Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Amending Section 33.17 of the Madison General Ordinances to revise the membership and duties of the Economic Development Committee.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This ordinance amendment is anticipated to create more specific duties for the Economic Development Committee (EDC). It is anticipated that the EDC will have greater responsibilities in setting and advancing economic development goals, including reviewing and recommending an Economic Development Plan for the City.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
Section 33.17 entitled “Economic Development Committee” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
“33.17 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE.
(1) There is hereby created for the City of Madison a committee to be known as the Economic Development Committee.
(2) Composition. The Committee shall consist of the following thirteen (13) eleven (11) members: the Mayor or the Mayor’s designee, three (3) Alderpersons, and nine (9) seven (7) citizens representative with a wide range of community and direct experience in business interests including one citizen member from higher education, one citizen member who is a small business owner and/or knowledge related to job creation, real estate and one citizen member from the high technology or biotechnology industry workforce development. The Mayor shall appoint the members of the Committee subject to confirmation by the Common Council.
Terms of appointment of the citizen members shall be staggered, for three (3) years, however, initial appointment of three of the citizen members shall be for a term expiring on April 30, 1982.
Initial appointment of the remaining citizen members shall be for a term expiring on April 30, 1983. Thereafter, each citizen member shall be appointed for a three-year term commencing May 1 and expiring April 30. The Alderpersons terms shall coincide with his or her term of office.
If the Mayor serves on the Committee, the Mayor shall act as chairperson. Otherwise, the chairperson will be elected by the Committee.
(3) Duties. The Economic Development Committee shall be responsible for working with the Mayor, Common Council, other City boards and commissions and City staff to facilitate the development of a healthy, diversified economy in which businesses can locate, innovate, grow and prosper, and all residents have opportunities for economic prosperity. The Committee shall:
(a) Provide City officials and staff with evaluations and recommendations regarding critical local and regional economic development issues and policies. Such recommendations shall include the preparation and updating of an Economic Development Plan, periodic reports on the aspects of Madison’s economy and reports on major projects or initiatives Assist City officials and staff in promoting a healthy, diversified economy in which business can locate, innovate, grow and prosper, and all residents have opportunities for living wage jobs.
(b) Provide the business community with a public forum for providing input into the development of policy and programs affecting business growth and development and for education and information exchange on economic development issues and opportunities Make recommendations to the Mayor and the Common Council on economic development policies and issues.
(c) Facilitate the articulation and advancement of economic development initiatives and strategies. This shall include recommending items for inclusion in the City‘s Capital and Operating budgets in support of the City’s economic development strategy.
In carrying out these duties, the Committee may form subcommittees, hold public meetings, and utilize the services of the City or other public or private services as it finds necessary, subject to the policy and budgetary approval of the Common Council.
Every four (4) or five (5) years, receive and consider a Comprehensive Economic Development Report and Plan (CEDRP) prepared by Economic Development Division staff on economic trends for the City of Madison and surrounding area. After review and revision by the Committee, the CEDRP shall be submitted to the Common Council for approval. The CEDRP should include:
1. Available data on employment by type of job, wages, unemployment rate; and, overall changes in employment and population,
2. General demographic data,
3. A description of business and workforce assistance available,
4. An evaluation of current economic development efforts, and
5. Recommendations of possible changes to, and new, programs, strategies, policies, and projects to achieve the economic development goals stated in paragraph (a) above and other related goals adopted by the City of Madison.
(d) Every two (2) years, the Economic Development Division Director will develop a “Work Plan” consistent with the adopted CEDRP for the City’s economic development priorities in the next two (2) years. The Work Plan shall be submitted to the Common Council with referral to the Economic Development Committee before action by the Common Council. The Work Plan may include changes to the CEDRP.
(e) Provide the community with a public forum for information sharing and discussion about economic issues affecting the City of Madison.
(4) In carrying out the duties described in subsection (3), the Committee may form subcommittees, hold public meetings, and utilize the services of the City or other public or private services as it finds necessary, subject to the policy and budgetary approval of the Common Council.
(5) The Economic Development Committee shall meet once a month and all agendas shall be prepared by the Economic Development Division Director or his/her designee in consultation with the Chair, and they shall determine the order of the agenda.
(46) Staff. The Economic Development Committee shall receive primary staffing from the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development Division.”