City of Milwaukee - File #: 980663

• File #: 980663
• Version: 1
• Type: Resolution-Immediate Adoption
• Status: Vetoed
• File created: 9/1/1998
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• Final action: 9/1/1998
• Title: Substitute resolution relating to conducting a referendum on residency for City and MPS employes at the November 3, 1998, election.
• Sponsors: ALD. FRANK, ALD. KALWITZ, Fredrick Gordon, ALD. NARDELLI, ALD. PRATT, ALD. BREIER, ALD. D'AMATO, ALD. HENNINGSEN, ALD. SCHRAMM, ALD. JOHNSON-ODOM, ALD. RICHARDS, ALD. BUTLER, ALD. SCHERBERT, James N. Witkowiak, ALD. PAWLINSKI, ALD. HINES JR.
• Indexes: GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES - RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS, REFERENDUM

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
9/9/1998	1	MAYOR	VETOED; Minutes note: September 9, 1998 Common Council of the City of Milwaukee City Hall 200 East Wells Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 Dear Aldermen: After thorough discussions with members of my administration and several aldermen, I am vetoing and returning council file number 980663, the proposed referendum on required residency for Milwaukee municipal employees. I agree strongly with a unanimous Common Council that residency requirements for city employees are appropriate terms of municipal employment, that residency requirements are issues for collective bargaining, and, most importantly, residency requirements are issues to be handled on the local level, not imposed or denied by state government. Our differences over this file are strictly procedural; I don't believe a referendum is necessary or appropriate in this matter. This issue belongs at the bargaining table. That's the place where the city's negotiators and the unions' negotiators can weigh this issue along with wages and other working conditions. In hindsight, I wish I hadn't discussed school choice income limits along with consideration of the repeal of residency requirements for public school teachers. I am sorry if those comments were misinterpreted by some as a shift in city policy with respect to city employee residency. Members of the Council, I ask that you sustain this veto. And I suggest that we approve a strong, unambiguous , resolution that sends a message to the people of Milwaukee, to our city employees, and to state legislators that we support residency for city employees. Sincerely, John O. Norquist Mayor
9/1/1998	0	COMMON COUNCIL	SUBSTITUTED	Pass	17:0
9/1/1998	1	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	16:1

NUMB:
980663
VERS:
SUBSTITUTE 1
REF:

XXBY:
ALD. FRANK, KALWITZ, GORDON, NARDELLI, PRATT, BREIER, D'AMATO, HENNINGSEN, SCHRAMM, JOHNSON-ODOM, RICHARDS, BUTLER, SCHERBERT, WITKOWIAK, PAWLINSKI AND HINES
TITL:
Substitute resolution relating to conducting a referendum on residency for City and MPS employes at the November 3, 1998, election.
ANLS:
- Analysis -

This resolution directs the placement of an advisory referendum question on the November 3, 1998, election ballot relating to residency requirements for City employes and Milwaukee public schools employes.
BODY:
Whereas, The Wisconsin Legislature has, in past legislative sessions, considered and rejected proposed legislation that prohibits counties, cities, villages, towns and school districts from deciding whether to require their employes to reside within the locality; and

Whereas, The entire Milwaukee Common Council has consistently opposed such legislation because local governments throughout the state are best able to evaluate their own unique circumstances and concerns as they decide whether to require their employes to be local residents; and

Whereas, The financial impact of such legislation on the City of Milwaukee would be depressed residential and commercial property values that erode the years of investment that City residents have made in their homes and businesses; and

Whereas, The reduction in property values would decrease Milwaukee property tax receipts, diminishing the ability of the City to provide public services and continue to pay family-supporting wages to the very City employes whose residency requirements are affected; and

Whereas, Such legislation could result in a sudden residential expansion in the communities surrounding Milwaukee, exceeding the capacity of the tax base and infrastructure of some already overburdened suburban communities to support the influx of new residents and their immediate requirements for expanded schools, roads, sewers, ...