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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 sa...
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