Live blogged.
Clear says original should be version #1. The Clear Alternate is 2, and Schmidt/Bidar-Sielaff/Rummel is three.
AD HOC OVERTURE REPORT
Mayor suggests do 26 first, the Ad Hoc Overture Report.
Rosemary Lee – No interest except a patron. Council kept out of loop until it became expedient to include you. Part of the problem with transparency. This was insulting to you, the residents of City and Overture staff. She thinks 201 State Chair should have not have been on the ad hoc commmittee. She thinks the employees have been treated poorly and should lose city benefits and state retirement. This is not their fault. Remember the taxpayer. We cannot afford to keep up this building. appalled that many for it are affluent enough they don’t care how much their taxes go up. Please remember employees, taxpayers and vote your heart and what is best for the city, she doesn’t think it is the Focus Model.
Bill White – Says not here as a lobbyist, but he has a nicer way to say it. Not here cuz patron of the arts, or cuz his wife on board of Forward Theatre or worked with unions for 5 years. He’s hear cuz his son is going to be in a production. But, think of the larger community. Think about when you were a kid who got a really cool jacket that didn’t quite fit, we’ll grow into it. Won’t tell you how to vote on the amendments, this is a big deal, we need to do the right thing and get it done or walk away and feel bad. It’s for our children and children’s children. This can be our feather in our caps.
Paul Soglin – Passes.
No discussion. Passes on voice vote unanimously.
MOTION
Clear says that he moves version 2, and Bidar-Sielaff will move substitute later.
Bidar-Sielaff says her version is version 3, and that is the way it should be referred to.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Linda Baldwin passes.
Joe Sensenbrenner asks them to act with as much wisdom as possible, so we can move forward to protect and preserve and enhance this asset to the community. There will be many judgments. This could be like a daycare that will be subsidized. Neighbors might want the employees to have 10, 20 or 50 hours of training and interviewed by 2 parents, or 6 parents cuz need males and females and then proposal for 30 minutes of exercise every week and day care provider starts to think about if this is what they want to do. If you can think of some of the good works proposed tonight, with a future successful organization, hopes you can have flexibility for the future. Wishes them well in deliberations.
Paul Soglin says normally a discussion on this is 45 minutes. None of the proposals bring closures. Tremendous amount of unanswered questions, work to be done, should have been 20 years ago. He thinks that option 2 and 1 are what is was looking at but 3 covers deficiencies in 1 & 2. He says greatest problem is we never did an appropriate analysis of the arts community. That is necessary before we get this right. This building is more than we can afford. That makes this more difficult. Some of the problems with number 2, is partially addressed in 3. Public employees should remain public. We don’t know what the outcome will be in two years, we shouldn’t eliminate if we might find it is the best. Also, have to recognize, never an analysis of employees of Overture with comprable positions.
Mayor says without objection another two minutes. No one objects.
Soglin says compared titles and salaries, not descriptions and haven’t done analysis. He says you know the hourly costs, how many of you compared catering contract and know if the revenues from catering are appropriate for the facility by industry standards. We didn’t get into that at the ad hoc committee. Much of the problem is revenue, not cost. Another issue, how conclude that Broadway shows will increase revenue when most arts facilities projecting decline. Next, need an endowment. He asks what happens in two years if can’t come to agreement, he’ll be around and can answer questions.
Dierdre Garton says thank you for your diligence and work over last several months, in tackling the issue and constancy in trying to keep the good of the community in the forefront. It’s clear to us that is important. We have come to a better understanding over the last few months. Thinks 2 or 1 would do that. Overture Board supports version 1, but can work with version 2. Two points, this evening you received Sept. 28th comments to ad hoc committee. Before most of you elected, they tried to engage the community about the fiscal problems they faced. The materials you received tonight, reflect that work. They support strategic planning with broad community input over next year once structure is decided, hopefully tonight. They support resident and community access committee that will report to the board. Want to improve communications with the city. They will be a full partner in this. They have to think of financial health, they can’t agree to formulas that tie their hands.
