[Vision2020] Fee Parking??

[Mike Curley]

It seems to me that if the discussion is going to occur and might have an impact on next 
year's market that is should have begun already and that October 25 is about the 
poorest time to expect to have much input from vendors.  Many regulars are not still 
participating on that last weekend of market.  Further, if that is the beginning of 
conversations, where are the vendors and their input as discussions progress, new 
ideas are floated, and refinements are discussed?  They are gone.

I don't think it's a "rumor" that the ideas about which John Danahy opined have been 
proposed and are going to be considered.

It seems to me that the timing of this discussion is at best unfortunate and most likely 
just wrong.  I would hope that before there is "public input" (well, in this case, just 
vendor input for now) that there is some public presentation of a proposal or options so 
that there can be an informed discussion.  And, of course, it isn't to early to be 
scheduling those other public input meetings.

This is just one more of the situations that so frustrate citizens.  We learn things by 
rumor and then denial and correction because we don't get the information directly 
from the city and it's obvious that things are being started and discussed behind the 
backs of the majority of citizens.  Once the rumor is out there (and it's been floating 
around for weeks and Ms. Heath, at least, knew it), the city should be forthcoming with 
information and a plan.  I am disappointed that the message doesn't seem to be getting 
across that people in this town care about what's going on and not only want to be 
heard, but want to be given information in a timely way.

Mike Curley


On 24 Sep 03, at 11:36, Linda Pall wrote:

From:           	"Linda Pall" <lpall@moscow.com>
To:             	"John Danahy" <jdanahy@turbonet.com>, "Vision2020" 
<vision2020@moscow.com>
Subject:        	Re: [Vision2020] Fee Parking??
Date sent:      	Wed, 24 Sep 2003 11:36:12 -0700

> Dear Friends of the Moscow Farmers Market:
> 
> I spoke to Deena Heath, Arts Commission Director, today and she assured me
> that the "move to Main Street" is rumor only. No decisions have been made
> about this. The idea of moving the market to Main Street has been suggested
> by some members of the Moscow Downtown Association. Jerry Schutz, Downtown
> Coordinator, or Pam Hays, Association President, should have more
> information about this conversation. I have not seen a written proposal.
> 
> The Arts Commission will have a market vendors' meeting on Saturday, October
> 25, at 2:30 PM in the Council Chambers to give all of the vendors plenty of
> opportunity to express their opinions about the market and its future.
> 
> The City hasn't taken any decisions about the Farmers Market and will only
> make changes once the topic has been fully and publicly discussed. The
> mechanism for any changes in location or configuration would be to have a
> recommendation from the vendors to the Arts Commission and from the Arts
> Commission to the Administrative Committee and/or the Public Works/Finance
> Committee and then to the full Council for final disposition. There are a
> lot of opportunities to get into the conversation but earlier is always
> better in these matters.
> 
>  Deena told me that she views the market as a partnership between the
> vendors and the City. The Market can't happen without that partnership and
> it is the reason for the success and vitality of the market.
> 
> Those of us who love the Market and want to see it 'live long and prosper'
> should plan to participate in the deliberations about the Market! It's a
> great gift to Moscow and one of the hallmarks of our community.
> 
> All the best,
> Linda Pall
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: John Danahy 
>   To: Vision2020 
>   Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 5:21 PM
>   Subject: [Vision2020] Fee Parking??
> 
> 
>   I just heard an unbelievable rumor that the city intends to eliminate the free parking
>   off Jackson between Third and Sixth and use the lot for permit only parking seven days a
>   week.  Also, in order to free up more permit space, the city wants to move the Farmers
>   Market to Main Street on Saturdays, and eliminate Main Street parking to accommodate the
>   market. Is this really true??
> 
> 
> 
>   John
> 
>   jdanahy@turbonet.com
> 
> 
> 
>