Environment and Sustainability

Environment and Sustainability

Dane County (Descriptions are directly from the website, will update with better information)

City of Edgerton 

City of Fitchburg

  • Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee – The Agriculture and Rural Affairs committee shall act as an advisory committee to the plan commission. Duties of the committee shall include the study of potential future of agriculture in the city, to develop and recommend policies to promote sustainable and economically viable agriculture in the city, and to recommend areas to be preserved for agriculture.  Additionally , to study and recommend any potential compensation to landowners in areas designated for agricultural preservation, take action on any items referred to it by the plan commission or the common council, and to make recommendations on all rezoning requests in which any property zoned A-T or A-X outside the urban service area is being considered.
  • Mayor Ad Hoc – Sustainability Task Force – There are no members or description listed.
  • Mayor Ad Hoc – Tree Advisory Committee – Fitchburg’s urban forest will be multi-aged, fully stocked, healthy and safe. It will contain a wide variety of appropriate species and be maintained, including prevention, detection and eradication of invasive species, on a low cost but regularly scheduled basis.
    It will contribute to the general welfare of our residents by reducing energy costs, increasing property values, providing high quality habitat for wildlife, beautifying all neighborhoods and projecting an image of quality to visitors and prospective businesses. Care of public trees will be used as a means to educate and inspire residents to care for trees on private property.
    Our mission is to protect and enhance the health and diversity of our urban forest to ensure the economic, environmental, and social benefits for future generations through education, outreach, and partnership.
  • Parks Commission – The Park Commission shall review proposed plats and subdivisions and determine the size and location of any required park land dedications, or in lieu of fees. prepare master plans for the City’s park system as well as for individual parks and present to Common Council for approval. The commission shall review and monitor city parks and recreational programs and recommend changes or additions, review and report to the common council on ordinances or proposals involving use of city parks and the City community center. Additionally, adopt policies and procedures, subject to common council direction, for rental and operation of the City park system and community center as well as to oversee the operation of all city-owned cemeteries.
  • Resource Conservation Commission – The Resource Conservation Commission shall recommend policy, enforcement, and information programs that will implement and carry out the findings and provisions of chapter 41, solid waste and recycling, chapter 30, article II, erosion control, stormwater management and chapter 40, article V, stormwater utility. The resource conservation commission shall also recommend policy, enforcement, and information programs that serve to promote the general preservation and improvement of the environment, including but not limited to groundwater, stormwater, waste material, energy efficiency, and climate protection.

City of Madison

  • Board of Park Commissioners – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 33.05 and State Statutes 27.08 – Governs, manages, controls, improves and cares for all public parks, parkways, greenways, planning and construction, ice arenas, golf courses, conservation, cemetery, mausoleum, Mall/Concourse, boat landing and concessions, Warner Park Community Recreation Center, the Irwin and Robert Goodman Municipal Pool, Mall/Concourse special events, beaches, general recreation (summer and winter activities), Botanical Gardens, forestry, shorelines, boulevards and pleasure drives located within the city limits and secures the quiet, orderly and suitable use and enjoyment thereof; adopts rules and regulations to promote those purposes.
  • Committee on the Environment – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 33.11 – Advises the Mayor and Common Council in making studies and recommendations relative to water, land and air quality, noise abatement, use control, safety and management of the lakes, rivers and streams and other bodies of water and their shorelands under the jurisdiction of the City and all drains, outlets and sewers emptying into any such stream or bodies of water; acts toward improved quality of land, air and water; makes recommendations on matters pertaining to environmental quality, including measures to further the maintenance of safe and healthful conditions; protects spawning grounds, fish and aquatic life, and preserves shore cover and natural beauty. (Title of body changed from commission to committee per MGO Sec. 33.11, adopted 3-17-2009, effective 8-1-2009.)
  • Habitat Stewardship Subcommittee (of Parks) – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 33.05(5)(d) – Reviews public tree concerns, advises and makes recommendations concerning the Conservation Parks.
  • Parks Long Range Planning Subcommittee – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 33.05(5)(f) – Advises the Board of Park Commissioners, reviews the procedures and policies of the Parks Division and solicits input regarding the Parks Division from alders, groups and citizens. 11/24/2015: The word Parks was added to subcommitte name for clarification purposes.
  • Solid Waste Advisory Committee – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 33.23 – Shall act in an advisory capacity to the mayor and Common Council, making studies and recommendations relative to collection and disposal of refuse, composting, recycling, landfills and other solid waste issues; review city programs and operations and staff reports on these matters and shall report to the Board of Public Works.
  • Sustainable Madison Committee – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 33.31 – The committee takes a leadership role in the promotion of sustainability for the City of Madison, the Madison community, and the region. Formerly the Sustainable Design and Energy Committee. Ordinance amended per ORD-12-00073, file id 25387 6/12/2012.
  • Water Utility – Madison General Ordinance Sec. 13.01 – The Board shall keep books of account in the manner and form prescribed by the Public Service Commission which shall be open to the public. The Board shall have the management and supervision of the Water Utility and all matters connected therewith, subject to the general control and supervision of the Water Utility Board by the Mayor and Common Council. The Council shall exercise such supervision by enacting ordinances governing the Board’s operation, and approving contracts for the Water Utility as it does for other departments. The Board shall have the general power and authority to make rules and regulations for the management of the Utility as it shall, from time to time, find necessary for the safe, economical and efficient management and protection of the Water Utility. The Board shall issue an annual report which shall be made available to the Common Council. APPOINTMENT DATE: April and October MEETS: 4th Tuesday of month; 4:30 PM STAFF: Tom Heikkinen AGENCY: Water Utility LOCATION: 119 E. Olin Ave. PHONE: (608) 266-4651 EMAIL: theikkinen@cityofmadison.com NON-VOTING MEMBERS: 1 (*) QUORUM: 4

