What are city lobbyists up to these days?

March 7, 2019 11:06 am

Quite frankly, it’s quite hard to tell. It’s quite the mess and there is more information missing than available. There is very little information about who paid whom and how much to lobby for which matters.

WHY DO LOBBYING REPORTS MATTER?

I’m pretty sure my regular readers don’t need to have this explained to them. Think of that project in your neighborhood – what went on behind the scenes? Think of big projects in the city like Judge Doyle Square? No reports. MG&E has 5 lobbyists? Clean Lakes Alliance who worked on the James Madison Park plan – no lobbyists in 2018? All those construction projects? Liquor licenses? Who is being influenced to make those decisions? Funny thing is, I have yet to find one lobbyist who reports meeting with the mayor in the past 6 months. Hmm. I know he’s out of town a lot, but that seems highly unlikely. Likewise, I find no reports of lobbyists meeting with Mike Verveer, or Marsha Rummel or Ledell Zellers. With all the liquor licenses and development projects downtown, I hardly think that could be true. And let me be clear . . . the problem isn’t the people who have expense reports shown below. How many lobbyists do you think are missing from this list? Who do you think they are? And who do you think they influence? And how much did that cost?

WHO IS REQUIRED TO FILE?

Lobbyists

From the city’s website:
City of Madison ordinance requires all lobbyists—an individual whose paid duties include trying to influence City legislative or administrative action—to register with the City Clerk and to file authorization by the Principal to lobby on its behalf. Every lobbyist who makes a lobbying communication which is not exempt shall, within five (5) working days after the first lobbying communication, file with the City Clerk a registration statement.

At the time of the lobbyist registration, the principal must file with the City Clerk written authorization authorizing the lobbyist to lobby on his/her behalf. The authorization is included in the registration form. The lobbyist or principal must file a separate registration and authorization form for each principal represented by the lobbyist.

Registration and authorization take effect on the date the City Clerk receives the completed forms. The registration expires on December 31 of each year. If all lobbying by or on behalf of the principal ceases, the City Clerk shall terminate the principal’s authorization as of the day after the principal files a statement of cessation and any required expense statements. Similarly, if a lobbyist ceases all lobbying activities, the registration will terminate after the filing of a cessation statement and the filing on any required expense statements.

Expense Statements

From the city’s website:
Every principal who makes expenditures or incurs obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000 in any reporting period for the purpose of engaging in lobbying which is not exempt under Subsection (3) shall, for the remainder of that calendar year, file with the City Clerk an expense statement covering each preceding reporting period. Every registered principal who does not make expenditures or incur obligations in an aggregate amount exceeding $1,000 in any reporting period for the purpose of engaging in lobbying which is not exempt under Subsection (3) shall, file with the City Clerk an statement indicating that expenditures and obligations for the reporting period did not exceed $1,000. Such statement shall be filed on or before July 31 and January 31. The statement shall be signed under the penalty for making false statements provided in Subsection (13)(c), by the lobbyist, if so authorized by the principal, or by the principal.

REGISTERED LOBBYISTS

These are the lobbyists who were registered in 2018.
– Arnesen, Richard – Stone House Development
– BEITLER, J PAUL – BEITLER REAL ESTATE SERVICES LLC
– BENFORADO, DAVID – MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY

– Black, Angela

– Bradbury, Helen – Stone House Development
– Brandon, Zach – Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
– BRINKMAN, DANIELv – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– Brucaya, Zia – Ho-Chunk Nation Gaming Madison

– Buck, Douglas

– CHRISTENSON, PAMELA – MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
– DAY, DAN – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– DiFrancesco, Dan – MSP Real Estate
– EHLERS, CHRIS – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– Fadelli, Katherine – 700 East Johnson Street
– Gautreau, Melanie – The Edgewater
– Giornalista, Kristine – Impact Seven, Inc.
– GUEST, ROGER – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– HACKEL, MIKE – HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.
– Halverson, Brett – Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
– HEINEMANN, LORRIE – MADISON DEVELOPMENT CORP.
– HOBBIE, LYNN – MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
– HOMBURG, ANDREW – HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.
– HOMBURG, CHRIS – HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.

