Solvang to implement fees for Roadster Show

[DatsunDave]

Found this article today
http://www.santaynezvalleyjournal.com/a ... 6/31/2487/

Copied and pasted for your convenience...

Solvang votes to recover event costs
The City of Solvang will begin recovering manpower costs incurred by the city for a number of events, but will also exempt a number of other events from cost recovery measures as those events provide a major boost to the city and its businesses.

The item was discussed at the July 14 city council meeting with directions to staff at that time to bring the item back to the council at the July 28 meeting with recommendations on which of the city’s events could be considered “community-wide� and worthy of exemption from the cost recovery process.

In a report by Public Works Director Tully Clifford, the type of costs that are not on the table were those relating to the special event application fees, vendor fees, or fees associated with functions undertaken by the sheriff’s department. Clifford added that the fees under consideration are those that are associated with city staff undertaking activities to facilitate special events. The main activity is the placement and removal of traffic control devices such as barricades. Clifford noted that a large portion of fees charged could be mitigated if organizations that sponsored the events were to provide sufficient volunteers to man the barricades and provide crowd and traffic control.

The list of exempted events are to be: The Tour of California Bicycle Race, Danish Days, Earth Day, Memorial Day Event, Rotary Club Independence Day Parade, and the Winterfest event.

Other events, including other bicycle events, the Datsun Roadster Show, the Farmers’ Market, Fiero West Car Show, Ranchos Visitadores parade, Solvang Jazz Festival, Taste of Solvang, Theaterfest, West Coast Greyhounds, Wheel’s ’n Windmills Car Show, and the Wine Country Half Marathon will be charged fees for city services.

[ppeters914]

Found this article today
http://www.santaynezvalleyjournal.com/a ... 6/31/2487/

Copied and pasted for your convenience...

Solvang votes to recover event costs
The City of Solvang will begin recovering manpower costs incurred by the city for a number of events, but will also exempt a number of other events from cost recovery measures as those events provide a major boost to the city and its businesses.

[snip]

The main activity is the placement and removal of traffic control devices such as barricades.

The list of exempted events are to be: The Tour of California Bicycle Race, Danish Days, Earth Day, Memorial Day Event, Rotary Club Independence Day Parade, and the Winterfest event.

Yeah, I'm guessing there's not a real need for crowd and barricade control for Danish Days and Earth Days.

[DatsunBucky]

Interesting. The "green" events won't be charged, but the non-PC events will.

If "they" won't waive the fees, then it sounds like time to start looking for a new venue...

[Linda]

Danish Days doesn't sound too green. Aren't danishes fattening?

Key here is that the events mentioned bring in money so fees are waived.
I am surprised they never charged before.
If volunteers can do it then it seems no fee would be charged.

Linda

[FergO2k]

So, we all show up at 7am for a 9am car show, why not show up at 6am and put out barricades, then go off to consume massive amounts of coffee?
then we'd all write paragraphs on each ballot as to why that was our choice.... or would that just be me?

Barricades for Green Events necessary?
Abso-freakin-lutely!

If you have never seen a rabble rousing crowd of Birkenstock-wearing, semi-bathed, eco-gardeners upset about the amount of poly-hydro-chlorinated-fluoro-ether being put into city water and its effect on chorophyl metastitization, well, I tell you mister, you ain't seen nothin'....

or is that chloroform.....

[Linda]

coffee and danish. Or is that just me?


Linda
It's Friday, what can you expect?

[Fairlady66]

I'm with Fergus on this one. Whatever it was he said....

[ppeters914]

So, we all show up at 7am for a 9am car show, why not show up at 6am and put out barricades, then go off to consume massive amounts of coffee?
then we'd all write paragraphs on each ballot as to why that was our choice.... or would that just be me?

Barricades for Green Events necessary?
Abso-freakin-lutely!

If you have never seen a rabble rousing crowd of Birkenstock-wearing, semi-bathed, eco-gardeners upset about the amount of poly-hydro-chlorinated-fluoro-ether being put into city water and its effect on chorophyl metastitization, well, I tell you mister, you ain't seen nothin'....

