Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - In Support of Balanced Municipal Representation on the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District
Body
WHEREAS, the creation and governance of metropolitan sewer districts is governed by state statutes, which provide for two systems - one for districts that contain first class cities (Milwaukee) and one for all other districts;
WHEREAS, the Madison Metropolitan Sewer District (MMSD) governed by a five member commission appointed by the Dane County Board of Supervisors and the Dane County Executive's Office; and
WHEREAS, MMSD serves less than 75% of the county's population, and sewerage services are not a county service; and
WHEREAS, MMSD the City of Madison and many other communities,is are currently facing new costs associated with phosphorous mitigation; and
WHEREAS, local units of government that comprise MMSD have no direct say in how the district is operated; and
WHEREAS, Madison's commitment to environmental protection, and sustainability make it an invaluable voice on the MMSD commission; and
WHEREAS, when public dollars are being spent, it should ideally be elected officials making the spending decisions; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison mayor's office began a discussion with the other communities in the district about changing the method of appointments to the MMSD commission to a model similar to Milwaukee's - where the user so that user communities that comprise the district would appoint the commissioners; and a majority would be elected officials; and
WHEREAS, after discussion with some of the other communities in the district, the mayor's office has proposed the following changes: increasing the commission to nine members with five appointments by the City of Madison mayor, three by the cities and villages in the district, and one by the towns in the district, and has proposed including safeguards for minority interest;
* Increase to a nine member board with five appointments by the City of Madison Mayor,
three by cities and villages in the district, and one by the towns in the district.
* Three of Madison's and two of cities and villages appointments must be elected officials.
* Chair of Commission chosen from a city, village or town other than the City of Madison.
* Any changes to the way in which fees are allocated, and to the guidelines for annexation
must be adopted by a 2/3 vote of the commission;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison Mayor and Common Council support the effort to pursue a statutory change to the way that MMSD commissioners are appointed in order to provide balanced municipal representation on the sewerage district commission.