May 27, 2019 8:22 p.m.A Volkswagen Car Event was held on Saturday and Sunday during Memorial Day at Main Beach.
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Dave Lott(@dave-l)
4 years ago
#55106
So why was this event permitted (parking vehicles on the grass area) when the Jeep event that had requested the same consideration was not permitted due to environmental concerns?
Fernandina Beach Special Events coordinator Mary Hamburg responded (See complete response below).
These events actually came up at the same event committee meeting. Below are the relevant excerpts from that meeting’s minutes:
Buggies on the Beach (May 25/26 ) Event Organizer: Maritime Museum (Michael Shores, Billy Taylor present) – New sponsors this year;
– About 50 cars camping overnight on Saturday, this year specify number of persons in each vehicle;
– Utilizing small pedestals on the Tarpon-side of Main Beach Open Space;
– Request to shutoff irrigation in the park;
Consensus of committee: approved
Go Topless (May 18) Event organizer: 8 Flags Jeep Club (Mike Jomant present)
– 200 Jeeps driving through Fernandina Beach and ending at Main Beach Park with a picnic lunch;
– Discussion about so many cars coming through such a busy parking lot right around the lunch rush;
– Beach traffic also an issue;
– Negative environmental impact outweighs the positive economic impact;
Consensus of committee: denied
Public Safety was a definite concern for the latter event. One of the major differences for these two events is that the majority of cars for Buggies are parked and in place before the beach rush begins and do not leave until after the beach rush is over.
The only answer that makes any sense in this discussion is the number of hotel rooms sold to the folks who attend these various events. Buggies in the Beach invites folks from all over and they need a place to stay. (Who would want to sleep in a VW beetle bug?) In contrast, the Jeep club is comprised mostly “locals”. Buggies raised money for charity and Jeep Club contributed some $3,000.00 to veterans charities last year. Like Sounds on Centre, (another activity largely comprised of very local attendees who do not need a place to stay) Jeep Club’s event seems to be done with for the foreseeable future despite years of operating without any problems. The Special Events committee rejected their application and has offered them little hope for the future. What is interesting to me is the fact that both Buggies and the Jeeps set up in the same place – the park space at Main Beach. To my knowledge, there were no concerns raised by the businesses surrounding the area about Buggies impact on their bottom lines. Even food events are held in that area and there does not seem to be push back but again, I think that goes back to which events will maximize hotel bookings. I know I totally forgot Buggies was this weekend and detoured to Main Beach in search of a late lunch on Saturday. After a fair amount of driving in circles in search of parking, I gave up. Salt Life, Sandbar and all the surrounding area was packed to the rafters with all kinds of folks and so I headed back down to town for lunch and ample parking. The Jeep Club decision needs to be revisited. Their driving parade up Atlantic seems like a manufactured excuse – particularly in light of the number of running races (Reindeer Run, etc.) that begin and end at that same park space. If organizations are willing to pay the permit costs associated with their event, ALL should be allowed to host activities in that area.
So why was this event permitted (parking vehicles on the grass area) when the Jeep event that had requested the same consideration was not permitted due to environmental concerns?
Fernandina Beach Special Events coordinator Mary Hamburg responded (See complete response below).
These events actually came up at the same event committee meeting. Below are the relevant excerpts from that meeting’s minutes:
Buggies on the Beach (May 25/26 ) Event Organizer: Maritime Museum (Michael Shores, Billy Taylor present) – New sponsors this year;
– About 50 cars camping overnight on Saturday, this year specify number of persons in each vehicle;
– Utilizing small pedestals on the Tarpon-side of Main Beach Open Space;
– Request to shutoff irrigation in the park;
Consensus of committee: approved
Go Topless (May 18) Event organizer: 8 Flags Jeep Club (Mike Jomant present)
– 200 Jeeps driving through Fernandina Beach and ending at Main Beach Park with a picnic lunch;
– Discussion about so many cars coming through such a busy parking lot right around the lunch rush;
– Beach traffic also an issue;
– Negative environmental impact outweighs the positive economic impact;
Consensus of committee: denied
Public Safety was a definite concern for the latter event. One of the major differences for these two events is that the majority of cars for Buggies are parked and in place before the beach rush begins and do not leave until after the beach rush is over.
Great Question Dave. ??
The only answer that makes any sense in this discussion is the number of hotel rooms sold to the folks who attend these various events. Buggies in the Beach invites folks from all over and they need a place to stay. (Who would want to sleep in a VW beetle bug?) In contrast, the Jeep club is comprised mostly “locals”. Buggies raised money for charity and Jeep Club contributed some $3,000.00 to veterans charities last year. Like Sounds on Centre, (another activity largely comprised of very local attendees who do not need a place to stay) Jeep Club’s event seems to be done with for the foreseeable future despite years of operating without any problems. The Special Events committee rejected their application and has offered them little hope for the future. What is interesting to me is the fact that both Buggies and the Jeeps set up in the same place – the park space at Main Beach. To my knowledge, there were no concerns raised by the businesses surrounding the area about Buggies impact on their bottom lines. Even food events are held in that area and there does not seem to be push back but again, I think that goes back to which events will maximize hotel bookings. I know I totally forgot Buggies was this weekend and detoured to Main Beach in search of a late lunch on Saturday. After a fair amount of driving in circles in search of parking, I gave up. Salt Life, Sandbar and all the surrounding area was packed to the rafters with all kinds of folks and so I headed back down to town for lunch and ample parking. The Jeep Club decision needs to be revisited. Their driving parade up Atlantic seems like a manufactured excuse – particularly in light of the number of running races (Reindeer Run, etc.) that begin and end at that same park space. If organizations are willing to pay the permit costs associated with their event, ALL should be allowed to host activities in that area.