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Local government directory
Milwaukee, WI: council, meetings and contacts
Milwaukee is the 31st largest city in the United States with about 562,407 residents, in Milwaukee. Here is who governs it, when they meet in public, and where the agendas are posted.
City government at a glance
- Form of government
- Mayor-council
- Governing body
- Common Council — 15 members
- Regular meetings
- Council Chamber, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.; see the Legistar calendar for regular meeting dates
- City Hall
- 200 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
- Main information line
- (414) 286-2489
- Population (2025 est.)
- 562,407 (2020 census: 577,222)
- County
- Milwaukee
- Planning body
- City Plan Commission
15 aldermanic districts of roughly 38,500 residents each, serving four-year terms.
Official links
- Milwaukee official website
- Common Council
- Agendas, minutes and meeting video
- Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
- Milwaukee Public Schools
The bodies that decide things in Milwaukee
| Body | What it decides | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Common Council | Ordinances, the city budget, zoning changes, contracts, police and fire funding | Official page |
| Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors | County budget, sheriff and jail, public health, elections administration, county roads | County website |
| Milwaukee Public Schools board | School budget, boundaries, calendar, curriculum adoption, superintendent | District website |
| City Plan Commission | Rezonings, site plans, variances and long-range land use recommendations | City website |
Questions people ask about Milwaukee government
When does the Milwaukee Common Council meet?
Council Chamber, City Hall, 200 E. Wells St.; see the Legistar calendar for regular meeting dates Always confirm the date and location on the official agenda before you attend, because meetings can be cancelled, moved or continued.
How do I contact Milwaukee city government?
The main information line is (414) 286-2489. City Hall is at 200 E. Wells St., Milwaukee, WI 53202, and the official website is https://city.milwaukee.gov.
How do I speak at a Milwaukee public meeting?
Find the agenda for the meeting, check the sign-up deadline (many cities close the list before the meeting starts), prepare remarks for the posted time limit — usually two or three minutes — and state your name, your district and your specific ask.
No debates for Milwaukee yet. If something is on the council agenda — a rezoning, a fee increase, a transit change — open the first debate and invite both sides.
Start here if you are new to this
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