Carefree Truth

Issue #336, August 1, 2014

 

 

 

Thunderbird Artists (TBA) holds 3 fine art show a year in downtown Carefree, during which Easy Street and several others are closed.  An admission fee is charged by TBA. Traditionally the gate fee has been split between TBA ($60%), the Carefree/Cave Creek Chamber of Commerce (25%), and the Town of Carefree (25%).  This year, TBA proposed to reduce Carefree's percentage to 15%.  Mayor David Schwan felt this should be decided by the entire Council at a public meeting, so a Special Council meeting was held to discuss approving the street closures with the reduced amount.

 

 

 

Councilman Marty Saltzman asked why Carefree was being cut to 15% while the Chamber remained at 25%.  Judi Combs, owner of TBA, said that the 25% given to Carefree started as a donation about 20 years ago.  TBA has been incurring more costs for advertising and promotion, and can no longer make this donation.  Mr. Saltzman said she had not answered his question.  Mrs. Combs replied that the Chamber has been a partner from the beginning, supplying volunteers, and that they also receive 25% of the wine sales.  Mr. Saltzman repeated his still unanswered question.  Mrs. Combs stated that the Council didn't want to close the streets this year.  Mr. Saltzman asked if the TBA request involved street closures this year.  Mayor David Schwan replied that the request is as usual, with street closures, and that the only difference is a reduction in gate receipts to the town by 40%.

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar asked if there is an economic impact to the Town during festivals, and if so, what are the costs.  Gary Neiss confirmed that there is wear and tear on the streets, the Gardens, and the public restrooms.  There is also a spike in water costs from restroom use and in electrical costs because many of the vendors plug into the outlets.  Although the revenue generated by the festivals is important to the Town, TBA is the only promoter that closes off the main streets and charges admission for access to the Town Center.  Carefree has received between $15,000 and $20,000, according to attendance, in the past to offset the costs.  Downtown Carefree provides a first class facility in which to hold festivals.

 

 

 

Mr. Saltzman asked how close Carefree is to breaking even, and how this reduction will affect that.  Mr. Farrar asked if the Town is subsidizing the shows.  Mr. Neiss said the Town is not breaking even at 25%.  Vice Mayor Les Peterson felt that, "the Chamber is a very valid partner, but so is the Town."  He interpreted the donation as a fee.  

 

 

 

Councilman Glenn Miller, holding up paperwork, asked Town attorney Mike Wright, "Is this not a contract?"  Mr. Wright acknowledged that, "It is."  Mr. Miller said the 25% has been part of the contract for years, not a donation.  Mrs. Combs explained that it was originally TBA's decision to offer the donation to the Town.  Mr. Miller repeated that it has been a contractual agreement for many years.  He also asked why he hadn't seen the usual letter from TBA at the end of last season, providing the gate count and the Town's dollar amount from the 25%.  Mr. Neiss replied that there was an issue with the payment this past season, and a payment schedule was arranged.  As a result of that, no letter was received.  

 

 

 

Mrs. Combs claimed that it's difficult to keep a gate count, as admission is free to residents of Carefree and to holders of Patron VIP passes.  Mayor Schwan asked Jennifer McGirr, who was present to represent the Chamber, if the Chamber had that number.  Ms. McGirr responded that she is new to the Board presidency and did not know the answer.

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar agreed with the Vice Mayor that Carefree is also a partner, and felt that it was unfair for the burden to be borne by one partner, particularly since that partner was the one incurring an economic impact.  He added that he supports the Thunderbird shows and has been a volunteer selling tickets.  But it should be simple, even with the free admissions, to provide a ticket count of the dollars collected.  He asked if TBA had explored raising the price of entry tickets by $1, which would net a significant increase in revenue given the number of attendees.  He asked if the Town gets part of the wine sales, like the Chamber.  Mrs. Combs said no.  Mr. Farrar said, "So, the Chamber gets 25% of the ticket and wine sales?"  Mrs. Combs confirmed that, adding that the Chamber provides volunteers who work the shows.  

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan asked Mrs. Combs to comment on Mr. Farrar's suggestion of raising the ticket price from $3 to $4.  Mrs. Combs responded that she can't do that with the economy the way it is.  She then stated that Carefree's permit fee is too high, higher than other places, and that some artists won't come to Carefree.  She read from a sheet with permit fees in several other cities and towns.

 

 

 

Mayor Schwan asked Mrs. Combs what fees artists pay to be in her shows, and how much the Town charges.  Mrs. Combs said she charges a $420 application fee.  Mayor Schwan asked if there is also a jury fee.  Mrs. Combs said, "Yes,  $35."  Mayor Schwan reiterated, "So, $35 for a jury fee, $420 for a booth fee, which varies depending on the size and location of the booth, so goes up from $420.  And how much does the Town charge for a permit?"  Mrs. Combs replied, "$45."  Mayor Schwan said, "$45.  Thank you." 

 

 

 

Mrs. Combs pointed out that TBA does extensive print advertising, which promotes Carefree.  Mr. Miller asked, "Your ads include all your shows, all 7 shows, correct?"  Mrs. Combs confirmed that was correct.  She said her ads appear in the U.S. Air In-flight Magazine which has a circulation of approximately 32,000 copies, and Carefree is listed 3 times on the co-op ad.

 

 

 

Mr. Farrar asked Mrs. Combs to explain further why she felt she couldn't raise the entry fee by $1.  She replied, "The last 5 or 6 weeks it's gotten very quiet."  "It's the idea that people are starting to look at next year."  Mr. Farrar responded, "That's how the Town feels about its dollars.  We have a fiduciary duty to our constituents to be stewards of these resources and do what's in the best interests of our town and our treasury." He disagreed that the ticket price couldn't be raised by $1.  He asked what the ticket sales were from the last Carefree festival, but Mrs. Combs didn't have that information available.          

 

http://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/102207896/6ea8e1f6fd

 

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

Visit our website at www.carefreetruth.com

If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list please contact me, and feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list. See what businesses and services Carefree has to offer http://www.carefree-az-businesses-experiencethedifference.com/CAREFREE,_AZ_BUSINESSES%3A_EXPERIENCE_THE_DIFFERENCE/CAREFREE_BUSINESS_CATEGORIES.html at Please support our merchants. Visit our Carefree Desert Gardens website at http://www.carefree-desert-gardens.com/Carefree_Desert_Gardens/Welcome.html