Hemming Plaza Ad Hoc Committee Meeting today at 10am

[TheCat]

http://apps2.coj.net/City_Council_Public_Notices_Repository/20120418%20Ad%20Hoc%20Hemming%20Plaza%20Mtg%20Notice.doc

[TheCat]

Meeting room is packed. That means about 30 people.

[TheCat]

And of course, the meeting is running late...which means I have run to put quarters in the meter, shortly.

Denise lee has arrived. She adjourns the meeting by knocking on the table.

[TheCat]

She apologizes for being late with a funny joke.

Denise says...

The last meeting was the closure or when all of the official recommendations were made for hemming plaza. Denise, now invites the director from moca to come up to the table of officials.

[TheCat]

Denise, mentions releasing an rfp for vendors to maintain the park.

She is now directing her attention to moca and giving the mic to marcelle, moca directoer, speak on the situation.

She says...

The current situation of hemming plaza is a thorn in our side ( and the library's). Kids and families have been accosted while visiting the museum. Most recent example a kid was accosted and a swastica was marked on  a kids arm .

She believes that programming is the answer to hemming problems. The park has not been activated, yet. Moca, held a nighttime event and 300 people were in the park. Moca is able and willing to take part in the programming.

[TheCat]

Denise lee  thanks mica for their support. Redman, now has the floor "will you have more events in the park, moca"

Moca "subsidize the events and yes we can." she continues"we have to win people back, though, that will take a concerted effort"

[TheCat]

A gentlemen in a bow tie, now speaks"he is really disturbed by the kid getting marked by the swastika. He is wondering where are the police."

Reiman speaking to the police rep asks what "what's the deal"

Rep from the ups store says "ultimately it all comes back to security. She mentions all of the garbage littered all over the park that occurs during the weekends.

Denise recognizes two reps from the mayors office in the meeting. Warren, in the audience, tells a story about a. Igarette butt.

Dare speaks,"I like Marcelle's use of the word "activation of the park"...rfp is not necessary. Asks, other than money, what  can the ci do to make things easier.

She answer" permitting could be made easier...advertising and marketing...collaborative effort...regular,continual effort...if we only have two months of attention on programming....

Dare asks" should there be a board that the key hemming players set up events?

[TheCat]

Denise invites Terri of dvi to the table of officials.

Dvi says "we need a group of people to get together and talk about maintaining the park...."the park needs some love."

Council person, the one in a bow tie...don't know his name...says "we could have small campaign that hemming park is the heart of the city. The most successful way of getting things done is not government it's passionate people who group together and make tags happen.

Denise"this committee will create an advisory board to maintain hemming plaza. Another advisory board."

After Dare asks will there be money for the events Denise says not quite. As usual, we are willing to spend big money to tear down and demolish but not upgrade and improve. 500k for tree removal and furniture management but nothing for event planning. Denise sAys, to clarify, we needed money. We all now we need money.

[thelakelander]

The Everbank building on Riverside Avenue is now rotating in food trucks five days a week.  Food trucks/vendors, etc. are free forms of programming that could be implemented by simply changing policy.  Issuing RFPs on the former Shelby's coffee space and the Synder Memorial are also free options that will help activate the park's "Outer Square."

[TheCat]

The man with the Bow tie somehow compares little league baseball raising funds to hemming plaza maintanence.

Denise says "at the end of the day the city is responsible"

Someone who lives downtown  says one stake holder group has not been mentioned "residents"

He says...

There is nothing downtown for me to enjoy. The moca things and library events make sense. But he asks himself "why would I go to hemming park..." essentially says we need more amenities.

[TheCat]

A visually stimulating place and creating table spa that's customer based. So, independent businesses manage their tables...says a resident of the urban core

Another resident comes to the podium...she has a scooter. She saw what they did to the Atlanta centennial park. She essentially says attract the residents to the park and you will get even more people living downtown.

The people in hemming plaza do not have a choice on places to go to....

Denise disagrees with that statement. There are choices. It is a myth that everyone there is homeless.these people are taking advantage of our laws/government.

[thelakelander]

It is a myth that everyone there is homeless.  Some are rightfully spending their time in the park and taking advantage of the few amenities it still has.  However, they may not fit the demographic profile desired by some.

[TheCat]

I'm not sure what's happening....something about government gun laws.

From the audience...not related to the topic of hemming plaza. Food permitting and jso getting rid of illegal vendors. Ultimate point, it should be easier for downtown businesses to get permitted.

Denise lee has a way of inviting people to speak, though ultimately friendly, the potential speaker is not sure if they are invited to speak or about to get arrested.

Historical society  speaks...hemming park is important.

Jason from the general council office speaks...

He says everything  comes down to getting more users in the park.

Food trucks...even if they come downtown there is no place to sit. It's not just special events...it's daily activities that are important. Wehave a captive audience every week...

Mentions Portland 's approach to management...establishing a anchor tenant. In their cases it was Starbucks. Portland has the park programmed more for daily activities. So the question is who will be in charge . Jason, talks about his talk with Jim baily...an operating agreement would have to have the following...
.programming
.plaza is still used as a public forum
.still able to have private events.

Other issues to consider if a private vendor is there
.freedom of speech
.funding
.public forum

Portland funds 1.2 million to maintain their freedom courthouse block.
Who is the operator?
.for profit or not for profit or organization.

[TheCat]

Jason is continuing...he uses riverside arts market as an example of private\public partnership.

Redman asks "can art walk vendors pay to be there and fund the park..."

Terri of dvi says "ah, no. We will keep that money."

Denise says, another meeting next week. Lets look at other cities.

So the rfp is going forward...it looks like we are willing to pay for profits to manage the park but not the non profits who are willing to manage...? When mocha, library and other stakeholders are willing to manage money is maybe there.

[TheCat]

Denise "we are going to make this happen. Not everyone is going to be happy. No one in the history of the country has gotten all of the votes. Nothing goes without criticism and criticism can be constructive.and the criticism that has happened here has been constructive. "I think we are on a soap box sermon. And like many sermons you want listen but you'd rather go eat lunch. She did just say "they did crucify Jesus." she commends everyone for persevering. She says everyone deserves a right to a quality of life.

Someone cuts off Denis lee to say food trucks are bad. At least he cut off Denise lee.

Meeting over.