Fiscal Note
The final report of the Task Force on the Structure of City Government includes over 40 recommendations for future action. Accepting the report does not have an immediate fiscal impact but implementing the recommendations may result in the need for increased funding in the future.
Some of the proposals in the report could make a number of significant changes to city government. These proposals, if considered in subsequent separate resolutions or budgets for adoption by the Mayor and Council, will require further review, including identification of possible reallocation of existing staff and changes to existing service levels. The report’s recommendations could result in costs and benefits that could be realized through proposed process and structural changes. Some of the elements of the report, such as the reduction in the number of committees, may result in savings; however these savings are not determinable at this time due to limitations in tracking the amount of staff time currently spent on the existing committee structure.
It is anticipated that transitioning to a full-time Council with ten members with higher salaries could result in an estimated cost of approximately $1 million. Other organizational changes and outreach approaches could also add costs and realize potential savings that will require further analysis in future budgets if considered for implementation by the Mayor and Council.
The resolution makes no appropriation to fund the proposals in the report.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Accepting the Final Report of the Task Force on the Structure of City Government and Making Referrals to City Committees and Departments for Determination of Next Steps.
Body
WHEREAS, By Resolution 17-00714, Legistar 47707, adopted September 5, 2107, the City of Madison established the Task Force on the Structure of City Government (Known by the acronym TFOGS); and,
WHEREAS, On February 6, 2018, Legistar 50388, the following persons were confirmed as members of TFOGS: Eileen Harrington (Chair), Alder Sheri Carter, Justice Castañeda, Alder Sara Eskrich, Alder Rebecca Kemble, Maggie Northrop, Catherine Patton, John Rothschild, Alder Paul Skidmore, Eric Upchurch, and Jerry Vang; and,
WHEREAS, At the time TFOGS finished its Final Report and forwarded it to the Common Council and the Mayor, the members consisted of Eileen Harrington (Chair), John Rothschild (Vice Chair), Justice Castañeda, Alder Keith Furman, Roger Goodwin, Alder Rebecca Kemble, Maggie Northrop, Alder Paul Skidmore, Ron Trachtenberg, and Eric Upchurch with one vacancy; and,
WHEREAS, From February 2018 to November 2019, the Task Force and its subcommittees met 90 times, studied the issues identified in the Resolution establishing the Task Force, held public open houses, reached out to underrepresented communities through Community Liaisons, gathered input from members of the public, former Mayors, other public officials, and current city staff; and,
WHEREAS, On November 20, 2019, the TFOGS voted unanimously to forward its Final Report, which contains over 40 recommendations related to the structure of City government, to the Mayor and Common Council for acceptance and further action,
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Common Council of the City of Madison Accepts the Final Report of the Task Force on the Structure of City Government; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Final Report shall be referred to the Common Council Executive Committee, the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Mayor’s Office, the City Clerk and the IT Department to organize and outline determine further steps to that could be taken in response to the Report; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council expresses its deep appreciation to the members of the Task Force, to the Community Liaisons, to all the public officials, city employees, and members of the public who participated in the TFOGS process, for their dedication and hard work in completing the Final Report.