– Huggins, Melissa

– Ilstrup, Jason N – Downtown Madison Inc.
– KUPSCH, MARK – HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.

– KUTSUNIS, WILLIAM

– Little, Kevin – Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
– MATKOM, TED – GORMAN & COMPANY LLC

– May, Gregg

– Miller, Thomas – Kahler Slater

– MUNSON, BRIAN

– MURRAY, MICHAEL – WI ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
– Olver, Aaron – University Research Park, Inc.
– PORTERFIELD, DAVID – Movin’ Out, Inc.
– RENLUND, CARI ANNE – MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
– Roe, Lucas – Dave & Buster’s, Inc.
– ROSENBERG, JEFFREY – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– Sanford, Thomas B – Sanford Enterprises, Inc.
– Schaeffer, Carole J – 770 E Johnson LLC
– Schechter, Paul – Sunny Side Development
– Schmidt, Richard L – Madison Window Cleaning, inc./KTW Enterprises, LLC
– SCHULER, GAIL – HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.
– SIMON, DAVID – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– SLAVISH, MIKE – HOVDE PROPERTIES
– SOLHEIM, NICOLE – GORMAN & COMPANY INC
– SUMI, JOHN – MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
– SUPPLE, AMY – EDGEWATER HOTEL COMPANY LLC
– Thennes, Karla – Porchlight, Inc.
– TRACHTENBERG, RONALD – Bay Creek Remodeling LLC
– VAN PELT, BENJAMIN – AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
– Varrelmann, Claire – The Edgewater
– Vercauteren, Jeff – Stopple Revocable Trust

– Vercauteren, Jeffrey L

– VILLACREZ, VICTOR – HOVDE PROPERTIES
– Wendt, Jay – Mobilitie, LLC
– WOZNIAK, TODD – VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– ZEIER, DENNIS L – organization name not specified

So, only 57 people got paid to represent businesses with city officials in 2018?
There were 68 in 2017.
52 in 2016.
78 in 2015.
100 in 2014.
121 in 2013.

Sense a trend? At one point, based on complaints I filed, the city attorney wrote letters to 350 people suspected of being paid to influence city government. All of them were likely unregistered lobbyists.

I should also note, these registration forms are nearly useless as most are not filled in properly and not signed. Most are so general you can’t tell what they are getting paid to lobby for.

PRINCIPALS WHO SHOULD FILE EXPENSES STATEMENTS

I’m sure this list has MANY people missing from it – but if you look at this list, you would expect expense reports from the following organizations.
– 700 East Johnson Street or Houden Development -700 E. Johnson Street
– 770 E Johnson LLC
– AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
– Ascendant Holdings, LLC
– Bartaco Hilldale LLC
– Bay Creek Remodeling LLC
– BEITLER REAL ESTATE SERVICES LLC
– BELL GREAT LAKES, LLC
– CA Ventures
– Capri Senior Communities
– Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
– Cotter-Brown Properties, LLC
– Dave & Buster’s, Inc.
– Downtown Madison Inc.
– The Edgewater
– FCS Plan B LLC
– Future Wisconsin Housing Fund, Inc.
– Gebhardt Development, LLC
– GORMAN & COMPANY LLC
– Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
– Ho-Chunk Nation Gaming Madison or Ho-Chunk Gaming Madison
– HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.
– HOVDE PROPERTIES
– Impact Seven, Inc.
– Inventure Capital, LLC
– Kahler Slater
– Keller Real Estate, LLC
– Livesey Company, LLC
– Lund Real Estate Partners, LLC
– MADISON DEVELOPMENT CORP.
– MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
– Madison Window Cleaning, inc./KTW Enterprises, LLC
– Mobilitie, LLC
– Movin’ Out, Inc.
– MSP Real Estate
– Mullins Group, LLC
– Porchlight, Inc.
– RDC NATIONAL INC
– Red Caboose Child Care Center, Inc.
– ROYSTER CORNERS, LLC
– Sanford Enterprises, Inc.
– Seritage Growth Properties
– SPRECHER@94 LLC
– SSM Health Dean Medical Group
– Steve Brown Apartments, LLC
– Stone House Development
– Stopple Revocable Trust
– Sunny Side Development
– U-Haul Co., Inc.
– University Research Park, Inc.
– Urban Assets, LLC
– Urban Land Interests, LLC
– VERIDIAN HOMES, INC.
– WI ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
– organization name not specified