City of Middleton

  • Conservancy Lands Committee – The Conservancy Lands Committee recommends maintenance and restoration of conservancy zoned lands. The committee consists of three citizen members, one being a non-resident and each with three year terms, chairs of Park, Recreation & Forestry Commission, Water Resources Management Commission and Public Works Committee or their designees, and one aldersperson with a one year term.
  • Park, Recreation & Forestry Commission – The Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Commission is responsible for public parks, recreation programs, facilities, and the forested areas of the city. The commission consists of six citizens with two year terms and one alderperson with a one year term.
  • Public Lands Endowment Fund Committee – Information here seems old, but you might want to take a look.  It’s possible this committee’s work is completed?  Or never started?
  • Storm Water Utility Board – The Storm Water Utility Board shall be responsible for the charge, management and supervision of the Storm Water Utility, which shall have the power and authority to operate and maintain major storm water management facilities, and to conduct, manage, and finance such utilities, operations and activities as the Storm Water Utility Board deems to be proper and reasonably necessary for a system of storm water and surface water management. These facilities may include, without limitation due to enumeration, surface and underground drainage facilities, sewers, watercourses, retaining walls, ponds, streets, roads, ditches and such other facilities relating to collection, runoff, detention and retention.
    The Storm Water Utility Board shall consist of seven members: three members recommended by the Water Resources Commission from the membership of that Commission; one member recommended by the Public Works Committee from the membership of that Committee; one member recommended by the Finance Committee from the membership of that Committee; one member recommended by the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission from the membership of that Commission; one member recommended by the Conservancy Land Committee from the membership of that Committee.
  • Sustainability Committee – The Sustainability Committee is responsible for researching and developing recommendations, guidelines, and policies for consideration and approval of the Common Council to take advantage of sustainability opportunities for the City of Middleton. The committee consists of one alderperson, nine citizen members, with three of the citizens possessing expertise in one or more areas of sustainability, and one non-voting high school student.
  • Water Resources Management Commission – Members consist of the Park, Recreation, and Forestry Commission chair or designee, one alderperson with a term of one year, and five citizen members with three year terms. The mission of the Water Resources Management Commission is to develop, guide, interpret and administer policy, technical standards and ordinances to protect, manage and enhance, the water resources in the City of Middleton for the benefit of its citizens and communities within its watersheds. In recognition of the environmental, aesthetic and recreational value of water resources, the Commission will employ expert scientists and engineers to:
    • Perform studies, develop plans and implement projects and best management practices to control storm water runoff and improve surface and ground water quality to the highest current technical standards.
    • Implement procedures to inform the Common Council, City committees and other agencies of its activities.
    • Educate the public regarding developments in water resources management in the City.
    • Develop and recommend plans to bring the City into compliance with applicable standards of NR 151.

