Boards, Commissions & Committees

The following is a synopsis of the Committees, Boards and Commissions. Members of the Council participate in the Standing Committees as voting members. In other Committees, Boards and Commissions, Council members act as liaisons, unless otherwise designated by the City Code.  Click here for membership lists of boards and commissions.

Standing Committees
Boards and Commissions

Standing Committees

Council members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council as a whole. Standing Committees make recommendations to Council for action.

Financial/Judicial Committee

• The committee handles matters of general financial management practices, debt administration, budget preparation, insurance and risk management, general administrative practices, Municipal Code provisions as it pertains to Finance, ordinance initiatives and general operating costs.
• The committee is likely to meet on a regular monthly schedule the second and fourth Mondays at 5:30pm.
• The committee consists of three Council members with one selected by the Mayor as the chairman. The City Administrator and Finance Director/City Treasurer attend.

Municipal Services and Utilities Committee

• The committee handles matters relating to the operation, maintenance or improvement of streets/alleys, municipal buildings, water distribution systems, wastewater collection system, electric power distribution systems and park facilities.
• The committee is likely to meet on a regular monthly schedule the second and fourth Mondays at 7:00pm.
• The committee consists of three Council members with one selected by the Mayor as the chairman. The Public Works Director attends the meetings. Parks and Recreation Director and Electric Utility Director attends when needed.

Human Resources Committee

• The committee considers those matters relating to personnel policies and practices, compensation administration, labor relations, collective bargaining and employee relations.
• The committee meets on an as needed basis.
• The committee consists of three Council members with one selected by the Mayor as the chairman. The City Administrator attends.

Public Safety Committee

• The committee considers matters relating to emergency medical services, code enforcement, health/safety issues, and traffic/parking. Additionally, the committee shall serve in an advisory capacity with respect to matters concerning police and fire operations, except where such matters are the direct responsibility of the Police and Fire Commission.
• The committee meets on an as needed basis.
• The committee consists of three Council members with one selected as chairman. The Police Chief and Fire Chief attends.

Legislative and Regulatory

• The committee considers matters related to proposed legislation (ordinance) impacting upon the City and its residents, review existing ordinances and proposed amendments to the Municipal Code, and considers matters pertaining to general licensing and permitting. The Legislative and Regulatory Committee reviews all liquor licenses and is the duly authorized committee to institute revocation or suspension proceedings.
• The committee is likely to meet on a monthly basis on the fourth Thursday of the month at 5:30pm.
• The committee consists of three Council members with one selected by the Mayor as chairman. The Police Chief and City Clerk attend.

Committee of the Whole

• All members of the Council and the Mayor attend the Committee of the Whole. President of the Council is the Chairman.
• The purpose of the Committee of the Whole is to discuss and make recommendations for approval at the Council level concerning broader issues, especially in the area of policy making. These issues require discussion by all members rather than specific standing committees.

Boards and Commissions

Membership of all boards and commissions, except as otherwise provided by ordinances as codified in Section 1.04 in the Municipal Code, have six members with all terms for three years with a limit of two consecutive terms. Any board or commission member is eligible for reappointment to a position after a one-term vacancy. Police and Fire Commission and EDC are excluded from this requirement. Appointments are made by the Mayor and confirmed by Council, including Council Liaisons. Click here for membership lists.  Contact the City Clerk at (262)723-2219 to find out how you can be a member of a Board or Commission.

Matheson Memorial Library Board

• Meets the second Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm at Matheson Memorial Library.
• The responsibility of the liaison is to act as a conduit between the board and Council. The liaison does not have voting rights, but is often asked for opinions and is able to enter into board discussions.
• The Library Board shall consist of seven members appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council with four of its members within the City limits, two of its members living outside the City limits but within the Town of Lafayette, Town of Sugar Creek, Town of Geneva, Town of Delavan, and Town of LaGrange, and the Elkhorn Area School District Administrator or his designee. The School Administrator is on the board indefinitely.

Elkhorn Development Company (EDC)

• Meets the third Thursday of the Month at 7:30am at City Hall.
• EDC involves marketing land in the industrial park.
• Membership is limited to residents of the Elkhorn Area School District and to seven-year terms to expire December 31. The Council representative has the right to vote.

Parks and Recreation Advisory Board

• Meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:00pm.
• Consists of the Parks and Recreation Director, seven members including one Alderman and six citizen members with terms expiring September 31. The Council representative is a voting member. Membership is limited to residents of the Elkhorn Area School District.
• The board functions as in an advisory capacity to the Common Council with responsibility for the planning, evaluation and development of City parks facilities and recreation programming. It is the board’s responsibility to develop specific recommendations regarding physical properties, staffing and equipment needs, program content and financial requirements for presentation to the Common Council

Board of Police and Fire Commissioners

• Meets the fourth Wednesday of every odd month.
• The board consists of five citizens of the City and is not related by blood or marriage to any member of the police force or Common Council. Commissioners are appointed by the Mayor and serve a five-year term.
• Purpose is by State Statutes – deals with matters related to personnel issues of the Police and Fire Departments. It has no administrative/management role.

Historic Preservation Commission

• Meets as needed.
• Consists of four Citizen members for three-year terms, Council representative, Plan Commission representative, and City Engineer. All members have voting rights.
• Purpose is to safeguard the City’s historic and cultural heritage, stabilize and improve property values, promote civic pride in the beauty and noble accomplishments of the past, protect and enhance the City for its residents, tourists and visitors for education, pleasure and general welfare and to strengthen the economy of the City.
• See Section 17.11 of the City Municipal Code for further responsibilities of the Historic Preservation Commission.

Elkhorn Area Fire Dept. Advisory Board

• Meets the quarterly on the second Tuesday at 7:00pm.
• It is similar to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Four communities [City of Elkhorn, Town of Geneva, Town of Lafayette and Town of Sugar Creek] are represented and its representatives have voting rights.
• City members are the Mayor and one Alderman appointed by Council.

Plan Commission

• Meets the first and third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm.
• Members consist of seven members with at least three citizen members and an Alderman appointed by the Mayor and confirmed Council. The Alderman is a voting member. The City Engineer serves as an ex-officio member. Terms expire May 1.
• The Mayor selects one Commission member to serve as presiding officer. The Commission members elect a vice-chairman annually at the first meeting.
• The duties of the Plan Commission are found in Section 1.04-2 in the Municipal Code.

Extraterritorial Zoning Board

• Meets on an as needed basis on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7:00pm.
• ETZ agreements are with Town of Lafayette, Town of Delavan and Town of Geneva.
• Members include three Citizen members of the Plan Commission and three Citizen members of each Town Plan Commission. (See Meetings for members)
• The duties of the ETZ Board are in Section17.16 of the Municipal Code.

Board of Appeals

• Meets on an as needed basis on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00pm. The three-year terms expire on January 1.
• Members consist of five residents within the City limits and two alternates, also City residents. In addition, the City Clerk, as Secretary to the Board of Appeals, and the Zoning Administrator attend the meetings.
• The duties of the Board of Appeals are in Section17.12 of the Municipal Code.

Board of Review

• Board must meet annually, anytime during the 30-day period beginning on the second Monday of May.
• Members of the Board of Review are the Mayor, three Aldermen in the second year of their term, and City Clerk. Council appoints members at their annual organizational meeting. At least one member must be Board of Review Certified by the State of Wisconsin. All members have voting rights. The City Clerk is the recording secretary.
• Duties of the Board of Review are in Section 1.04-3 in the Municipal Code.