AGENDA #4f

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

SUBJECT:       Authorization to Begin Recruitment for a Street Fair Review Committee

 

DATE:             October 21, 2002

 

The attached resolution would authorize the Manager and the Parks and Recreation Commission to recruit applicants for a Street Fair Review Committee.

 

 

BACKGROUND

 

On August 26, 2002, the Council received and referred a petition from a citizen asking that the Council evaluate the costs and benefits of the current Apple Chill Street Fair and consider other options.

 

At its September 18, 2003 meeting, the Parks and Recreation voted unanimously (10-0) to recommend that they be involved in any process to evaluate the Apple Chill Fair.

 

At its October 7, 2002 meeting, the Council adopted a resolution referring the citizen petition to the Parks and Recreation Commission and the staff.  The Parks and Recreation Commission and Manager are authorized and encouraged to take the following steps in the evaluation of the Town’s street fairs:

 

·        Evaluate both Apple Chill and Festifall Street Fairs.

·        Hold at least two Public Forums to address issues related to street fairs.

·        Meet with affected parties including business owners, church leadership, fraternities, sororities, street fair vendors, and artisans.

·        Perform community surveys of user satisfaction including surveys taken on-site at the 2003 Apple Chill Street Fair, by telephone, or through the mail. Surveys should also determine where users live.

·        Expand the study beyond the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community.  How many vendors are from the community, and how many are from other areas?

·        Invite Representatives of downtown churches, affected neighborhoods, and downtown businesses to participate on the committee.

·        The Council will accept applications and a committee will be appointed to conduct the evaluation.  The Parks and Recreation Commission will make a recommendation on the composition of the committee and the Council would then appoint members.

·        Review financial information and the impact of the fairs on Town Departments, particularly the impact on police resources and police coverage of the remainder of the Town during the fair.

·        Evaluate all impacts, including nuisances, safety, traffic, and cost.

·        All Town departments affected by the fair will assign a staff person to the committee.

·        Recommend whether either or both fairs should be eliminated or changed and, if so, how.

 

The Committee was also asked to provide the Council with a preliminary report by January 27, 2003, and to complete the evaluation process and report to the Council by May 2003.  In addition, the Manager was directed to work with the downtown merchants and churches when planning logistics for the 2003 event.

 

DISCUSSION

 

Proposed Street Fair Review Committee: The attached resolution would authorize the Manager and the Parks and Recreation Commission to recruit applicants for the Street Fair Review Committee.  We believe that the Committee should include representatives of the Parks and Recreation Commission and the organizations and groups listed below.  We have also suggested numbers of members from each group.  The Council would select the Street Fair Review Committee members.

 

 

If the Council agrees we would advertise for applicants, ask the Parks and Recreation Commission to assist in the recruitment of applicants, and bring back recommended Committee nominations for Council consideration for appointment in November 2002.  The Parks and Recreation Commission could offer recommendations for Council consideration.

 

RECOMMENDATION

 

Parks and Recreation Commission Recommendation:  On October 16, 2002, the Commission voted unanimously (7-0) to recommend that the Council establish a 17 member Street Fair Review Committee.  Please see the attached recommendation.

 

Manager’s Recommendation:  That the Council adopt the attached resolution, which would authorize the Manager and the Parks and Recreation Commission to recruit applicants for a 17 member Street Fair Review Committee.

 

ATTACHMENT

 

1. Parks and Recreation Commission recommendations (p. 5).

 

 

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MANAGER AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION TO RECRUIT MEMBERS FOR A STREET FAIR REVIEW COMMITTEE (2002-10-21/R-3.1)

 

WHEREAS, the Council has requested that a thorough review of the Town-sponsored annual street fairs be conducted; and

 

WHEREAS, a conceptual plan committee would allow citizens, nearby residents and property owners, business owners, churches, and local artists to participate in the review process;

 

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Manager and Parks and Recreation Commission are hereby authorized to recruit the following applicants for a Street Fair Review Committee:

 

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL that the Manager is authorized to report back to the Council with a recommended list of participants on November 25, 2002.

 

This the 21st day of October, 2002.

 

ATTACHMENT 1

 

                                                                      

 

Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Commission              200 Plant Road, chapel Hill, North Carolina  27514

Voice/TTD: (919) 968-2784  •  Fax: (919) 932-2923

 

 

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

 

FROM:            Parks &Recreation Commission

                        Andrea Rohrbacher, Chair

 

SUBJECT:       Street Fair Committee Recommendations

 

DATE:             October 16, 2002

 

 

The Commission met on October 16, 2002 and voted unanimously (7-0) to recommended that the Council appoint a Street Fair Review Committee consisting of:

 

 

Voting yes were: Andrea Rohrbacher (Chair), Pam Hemminger (Vice Chair), Robert Broad, John Covach, Pete Schwartz, Terri Tyson, and Diane VandenBroek