Mayor says without objection another minute. No objections.
Overture its employees, patrons and donors have operated on the brink for a long time. The community support they have realized and witnessed, whether donations or new board members, they have been overwhelmed, not a single person has refused to step forward and help. anxious to manage that to future success, hopes council will work with them in deepened partnership.
Robert Kimbrough, hasn’t been able to follow all the points, but this is his experience. Came her in 1959 with PhD from Harvard, first thing he did was join teachers union and organize faculty. All of his writing in renaissance and plays and Shakespeare and founded own theatre company, organizer for peace, use your good sense. You have a chance to buy a building to be used in various imaginative way, and have union people work in it. He supported Overture in the first incarnation, go buy yourself a building for $1.
Jennifer MacCaullay, AFSCME Council 40, Local 60, understands there are challenges, but disappointed that advocates of privatization continue to point to the employees. Most extreme advocates of privatization are eager to have subsidy, its a public asset, but they dont’ want a public role. It should be more than a blank check. We deserve accountability, a seat at the table, open meetings, a quality workforce and should not gut pay for workers. Disagree that this will hurt fundraising. They can have Friends groups like Olbrich and Zoo. You can’t diminish workforce quality and move behind closed door. We all think Overture on a path to the future is not easy, but don’t do a race to the bottom. Public dollars means public accountability. Remember Madison commitment to social justice.
Tom Carto enjoyed Undercoffler report, thinks the report is great. Has nothing but good things to say about the employees. The issues lie in the revenue area. We knew that was the case when trust fund liquidated. And when laid off 15 employees. Thanks Clear and Cnare for increasing funding. They intend to earn that grant by engaging others in the community. The fundraising capacity is there, but the debt must be off the table before that happens. What worries him is bankrupcty. Understands concern for wrokers, but a no vote tonight is much worse for the workers. Get to yes tonight, then lets work on future of Overture.
Tim Radcliffe (?) – Vote no on 2. Private model, taxpayer dollars with little transparency while throwing employees under the bus is not acceptable. They rejected almost every amendment the council proposed, they will add to transparency etc, they threaten it will go dark. They blame custodial staff despite report to the contrary, they way they do this is to take away full time jobs with health care benefits. Response to amendment 6 and 7 is most disturbing. What causes uncertainty is the demonization of the employees that keep the building running. Some of employees have worked there for decades. Their work performance has not diminished. Quite demonizing unions. Don’t accept the false deadlines and their refusal to negotiate. Please support number 3 and amendment 7.
Ken Golden – Had a hand out, wanted to highlight some issues he thinks are important. He knows you know more, cuz you have been in the game, the minutia and detail you have been wading through can cloud the brain. He wants them to step back and look at big picture. He wrote this about 2, didn’t know about 3. Also assumed this would be a permanent arrangement, likes Soglin transition time. Proposal of his that if giving them more, promise was what civic center was getting plus inflation. If get more money, we should get more. Open meetings and records, independent assessment of long term capital requirements of the building, if don’t do it, we’re gambling. He was on Bauman’s ad hoc Overture committee, please remember we promised not to compete with other arts groups for fundraising.
Ken asks for another minute, Mayor says sure.
He says there is no doubt this will be a union shop. If transition from public to private you need to be part fo that discussion and you need to work with them on transition. These are your employees, treat them with respect and dignity. That is what you should be involved in.
Missed the Name – One of youngest people to testify tonight, this will impact him the most. HOpefully will make enough money to buy a ticket to go to the Overture Center. This was built before its time, a bit like a museum, hard to have community connect. Maintenance cost and materials used were high, so tax payer dollars will be needed. So shouldn’t taxpayers get accountability and assurance that if not going well, something can be done about it. If you have given a piece of candy to a child, easier to do that than get it back. First two proposals are privatization, we will give them the building and if they botch it, it will be hard to get back. Have a public authority run the building. Supports number 3. Don’t split the employees so some are private and some public, everyone who works in teh building should be united under common employment, helps us work as a team, strongly support 3, for a public authority, and not give this away to a private organization where fear of not being able to get it back. Everyone has a huge interest in Overture. If need more time, vote for three, we an give it away later.