WHO ACTUALLY FILED?

That list above seems to indicate 55 organizations you’d expect expense statements from . . . but I only found 14. Partial in many cases – some lobbyists sent in expenses, some didn’t. Here’s what I found:
– Ascendent
– 700 E Johnson
– Capri Senior Communities
– Cotter-Brown
– Future Wisconsin
– Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce
– Ho Chunk
– Hovde
– Movin’ Out
– RDC
– Royster Corners
– Sprecher 94
– Steve Brown
– Veridian

Plus, I found 6 more principles that filed expense statements but that don’t have registered lobbyists!
– City of Fitchburg (May)
– Core Spaces (Munson)
– Edgewood (Munson)
– KCG (Munson)
– Mirus Construction (May)
– WS Dev (Munson)

Here’s the 17 reports that I have electronically (Clerk had to send them to me):

KCG – kcg munson 2019

NOTE: He never registered as a lobbyist for KCG
Contact: HALL – MILWAUKEE STREET PROPERTY
Cost: None listed

Hovde –lobexp-2019-00017 Munson Hovde

Contact: TIERNEY – GEORGESON PROPERTY
Cost: None listed

Core Spaces – LOBEXP-2019-00018 Munson Core Spaces

NOTE: He never registered as a lobbyist for Core Spaces
Contact: TUCKER – UNIVERSITY PROJECT
Cost: None listed

WS Dev – LOBEXP-2019-00019 Munson WS Dev

NOTE: He never registered as a lobbyist for WS Dev.
Contact: TUCKER – HILLDALE
Cost: None listed

Steve Brown – LOBEXP-2019-00020 Munson Steve Brown

NOTE: He never registered as a lobbyist for Steve Brown
Contacts:
DAVIS – REGENT PROJECT
DAVIS, STOUDER, ERDMAN – REGENT PROJECT
Costs: None listed

Edgewood – LOBEXP-2019-00021 Munson Edgewood

NOTE: He never registered as a lobbyist on Edgewood.
Contacts:
ESKRICH – EDGEWOOD
TUCKER – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
SKIDMORE – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
TUCKER, ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
TUCKER, ERDMAN, STOUDER – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
TUCKER, ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
HALL – EDGEWOOD
TUCKER – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
ARNTSEN – EDGEWOOD
Cost: $3900

RDC – LOBEXP-2019-00022 Kutsunis RDC

Contacts:
MATT MIKOLAJEWSKI – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
STOUDER – ATTACHMENT OF PROPERTY TO THE CITY AND REQUIRED DEVELOPMENT APPROVALS
Costs: $3100

Royster Corners – LOBEXP-2019-00023 Kutsunis Royster Corners

Contacts:
MICKELLS – LIBRARY CONDO PURCHASE
MICKELLS – LIBRARY CONDO PURCHASE
MICKELLS – LIBRARY CONDO PURCHASE
MICKELLS – LIBRARY CONDO PURCHASE
MICKELLS – LIBRARY CONDO PURCHASE
Cost: $1,650

Sprecher 94 – LOBEXP-2019-00024 Kutxunis Sprecher94

No contacts listed
No dollar amounts listed

Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce – LOBEXP-2019-00045 Halverson GMCC

