a different purpose. 

The first meeting of the month is for committee meetings and all the subcommittees – like transportation, economic development, governance and budget, public safety, and housing – meet.

The second and fourth Monday are business meetings, where there are business items on the agenda. 

The third Monday of the month is zoning meetings, where council members discuss issues relating to zoning and planning. 

Elections

Elections for the city council are held every two years. Each district elects one council member, and the mayor, as well as the four at-large members, are determined by citywide vote. 

The only requirement to run for city council is that candidates have to pay a filing fee and register an official campaign account, Graham told QCity Metro.  

Getting involved 

One way Charlotte residents can get involved in Charlotte’s local government is to attend city council meetings.

“We listen to constituents, the private sector, we listen to the faith community, nonprofit leaders …that perspective is important as we make policy decisions,” Ajmera said. 

Residents can also sign up to speak during public forums, which are held on the second and fourth Mondays of each month.

Residents can also email city council members. To find their email address, visit the city of Charlotte’s website. 

“Feel free to pick up the phone, give us a call or give us an email,” Graham said. 

Another way residents can get involved is by serving on a number of boards and commissions that the city council appoints, like the Planning Commission or the Airport Advisory Board.