Madison committee recommends ordinance allowing council meetings to start as early as 5:30 p.m.; moves change to full council

MADISON, Wis. — The Madison Common Council Executive Committee voted on Tuesday to recommend an ordinance that would remove the current rule forbidding council meetings to start before 6:30 p.m., allowing meetings to begin no earlier than 5:30 p.m.; the item will go to the full Common Council for consideration that evening.

President Fittiber introduced the proposal, saying, “So right now, in ordinance, we cannot start council meeting before 06:30PM. And so the proposal is to give us some wiggle room.” The ordinance would permit earlier starts in limited circumstances while the committee indicated its intent to generally move the standard start time toward 6:00 p.m.

Committee members framed the item as a procedural change intended to give the city flexibility in scheduling, but debate centered on access for working residents and for alder members who work or attend evening classes. Alder Tishler said getting to a 5:30 p.m. start “is a bit tight for some,” citing full-time jobs and school schedules. Alder Duncan also opposed the change, saying it could make it harder for residents who work 9-to-5 jobs to participate.

Staff presented background data on…