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Council adopts written procedure for citizen agenda requests after lengthy debate
Summary
The council adopted Resolution 091 to establish a written procedure for residents (including older persons) to request items on the common council agenda; debate centered on whether the policy made the mayor a 'gatekeeper' or improved transparency by requiring written submissions and explanations for denials.
After lengthy discussion, the Muskego common council adopted Resolution 091 on Dec. 16, which establishes procedures for residents to request items be placed on the council agenda.
The resolution’s sponsor said the policy is a written version of recent practice: a resident submits a written request to the mayor, who routes the item to the appropriate committee or explains in writing why an item is outside council jurisdiction. Supporters said putting the process in writing would create transparency and an auditable record when the mayor declines requests.
Opponents, including Aldermen Decker and Wolf, argued the resolution creates a mayoral gatekeeper and removes an alderman’s prior ability to raise future agenda items at the close of a meeting. They proposed either returning the council to the prior practice of listing 'future agenda items' at the end of meetings or amending the resolution to preserve a clearer route for aldermen to place items on the agenda.
Council debate included votes on procedural amendments and an amendment to simplify the policy to restore 'future agenda items' at the bottom of meeting agendas; those amendments failed in some roll calls, and the final vote on the resolution as presented had a majority in favor. The mayor said the policy still allows items to be added in other ways and that a written procedure would help address past denials and improve accountability.
The resolution passed with a roll-call majority; council members directed staff to implement the written procedure and clarified the mayor must explain denials in writing to the council so members can pursue alternate avenues if they disagree.