No contacts listed
No dollar amounts listed

Veridian

LOBEXP-2019-00048 Simon Veridian
No contacts listed
No dollar amounts listed

LOBEXP-2019-00049 Guest Veridian
No contacts listed
No dollar amounts listed

LOBEXP-2019-00050 Wozniak Veridian
Contacts:
ROB PHILLIPS – MISC. MADISON PROJECTS
NATALIE ERDMAN – ENTRANCE MONUMENTS
Cost: No dollar amount listed

LOBEXP-2019-00051 Day Veridian
Contacts:
PHILLIPS – BIRCHWOOD, EASE TRACK, GRANDVIEW
PHILLIPS – BIRCHWOOD, EASE TRACK, GRANDVIEW
PHILLIPS – AUTUMN LAKE
Cost: $760

LOBEXP-2019-00052 Munson Veridian
Contacts:
GLAESER – EASTLAWN
DAT – CBUS
TUCKER – EASTLAWN
DAT – REYNOLDS
Cost: $800

LOBEXP-2019-00054 Ehlers Veridian
Contacts:
DAT – REYNOLDS
ENGINEERING – BIRCHWOOD POINT, EAGLE TRACE, GRANDVIEW COMMONS
ENGINEERING – PARK BOUNDARY MARKERS, MOTHER CHRIS EHLERS PARCEL TO REMOVE URBAN FORESTRY FEES
Cost: $262.50

LOBEXP-2019-00053 Brinkman Veridian
No contacts listed
No dollar amount listed

Here’s the ones I took photos of (can be found in clerk’s basket):

700 E Johnson

Contacts (all contacts were on 10/11/18 or 19?)
Plan Commission – Communication
Kevin Firchow – Communication
Kevin Firchow, Alder King – Communicaiton
Plan Commission – Communication
Plan Commission – Meeting
Common Council – Communication
Alder Plam and Aldeh(?) – Communicaiton
Alder Eskrich – Communication

Capri Senior Communities

10/29 – Alder Skidmore – Communication
11/15 DAT, Alder Skidmore, Transportation, Engineering
12/17 Planning – Meeting
Cost = $520

City of Fitchburg

Contacts:
7/18 Mick Rusch, Tim Soboto – Communication
8/2 Mick Rusch – Communication
Cost = $50

Future Wisconsin Housing Fund

8/14 Heather Stouder – Communication
8/29 Kevin F, Matt Wachter – Communication
9/4 Sydney Prusak – Meeting
Cost = $220

Ho Chunk Gaming Madison

Contacts:
7/9 City Work Group – Communication
7/26 City Work Group – Meeting
8/6 Chris Petykowski, Eric Knepp – Communication
8/9 Chris Petykowski – Communication
8/13 Eric Knepp – Communication
8/15 Eric Knepp, Matt Wachter – Communication
8/17 City Work Group – Communication
8/20 Eric Knepp, Matt Wachter – Meeting
8/23 Tim Parks – Communicaiton
8/28 Chris Petykowski – Communication
9/4 Chris Petykowski – Communication
9/5 Chris Petykowski – Communication
9/19 Tim Parks – Communication
8/20 Matt Wachter and Eric Knepp – Meeting
9/18 Traffic Engineering – Meeting
City Work Group = Ann Shea, Chris Petykowski, Dane Burkhardt, Dan McAuliffe, David Trowbridge, Eric Knepp, Janet Schmidt, Kathy Frogg, Mike Sturm, Matt Tucker, Rick Roll, Kay Rutledge, Heather Stouder, Tim Parks.
Cost = $1,135

