City of Milwaukee - File #: 201110

• File #: 201110
• Version: 1
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 11/24/2020
• In control: COMMON COUNCIL
• Final action: 12/15/2020
• Title: Substitute resolution directing the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to seek introduction and passage of state legislation relating to Mayoral appointment of fire and police chiefs in 1st class cities.
• Sponsors: ALD. BAUMAN, ALD. MURPHY, ALD. BORKOWSKI
• Indexes: APPOINTMENTS, FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, STATE LEGISLATION

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/28/2020	1	MAYOR	SIGNED
12/15/2020	1	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	9:5
12/7/2020	1	JUDICIARY & LEGISLATION COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION; Minutes note: Brenda Wood - City Clerk's Office Kim Montgomery - Intergovernmental Relations Ald. Bauman	Pass	4:1
11/24/2020	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number

201110

Version

SUBSTITUTE 1

Reference

021212

Sponsor

ALD. BAUMAN, MURPHY, AND BORKOWSKI

Title

Substitute resolution directing the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to seek introduction and passage of state legislation relating to Mayoral appointment of fire and police chiefs in 1^st class cities.

Analysis

This resolution directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division-Department of Administration to seek introduction and passage of state legislation which grants to cities of the 1^st class the option of enacting a system under which the chiefs of their fire and police departments would be appointed by the Mayor, subject to common council confirmation. Under this system the chiefs would then only be removed for cause as recommended by the Mayor and confirmed by the common council.

Body

Whereas, On June 24, 2003, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 021212, directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Affairs Division to seek introduction and passage of State legislation relating to the appointment of fire and police chiefs in cities of the 1^st class; and

Whereas, The Common Council desires to reaffirm its stance seeking introduction and passage of such State legislation to provide that fire and police chiefs in cities of the 1^st class are appointed by Mayor, subject to Common Council confirmation; and

Whereas, On March 26, 2019, the Common Council adopted Resolution File Number 181665 directing the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division to remove Common Council-sponsored recommendations from the annual State Legislative Package after each four-year election cycle; and

Whereas, Common Council members who wish certain items to remain in the State Legislative Package shall inform the Director of Intergovernmental Relations of those items at each four-year review; and

Whereas, The Mayor, as Chief Executive of the City, should have the power to appoint and the fire and police chiefs, similar to the authority the Mayor has for appointing other City department heads; and

Whereas, In most major cities, authority to appoint police and fire chiefs is vested in the Mayor; and

Whereas, There is a long tradition in the State of Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee of establishing checks and balances among even the agencies of local government to prevent abuses and insure the widest range of participation in vital decisions; and

Whereas, There is no agency more important to a city than its Fire and Police Departments, and the common council has a proper role in the hiring and dismissal of the heads of these departments; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Common Council urges the State of Wisconsin to enact legislation which grants to cities of the 1^st Class the option of enacting a system under which the chiefs of their fire and police departments would be appointed by the Mayor, subject to Common Council confirmation; and, be it

Further Resolved, That under this system the chiefs would then only be removed for cause by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the State Legislature to enact such legislation; and, be it

Further Resolved, That Resolution File Number 200668 is amended by inserting the following item in the document attached to the file and identified as “AMENDED 2021-2022 State Legislative Detailed Proposals and Key Issues”:

Local Control and Flexibility

Common Council

Change State law to allow cities of the 1st Class to enact a system where the fire and police chiefs are appointed by the Mayor, subject to Common Council approval, and where the chiefs may only be removed for cause by the Mayor and confirmed by the Common Council.

; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this resolution to each member of Milwaukee’s delegation to the State Legislature.

Requestor

Drafter

LRB 176438-2

Christopher H. Hillard

11/30/2020

Technical correction made (deleted "as recommended" in the box) 12/7/20 - LME