MADISON CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT BOARD.
Madison General Ordinances § 33.20
in effect33.20 - MADISON CULTURAL ARTS DISTRICT BOARD.
The Common Council, pursuant to Subchapter V of Chapter 229, Wis. Stats., has adopted Substitute Resolution ID No. 28007 (the "Enabling Resolution"), which authorized the creation of a special purpose district that is separate and distinct from, and independent of, the City. Such district shall be known as the Madison Cultural Arts District (the "District"). The District shall be governed by the Madison Cultural Arts District Board.
(1) Board Composition. The Madison Cultural Arts District Board shall consist of the following thirteen members, subject to Subsection (4):
(a) The following persons, or their designees, shall be ex-officio members of the Board, except that a designee shall serve at the pleasure of his or her appointing authority:
1. The Governor of the State of Wisconsin.
2. The Mayor of the City of Madison.
3. The Dane County Executive.
(b) Three persons appointed by the Governor.
(c) Six persons appointed by the Mayor, one of whom shall be selected from a list of three to five names that is submitted by the Madison Metropolitan School District Board and one of whom shall be selected from a list of three to five names submitted by the collective board chairs of the Overture Center's resident companies. Of the remaining four appointees under this paragraph, all of the appointees shall have demonstrated interest and participation in cultural arts activities and two appointees shall be Common Council members. A person appointed under this paragraph may take his or her seat immediately upon appointment and qualification, subject to confirmation by the Common Council. (Am. by Ord. 12,845, 7-9-01)
(d) One person appointed by the Dane County Executive.
(2) Initial Terms.
(a) Persons appointed by the Mayor shall serve staggered terms of four years expiring on July 1st, except that the terms of alders shall be for one (1) year pursuant to Sec. 33.01(6)(a) and: (Am. by ORD-26-00017, 4-3-26)
1. The initial term of two directors appointed by the Mayor shall expire on July 1st of the fourth year beginning after the year of creation of the District.
2. The initial term of two directors appointed by the Mayor shall expire on July 1st of the fifth year beginning after the year of creation of the District.
3. The initial term of two directors appointed by the Mayor shall expire on July 1st of the sixth year beginning after the year of creation of the District.
(b) The Mayor shall designate with his or her initial appointments the terms to which directors have been appointed.
(3) Residency; Removal; Vacancies.
(a) Persons appointed under (1)(b) to (d) must have resided within twenty-five miles of Madison's City Hall for at least one year before their appointment. Persons appointed by the Mayor shall be residents of the City of Madison.
(b) Persons appointed by the Mayor may be removed from the Board before expiration of their terms by the Mayor, but only for cause, as defined in Sec. 17.16(2), Wis. Stats.
(c) Vacancies for Mayoral appointments shall be filled by the Mayor, subject to Common Council confirmation. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term to which he or she is appointed.
(d) The Mayor, Governor and County Executive shall confer with one another regarding their appointments with a view toward achieving diversity of the District Board.
(4) Board Expansion. If the Common Council determines that another city or a village or town having territory located within twenty-five miles of Madison's City Hall provides substantial support to the District, the Common Council may increase the size of the Board to include as a member the mayor, village president or town board chair of that city, village or town, or the designee of such a mayor, village president or town board chair. If the Common Council subsequently determines that the other city or the village or town no longer provides substantial support to the District, the Common Council may decrease the size of the Board to exclude that member.
(5) District Powers. Upon the appointment and qualification of at least seven of the members of the Board, the Board may exercise the powers and duties as set forth in Subchapter V of Chapter 229, Wis. Stats., as it may be amended from time to time, including but not limited to:
(a) Adopt bylaws to govern the District's activities.
(b) Sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded.
(c) Maintain an office.
(d) In connection with cultural arts facilities or in support of any cultural arts activity:
1. Acquire, construct, equip, maintain, improve, operate and manage the cultural arts facilities as a revenue-generating enterprise or otherwise, or engage other persons to do these things.
2. Acquire; lease, as lessor or lessee; use; or transfer property within or outside of the District's jurisdiction.
3. Acquire property by condemnation.
4. Enter into contracts, subject to such standards as may be established by the District Board.
5. Grant concessions.
(e) Employ personnel, and fix and regulate their compensation; and provide, either directly or subject to an agreement under Sec. 66.0301 as a participant in a benefit plan of another governmental entity, other than a benefit plan provided under Ch. 40, any employee benefits, including an employee pension plan.
(f) Purchase insurance, establish and administer a plan of self-insurance.
(g) Mortgage, pledge or otherwise encumber the District's revenue, property or funds.
(h) Issue revenue bonds under Sec. 66.0621 and contract short term obligations, and pledge the full faith and credit of the District for repayment of those short term obligations.
(i) Maintain funds and invest the funds.
(j) Promote, advertise and publicize its cultural arts facilities and related cultural arts activities.
(k) Set standards governing the use of, and the conduct within, its cultural arts facilities in order to promote public safety and convenience and to maintain order.
(l) Establish and collect fees, and establish shared revenue arrangements or other charges for the use of its cultural arts facilities or for services rendered by the District.
(m) Enter into partnerships, joint ventures, common ownership or other arrangements with other persons to further the District's purposes.
(n) Solicit and accept gifts, loans, grants of land or other property and other aid, and agree to conditions with respect to such gifts, loans, grants or other aid.
(o) Administer the receipt of revenues, and oversee the repayment of debt contracted by the District.
(p) Adopt and alter an official seal.
(q) Direct its agents or employees, if properly identified in writing, to enter upon any real property that the District has the authority to condemn, to make surveys and examinations.
(r) Provide money or other property, by sale, loan, lease, grant, gift or other form of transfer, to any other person.
(6) Eminent Domain. The Board may exercise its powers of eminent domain in the area designated in the Enabling Resolution. The Common Council may enact a resolution that expands or contracts the area in which the Board may exercise its power of eminent domain, except that the Common Council may not remove from that area any property that was included in the Enabling Resolution.
(7) Annual Budget. An annual budget shall be established by the District and delivered to the Common Council, but such budget shall not be subject to the approval of the Common Council.
(8) Procedure; Ethics. Section 3.27, Madison General Ordinances, shall not apply to the Board. Board members appointed by the Mayor shall be subject to the City's Code of Ethics at Sec. 3.47, Madison General Ordinances.
(9) Severability. If any term or provision of this Section is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such term or provision shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent term or provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Section.
(Cr. by Ord. 12,690, 10-17-01; Section 3.71 "City Investment Policy Subcommittee" R. by Ord. 10,585, 1-29-93)
Source: City of Madison, Wisconsin, Madison General Ordinances (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wi/madison/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COORMAWIVOIVCH32--45_CH33BOCOCO_33.20MACUARDIBOFetched: 11/1/2026