HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/00/1989, 1 - THURSDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES Meeting Date: 5/23/89
Item No. : /
0000 e
DOWNTOWN SAN LUIS OBISPO
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
MEMORANDUM
TO: John Dunn, CAO
FROM: Dodie Williams, BIA
DATE: May 8, 1989
SUBJECT: Thursday Night Activities
In response to your request for a resolution to the most
recent Thursday night dilemma, the following is submitted.:
Reference the Rules and Regulations (revised 9/88) , under
Section 1. (A) Purpose, Goals and Structure - The purpose of
Thursday Night Activities is to promote business in the
downtown core. While I realize the event has taken on a
life of its own, and has developed the perception of
"belonging" to the community, it is still supported and
administered by the BIA primarily for the initial stated
purpose - that of promoting business in the downtown.
To respond to specific concerns expressed by members of the
Council, none of the rules relating to Thursday nights have
been changed. The event takes place in the downtown core,
and Garden Street has been, and is being, used for a variety
of activities, i.e. Mozart Festival fundraiser, Classic Car
shows, monthly "Garden" parties, Cal Poly Architectural
Design Class, small petting zoos, pony rides, County Band
concerts and other musical performances, dance recitals,
pumpkin decorating contest, Recreation Department special
activities, etc..
Placing the informational groups on Garden Street was not to
"isolate" them - but was in keeping with established policy.
From time to time, we have also changed locations of BIA
vendors and entertainers. As you can see from the memo of
1/24/89, this change was implemented in February. There was
no intention to discriminate against any group.
P.O. Dox 1402, Scan Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 541 -0286
Since the $5 fee was rescinded, informational and non-profit
groups no longer feel compelled to attend - and most do not
call to cancel. When space is reserved for a group and they
do not come, all the preparatory work of telephoning,
accepting and reviewing applications, assigning space and
issuing permits, has been wasted. Since the $5 fee does not
begin to cover the costs of processing an application, it' s
a losing proposition for the BIA. Garden Street is not as
impacted as Higuera Street when someone doesn't show.
As an aside, the Fire Department did not prohibit cars from
parking on Garden Street. The BIA took that action to allow
"people" activities to occur - with the concurrence of Chief
Dolder. Even when parking was allowed on Garden Street, the
fire lanes were still open- as they are every working day.
It becomes more apparent, particularly with the arrival of
spring and summer, that without the fee structure, we have
less control over the informational groups, and thus less
over the Thursday night event. We do have authority over
the merchants (who attend year around) and the entertainers
who participate, and these two groups follow the guidelines,
but the rest of the event is turning into an undisciplined
free-for-all. There are displays which are offensive to the
families in attendance, there have been disturbing
confrontations with some of the more controversial groups,
and we have no effective way of controlling them.
Additionally, Friendship Maintenance reports that litter
generated from the pamphlets and fliers distributed is
harder to clean up than the debris from the food vendors and
farmers combined. A March 1989 survey indicates that 80% of
the merchants feel the informational groups do not make a
positive contribution to the event.
My concerns are that because of its popularity and growth,
the event is potentially vulnerable in at least two areas -
1) A major incident could tarnish its atmosphere, and 2) It
could lose support of the merchants.
Thursday Night Activities has been publicized on a national
level, and cities across the United States have attempted to
duplicate it. It serves as an excellent example of how a
city and businesses can work together. To lose it after so
many years of work and progress would be catastrophic, not
only to the downtown merchants and local tourism efforts,
but to the entire city. We need to retain the informal
atmosphere, but still maintain administrative control. As
you know, this is a many-faceted issue - but, in short, if
we don' t have the tools to control the event, we don't have
an event.
We feel the problem could be resolved in the following ways:
1. Reinstatement of the $5 processing fee would allow
greater control over applicants.
2. Give the BIA staff direction and authority in the treat-
ment of groups displaying materials deemed objectionable for
the norms of the event and community.
3. Allow a specific number of spaces for informational
groups on Higuera, with the balance on Garden Street - all
on a rotating basis.
4. City/Police support for strong enforcement of already
established rules and regulations, to augment the BIA staff
efforts as necessary for proper control.
The BIA would appreciate an opportunity to discuss this with
the Council, so that we can better understand the percep-
tions and concerns of council members and so that they can
become better informed about the practical situation we face
every Thursay night.
Attachments:
Memo re Use of Garden Street ( 1/24/89)
BIA Survey Results (3/1/89)
Letter from Samuel Cotton ( 5/1/89)
DOWNTOWN SAN LUIS OBISPO
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION
MEMORANDUM
TO: Thursday Night informational Participants
FROM: Julia Foster, Event Coordinator
DATE: January 24,1989
SUBJECT: Informational Tables on Garden Street
Thursday Night Activities space allocations have been
restructured to better accommodate both patrons and
participants. Beginning Thursday, February 9, all
informational groups will be allocated space on Garden
Street. Exceptions may be considered occasionally, i.e.
election time or special events, at the discretion of the
Thursday Night Committee.
