The Mount Vernon City Council is made up of five members elected at large for overlapping terms of four years. The Council operates under home rule authority, as provided by the State Code of Iowa.

City Council meetings take place on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Mount Vernon Police Station at 380 Old Lincoln Highway. All meetings are open to the public.

Meeting agendas will be posted online the Friday before the next scheduled council meeting and on the bulletin board at City Hall. Minutes will be posted online by Friday following the council meeting.