City of Madison
Legislative File ID   06424
Type:   Resolution    Status:   Passed
Enactment Date:   6/26/2007    Enactment No.:   RES-07-00632
Title:  
AMENDED SUBSTITUTE - Request for a study and recommendations to improve the balance ofgender women, racial/ethnic minorities and people with disabilities balance in City of Madison committee, commission and board appointments.
Controlling Body:   AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSION
Introduced:   5/9/2007    Version:   3
Final Action:   6/19/2007    Contact:   Debbie Fields 608-266-4071
Name:  
Request for a study and recommendations to improve gender balance in City of Madison committee, commission and board appointments.
Extra Date 1:  
Requester:   AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSION
Sponsors:  
Brenda K. Konkel, Lauren Cnare, Satya V. Rhodes-Conway, Marsha A. Rummel, Robbie Webber, Larry Palm, Tim Gruber, Brian L. Solomon, Michael E. Verveer, Joseph R. Clausius, Julia S. Kerr, Eli Judge
Legislative History
DateActing BodyAction TakenMotion
5/9/2007Council OfficeFiscal Note Required / Approval to the Comptroller's Office/Approval Group Completed on 6/19/2007
5/9/2007Comptroller's Office/Approval GroupFiscal Note Pending to the Council Office Completed on 5/9/2007
Notes: Bohrod
5/9/2007Council OfficeReferred for Introduction
Notes: Affirmative Action Commission, Comptroller (for fiscal note)
5/15/2007COMMON COUNCILRefer to the AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSION Completed on 6/12/2007
5/16/2007AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSIONFiscal Note Required / Approval to the Comptroller's Office/Approval Group Completed on 6/19/2007
Notes: Use after CC intro approval & send to AAC.
6/12/2007AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSIONA motion was made by Zipperer, seconded by Tatus, to RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL WITH THE FOLLOWING RECOMMENDATIONS - REPORT OF OFFICER Alder Brenda Konkel spoke on Resolution #06423 and #06424 to study gender equity in top management positions and on commissions, committees and boards. She explained that the process in place has the Mayor making decisions with Common Council approval and they should have a more systematic way of looking at hiring trends. She added that she doesn't want to place blame on anyone but to come up with recommendations. Tracey Caradine commented that it is difficult to get appointed to commissions and questioned the selection process, the available pool of applicants and database of potential applicants. Alder Konkel added that we need to look at the form and the referral process for the commissions. One indicates on the form the top three choices. How can this form be improved upon? Selkowe read the resolution and described the process of referral from the Common Council to the AAC and that the AAC can either approve, amend or reject the resolutions. Selkowe pointed out that there are three parts of both resolutions: study the trends, make recommendations, and produce a report. Nu?ez added that Alder Konkel, Chair Selkowe and herself had met and mentioned that the Mayor's office should be added to Resolution #06424 to study commissions, committees and boards since they track the information and make the appointments. Also Nu?ez added that DCR staff would be taking the application form for commissions to all the summer festivals this year, as well as the town hall meeting they were planning. Zipperer offered to make a motion. Caradine added that these studies should also look at race and ethnicity and people with disabilities. Nu?ez reminded them that the data collection on people with disabilities has only started this year. Alder Konkel added that we cannot address these trends hire by hire. Only five department heads are women and the top salaries of the department and division heads are being paid to men. There is nothing in the resolutions about a time line. Zipperer made a motion to endorse the resolutions with the amendment to include race and ethnicity and disabilities in the study, recommendations and annual report. Also for Resolution #06424 to study balance on commissions. committees, and boards, the Mayor's office should be included since they track and make final appointments to commissions. Tatus seconded the motion. Caradine wanted to make sure that the study did not pit minority against minority. Selkowe mentioned that a subcommittee of the AAC would need to define top management and the depth of the study. Pascual shared from her experience in the Philippines that instead of comparing positions look rather at what they actually do. Clausius added that the subcommittee can help define what positions would be studied and come up with recommendations. Sridharan expressed two concerns: one, how these volunteers were appointed to the commissions, and two, were there other commissions, other than AAC, that need to be involved in the process. He also wondered if this issue was too big and perhaps this could be some combined effort with another commission. Nu?ez questioned what positions apply. She said the DCR will provide the data and we will provide it based on the AA/Civil Rights Compliance plans. The commission does not have to worry about doing the work. This is something that the DCR, under our ordinance, should provide. She suggested involving the Mayor's office in this and that the Mayor could use this as a tool to hold people accountable. Alder Konkel asked if an amendment to say that the Mayor's office should be involved is needed? Zipperer is glad this is being done since this has been talked about for several years and one in five people in the City are representatives of non-European backgrounds. Pascual thanked Konkel and stated that she thought the purpose of the AAC was to recommend something that we can take action on or change. Nu?ez re-read the motion and Selkowe called for a vote. Selkowe then mentioned Jeff Erlanger's passing, and she asked Norman Davis to send updated funeral information. Sridharan asked if we could pass a resolution to acknowledge Jeff's contributions. Zipperer asked if it could be done quickly and Nu?ez said she would see what we could do. The motion passed by acclamation.Pass
Notes: An amendment to include data on racial/ethnic groups and people with disabilities in the study, recommendations and annual report. In addition, the Commission wanted the Mayor's Office included on the study on commissions, committees and boards. Alder Brenda Konkel spoke on Resolution #06423 and #06424 to study gender equity in top management positins and on commissions, committees and boards. She explained tht the process in place has the Mayor making decisions with Common Council approval and that they should have a more systematic way of looking at hiring trends. She added that she doesn't want to place blame on anyone but to come up with recommendations. Tracey Caradine commented that it is difficult to get appointed to commissions and questioned the selection process, the available pool of applicants and databse of potential applicants.
6/12/2007Comptroller's Office/Approval GroupFiscal Note Pending to the AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMISSION Completed on 6/12/2007
Notes: Bohrod
6/19/2007COMMON COUNCILA motion was made by Ald. Kerr, seconded by Ald. Konkel, to Adopt With Amendment(s) as follows: add "at the first Common Council Meeting in February " in the "Be It Finally Resolved" clause after "annual report". The motion passed by acclamation.Pass
6/19/2007Council OfficeFiscal Note Required / Approval to the Comptroller's Office/Approval Group Completed on 6/19/2007
6/19/2007Comptroller's Office/Approval GroupApproved Fiscal Note By The Comptroller's Office (SUBSTITUTES) to the Council Office Completed on 6/19/2007
Notes: Bohrod

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