Fiscal Note
The proposed ordinance modifies the length of Alder terms from two years to three years and staggers the terms such that six to seven alders will be elected each year. The ordinance is subject to referendum at the 2023 Spring election and provides for implementation of the staggered terms beginning in the 2025 Spring election. Any costs associated with the changes will need to be incorporated in future operating budgets.
Title
SECOND SUBSTITUTE: Amending Section 3.01(1) of the Madison General Ordinances to Update Alder Terms.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: This ordinance modifies Alder election terms to stagger start and end dates for each district Alder and change length to three-year terms.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subsection (1) of Section 3.01 entitled “Organization Under Mayor Plan” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
“(1) The government of the City of Madison is organized and constituted under Wis. Stat. ch. 62 providing for the City Mayor and Aldermanic plan with a Common Council composed of twenty (20) alderpersons, one (1) from each aldermanic district. The Mayor and alderpersons are to be elected for a term of two (2) years; provided, however, that beginning with the 1991 Spring Election, the Mayor shall be elected for a term of four (4) years, and that beginning with the 2025 Spring Election, alders shall be elected to staggered terms of three (3) years. To implement the staggered terms, the 2025 Spring Election shall include one two-year terms for Districts 3, 6, 12, 15, 16, 17, and 18 1, 10, 20, 58, 14, 12, 17; two three-year terms for Districts 1, 7, 9, 10, 11, 19 and 20 7, 11, 2, 85, 3, 15, 18; and three four-year terms for Districts 2, 4, 5, 8, 13, and 14 9, 19, 4, 13, 6, 16. In subsequent elections the term for alders shall be three years.”
2. This ordinance shall take effect if passed by referendum at the 2023 Spring Election.