So, we gutted the lobbyist registration ordinance last year . . . but some people still need to fill out the expense reports . . .
While many ended up being exempt from the ordinance, it is clear that the following are not:
(k) Provided that the City gives notice of the registration and reporting requirements under this Sec.2.40 to the person seeking City assistance or approval, the exemptions in Sub. (i)1. and 2. are not available with respect to any lobbying activities or expenditures incurred:
- In seeking direct cash assistance from the City in the form of a loan, grant, TIF funding, or similar assistance (not including for this purpose the provision of goods or services directly to the City or a City agency) in an amount greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in a calendar year; or
- In seeking approval of any development or redevelopment as defined in MGO ยง 20.04(8) located within the City of Madison that is reasonably expected to include over 40,000 gross square feet in a non-residential building or buildings or ten (10) dwelling units.
So, where are the expense reports for the following development projects that have TIF and have the following registered lobbyists:
Stonehouse Development
Arneson, Richard
Bradbury, Helen
University Square (Executive Management, Inc.)
Bastian, Mark
Duhr, Michael
Gilbertson, Rick
Lawson, Eric
Mclean, Jeff
Springmen, Susan
Wilson, John
Union Corners
Beattie, John
McGrath, Lance
McGrath, Todd
ODriscoll, Kevin
Landmark Place (Mortenson Investment Group, LLC)
Hursh, Doug
Hutter, Bradley
Temkin, Harvey
These reports were due July 31 and I waited for the clerk to have time to post the forms to the website and the city attorney’s office to follow up on the most blatant violations, but it is now 2 months later and these expense reports should be in . . . .
While these are the projects that received TIF jumped out at me . . . there are 140 registered lobbyists who did not appear to have filed an expense report due July 31st. Many of them may not have spent $1,000 and may be exempt. Another problem may be that their expense report was filed with another lobbyist and the clerk’s office didn’t post them in two different places. But there are 97 registered lobbyists that work for businesses that appear to me to been likely to have spent over $1,000 and for which I couldn’t find any other filings. A few that come to mind are Midvale Plaza (Joe Krupp) project, City Market, MG&E and the folks trying to buy the land under Lincoln School.
I wonder, what is the City Attorney doing to look into this? Or will they wait until someone starts filing complaints?
