Donors, can’t live with ’em, can’t live without ’em.
Check this out, from the resolution
WHEREAS, Donor, as defined below, has expressed a desire to close this funding gap by making a donation to the City for the Project in the amount of $250,000, on the condition that Donor be given naming rights to the Pavilion, input into the design of the Project, and that Donor’s name be maintained anonymously throughout the City’s authorization process;
Um, why? Why can’t we know who the donor is that this will be named after and is helping with the design of the shelter?
And, is this designed to put pressure on these guys?
WHEREAS, as a condition of the Donation and Naming Right Agreement, before accepting the
donation from the Donor, the Board of Park Commissioners will have to approve the name chosen by the Donor. If the name is not approved by the Board of Park Commissioners, the Donation and Naming Right Agreement will be void and the donation will be returned to the Donor.
What does it mean to have naming rights? From the donor and naming rights agreement.
1) Within ninety (90) days of the execution of this Agreement, the Foundation shall provide the City with the Name along with an Assignment of all of the Foundation’s rights and responsibilities under this Agreement to Donor pursuant to Section 6 below. Upon the City’s Board of Park Commissioners approval of the Name, the City shall be deemed as having accepted the Name for the Pavilion and the Assignment shall be deemed as having been accepted by the City, whereupon this Assignment shall be incorporated into this Agreement. If the City’s Board of Park Commissioners rejects the Name, this Agreement shall become void and the City shall therein return the Donation, in its entirety, to the Foundation.
2) The City agrees that the Pavilion shall have this Name, and this Name shall be prominently displayed thereupon, during the expected natural lifetime of the Pavilion, which is projected to be one-hundred (100) years. The Pavilion shall not be known by any other name and all prior names used to identify the pavilion in Tenney Park shall be abandoned in their entirety. The City agrees that during the expected natural lifetime of the Pavilion, Foundation shall have the right to enforce against the City, by specific performance, this naming right, and the rights associated therewith as outlined in this Agreement. Should the Pavilion either be destroyed or severely damaged by an act of God or act of Man prior to the end of the expected natural lifetime of the Pavilion, the City agrees that during this period any new, renovated or repaired Tenney Park Pavilion shall continue to have this Name, which Name shall continue to be enforceable by the Foundation, and Foundation’s heirs and beneficiaries, against the City as provided in this Agreement.
3) The City agrees that the Name will be prominently displayed on the front and rear exterior entrances of the Pavilion and shall be made an integral part of, and included in, the architect’s (Plunkett Raysich) overall design of the Pavilion. The design and location of the Name on the Pavilion must be agreed to by the Foundation and the City prior to the City’s approval of the public works contract for the Project.
4) The Name shall be used by the City on all Pavilion (a) documents, schedules and calendars; (b) advertising/marketing materials; (c) websites and other internet sites which reference the Pavilion; (d) all external correspondence and letters concerning the Pavilion; and (e) all internal correspondence and letters concerning the Pavilion, to the extent practicable.
This condition kind of cracks me up:
Press Release. In the event the City (including without limitation, the Mayor’s office or the Parks Division) intends to issue a press release regarding the Donation, such press release must be reviewed and approved by the Foundation, Donor and the Shelter Group.
Seems like there is some kind of trust issue with the donor and the city. What do you think, will it be the Sensenbrenners? T Wall? Keillor Family?
If you want in on the fun, they are selling naming rights for the following items:
Other Naming Right Opportunities
Other Pavilion amenities which may be offered for naming opportunities by the City, the Tenney-Lapham Corporation Inc., or the Shelter Group:
1. Benches
2. Fireplace
3. Garden
4. Kitchen
5. Welcome garden
6. Bike racks
7. Children’s play equipment
8. Exterior paving bricks/tiles
9. Interior floor tiles
10. Any other Pavilion amenity agreed to in writing by the City and the Foundation
I have no problem with the naming rights, but I am curious, why all the secrecy until after the approvals? How will we know if anyone has conflicts of interest or ethics issues? Or should be registered as a lobbyist? Or who has what interest when arguing for or against the project? It’s not the way government operates. At least it shouldn’t be. But its the new way for the City of Madison under the leadership of this Mayor. (He’s the lead sponsor.) Maniaci, an afterthought.
This is disgusting !
Phil Woodman is my guess.