City of Monona

  • Parks and Recreation Board – The Park and Recreation Board reviews and recommends policies to the City Council that are necessary for the management of city parks and recreation facilities. The board reviews and recommends programs that take into consideration, and attempt to provide for, the social, physical, and cultural well being of Monona residents. The board reviews and recommends to the Finance and Personnel Committee all budgetary, revenue and expenditure proposals relating to park and recreation facilities and programs.
    It also reviews and recommends rules and regulations to the parks and recreation director that are necessary for the effective management of city parks, and recreation facilities and programs.
    Finally, the board serves as Monona’s tree keepers by reviewing and making recommendations regarding tree planting, maintenance, removal, and landscaping.
  • Sustainability Committee – The mission of the Sustainability Committee is to guide and assist Monona’s government, residents, and businesses in becoming a community that meets the needs of the present without compromising the resources available for future generations. Its vision is that Monona will share a culture that embraces, is vested in, and uses best practices for sustainable living.

City of Stoughton

City of Sun Prairie

  • Parks and Recreation Commission –  The Commission has all the powers conferred by law upon park, recreational, and in cities of the fourth class and is charged with the duties of making recommendations, overseeing work, and overseeing funds relating to all parks, playgrounds, and recreational activities as part of properties within the city. The parks and recreation commission is specifically empowered and directed to:
    • Govern, manage, control, improve and care for all public parks located within, or partly within and partly without, the corporate limits of the City and secure the quiet, orderly and suitable use and enjoyment thereof by the people; also to adopt rules and regulations to promote these purposes;
    • Acquire funds or property as recommended by the Commission and approved by the City Council by resolution for park facilities and recreational programs;
    • With prior Council approval, to buy or lease in the name of the City for park purposes, and to sell or exchange property no longer required for park purposes;
    • Execute every trust imposed upon the use of property or property rights by the deed, testament or other conveyance transferring the title of such property to the City for park purposes;
    • Implement effective and efficient management, control, supervision and operation of the City park system and recreation program, as carried out by the Director, subject to budgetary approval by the City Council;
    • Retain jurisdiction of the parks, swimming pool and playgrounds throughout the City and assume full responsibility for the equipping, developing and maintaining the physical facilities of the park system;
    • Promote the quiet, orderly and suitable use of the City parks and playgrounds as the Commission deems necessary;
    • Establish rules and regulations as deemed necessary as approved by the City council, including user fees, that are necessary for the proper use, care and operation of parks, park facilities, recreation programs and other activities under their control, provided however that such rules and regulations do not conflict with the laws of the State of Wisconsin or the Code of Ordinances for the City.

    The City Parks and Recreation Commission determines the recreational needs of the public, and has jurisdiction over the public recreation program of the City and is empowered to:

    • Establish park rules and program policies;
    • Cooperate and coordinate with public school activities;
    • Cooperate with any private recreational activities;
    • Approve schedules of all recreational activities in public parks and school buildings.

    Click here to read the full description of the Parks & Recreation Commission in Chapter 2.48 of the Sun Prairie Municipal Code of Ordinances.

  • Sun Prairie Utilities Commission – The Utilities Commission is responsible for the entire charge and management of the Sun Prairie Utilities as a department of the City. The Commission has full authority to supervise the operation of the public water and public power utilities, subject only to the general control and supervision of the City Council.
    In addition, to the power and authority set forth by Municipal Ordinance, the Utility Commission has the authority prescribed by Section 66.0805, Wisconsin Statutes, and governs the Department consistent with requirements of Title 13 of the Municipal Code.
    The Utility Commission makes rules for their own operations and governance of their department, and they appoint a Utility Manager who acts on behalf of the Commission and employs necessary employees to operate the Utility. The Commission also may employ the services other agents or consultants as the commission deems necessary.
    The Utility Commission is also authorized to provide telecommunications service in its service area and to carry out all associated activities to the full extent allowed by applicable federal and state laws, including, without limitation, Section 62.11(5), Wisconsin Statutes, and in compliance with such federal and state laws. For purposes of this section, the phrase “telecommunications service” has the same definition as that contained in Section 196.01(9m), Wisconsin Statutes, as may be amended from time to time.
    Click here for a full description of the Sun Prairie Utilities Commission in Chapter 2.64 of the Sun Prairie Municipal Code of Ordinances.

City of Verona

Towns and Villages info coming soon, but it is limited.