The Jackson City Council is the legislative branch of Mississippi’s capital city: seven part-time members, one elected from each ward, who write local ordinances, approve the annual budget, and serve as a check on the mayor. The council operates under a mayor-council form of government authorized by Section 21-8-9 of the Mississippi Code.1Jackson Mississippi. City Council Regular meetings happen Tuesdays at City Hall, and any resident can speak on an agenda item after registering with the Clerk of Council by noon the business day before.
Who Sits on the Council
Each of Jackson’s seven wards elects one representative, so every neighborhood has a single person accountable for its interests. Terms run four years and begin on the first day of July after an election.2Mississippi Secretary of State. Candidate Qualifying Forms The seat pays $25,000 a year, with an additional $2,000 for the council president, prorated by time served in the role.
As of 2025, the members are:
- Ward 1: Ashby M. Foote
- Ward 2: Tina Clay
- Ward 3: Kenneth Stokes
- Ward 4: Brian C. Grizzell, Council President
- Ward 5: Vernon Hartley, Vice President
- Ward 6: Lashia Brown-Thomas
- Ward 7: Kevin Parkinson
At the start of each term, the members elect a president and vice president from among themselves. The president runs meetings and sets the legislative agenda; the vice president fills in when the president is absent. Neither role carries extra voting power.1Jackson Mississippi. City Council
What the Council Does
The council holds exclusive authority to pass, amend, or repeal local ordinances covering zoning, public safety, business licensing, and other municipal matters. It also adopts the annual city budget, which determines how tax dollars reach police, fire, public works, parks, and every other department. Large-scale municipal contracts require council approval before the mayor’s office can proceed, and the council sets the local ad valorem property tax rate.3City of Jackson. Budget
Most detailed work happens in standing committees before an item reaches the full body for a vote. The council operates eight of them, covering finance, planning and economic development, public works, public safety and parks, rules and government operations, internal audit, legislative affairs, and public property renaming.4City of Jackson, Mississippi. Committee Assignments Committee meetings follow the same public notice requirements as regular sessions, so tracking a committee’s agenda gives you an early view of what will come before the full council.5City of Jackson. Council Agendas and Minutes
The Mayor’s Veto
Once the council passes an ordinance, it goes to the mayor. The mayor has up to fifteen days (excluding weekends and holidays) to sign it or return it to the council clerk with written objections. If the mayor takes no action within that window, the ordinance becomes law without a signature. If the mayor vetoes, the council can override the decision within ten days by a two-thirds vote of members present and voting.6Mississippi Judiciary. Chokwe A. Lumumba v. The City Council of Jackson, Mississippi With seven members, that typically means five votes when everyone is present. The mayor separately exercises executive power over the municipality and supervises all city officers and affairs.7Justia Law. Mississippi Code 21-8-15 – Mayor to Exercise Executive Power
Meeting Schedule and Attending in Person
Regular council meetings are held on Tuesdays at City Hall. The city posts the full calendar of meeting dates on its website, along with minutes and video recordings of past sessions.8City of Jackson, Mississippi. Council Agendas and Minutes The council may also call special meetings or work sessions when a matter cannot wait.
Agenda items for a regular meeting must be submitted to the clerk of council by 3:00 p.m. on the Tuesday before the meeting, with the agenda finalized by noon on Wednesday.9Municode Library. Jackson Code of Ordinances – Article II City Council Each council member, the mayor, and the city attorney get a copy in advance.
Speaking During a Meeting
To address the council, register with the Clerk of Council no later than noon on the business day immediately before the meeting. Your registration needs your name, address, and the specific agenda item number you want to speak on.10City of Jackson, Mississippi. Public Comments Miss that noon cutoff and your request will likely be moved to a later meeting.
When the council president recognizes you, you have three minutes to speak on the item, and you can only speak once per item unless the council extends your time by majority vote.10City of Jackson, Mississippi. Public Comments State your name and ward for the record before you begin. Supporting documents can go to the Clerk of Council for distribution to members.
Public hearings work differently. They are set for specific matters like zoning changes or budget approvals and take testimony focused on the item at hand rather than open comment on city operations. The council announces public hearings separately with their own notice.
When the Council Closes a Meeting
Mississippi’s Open Meetings Act requires official meetings of public bodies to be open to the public. The council can close a session only by declaring an executive session, which requires an affirmative vote of three-fifths of members present. The specific reason must be stated in the open meeting and recorded in the minutes. The permitted grounds are narrow: personnel matters involving a specific employee’s job performance or health, and strategy discussions involving active or potential litigation where a public session would harm the city’s legal position.11Mississippi Ethics Commission. Mississippi Code of 1972 Chapter 41 Open Meetings An executive session cannot be used to sidestep the Open Meetings Act.
Elections and Who Can Run
Council seats are filled at the regular Mississippi municipal election, held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June. Candidates must meet three basic requirements under state law:2Mississippi Secretary of State. Candidate Qualifying Forms
- Residency in the ward for at least two years before the election.
- Status as a qualified elector (registered voter) of the municipality.
- No disqualifying criminal record. Mississippi bars anyone convicted of bribery, perjury, or other felonies unless pardoned, with narrow exceptions for certain tax offenses and manslaughter.
There are no term limits under current law. Winners serve four-year terms and may run again indefinitely.
The Capitol Complex Improvement District
Not every square block inside Jackson is fully under the council’s control. The Capitol Complex Improvement District is a state-controlled zone around the state capitol and other government buildings, and it runs its own court system appointed by the Chief Justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court.12State of Mississippi Judiciary. Capitol Complex Improvement District Court That court handles criminal matters and traffic violations within the district’s boundaries, exercising jurisdiction equivalent to what Jackson’s municipal court would otherwise have.
City ordinances on public peace and traffic still technically apply inside the district, but enforcement and adjudication go through the state-appointed system rather than the city’s own courts. The district’s boundaries and authority have been expanded by the state legislature over time.
Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
The council has adopted a formal code of ethical conduct requiring members to disclose any conflict of interest before participating in a vote. A member with a personal financial stake, a contractual relationship, or a close family tie to any party involved in a matter must step aside from both discussion and voting. Casual relationships must be disclosed on the record but do not require recusal. Violations carry a $500 penalty and can lead to removal from office.