Mayor Paul Soglin and newly elected alders were sworn in Tuesday afternoon before holding their first city council meeting as elected officials later that night.
Before Soglin was sworn in, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said he appreciated his family and council members as he stepped down after serving eight years as Madison mayor.
""I loved being mayor of Madison, but before that I loved being a citizen of Madison,"" Cieslewicz said.
Soglin, who has already served 14 years in office, was sworn in as Madison mayor for the third time.
Bryon Eagon, who represented District 8 on city council, was among the six alders who did not seek re-election for Common Council.
Eagon, who represented a majority of UW-Madison students, did not seek re-election because he will be working for Teach For America in New York City next year.
Julia Kerr, District 13, Jed Sanborn, District 1, Judy Compton, District 17, Michael Schumacher, District 18, and Thuy Pham-Remmele, District 20, are also not returning to serve on the council.
During her departing remarks, Pham-Remmele said she appreciates city staff, but purposely left the plaque given to outgoing alders after her speech.
Alders Lisa Subeck, Scott Resnick, Sue Ellingson, Jill Johnson, Anita Weier and Matt Phair were sworn in to Common Council to replace the outgoing alders.
Resnick, a recent UW-Madison graduate, took over Eagon's seat on council to represent the heavily student-populated District 8.
Ald. Lauren Cnare, District 3, was unanimously elected to replace Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, as President of the city council. Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5, was sworn in to take over Cnare's previous seat as the President Pro Tem.
At the evening meeting, council members unanimously accepted the feasibility study for a rooftop community garden or green roof at the renovated Madison Central Public Library.
An extensive green roof would help divert rain water and protect the roof.
However, several Madison residents spoke out against the study, saying an intensive garden roof may be feasible and urged council members to reject the study.
An intensive green roof is more complex than an extensive roof, and can serve as a community garden.
City Facilities and Sustainability Manager Jeanne Hoffman, who worked on the study, said the team worked with a design team on cost estimates due to the tight budget for the project.
The majority of the cost of having an intensive rooftop would come from the addition of a third elevator and getting the building up to code.
""We are working very tirelessly to make sure we bring the project in on budget,"" Hoffman said.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who co-sponsored the resolution, said the study is well-researched.
""This study is extremely thorough and I take issue with anybody who says it is not,"" Verveer said.
Council members accepting the study differs from them adopting the study. Adoption would be considered the last word on the subject, while accepting the study would acknowledge that there is still a possibility for the intensive garden, Verveer said.
