Though it makes decisions that affect students' daily lives, the City Council often goes unnoticed by its constituents at UW-Madison. The group is made up of Madison alders who link residents like students to city government and make important decisions every day.
The Daily Cardinal invited a special City Council/university liaison and three alders who manage university community neighborhoods to speak about how city government works.
LaMarr Billups, special assistant to Chancellor John Wiley; Ald. Austin King, District 8; Ald. Brenda Konkel, District 2; and Ald. Robbie Webber, District 5; contributed to the roundtable discussion that took place at Ancora Coffee Roasters, 112 King St., Friday afternoon.
The Madison City Council meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month to handle city business, such as signing contracts, approving development contracts and reviewing liquor licenses.
Additionally, each alder sits on between one and 20 specialized committees. Citizens, experts, university students, faculty and staff also serve on these committees.
King pointed out that of the 843 available positions open on city committees, only six UW-Madison students currently serve.
\We are more underrepresented than any other demographic group,"" he said.
The Joint West Campus Area Committee and the Joint Southeast Campus Area Committee specifically serve as liaisons between campus and the city to develop campus areas.
One method of student communication with City Council involves ""informal"" communication, such as speaking with an alder at a bar, or through campus organization meetings, e-mail or telephone.
""It's definitely worth the time, especially when there are so many important issues for students like affordable housing and alcohol policy,"" King said.
The formal method involves testifying at committee or City Council meetings, something students rarely do, according to King.
""If you care and you want to do stuff it's more than a full time job,"" King said. ""If you're lazy and you're a status quo conservative you could get by doing 10 hours per week.""
Although many alders have other jobs, there are only two or three alders with children.
""People with lives are disproportionately underrepresented,"" King said.
Billups pointed out that alders not only deal with large volumes of paperwork and address many complex debates at City Council meetings, but also handle a broad range of responsibilities within the separate committees they serve, straddling interests of neighborhood associations, community organizations and individuals.
""There is a considerable investment of not only time but effort that has to be put into staying up on material and attending to constituents,"" Billups said.
Alders are paid about $500 per month. However, King said, ""No one does it for the money.""
""I had a mini-epiphany one day at a City Council meeting when I realized that I was smarter than most of the people there,"" King said. ""They were saying some really stupid things. Realizing that these people who represent Madison are so normal takes the shine off and you realize anyone can do this.""
Webber was once told women do not run for office because they think they have to know everything before they run. ""They don't,"" she said. ""It never stops the guys.""
Spring elections traditionally bring about an eighth of the voter turnout that the fall elections do, King said. That means each vote counts more proportionately.
""You don't need to know everything to run for office and you don't have to know everything to vote,"" King said. ""Try to make an informed decision, but make a decision.""
""If there's an issue you care about, call up your alder and talk about it,"" Konkel said. ""A lot of the things we do are the result of our constituents calling us.""
""We want to hear what people have to say, even when they disagree with us,"" Webber said.
The healthy relationship shared by UW and the City of Madison was enhanced substantially under the tenure of Billups.
""We have made an effort to listen and have been humbled,"" he said. ""The university's various projects and interests have been better served by hearing what the community has to say.""
LaMarr Billups, special assistant to Chancellor John Wiley, works with local units of government, including City Council, and volunteers on multiple committees.
Ald. Robbie Webber represents District 5, which includes the west side of campus, stretching to Picnic Point.
Ald. Brenda Konkel is City Council president and represents District 2, extending north of both the Capitol and East Washington Avenue to Lake Mendota and the Yahara River and North Fordem Avenue on the northeast side of town.
Ald. Austin King represents District 8, which includes most of the central campus area north of Regent Street.
Information about the City Council can be obtained at
