A number of initiatives started under Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz are getting a second look from his successor, Paul Soglin.
The new mayor has doubts about a number of projects, including the proposed $29.5 million Central Library reconstruction, which was supposed to go to bid late this summer. He wants the $8 million in private fund-raising and $4 million in tax credits to be in hand or guaranteed before the city puts the project out for bids.
"My concern is we have the funds so we can go to bid," Soglin says. "We've already seen what happens when the city goes to bid and does not have the funds - that happened with the Peace Park project."
In that case, the city ended up paying the entire cost of a project that was supposed to be covered by a combination of public and private funds. (Fundraising is ongoing.)
The new mayor also has concerns about the restructuring of the Overture Center. "After a decade," he says, "we still have not had an appropriate study on a performing arts center and its local feeder companies, the potential audience, professional companies and other venues."
Soglin wonders about the fate of city employees who are scheduled to shift from the city to a nonprofit agency. But he doesn't know what changes can be made to the plan, which was approved by the council last December.
Some smaller projects are also getting a second look, including a bike-sharing program approved in January. B-cycle, a company started by Trek, proposed putting 350 community bikes at 35 kiosks around Madison this spring. Patrons could rent bikes using a daily, weekly or annual pass.
"The concept of bicycle sharing is great," says Soglin. "The question is if we'll have it in the near future."
The city had agreed to subsidize the program to the tune of $100,000 a year for three years, while Trek would invest about $1 million on the bicycles, kiosks and infrastructure and promises to share profits, if there are any.
Soglin wishes the project had gone out for bid first. And he fears the city subsidy is too much when the city is looking at severe funding cuts from the state.
Trek spokesman Eric Bjorling says if Madison backs out of the project, it won't cost the company anything.
"The only thing it would really cost is Madison having a great bike-share system. It was a gift from us," he says, adding, "We're still very optimistic, and we'd still love to do this."