Saint Paul City Council Appoints Dillon Donnelly as Community Advisor and Announces Audit Committee Membership Changes

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March 11, 2026

Saint Paul City Council Appoints Dillon Donnelly as Community Advisor and Announces Audit Committee Membership Changes

SAINT PAUL - Today, The Saint Paul City Council has appointed Mr. Dillon Donnelly to serve as Community Advisor to the Audit Committee, in accordance with RES 26-374. Mr. Donnelly will serve as a non-voting member for a three-year term beginning March 17, 2026, and concluding March 20, 2029.

This appointment follows the service of Mr. James Farnsworth, who served as Community Advisor from 2022 to 2025 and was reappointed before his resignation in September 2025. The Audit Committee and City Council extend their sincere appreciation to Mr. Farnsworth for his dedicated service and warmly welcome Mr. Donnelly to the Committee.

Mr. Donnelly was selected based on his "very impressive experience with performance management and improvement and his knowledge of city programs and systems," said Audit Committee Chair Rebecca Noecker.

"The Audit Committee impacts the lives and livelihoods of all Saint Paulites, conducting performance audits of city departments to ensure value for more than $900 million in taxpayer funds spent on critical programs and services," said Community Advisor Noah McVay. "At a time of democratic backsliding, the committee's mandate to serve as the public's window into the inner workings of City Hall has never been more important. Mr. Donnelly brings valuable skills, lived experiences, and a deep passion for public service to this work, and I warmly welcome him as our newest community advisor."

Mr. Donnelly works in workforce development, connecting employers and job seekers across Minnesota. He brings a background in manufacturing and operations management and holds a Master of Business Administration from Hamline University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of St. Thomas. He has also volunteered with a range of organizations throughout Saint Paul.

He has previously served on the Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board and the Saint Paul Business Review Council. Mr. Donnelly believes government should be pragmatic, accountable, and focused on delivering results for the people of Saint Paul. He lives in Saint Paul's Cathedral Hill neighborhood with his wife and two children.

"It is my privilege to serve on the Audit Committee," said Mr. Donnelly. "I believe in continuous improvement and delivering results for the people of Saint Paul. I'm ready to get to work."

Ward 4 Councilmember Molly Coleman, who joined the committee in August 2025, was recently appointed Vice Chair. Additionally, Ward 7 Councilmember Cheniqua Johnson was appointed to the Audit Committee.

To learn more about the work of the Committee, you are encouraged to visit https://www.stpaul.gov/auditcommittee.

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