Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
November 16, 2016 1:54 p.m.
During Public Comment at their November 15, 2016 Regular Meeting, Fernandina Beach City Commissioners listened to a litany of problems and complaints from Centre Street businesses over the city’s current handling of Special Events in the downtown area. Four business owners and Fernandina Beach Main Street program manager Jeff Kurtz, prompted by problems that arose during a recent Pontiac car show on Centre Street, called on the city to appoint a Special Events Coordinator to be responsible for communication and coordination with local businesses. They also asked that this person be onsite and available to resolve problems during the event.
Commissioners listened patiently as business owners cited example after example of problems that they experienced with event participants in the recent car show:
- Streets blocked with no advance notice and apparently for no reason;
- Participants taking over city sidewalks, impeding pedestrian progress;
- Participants smoking at the entrance to various businesses;
- Participants warning potential customers to avoid certain businesses that had complained about them.
Marisol Triana, owner of Hola! Cuban Cafe, asked for the city’s help. She said that business owners should not have to police events. She asked that the city appoint a point person, where all problems can be directed the day of the event, and that such a person actually be onsite.
Theresa Duncan, owner of Villa Villekulla Toys, echoed Triana’s call for an onsite city coordinator. She said that the current situation puts merchants at odds with event organizers, when they want to work with these people. “We can’t do this,” she said, “when we are moving their barricades because they have blocked streets, or asking vendors to move off our sidewalks or not to smoke outside our stores.” She also suggested that the city use Fernandina Beach Main Street as a partner in special events. Recent experiences have caused merchants to dread special events, because they are worried about the adverse effects on their own businesses.
Dave Voorhees, owner of Pajama Life, explained that businesses on the numbered streets off Centre have even more difficulty attracting customers when streets are blocked off. He claimed that some event participants were sitting in the blocked off street, drinking beer and not even attempting to conceal it. “We invite them here,” Voorhees said. “We want them to have fun in our town, but we’ve got to make sure they know there are rules.”
Jules Ruppel, who is guest relations manager for Kayak Amelia, expressed frustration at trying to get city help during the car event. She commended Officer Michelle Arsenault, who appeared to be the only officer on duty, assisted by two members of the Auxiliary. She reacted strongly to an alleged statement from Police Chief Jim Hurley, claiming that the downtown merchants do not want special events. Ruppel said, “We are so happy to be part of this community. It has helped us grow our kayak business and let people know what we do. We DO want special events.” But she said, “There was no one to inform us that 2nd Street was closed. When I arrived at work that day, there it was.”
Commissioners proved to be sympathetic listeners. Mayor Robin Lentz affirmed that event participants had blocked city sidewalks during the event. Commissioner Tim Poynter said, “There is a problem, there is an issue. Communication is the number one problem. I own two businesses downtown and we don’t even know what is happening until our employees report for work and ask us what’s going on. Special events are very important to the downtown, but this situation is ridiculous.” Poynter looked out to the audience and said, “I hear what everyone’s saying, and we need to decide now to get this right. We have a point person on the Main Street program, but that person doesn’t show up for meetings, and that’s outrageous.” [The city’s designated representative from the Parks and Recreation Department has allegedly not attended meetings for nine months.]
Vice Mayor Len Kreger agreed with Poynter, adding that there have been discussions over the past two weeks, stemming from the Pontiac car show, to add an onsite city coordinator to special events. “It would be good to resolve this right away, for the whole city,” Kreger said. “You need somebody onsite who can make decisions and support the residents, the businesses and the special events.”
In voicing his support for the previous speakers, Commissioner John Miller said, “I would go so far as to say that we have no more special events until we can get someone from the city to be onsite.” During the recent event Miller said he even saw cars on the sidewalk. “I don’t ever want to see that again,” he said.
Mayor Lentz said that there are several important special events coming up, and that it is imperative that the situation be fixed. She said that when the Parks and Recreation Department issues an event permit, it would be easy for them to immediately send a copy to Jeff Kurtz at the Main Street Program to communicate with Centre Street merchants.
Commissioner Roy Smith suggested that the city should look at the whole system of issuing permits and assigning responsibilities. “Basically, it sounds like we are taking money for the permit and not doing anything for it,” Smith said. “We’ve got to take care of downtown business.”
Commissioners tasked City Manager Dale Martin with coming up with a plan to address special event problems to be presented at the next Regular FBCC Meeting.
Lentz apologized to the downtown merchants, saying, “Thank you for bringing this to our attention to help make us better so we can be better for you. We look forward to a solution.”
Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.
Does the Dog wag the tail – or does the Tail wag the dog? We can pick and chose the events that help, not hurt, our community.
Interestingly enough, these downtown merchants claimed that they didn’t know about the Pontiac car event however someone from the downtown merchants created a Facebook page sponsoring the event. Also, the businesses are complaining that Mr Kurtz should be utilized to notify the downtown businesses about the events. He is head of the Main Street program and is also a member of the citys special events committee and sees all special event permit applications. How can anyone claim that he doesn’t know about these events when he reviews all special event applications before they are permitted? To add confusion and insult, the businesses want the city to employee a full time special events coordinator at the expense of the taxpayers. Last time I checked, a special event permit was less than $100. I wonder how much that fee is going to have to be raised to offset the costs the city has to incur for additional employees?
Excellent idea…have the event folks pay the actual costs for taking over downtown for their events. Let’s add it up: city maintenance, utilities, police and fire, cleanup, city attorney, manager, etc. Let’s take the burden off of local businesses and tax payers.
These same problems have plagued the city for many years. There are solutions. Look to the Main Street Program for excellent advice and solutions found in near by Florida towns. That is what the Florida Department of State designed the Main Street Program for. Melbourne is a good one to study. Laird Gann used to be their coordinator a few years ago. Super nice man and very helpful. There are many in that program very willing to help.