Fiscal Note
No City appropriation required.
Title
Amending Section 2.27 of the Madison General Ordinances to Clarify Common Council’s Actions upon Submission of a Solitary Report.
Body
DRAFTER’S ANALYSIS: The current ordinance defines equates acceptance and adoption of a solitary report. This ordinance retains the current meaning of “accept” or “place on file” and states that a motion to adopt a report indicates that the Common Council agrees with the recommendations of a report. However, this ordinance requires a resolution that adopts a report specifically indicate any recommendation that is to be implemented. This ordinance also clarifies that the Council may also refer a committee’s report to another board, commission, or committee and later implement any recommendations made by that Sub-unit through legislative action. Finally this ordinance states that an Ad Hoc Sub-unit dissolves upon the Council taking action on a report unless otherwise directed by the Council.
***********************************************************************************
The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Section 2.27 entitled “Council Action on Solitary Reports” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended as follows:
“2.27 - COUNCIL ACTION ON SOLITARY REPORTS.
The Common Council shall consider and dispose of reports which it requests from City agencies, boards, commissions and committees. The Council may take no action on a report or may initiate legislative action as a result of a report. Any action of the Council resulting from consideration of a report, whether or not the action is a specific recommendation of a report, shall be taken through adoption of a resolution, ordinance or other legislative action at the time of or subsequent to consideration of a report. A motion to "adopt" or "accept" or "place on file" does not constitute or imply agreement or disagreement with the report findings or recommendations and such motions do not constitute adoption or rejection of any recommendations or statements as City policy. The adoption of any such recommendations or policy statements A motion to “adopt” means that the Council agrees with the report but implementation of any policy recommendations therein shall be accomplished explicitly through legislative action at the time of or subsequent to adoption of the report. The Council also may refer a report to another Sub-unit and subsequently implement any recommendations made by that Sub-unit through legislative action. Unless directed otherwise by the Council, an Ad-Hoc Sub-unit shall dissolve upon the Council taking action regarding the report submitted by the Sub-unit.”