Ummmmm, maybe time to cut back on the caffeine....

[RC240z]

"Fee's" are a dubious term, as they might just charge us for the heck of it...It seems to me that our show has a very low impact to the city, from a management perspective. For some reason the city of Solvang must see this as a money making venture. We have had this show in the same place for years, and support the local vendors.

If this nets out to a buck or two per entry it is not a big deal, but they could charge "us" thousands for the opportunity to hold our show in their city.

Perhaps it is time to contact the vendors (hotel and others) to let them know that this is risking the loss of our business if we are charged excessive fees to hold our show in their city.

Perhaps we should change our show to the BIO Diesel Roadster show?

Ron

[FergO2k]

good points Ron.
I think the city leaders should be apprised that this is not a "for profit" car show as well, and the # of motel rooms (and yes, Alvin, campsites too!) that are being sucked up that weekend (which they translate into room tax revenues).

on that other note, not to go too off topic, but better not get me started on the SD21 (Nissan 80's diesel) engine swap thread.... and the supposedly "elusive" 100mpg goal.

[todd lorber]

I agree with Ron as well. I think of how much I spent on that weekend-by the time I got the family up there- and multiply that by 82+, or however many cars showed up, and our little meet generates quite a bit of business for the town. Seems to me it would be a bit short sighted of their city council to penalize such events, but then politicians have a talent for killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

[EScanlon]

While I have not yet had the opportunity to attend one of these meets, I had hopes of being able to and as such, I am tossing in my 2¢.

Maybe one of the first steps is to get a general consensus both here and on the mail-list as to whether people want to continue using Solvang for the Roadster show. Hand in hand with investigating interest in Solvang, a poll of alternative places could be made. That poll could help identify how far and where to people are willing to travel to. The poll would be more informative if people mentioned where they'd be traveling from, in order to help gauge this.

If the general consensus is to continue, even after the prospect of paying higher participation fees, then it becomes a moot point. However, the amount of that increase could be either a strong motivating factor or not.

Investigating the amount of those fees now, rather than later, would inform the city council that the Roadster community has taken note and is considering them. That they are being considered shortly after their discussion may convince them to postpone or eliminate them altogether. Someone who was a part of the planning committee for last (this) years meet should contact the city and investigate the proposed fees.

If as stated, it's only a matter of a few dollars per participant, versus a flat fee for the show (which could raise the issue of attendance vs offsetting the fee), then it's probably not an objection to most people who are already spending hundreds of dollars to attend. That is a fee of $1000 shared amongst 100 cars is only $10.

If on the other hand, it adds significantly, or it is a flat fee for the show that must then be shared by the actual participants who DO attend, then it may push the cost of attending out of what people are willing to expend for an entry fee. That is, if the fee is $5,000 for the show and only 100 cars show, that's an additional $50 per car on top of any other fees/charges (even with the prior figure of $1000, if only 50 cars show, that's $20 each). While this fee amount may seem exorbitant, city governments aren't noted for dealing in fees in the "hundreds" of dollars often, nor willing to expend much discussion on something that small.

Then, with that information, Ron's points can be well applied. If each participant is expected to shell out an additional $50, and that's unacceptable, a few calls to the hotels, motels, and even camping sites and letting them know that the fees are what is prompting the community to consider moving the meet may be enough to "encourage" (read: force) the council to back down. If on the other hand, it is just the council's way of "easing us out of town", then it won't matter anyhow.

Does anyone have a good idea as to how many people registered for this years meet? Knowing that and the proposed fee may be all the argument that needs to be made regarding keeping the show there or moving it to another city.... one that may be willing to receive our group.

FWIW
E

[Fairlady66]

Has anyone heard from Jeff Torres since Solvang?

[Linda]

I don't think Solvang would miss the event, they get lots of visitors anyway, especially on weekends and now that there is a casino. However if the tourists seem to enjoy the show then that would be a selling point for waiving fees.

Linda

[Dennis Louthan]

My wife does her best everytime that we go to support
the local economy.