Confluence gets a $3.5M thumbs up from EC County committee

Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

 

The proposed Confluence Project would extend up to S. Barstow Street
The proposed Confluence Project's footprint would extend up to S. Barstow Street.

Eau Claire County moved closer to pledging $3.5 million for the Confluence Project, a transformative performing arts initiative proposed for downtown Eau Claire. On Tuesday the Eau Claire County Board’s Administration Committee voted 4-1 to make a conditional pledge toward the project, a commitment that still needs the OK of the full county board, which could come as early as Jan. 21.

“This is leveraging our local dollars to get state dollars,” County Board Chairman Gregg Moore said before the vote. “This is prudent fiscal management.” The county would borrow the $3.5 million for the project. Over 10 years, the loan would mean an annual property tax increase of $5.92 – yes, less than six bucks – for the owner of a $100,000 home, County Finance Director Scott Rasmussen estimated.

“This is leveraging our local dollars to get state dollars. This is prudent fiscal management." – County Board Chairman Gregg MooreThe Confluence Project is a collaboration between UW-Eau Claire, the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council, local governments, and a private developer. The county’s commitment, if formalized, would be toward the community’s half of the performing arts center’s $50 million price tag; the other half would be paid for by UW-Eau Claire. In October, the Eau Claire City Council approved a conditional $5 million pledge of its own. The rest of the community’s $25 million share would come from private donations.

The committee’s vote came after more than an hour of testimony from residents, the majority of whom spoke in favor of the project.

“The State Theatre has been a great asset to the city, but it’s held together with wire and string,” said Thomas Barland, a longtime ECRAC supporter and retired county judge. Barland said the university’s offer to pay for half of a shared arts facility is a once-in-a-generation offer, noting the county and city rejected a similar initiative proposed by then UWEC Chancellor Leonard Haas more than 40 years ago.  “The arguments opposed are arguments of economic stagnation,” he added.

Other supporters emphasized the economic argument as well. UWEC Chancellor James Schmidt said local business executives have told him their growth is impeded because they worry they won’t be able to attract the right kind of talented workers to the Chippewa Valley – the kind of people whose lives would be enriched by an arts center. Schmidt also noted that if the community doesn’t act soon, the opportunity may be lost. “Within the next few months, the university has to decide if we’re going to move forward with this project,” Schmidt said. If the Confluence Project isn’t possible, UWEC will pursue building new arts facilities on campus, he added, noting the UW System Board of Regents will make decisions on its 2015-17 capital budget in August.

Eau Claire resident Dave Wood was one of those who spoke against the project, saying it was a bad investment of public dollars. “It’s an indulgence that serves a small percentage of our community,” Wood said. He added that the community’s economic growth is already hindered by a relatively high property tax burden.

City Councilman Bob Von Haden, who also addressed the county board, said that the project had merits but that too many financial questions were left unanswered. For example, he questioned projections of the Confluence’s impact, saying that estimates of “new” economic activity and attendance weren’t actually new but were just shifted from existing on-campus facilities. He also objected to spending tax dollars on the project. “We should use all of our county funds for needs, not wants,” Von Haden said.

After the public input, committee member Colleen Bates moved to pledge $3.5 million for the project, less than the $5 million originally requested by the Confluence partners. Bates said that not taking advantage of the opportunity to pursue “repurposing the downtown” was the real economic risk. “I remember  … all the people who didn’t want the bike trail,” she said, pointing out a community asset that was also criticized in its time. “Would they want to give it up now?”