OA012004

County Board Rules

This ordinance was adopted by the Board at its organizational meeting.

The new rules restructure the County Board committees. The Zoning committee is now known as the Zoning and Land Regulation Committee, with the following powers:

(1) Act as the supervisory committee for the planning and development department, including survey, zoning, tax description and plat review functions.

(2) Act as the policy oversight committee for register of deeds, the Dane County Board of Adjustment and the Dane County Regional Planning Commission (with respect to land use matters), and zoning and land use regulations activities for lakes management.

(4) Fulfill the zoning and subdivision control powers and duties enumerated in chapters 10, 74, 75 and 76, D.C. Ords.

(5) Advise the county board on all matters relating to zoning, land use and land regulation.

(6) Report to the county board regarding all proposed cemetery maps and plats in accordance with sec. 157.07, Wis. Stats.

The committees also include a new committee known as:

environment and natural resources committee shall have the duty and responsibility to:

(1) Act as the supervisory committee for extension, land conservation, and the lakes & watershed commission (for budget review purposes only);

(2) Act as the policy oversight committee for the Dane County Parks Commission, operational programs and budget for lakes management and aquatic weed control, and the Dane County Humane Society.

(3) Advise the county board on all matters relating to agriculture and the conservation of natural and environmental resources in Dane County, and confer and cooperate with any other agency interested in environmental quality and conservation.

(4)(a) Provide policy direction and guide implementation of county planning efforts and organizational structure, including the county executive’s proposals on growth and development, the Dane County Land Use and Transportation Plan, and the respective roles of the regional planning commission, metropolitan planning organization and department of planning and development;

(b) Facilitate regular, ongoing communication, including holding listening sessions with Dane County’s cities, villages, and towns on developments of regional impact;

(c) Review current county policies, plans and ordinances related to land use and development to determine whether revisions are necessary, and work with other county board committees to develop necessary changes;

(d) Recommend policy and planning initiatives to the board and the planning director;

(e) Monitor state land use planning efforts and make recommendations on land use and development issues to the executive committee regarding the county’s legislative agenda.

(5) Cooperate with the Dane County Board of Health, the Dane County Regional Plan Commission, the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the department of natural resources on all matters relating to water resources and pollution control, as appropriate.

(6) Assume the duties and responsibilities of the former Strategic Growth Management Committee, as defined by any county board resolutions or ordinance amendments previously adopted.

Clearly, the new Committee has been delegate some of the land use powers which were being handled by the Zoning Committee. It will be interesting to see how these things overlap.

Recommendation: Monitor.