Charlie Zelle was reappointed Tuesday as chair of the Metropolitan Council by Gov. Tim Walz, a move that comes as the regional planning body is under fire for its handling of the Southwest light-rail project and charges that it lacks transparency and accountability.
Zelle, 67, will continue to oversee the expansion of the metro area's public transportation system at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has dampened transit ridership. Persistent crime on Metro Transit buses and trains has dogged the public transportation system in recent years, prompting the agency to craft an expansive safety plan.
The Met Council also is facing a "fiscal cliff" in its budget as key sources of revenue decline, including the state's motor vehicle sales tax.
Some lawmakers and members of the public are calling for the 17-member council to be elected rather than appointed by the governor, arguing that it would make the body more transparent and accountable to the public.
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Zelle in his second four-year term is completion of the $2.7 billion Southwest light-rail line between downtown Minneapolis and Eden Prairie. The project is still short about $260 million and is running nearly a decade behind schedule.
A special review probing Southwest cost overruns and delays is underway by the state Office of the Legislative Auditor, with the first of two reports expected in February.
"These are really critical issues that I care a lot about," said Zelle. A second term, he added, provides time "for fresh energy and a reset."
The Met Council oversees close to 4,800 employees and an operating budget of $1.3 billion. In addition to running Metro Transit, the council is responsible for collecting and treating the region's wastewater, and overseeing affordable housing and the metro area's regional parks system.
