Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution creates a work group to organize the recommendations contained in the Task Force on Government Structure’s (TFOGS) final report into actionable proposals. The work group will be staffed by the Common Council Chief of Staff with assistance from other City staff as necessary using existing resources.
Title
Creating the Ad Hoc Task Force on the Structure of City Government (TFOGS) Final Report Implementation Work Group.
Body
WHEREAS, the Common Council created the Task Force on Government Structure (“TFOGS”) by Resolution (RES-1700714, Legistar File 47707) to consider, address and make recommendations related to the City’s Common Council; Office of the Mayor; Boards, Commissions and Committees; and resident participation and engagement; and,
WHEREAS, on November 20, 2019 the TFOGS issued a Final Report identifying characteristics of the City’s current government structure that pose challenges to resident representation and engagement; and,
WHEREAS, it is anticipated that the Common Council will accept the TFOGS Final Report by passing a separate resolution accepting the TFOGS Final Report (Legistar Ffile # 58656); and,
WHEREAS, pursuant to M.G.O. § 2.27(4) accepting a Final Report means that the Common Council agrees with the report but does not automatically adopt it or any part of it as the policy of the City; and,
WHEREAS, the Resolution creating the TFOGS did not charge the Task Force with creating specific work plans for the implementation of recommendations contained in the Final Report; and,
WHEREAS, in the Conclusion of the TFOGS’ Final Report the Task Force strongly encourages the Mayor and Common Council to consider its recommendations as a way to pursue meaningful, measurable ways to address the fundamental issues raised by the Final Report regarding resident representation and engagement; and,
WHEREAS, the Ad Hoc TFOGS Final Report Implementation Workgroup (“Workgroup”) will be responsible for organizing the recommendations contained in the TFOGS Final Report into actionable proposals; and,
WHEREAS, the Workgroup shall start its work by creating a work plan that includes a proposed sequence of implementation for each TFOGS recommendation; and,
WHEREAS, the Workgroup shall consult with the Mayor while developing the work plan; and,
WHEREAS, the work plan shall be approved by the Common Council Executive Committee (“CCEC”); and,
WHEREAS, once the work plan is approved by the CCEC, the Workgroup shall use the work plan to create specific actionable proposals for each recommendation; and,
WHEREAS, when complete, the actionable proposals shall be introduced for debate and decision by the full Common Council prior to actual implementation; and,
WHEREAS, in developing the work plan and actionable proposals, the Workgroup shall follow these guidelines:
1. Proposals should be developed in accordance with the recommendations made in the TFOGS Final Report;
2. The Workgroup should only create proposals that are directly related to recommendations made in the TFOGS Final Report;
3. The Workgroup should request and compile additional information as necessary in order to convert the TFOGS recommendations into actionable proposals, including conferring with TFOGS chairs and subcommittee chairs, city staff, and current and former elected officials;
4. The Workgroup should seek input from the Office of Mayor and City Department and Division Heads on proposals it develops;
5. The Workgroup may put forward alternative proposals for consideration on any given TFOGS recommendation. If it does so, the Workgroup shall state in detail why it believes the alternative proposal is preferable to the recommendation made in the TFOGS Final Report;
6. If the Workgroup has difficulty understanding a proposal contained in the TFOGS Final Report, it should seek guidance from the CCEC; and,
WHEREAS, the Workgroup shall be comprised of five (5) alders, to be appointed by the President of the Common Council, with at least one (1) alder who served on the TFOGS and at least one (1) alder who serves on the CCEC,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council of the City of Madison creates the Ad Hoc TFOGS Final Report Implementation Workgroup consisting of five (5) alders, including one (1) alder who served on the TFOGS and one (1) alder who serves on the CCEC, to be appointed by the President of the Common Council; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; that the Workgroup shall be staffed by the Common Council Chief of Staff with assistance from other City staff as necessary; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Workgroup shall develop a work plan and actionable proposals that are directly related to the recommendations contained in the TFOGS Final Report in accordance with the guidelines stated above; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Workgroup shall be dissolved upon completion of the work plan and actionable proposals as detailed above.