Carefree Truth

                   Issue #456, January 25, 2016

 

 

Councilwoman Melissa Price requested that item #3, Acceptance into the public record of the December, 2015 paid bills, be removed from the Consent Agenda for discussion.  She first questioned the check paid to Metroland Consultants.  Gary Neiss explained they had been hired to investigate the redesign of a problematic culvert in the Carefree Sentinel Rock subdivision.  Ms. Price next questioned the check paid to Hienton & Curry, PLLC.  Mayor Les Peterson explained that is name of the law firm where Scott Wakefield, who is representing the Town in the Liberty Water/Arizona Corporation Commission issue, practices.  Ms. Price said, "I didn't know his company name."

 

 

 

Councilman Mike Farrar questioned over $3000 paid to Magic Bird, and asked if the Town is reimbursed for those expenses. Mr. Neiss replied no, that is part of the overall historic budget for the Christmas Festival.  It is larger than Magic Bird.  There are several components to the Christmas Festival, and these services are provided to the entire Festival.  Mr. Farrar asked if this happens with any other Magic Bird or other vendor events.  Mr. Neiss said it does not.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/151263900/a0b24de136

 

 

 

 

(Lyn's note: I asked Roberta Toombs Rechlin for a more in-depth clarification.  Being a member of the Christmas Festival Committee, I am aware that she donates a portion of her booth fees to the Festival, and I asked her to include that in her explanation.  This year, she donated $11,200.  Below is her response.)

 

It is absolutely a donation and the single largest after town money spent. One year my donation was over $18,000. The Christmas Festival is completely different than my stand alone festivals.  Others I'm producing as a guest of the town as just one of several event facilitators.  As for $3,576 reimbursement, that is for event costs budgeted in at the beginning of planning, and the only reason I'm being reimbursed is that I pay those costs out of pocket on Sunday of Festival weekend to food vendors who feed staff and the sheriff's posse, also for cash prizes for the decoration contest, and for workers I personally arrange. I pay them all right away so that they don't have to wait weeks for their money!  I don't  believe in making people wait for money they have earned.  

 

Thanks to you for your supportive and relentless pursuit of correction and clarification. You always make it your business to set things right and I am very grateful to you. I'm such a stickler for details and thoroughness of knowledge just like you.

 

Roberta Toombs Rechlin

Magic Bird Festivals 

 

 

 

Ms. Price also asked that item #7, Approval of an Application for Extension of Premises/Patio Permit for Ray Klemp and AZ Wine Company/Paradise Valley Wine, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for discussion.  She couldn't remember what was happening on January 22-24 that would prompt the request.  Councilman Glenn Miller reminded her those were the dates for the Indian Cultural Market Festival. 

 

 

 

Mayor Peterson said, "It is my understanding that the AZ Wine Company is not an active business at this point."  The map submitted with the application shows a licensed walkway from the AZ Wine Co., an empty business, over to the Gardens.  He asked Town Clerk Kandace French if she had contacted the State Liquor Board.  "Is this a valid liquor license that AZ Wine holds at this time?"

 

 

 

Mrs. French replied that she contacts the State Liquor Board about all liquor related applications.  There were 2 levels of concern about this one.  The first is that it isn't an actual extension of premises, which had been brought to Mr. Klemp's attention previously.  That would have to be an extention of a current premises.  Because there is no direct connection between the patio and the Gardens, it would have to be a Festival/Fair license, which requires cooperation with and a donation to a non profit organization.  Also, the State Liquor Board expressed concern because AZ Wine's liquor license is inactive.  The business would have to be active at the time of the event.  Mr. Klemp had not expressed that intention.  If the Council does approve the application, it would still have to go before the State Liquor Board, which could deny it.

 

 

 

Mayor Peterson asked that a slide be put on the screen showing the licensed walkway, and asked if the Town had ever licensed it.  Councilman Miller said it is an imaginary walkway.  Mr. Klemp's property goes up to the curb at the Green Room. It's part of his parking lots.  Ms. Price added that it's really not about an extension of premises, since there's no longer a business there.  Mr. Farrar asked if the current business in the 100 Easy Street building was utilizing Mr. Klemp's liquor license and was told that business has its own license.  Mr. Miller made a motion to approve the application.  Mr. Farrar seconded the motion.  Vice Mayor John Crane requested a modified motion which stated approval was contingent on the approval from the State Liquor Board.  With that modification, the motion carried unanimously.

 

https://vimeo.com/user18676056/review/151268846/915bbce523

        

 

 

Lyn Hitchon

 

 

 

Prepared by Carefree Truth

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