Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required. Committee support will be provided with existing staff resources.
Title
SUBSTITUTE Creating Section 33.34 of the Madison General Ordinances to create a committee which will focus on housing strategy in the City of Madison.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: The Housing Committee, established under Sec. 32.03, MGO, is charged with a wide range of responsibilities. This includes overseeing the development of housing strategies within the City, addressing landlord-tenant concerns, and performing the functions formerly exercised by the Rent Abatement Oversight committee. This amendment, in conjunction with Legistar #25836, will separate the responsibilities regarding housing strategies from those related to landlord-tenant issues, and will establish a separate committee for each.
***********************************************************************************
The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Section 33.34 entitled "Housing Strategy Committee" of the Madison General Ordinances is created to read as follows:
"33.34 HOUSING STRATEGY COMMITTEE.
(1) Creation. There is hereby created a Housing Strategy Committee for the City of Madison.
(2) Composition. The Housing Strategy Committee shall consist of nine (9) members appointed by the Mayor and subject to approval by the Common Council. Two (2) members shall be alders. The other members shall be citizen members. Members shall serve without compensation. The members shall elect annually from among their citizen members a chairperson and vice-chairperson; however, the initial chairperson shall be selected by the Mayor. In making appointments, the Mayor may consider for appointment a member of the Landlord and Tenant Issues Committee.
(3) Terms. All members shall be appointed for three-year terms, however, the initial terms of three (3) of the citizen members shall expire on April 30, 2014. Initial terms of the remaining four (4) citizen members shall expire on April 30, 2015. Thereafter, each citizen member shall be appointed for a three-year term commencing on May 1st and expiring on April 30th. The terms of the alders shall expire with the expiration of their terms in office.
(4) Powers and Duties. The Housing Strategy Committee shall have the following powers, duties, and functions:
(a) The Committee will serve as a forum for discussion and communication about housing strategies.
(b) The Committee shall establish a schedule for the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development to prepare and submit a biennial housing report to the Mayor and the Common Council which will include the following:
1. Current data on Madison and regional housing supply and trends;
2. Strategies for maintaining a broad range of housing choices for all households and income levels; and
3. Strategies for maintaining and increasing affordable owner-occupied and rental housing in Madison and the region.
(c) The Committee will review the biennial housing report prepared by the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development staff and forward the report with the Committee's recommendations to the Mayor and Common Council for their action. The schedule should include a Committee public hearing to request recommendations for special problem areas to consider in the next biennial report.
(d) In addition to the foregoing, the Housing Strategy Committee shall have such other powers, duties and functions related to housing as are conferred on it by the Mayor and the Common Council from time to time.
(5) Staff. The Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development shall provide staff support for the Housing Strategy Committee and shall receive and retain all documents, reports and records relating thereto.
(6) Meetings. The Housing Strategy Committee shall meet once a month and shall conduct its business in accordance with rules which it may establish."
2. The City Attorney is directed to make corresponding changes to other City ordinances to reflect the change in name and duties related to the Housing Strategy Committee.