Madison Common Council

media release: Jan 28:

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced today that Madelyn Leopold is the recipient of the 2024 Jeffrey Clay Erlanger Civility in Public Discourse Award.  

The award was created by the Common Council to honor Madison residents who exemplify Jeff Erlanger’s model of fairness, openness, and civility in public discourse. Jeff, who passed away in 2007, was committed to public service.  He understood that through civil debate and effective representation, those with varying opinions could come together on how to solve issues within the community. Mr. Erlanger served on the City of Madison’s Economic Development Commission and chaired the Commission on People with Disabilities as well as the Board of Directors of the Community Living Alliance.    

This year's winner, Madelyn Leopold served on the Board of Madison Parks Commission from 2013-2021 including two years as President of the Board.  She additionally served as the Parks Commission representative on the Board of the Madison Park Foundation, the Parks Long Range Planning Committee and its Golf Subcommittee. In addition to her work as a Park Commissioner, Madelyn works in other ways to support young people as they learn about the natural world and internalize some of the land ethic her grandfather wrote about so eloquently.  She has served as a regular reader at the Arboretum’s "Madison Reads Leopold" event.

As a member of the Parks Commission Madelyn led, invited and actively participated in construction conversations about the issues brought before the Board.  She carefully questioned any use of parks that would limit public access to them.  She supported the value of 'unprogrammed' parks where it's possible to be in a natural setting and appreciate its gifts. She guided the Park Commission and members of the public to balance the competing priorities addressed in our administration of the Parks systems.

“I congratulate Madelyn Leopold on winning this award. “Her collaborative approach to sometimes contentious issues makes her a role model to the hundreds of other Madisonians serving on City boards, committees and commissions,” said Mayor Rhodes-Conway. Our City parks are crucial to our excellent quality of life, and we depend on the Parks Commission and Parks staff to create, maintain and ensure that they are accessible to all residents of the Madison area. Madelyn provided years of leadership on the Parks Commission, and I’m grateful to her for her service.”

“Since this award was established, we, as Jeff’s parents, have been so impressed with the caliber of Madison area residents nominated in Jeff’s memory.  This year was remarkable, with a record number of nominations, and they were all worthy recipients. Madelyn Leopold shares Jeff’s incredible spirit of collaboration and truly, civility,” said Pam and Howard Erlanger. “We are thrilled to continue to play a part in this process, and to honor Madelyn’s work on behalf of our City parks.” 

Leopold was nominated by former Parks Commission member Emily Gnam who said, “ I’m really happy that Madelyn is being recognized for her excellent service on the Board of Park Commissioners. Parks are huge part of what makes our city a wonderful place to live. The Park Commission ensures that we make wise decisions about how to best use park land now in the future. Having policy makers who promote respectful debate and collaborative decision-making is a big reason that Madison’s parks system continues to be so highly rated.” 

As a result of the establishment of a fund within the Madison Community Foundation, the awardee and the nominator are able to designate a $250 contribution to the non-profit of their choice Madelyn Leopold and Emily Gnam are both directing their monetary donations to the Madison Parks Foundation, to be used by the Foundation in 2025 to support ongoing program initiatives such as the Goodman Pool Swim Team, the “Learn To” series, and/or the “Movies in the Park” series.

The Erlanger Award is an annual recognition and will be presented at the January 28, 2025, Common Council meeting. 

The Common Council determines the format of upcoming Council meetings in advance on an ongoing basis. Please check the online city meeting schedule to find out the planned format: cityofmadison.com/council/meetings-agendas

You can attend this meeting virtually or in person at City-County Building, 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Room 201, Madison, WI 53703. Enter through the main doors at 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd and proceed to level 2.

Watch online: media.cityofmadison.com/mediasite/showcase/madison-city-channel/channel/common-council or on the City of Madison Youtube channel.

Listen by Phone: (877) 853-5257 (Toll Free). Visit the upcoming meetings page for meeting ID.

Television: Watch live on Spectrum channel 994, AT&T U‑Verse channel 99, and Madison City Channel on Roku and Apple TV.

Written Comments: You can send comments on agenda items to allalders@cityofmadison.com

Register but Do Not Speak: You can register your support or opposition to an agenda item at cityofmadison.com/city-hall/committees/meeting-schedule/register

Register to Speak or to Answer Questions: If you wish to speak at the hybrid meeting on an agenda item, you must register. You can register at https://www.cityofmadison.com/MeetingRegistration. When you register to speak, you will be sent an email with the information you will need to join the hybrid meeting. You can participate in-person of virtually.