Becky Steinhoff not here.
Anne Habel not here.
John Nice, keep it short. People worked hard for years. Don’t Walmartize their jobs. If you can sleep at night after taking away retirement and health benefits, I don’t understand.
Robin Gee, union member at Madison College, came because opposed to 1 & 2, and happy to see 3. Applauds creative thinkers. This might lead to a true public arts district and wants them to protect union jobs.
Shawn Robbins, THRIVE, complex issue, won’t preach to you about what should do on any option, but asks, keep the broad regional implications as move forward. The decisions you make here will have broad regional implications. Economy in region is connected in many ways, reality is that Overture has opportunity in long term to connect to make a regional arts group – APT and Ringling – what the means for economy is that it can attract first class employees. We need a balance between short term solution and long term. This is about 35 or 50 years from not.
Jeff Porter – IATSE – You have listened to us for months. The big picture is you have to provide millions to an enttity that will run Overture. That also includes many public employees. The staffing study showed a minimal saving, $26K. They *may* offer the same benefit who *might* decide to stay. They are your constituents, please consider the livlihoods of the professional employees impacted. Remember that Undercoffler says going private is not always the answer.
Nino Amato – on MCAD board for 3 years – Wants to go back to opening of Overture. A lot of optimism back then. Some were watching the governance structure. Very complicated. I got a three ring binder when on board, didn’t understand it at first. Alternatives you have today is to make it better. This is like raft – on the bank is the donors and banks, the raft has negotiation going all over, mayor saying get it done, I have an election. There are a few issues. Labor. That is not the issue, its not that cost. Other issues are a red herring. Transparency, we should have gotten you involved last spring, but it didn’t happen. They did strategic planning, private-private model shot down by Mayor.
Mayor says no objection another minute. None.
If transparency like Pool and Health Dept., we wouldn’t be in this mess. The key is that we come together, we agree that we need more time, we talked about extending it to the 14th, if donors agree. I don’t know if that is what you heard. You should not be forced to make a decision tonight. (apparently he didn’t see the email Dierdre sent), he said some more, I missed it. Look at this as a public private partnership, throw out the private-private model. Sorry, missed a bunch.
Jay Young – Happy to see many of coworkers, not just staff, but rank and file, green and black shirts and some not showing affiliation and shy about speaking. We are one big family. Everyone wants to make sure employees are taken care of. That is what brought me to the meetings. Wants to make sure employees keep their benefits. The idea of buying Overture has generated response from the constituents, it is a scary idea, but it the job of a body like this to take up that responsibility.
Dave Carrig – Here to back Alder Bidar-Sielaff resolution because of keeping union employees. But as this meeting has gone on, Soglin, Golden and Amato have raised questions. Part of her amendment gives the council more time, and it seems like an awful lot of questions marks. On the employee issue, being a union member means living wage, benefits and being able to contribute back to the community. When you sacrifice workers wages for a beautiful building, but if that is the cost, there is no contest. He couldn’t in good conscience go there, it wouldn’t sit well, like he doesn’t shop at Walmart, he wouldn’t go back to Overture.
Chris Gaultier – Brad Wirtz asked me a few months ago, so stop thanking him for his staff report. I think it will save alot of time tonight, we can put that to rest. the 20 plus amendments that you guys, under the gun, spent time effort and energy to try make this better, and then saw response from the board, and I wasn’t surprised. Maybe a little irritated. But it was what I expected. Then it dawned on me every amendment was making the argument that what we need is what the public needs. Think about that when look at responses. One of his colleagues can’t be here, tends to be long winded. 8 year old son asks where are you, why aren’t you home, what are these meetings. Try to explain. I told him, this is what Overture is. Truck tire has a hole, you have three choices,
Mayor gives him another minute.