Mirus Construction

10/5 Alder Carter – Communication
10/17 Alder Carter – Meeting
Cost = $122.50

Movin’ Out

Contacts:
7/13 Alder Hall – Communication
7/16 Alder Hall – Communication
7/17 Alder Hall, Matt Wachter – Communication
7/19 Alder Hall, matt Wachter – Communication
7/26 Alder Hall – Meeting
7/27 Alder Hall – Communication
8/1 Tim Parks, Heather Stauder – Communication
8/2 Matt Wachter – Communication
8/9 DAT – Meeting
8/9 DAT – Meeting
8/9 Alder Hall – Communication
8/23 Alder Hall, Debbie Fields, Alder Tierney – Communication
8/24 Alder Hall, Debbie Fields, Alder Tierney – Communication
8/27 Alder Hall, Debbie Fields, Alder Tierney – Communication
8/31 Debbie Fields – Communication
9/12 Alder Hall – Communication
9/25 Alder Carter – Communication
10/3 Matt Tucker, Jenny Kirchgatter – Communication
10/3 Alder Carter – Communication
11/16 Tim Parks, Jim O’Keefe, Rebecca Cnare – Meeting
Cost – $1,357.50

The following groups said they spend less than $1,000

– Ascendent
– Cotter-Brown
– Ho Chunk (See above, they spent over $1,000)
– Hovde
– Keller
– Mullins
– Seritage
– Steve Brown
– Stopple
– Urban Land

WHO DIDN’T FILE?

In case you lost track . . . these are the companies that have lobbyists that didn’t file any or all of their expenses (some lobbyists expenses are missing)

– 700 East Johnson Street or Houden Development -700 E. Johnson Street (partial)

– 770 E Johnson LLC (partial)
– AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
– Ascendant Holdings, LLC
– Bartaco Hilldale LLC
– Bay Creek Remodeling LLC
– BEITLER REAL ESTATE SERVICES LLC
– BELL GREAT LAKES, LLC
– CA Ventures
– Casey’s General Stores, Inc.
– Dave & Buster’s, Inc.
– Downtown Madison Inc.
– The Edgewater
– FCS Plan B LLC
– Gebhardt Development, LLC
– GORMAN & COMPANY LLC
– Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (partial)
– HOMBURG EQUIPMENT, INC.
– HOVDE PROPERTIES (partial)
– Impact Seven, Inc.
– Inventure Capital, LLC
– Kahler Slater
– Livesey Company, LLC (partial)
– Lund Real Estate Partners, LLC
– MADISON DEVELOPMENT CORP.
– MADISON GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
– Madison Window Cleaning, inc./KTW Enterprises, LLC
– Mobilitie, LLC
– Movin’ Out, Inc. (partial)
– MSP Real Estate
– Porchlight, Inc.
– Red Caboose Child Care Center, Inc.
– Sanford Enterprises, Inc.
– SSM Health Dean Medical Group
– Steve Brown Apartments, LLC (partial?)
– Stone House Development
– Sunny Side Development
– U-Haul Co., Inc.
– University Research Park, Inc.
– Urban Assets, LLC
– VERIDIAN HOMES, INC. (partial, expenses missing?)
– WI ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH
– organization name not specified

WHAT WENT WRONG? WHERE ARE THE REST OF THE REPORTS?

I’m guessing I’ll hear from some lobbyists and principals that they filed and the clerk’s office will find their reports.

I’m guessing some just forgot and will be embarrassed and they will get their reports in.

I’m guessing some know that the expense reports don’t get looked at and so didn’t bother to file. And haven’t been filing because the reports are no longer on-line.

And, I’m guessing there are hundreds that just didn’t file as lobbyists or principals because they were either told it was no big deal or weren’t told to file at all or just don’t want to.

Now, while I am guessing – I’m probably making one of the more educated guesses of anyone in the city since I’ve been looking at lobbying reports on and off since the early 2000’s. Lobbying reports and the lack of information is what made me start my blog way back in November of 2005 and that blog post shares a little history – jump in the wayback machine and check that blog post out!

Remember, if you read my blog, you know I ended up looking at lobbying reports there was an ethics complaint filed against the mayor, which let me to file open records requests to find out who was in the meeting so I could look at campaign finance reports (Soglin’s reports were disturbing), which let me to look at the lobbying reports when I realized some of the people disclosed in the open records requests weren’t registered lobbyists. And down the rabbit hole I went.

More to come, I’m sure.