Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Creating Sections 2.01(2) and (8) of the Madison General Ordinances to define quorum for the Common Council and outline the procedure to cancel a Common Council meeting.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: Quorum of the Common Council is established by state law, but was not reflected in the Madison General Ordinances. This ordinance adds the definition of quorum. City ordinances do not establish how a meeting is to be cancelled. This ordinance provides that the President of the Council is the officer to cancel a meeting, only in the event quorum will not be made, or an emergency, or inclement weather makes it unsafe for Council members and the public to attend the meeting. The President is to consult with the Mayor and City Clerk before cancelling a meeting.
***********************************************************************************
The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Subsection (2) entitled "Quorum" of Section 2.01 entitled "Meetings" of the Madison General Ordinances is created to read as follows:
"(2) Quorum. A quorum of the Council shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the members, excluding the Mayor, pursuant to Wis. Stat. ยง 62.11(3). As currently constituted, quorum is fourteen (14) alderpersons."
2. Subsection (8) entitled "Cancellation of Council Meeting" of Section 2.01 entitled "Meetings" of the Madison General Ordinances is created to read as follows:
"(8) Cancellation of Council Meeting. Only the Council President, or in the President's absence, the President Pro Tem, may cancel a scheduled meeting of the Common Council. Meetings may be cancelled only in the event of a lack of quorum, an emergency, or inclement weather such that it would be unsafe for members of the Council and the public to attend the meeting. Prior to cancelling a meeting, the President shall consult with the Mayor and City Clerk. The public and the news media shall be promptly informed of any meeting cancellation."