Fiscal Note
The proposed ordinance change consolidates a 2007 resolution and the existing ordinance regarding the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award and adds a stipend that will be available in Jeff Erlanger’s honor in future years. The person or entity receiving the Award and the person who nominated the person or entity receiving the Award will each be given the opportunity to designate $250 to a non-profit organization in the Madison metropolitan area whose work is related to City of Madison public policy. Funding for the stipends will be provided by the Madison Community Foundation. The Foundation may also contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the physical plaque at the City County Building that designates recipients of the Award, with the Mayor’s Office in charge of such maintenance and receipt of the contribution. There is no impact on the levy.
Title
Amending Section 33.30 of the Madison General Ordinances to amend the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award
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DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: The City of Madison established the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award in 2007. While sec. 33.30 establishing the Committee was passed in 2009, most of the information on the Award was in Resolution 07-00848, Legistar No. 07379, adopted on September 4, 2007.
Jeff Erlanger was very active in public policy for the City, and was well known for his civility in public discourse. Jeff died on June 10, 2007. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz issued a press release and the Council passed a resolution on July 17, 2007, honoring Jeff Erlanger’s life and commitment to the City. In August, 2007, Mayor Cieslewicz and Alder Mike Verveer sponsored the resolution establishing the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Award, which was approved by the Council in September.
This ordinance brings together the information and directions from the resolution and the existing ordinance in one location, and adds information on a stipend that will be available in Jeff Erlanger’s honor in future years.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
Section 33.30 entitled “Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award” of the Madison General Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
“33.30 JEFFREY CLAY ERLANGER CIVILITY IN PUBLIC DISCLOSURE AWARD.
(1) The City establishes the Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award (the Award) in memory of Jeff Erlanger’s contributions to the City. The Committee established by this ordinance will give out the Award annually, to be announced at a Common Council meeting close to Jeff Erlanger’s birthday, November 30.
(2) The Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award will recognize individuals or organizations who share Jeff Erlanger’s dedication to and compassion for public policy development, politeness, civility, individual and human rights, and who conduct their daily life consistent with these values. The committee to select the award recipient will be appointed by the mayor and be composed of five (5) individuals, including two (2) resident members (resident members to serve a two-year term with said term expiring two years from date of appointment). Nominees must be an adult or an organization; must be residents of the Madison metropolitan area whose work has impacted positively on the City of Madison; must have been actively involved and/or provided leadership in efforts that are related to City of Madison public policy; must have demonstrated a dedication and commitment to treating people with respect and dignity; may have been compensated for their work, but must also show a greater commitment to civility than simply their employment. Nominations must be received in writing by the annual advertised deadline; nominations should contain detailed information regarding the nominee to allow the awards Committee to determine that the candidate meets the awards criteria. The Committee will not conduct additional research.
(3) The Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Awards Committee (the Committee) to select the Award recipient will be appointed by the Mayor and be composed of five (5) individuals, including a member of, or representative of, the Erlanger family, a member of the Mayor's staff, the Common Council President, and two (2) resident members (resident members will serve a three-year term).
(4) The person or entity receiving the Award and the person who nominated the person or entity receiving the Award will each be given the opportunity to designate a non-profit organization in the Madison metropolitan area whose work is related to City of Madison public policy. Each organization will receive a stipend of two hundred fifty dollars ($250). These funds will come from an endowment fund held by the Madison Community Foundation. The Foundation may also contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of the physical plaque at the City County Building that designates recipients of the Award, with the Mayor’s office in charge of such maintenance and receipt of the contribution.
(5) The Mayor shall designate a person in the Mayor’s office to be the lead person to work with the Committee in the selection of the Award recipient. If no person is so designated, then the staff member in the Mayor’s office most closely involved in committee appointments will be the designated person.”