As the event has grown, we have centralized the farmers in
the 800 and. 900 blocks of Higuera. With increasing numbers
of informational requests, we feel Garden Street will better
accommodate these groups. The street trees will be lighted
throughout the year, which will offer greater visibility.
Additionally, people seeking a specific group can be more
easily directed to that area.
Tables are to be placed on the sidewalks as they have been
in the 800 block of Higuera. Business openings (doorways/
entryways) are to be left unobstructed.
If you have any questions, please call me at 541-0286.
P.O. Box 1402, Son Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 541 -0286
Dear BIA Member:
Three minutes! ! Would you give us just 3 minutes of your
time to fill out this questionnaire? Thanks.
We will make this short and to the point. We want and need
your input. Your Thursday Night Committee is hard at work
planning future activities to make Thursday nights a very
important part of your business. Please help us.
Also, we meet at 8:00 a.m. every Wednesday at Country
Culture Yogurt. The door is always open to our BIA friends.
Come on in for some hot coffee and cool discussion.
IT'S HAPPENUNG DOWNTOWN! !
Your Thursday Night Committee
QUAEMERLY 4IISSTIONNAIRE
1) Thursday Night Activities is a positive promotion
YES _ NO Chje_c,4 c\
2) Do Thursday Night Activities expose the community to
your business or service offered? YES 45 NO QS
3) How does your business benefit from the event?
DIRECTLY_LJJ INDIRECTLY 31 BLANK 15
4) How can Thursday Night Activities better support your
business (please be specific)?
5) Would you participate in periodic Thursday Night
specials (sales, discounts) to entice shoppers into
your business? YES 40 NO 15_ BLANK 5. N1p 7, Mpva BE 3
6) Do you feel the downtown is appropriately cleaned by
Friday a.m. ? YES 53 NO 13 B�pn7K �—
If no, please comment
7) Do you feel there is adequate police protection during
the event? YES .T(V NO 9 t3�gn�K N!Q 1
(OVER) O
8 ) Do you feel the presence of religious or political
organizations is a posit've contribution to the event?
YES N0 13LAV K NlA I— r1i
9) What do you enjoy: (Number 1 thru 7 - 1 being the
strongest response)
THE MOST THE LEAST
N Retail Sales Retail Sales
p Farmers Market Farmers Market
Food Food
0 2 Entertainment Entertainment
Z S Activities (i.e. Halloween Activities
q costume contest, car show) Information Tables_
�i Information tables Other
t� Other
10) Would you be willing to attend a quarterly meeting,
with the Thursday Night Activities 'Committee, to review
the event and Farmers' Market? YES 5-T NO M 3-Alj�j �(o (YlR;36 a
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
please print
TYPE OF BUSINESS
NAME OF BUSINESS
NAME
PHONE #
0.5 09-
PLEASE
FPLEASE RE!ZURK TO:
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIOI
P.O.. Box 1402
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"Letter hand carried to BIA office May 2, 1989 - retyped as _
original was hand written - original on file in the BIA
office.
May 1, 1989
Dear Julia:
This letter is to inform you of a situation that is occuring
on Thursday evening during Farmers' Market. The anti-
abortion folks that are located in front of Beverly' s
Fabrics are, in my opinion, using objectionable material to
support their cause. They are displaying a poster showing
fetal dismemberment and other graphic results of abortion.
They have a video tape showing the same material. This
material goes way beyond the point of "getting someones
attention" .
Both my wife & I are associated with the medical profession
& are used to the realities of trauma, but this even
bothered us.
I don' t like seeing a wonderful event like Farmers ' Market
turned into this kind of Horror Show.
Thank You.
Samuel Cotton
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DOWNTOWN SAN LU15 OB15PO
BU51NE55 IMPROVEMENT A550CIATION
MEMORANDUM
TO: John Dunn, CAO
FROM: Dodie Williams, BIA -
DATE: May 8, 1989
SUBJECT: First Amendment Rights
The BIA board and Thursday Night Committee would appreciate
an opinion as to what constitutes freedom of speech under
the First Amendment.
Is there any requirement to allow space for tables and
displays to present a personal, political or religious point
of view, or is it simply a person' s right to circulate
through a given area for this purpose?
What specifically states that any event must allow space for
tables and/or audio and visual displays?
If there is no requirement, the BIA office needs a written
directive to show both applicants and police officers who
have questions on this issue.
cc: BIA Board
Thursday Night Committee
P.O. Box 1402, Son Luis Obispo, CA 93406 (805) 541 -0286