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Discussion and consideration of future Council standing committee structure as of 2026
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Submitted by:
James Archambo, City Administrator
Steve Braatz, City Clerk
Department:
City Administration
City Clerk’s Office
A. Issue
Discussion and consideration of future Council standing committee structure as of 2026
B. Background/Options
Currently, there are 16 Alderpersons: 2 Alderpersons per District for a total of 8 Aldermanic Districts. Pursuant to the Council reduction referendum that was passed in 2022, the Common Council will be reduced to 12 Alderpersons, with one Alderperson per District. The new Alderpersons will begin their term on April 21, 2026.
Currently, the Common Council operates with 4 standing committees: Community Affairs Committee, Financial Affairs Committee, Government Affairs Committee, and Transportation Affairs Committee. Each Committee is represented by one Alderperson from each of the 8 Districts. To continue operating with a standing committee format in 2026, some changes will need to occur with the standing committees.
Staff met to review some options to offer the Council. In addition, 14 municipalities in similar circumstances (1 Alderperson per District) were reviewed to see how their structures work. It is fair to say that legislative structure for each municipality is unique.
Option 1: Do nothing - retain the 4 existing committees, but with 6 members each. Ordinance wording in the membership policy was already approved with Ordinance O-22-45.
Option 2: The existing four committees are merged into 2 Committees with 6 members each.
Option 3: Split the work of the 4 Committees into 3 Committees. Each committee consists of 8 members each resulting in each Alderperson serving on 2 of the 3 standing committees. Those committees will be assigned to either or both of the 2 Committee meetings each month. Committee assignments continue the current ‘cross-over’ concept with no more than 3 members serving on the same 2 committees.
Ancillary Issue: Whether to modify the scope of and membership, or consideration of a combination of the Board of Public Works and Board of Park and Forestry Commissioners.
C. Recommendation
Staff is offering options for the Committee of Whole to discuss and consider, but does not have a recommendation on these or other options. However, staff has two procedural recommendations:
1. If any other option other the Option 1 is enacted, refer the matter and any suggestions to the Government Affairs Committee to make the formal recommendation to the Common Council.
2. Final decision should be completed by the June 17 GAC/June 24 Common Council. For your information, candidates will likely begin thinking about running for office by Summer/Fall of 2025.
To understand the timing of this matter, here is a list of key dates:
1. December 1, 2025 - Candidates for Aldermanic seats begin to circulate nomination papers.
2. January 6, 2026 - Deadline to submit candidacy paperwork
3. April 7, 2026 - Election for Aldermanic seats
4. April 21, 2026 - First day of office for new Alderpersons, this would normally be the night of the 2nd set of Committee meetings - to be determined
5. April 28, 2026 - This would normally be the Council meeting - to be determined
6. May 5, 2026 - 1st set of Committee meetings and start of the full cycle of meetings for the new Council
D. Attachments
1. Legislative Structure - Review of Comparable Municipalities
2. Sec 2.02.020 Standing Committees
3. Ordinance O-22-45
4. Memo Proposal by Alderperson Meindl - 2026 Wauwatosa Legislative Branch Reorganization