One hundred and two years after its incorporation in 1854, the city elected Elizabeth DeCourcy as its first female council member in 1956.

[6] Dai Thao, elected in 2013, was the first Hmong American council member, representing Ward 1 until he moved to Florida in 2022.

Nelsie Yang joined the council in 2020 as the first Hmong American woman and the youngest member ever at age 24, representing Ward 6.

[12] On February 28, 2024, Nelsie Yang attempted to introduce a resolution calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The incident prompted discussions about democracy, public leadership, and the role of elected officials in addressing global issues at the local level.