Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Creating a special committee on government organization to examine and make reccomendations on elected officials, the structure of the Common Council, and the position of Mayor for the 21st century.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has not had a formal committee to examine and report on the best structure of City government since the 1980’s; and,
WHEREAS, increases in the size and diversity of Madison’s population have brought new challenges and opportunities for the City; and,
WHEREAS, changes in technology in the last 40 years have also brought new challenges and opportunities for the City; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has traditionally considered such changes through a committee broadly representative of the people of the City,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City of Madison create a Task Force on Structure of City Government with 17 total members, made up of 15 residents to be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council and 2 council members to be appointed by the President of the Common Council and confirmed by the Common Council; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Task Force resident appointments represent the City based on geographic interests, and reflect the ethnic and racial makeup of the population of the City as well as varying business, social, and economic viewpoints; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that given the special nature of this venture, that the Mayor be free to draw upon the hundreds of residents already serving on City committees to serve on the Task Force; and,
BE IT STILL FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Task Force will examine:
• The impact on people of color and those living with lower incomes, including benefits, burdens, and unintended consequences of any potential changes
• Structure and practices in selected cities in the population range of 250,000-500,000 from states with similar statutory municipal requirements as Wisconsin; whether the city is growing or declining in population
• The attributes of councils with full-time members, part-time members, and those considered to be volunteers performing their duties for a nominal salary or honorarium
• The committee system, and the use of resident members
• The frequency and time of day of both council and committee meetings
• The size and cost of council staff
• The particular state laws that impact the operation of local government
• The services provided, particularly relating to public education, the transit system, sewage districts and any special utilities
• District and city wide elections for council members
• An evaluation of the quality of life and fiscal systems in the respective cities including an evaluation of its economic health
• The powers and duties of the mayor including the hiring and firing of department and division heads
• Any extraordinary powers of the mayor including veto, line item veto and emergency management
• The size of the staff and budget of the mayor’s office
• Structures with an ongoing city administrator who does not serve at the pleasure of the mayor should be considered
• The division of authority between the Council and City staff, such as the size of contracts that may be approved administratively
• A city manager form of government or any form of government where the mayor is not the chief administrative officer is not to be considered, and,
• That the Committee shall hold public hearings, obtain written reports, and conduct research, all as the Committee shall determine is useful and necessary to prepare its report to the Mayor and the Common Council; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Task Force will dissolve upon the issuance of its recommendations on any potential structural changes to city government and presentation of recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council by December 31, 2018.