City council members make decisions that affect the daily lives of people who live, go to school and work here. They’re often expected to enhance their communities over the long term while also paying attention to immediate needs. This requires a vision for the future and a track record of community involvement, along with negotiation skills, patience and a basic understanding of public finance.
If a council member has an idea for a new initiative outside the goal-setting process, they need to present it to staff and hear their feedback on cost and feasibility. Then they can decide whether to pursue it. If they do, a majority vote determines its fate.
Council members have offices in their districts, but gather at 250 Broadway for state-wide meetings called “stated meetings” twice a month, as well as on an as-needed basis during July and August. They also participate in 35 standing committees and four select or subcommittees with oversight of different areas of city government. The speaker of the council and the majority and minority leaders are ex officio members of every committee.
The council doesn’t operate as a partisan body, but the three current Republicans (Joe Matteo, Joseph Borelli and Eric Ulrich) don’t have much leverage over their Democratic colleagues. They have to be especially careful when they criticize the administration in public and avoid running afoul of state law on campaign financing. They also need to keep in mind that state laws, court rulings and administrative agencies may limit their discretion.