City planner Mary Beth Broeren retires

MADISON – City of Madison Director of Development Services Mary Beth Broeren retired this week after 10 years with the city.

Broeren has served three different mayors and started with the city of Madison in 2016 as the Director of Planning and Economic Services. She was promoted in 2018 to Director of Development Services.

“I just can’t tell you, as a new mayor, how valuable Mary Beth has been in helping me understand a lot of things that preceded me, helping me assess things in a very quick order. As an 8-month-old mayor, I can’t tell you how valuable she has been to the city of Madison,” commented Mayor Ranae Bartlett.

Broeren led the city’s wayfinding project, the construction of Home Place Park and Madison Public Library, the reorganization of the city zoning ordinance, and the city’s comprehensive plan, and managed the construction of Toyota Field.

“I’ve gotten to work with Mary Beth a lot and I just want to publicly say ‘thank you’ for showing me the ropes, for making sure I understood just how things worked, just different terminology. You always responded quickly, thoroughly, with much detail and gave me the same respect as someone who had been here, I feel like, for a very long time by making sure that I was prepared,” said District 6 Councilwoman Erica White, who worked closely with Broeren on the Industrial Development Board and the Planning Commission.

Mayor Bartlett presented Broeren with a proclamation at the July 28 city council meeting. The week of Monday, July 27 was Broeren’s last week with the city.