Do you want to repair the hole, the focus model. Lead to alot more down the road. Or buy retreads – private, private. Or good all season radials. Snow is coming. He asked for white walls, I told him no, taxpayers won’t do it. Choose wisely so we are not back here in a few years.
Lori Kief – been talking to you for a really long time and appreciate how much you’ve listened. Appreciate consideration of different models and amendment 7. In version 2, we lose 23 union jobs. 20 IATSE positions. We oppose the focus model cuz of public entity, if public building should be run by public. We oppose privatization. This is a give away, they will erase the debt, but not giving enough time for the transition. No accountability for governance. Look at 3, keep Overture open, and thanks for the time and consideration.
Becky Steinhoff, ED of Goodman Neighborhood Center, on ad hoc committee. Supports that report.
sorry, took a break . . . sorry about the typos and a little loss of detail in this live blog . . .
Mike Imbroginio left.
Benjamin Radcliffe – page at the library. Holiday season again, reminded of It’s a Wonderful Life, George Bailey and economic hard times and Mr. Potter who is buying everything up in town. Townspeople crowd in to get their money, reminds them of the slumlord Potter, he is winning cuz they were panicky, and they are not. Part of successful union drive at library. The hard part was that coworkers wondering if they deserved better. Thought of it with the Public Authority Model. Read that they appreciate the donors, but many feel backed into a corner and being told it must be on their terms. Remember that wealthy donors also have public images, remind them they want to be George Bailey, not Potters.
Missed name – supports Overture, want it to succeed, not sure what the recipe is, sure this council will work hard, don’t forget the employees there 7 days a week, weekends and nights. Assure them they are valued and taken care of. Support three.
Ms. Turner – city employee, Overture is a fantastic draw, vital to community, draws new businesses, people don’t move here to look at lakes and go to Farmers Market, its important to have a vibrant downtown, that is all critical, otherwise leave it a hole in the ground. We have something worthy of our time and effort. 3 is great, addresses transparency, thanks them, wishes them the best.
Mayor says there is no reason to thank the City Attorney.
Also missed this name – ED of a non-profit, one of the resident groups. Thinks focus model is best to keep the most jobs in public and private sectors. Worked in public and private sector, the non-profit executive leadership is most challenging. Also knows that not possible to anticipate all contingencies. Hopes they look at providing maximum flexibility to preserve the most jobs. She talks about being here for a reading program resolution, and honoring children’s book illustrators. She talks about a story called A Very Good Day. A bird lost a feather, turned out he could fly even higher. thought it lost something, but really didn’t. We can come together for a solution, to honor employees and offer flexibility.
Steve Fleischman – MMOCA knows what it is like not to have a building, for 60 years used borrowed spaces. He recounts history and problems with past spaces. You can imagine the joy when got a decent building. 750,000 visitors have been there free of charge since then. They are an independent 501(c)(3) and not looking for capital goods or operating subsidy. Someone said it feels like a museum, actually it is. Under the proposal we would buy our piece of the building for $1. Pass a plan, allow Overture to flourish, this is an incredible gift, don’t put too many restrictions on the staff who will run Overture. They will be more invested with more latitude. We will be competing for fundraising, but one more won’t make a difference. Don’t delay. December is the month everyone writes the checks to non-profits, it would be nice to start December without dark clouds.
Bob DeAngelo – 20 years ago this week I moved to Madison, civic center was being debated, not dissimilair, it was about more funding from the Council. Amount in question was $80K. You can put this decades old debate to rest tonight. Not for or against any of the proposals, just wants a solution. Has to be something employees and taxpayers can respect. Much has been said about elitism, if the thousands who go to Overture are all elitist, congratulations its the most diverse elitist community he has seen. Missed some, not one performing arts center pays its way. Some suggested selling the building to a private agency. We need $10 per capita per year to keep it going. If the county and state could get on board, that would come down. Missed more about what civiliazations are remembered for.
Availabe for questions Samantha Crownower, Mary Berryman Agard, Undercoffler and one more.
