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2026-01-05 - City Council Inaugural Meeting

Summary

Built from the official minutes (adopted by the City Council on February 9, 2026, 9-0). This is an older meeting, from January 2026; the portal lists no later council minutes. No video link was in the record we have; the Clerk's notes say 22-CityView recorded it.

  • Monday, January 5, 2026, 10:00 to 11:10 AM, the 49th inaugural ceremony under the Plan E form of government. Interim City Clerk Paula Crane called the meeting to order and presided until a mayor was elected; Clerk of Committees Nicole Erwin and Assistant to the City Council Naomie Stephen assisted.
  • All nine members of the 2026-2027 Council took the oath: Simmons (13th term), McGovern (7th), Siddiqui (5th), Nolan (4th), Azeem (3rd), Sobrinho-Wheeler (3rd), Zusy (2nd), Al-Zubi (1st) and Flaherty (1st). Two members of the prior term, Paul Toner and Ayesha Wilson, did not return.
  • Siddiqui elected Mayor on the first ballot after vote changes (first roll: 3 for Siddiqui, 3 for McGovern, 2 for Nolan, 1 for Zusy; six members then changed to Siddiqui).
  • Azeem elected Vice Chair (Vice Mayor) on the second ballot (4 Azeem, 4 Nolan, 1 Zusy on that roll) after five members changed to Azeem.
  • Outgoing Mayor Simmons received a crystal gavel from the Council.
  • The 2024-2025 Council Rules were provisionally adopted for the 2026-2027 term, 9-0 (see City Council Rules).
  • Adjourned 9-0 on a motion by McGovern at 11:10 AM; reception at The Foundry followed.

Election of the Mayor

  • The presiding clerk ruled that members may change their vote any time before the result is declared, and may vote "present." Ballot one: Al-Zubi, Sobrinho-Wheeler and Siddiqui for Siddiqui; Azeem, McGovern and Simmons for McGovern; Nolan and Zusy for Nolan; Flaherty for Zusy. Nolan, Azeem, Zusy, Flaherty, McGovern and Simmons then changed to Siddiqui.
  • In her remarks the new Mayor pledged to govern collaboratively and "putting people first."

Election of the Vice Chair

  • Ballot one: Azeem 4, Nolan 3, Sobrinho-Wheeler 1, Zusy 1. Ballot two: Azeem 4, Nolan 4, Zusy 1. Flaherty, Sobrinho-Wheeler, Nolan, Zusy and Siddiqui then changed to Azeem.
  • Vice Chair Azeem spoke of a city "quite united in our fight for affordability."

City Council Rules

  • Simmons moved to adopt the 2024-2025 rules provisionally for 2026-2027; passed 9-0. The 2026-2027 rules as provisionally adopted are published with the minutes.

Sources