The issue of who is the ultimate supervisor of the City's Parks and Recreation Department dates back almost two decades when a combining with Public Works set off a simmering political rivalry that still exists...Its in part a personal feud and for years Council members have quietly backed one side or the other.
I think a reorganization is needed of a different sort and for different reasons. The Fairgrounds complex has evolved into a largely commercial operation with many big time events being held there. These are in many cases high dollar events which involve considerable City support to pull off. The range of events, and the need to pay for the work in support of commercial ventures requires facility management and someone overseeing the public's interest in a public facility. (I consider concerts commercial events as performers, lighting and sound people, promoters, beer sellers, and many more are doing what they do to generate profits, which I do not consider a dirty word.)
We have gotten to the point of worrying too much about whether tenant groups can make enough money on beer and worrying less about our core job which is to oversee public facilities in the public's interest...That means the people, voters and taxpayers of the City.
This became more evident to me earlier this year when I went down there to tour the newly renovated concession stand and the staffer who showed me around told me of the need for supervision of the nuts and bolts of concessions, and the related inventory and cash management issues...As it turns out this discussion for me was the canary in the coal mine as subsequent events revealed a series of issues we are now trying to sort out and still keep summer events on track.
I support the idea of direct reporting to City Hall, but the key to me is the establishment of a hierarchy at the Arena that has the skills to run what is not just hiring lifeguards and handing out kickballs. That is part of it and is important. There is a financial component that requires expertise not normally acquired in years in government.
As the debate plays out over the summer, my vision is not just settling an old score but making changes that position the facility for the growth that is occuring.
Watertown Daily Times City Recreation Department reorganization urged
17 comments:
Hire an event planner?? Simple. And not a Summer youth/employee, someone with a background in that line of work.
Hire Paul Simmons, he will take care of it.
Let the JCIDA handle it.
Are you sure you don't see profit as a dirty word?
It seems like you are stepping over dollars to pick up pennies. If you consider how much the police department costs the city for a lawsuit. Or on sunday morning I see two city cars looking for speeders and one is in front of the high school. Never a cop to be seen through the entire school day but they are looking for little old ladies on their way home from church I guess.
Point is that the city has a big budget and there are lots of departments that could save money with smart management oversight.
If you are jealous of how much the DPAO made on beer or on a concert then go ahead and cough up the money and put a show together yourself.
I consider it a service to the area just like the park and library. Fact is that government could not do these promotions because the nature of government is to suck at everything. So let the city be the facilitator and the promoters be the ones to take the risks and make the profits. And if the demand for the venue gets too big then they can start bidding against each other for the facility dates.
Until then, don't worry about how much anyone is earning...just make the facility available and be happy someone is improving the quality of life around here.
Let's see. If you're gonna split off the Rec Dept, which I think is a good idea, then hire an event planner, which may also be a good idea, then cut the pay of the fool who got the city in trouble in the first place, Gene Hayes. If he has all this reduction in work responsibility, then it is only right that we reduce the amount the imcompetent is paid. Kapish? On second thought, just continue to throw money at the DPW man. He must be connected as hell to continue to be allowed to run his office as he does. Never mind, Jeff. We got the money.
Great post 9:46pm I said that It had some swear words in there so he would not put it up.......
Only thing I saw that was wrong on this concert was sticking Paul with the cleanup. You took 10% of his profit. That 10% could have put on a clean up crew and some better security and still gave the city a prize. If the city is going to collect...It needs to put back.
If You leave running The Fairgrounds to The City You will have Filthy Dirty Bathrooms if any at all. The grounds will look terrible before and worse after said Event. I'm sorry but The Management in this City sucks plain and simple.
Mayor can't a tax payer going to a Fairgrounds concert get a beer for less than 5.50 or 6.00. Councilman Jeff Smith could you check out if a contract for cheaper beer could be negotiated at these types of events; for people trying to avoid breaking the family budget. The Mayor he could care less about the price of a brew for the average citizen looking for a reasonable night out, and a little entertainment in the City of Watertown. Justin you were right about this all along! The Mayor is wrong again!
MCM
$5 for a beer is not an uncommon price for a concert. Darrien Lake charges upwards of $11 for an aluminum bottle (illegal in NYS). You could have also bought 5 beers for $20. That's $4 a beer.
Why should the city get any part of the beer sales, as all they do is get in the way.
For most events beer sales is where you make your profit, so promoters take the risk and the city gets paid... doesn't seem fair.
It's time for a true entertainment venue to be built.
Also, if your going to deny one organisation beer rights, then deny them all. Just because one organisation doesn't know how to run an event, don't hold it against others with a proven track record of fixing problems.
Another point, tailgating is part of the concert experience. Put port-a-pottys in the parking section and since your taking beer money, pay your summer youth to clean up. I'm tired of seeing all these kids in DPW shirts standing there watching the show. Make them work for their pay. i'm sure taxpayers would like to see their money in action rather than inaction.
It's time the council see's there's a need for a full entertainment venue in the area. It can be built in the city, where the city can continue to make revenue, or it can be built out side the city with lost revenue.
If Mercy were to close why not turn the area into an event center including parking garage that also doubles for use at the offices such as the DMV. Watertown needs a place to host bigger shows year round.
We need a place that will hold indoor events of 3000 + people so that you can bring in bigger shows all year round. You can also partician off the building for use with smaller events. You could also bring in motor cross type shows as well as other touring sports shows. (Dew Tour)
You could create actual usable bathroom space and parking (unlike arena). Kroc center in K-town max's out at 6700 people and look at what they are bringing in.
Not to mention space for actual vendors and beer
Indoor football, soccer and other sports.
If the event center is in the middle of town you've got more routes to enter and depart.
Mill and Leray - North,
Holcumb, Massey and Washington st - South
Coffeen and Arsenal - East and 81
State and Factory - west
This would also help spread business all over town rather than the outer end of Arsenal. (another proposed location)
And a parking garage would still be a great addition to the area.
There is also ample public transportation within the city limits.
[What few events that occur each year would in no way cover the cost of such an undertaken? ]
What about the events that can't happen because they lay ice down at the arena in Sept. Also. Utica has an event center that is also an ice arena. They have a removable flooring section to lay on the ice to host events in Winter.
Again, look at the activity that the Krock Center brought to Kingston. Yes it's a bigger City but by building the event center they attracted the events.
It's time to **** or get off the pot....
Mikey, you shouldn't be going to a concert with the idea of drinking multiple beers. One, two, that would be fine for most. If you need more you need to get into therapy of some sort. Or get drunk before you arrive for the concert. Do the school officials you are applying to know you need to drink this way? I remember another thread where you defended a drunken driver. Do we have a pattern here?
Hey LA has the KROCK center ever made any money?? Despite all the promises.
without seeing any actual financial details I would say yes considering the talent they are bringing in.
http://www.k-rockcentre.com/
yes, it makes a profit.
http://www.ourkingston.ca/2011/03/citys-hopes-for-k-rock-centre-profits/
Just the last year? I know the City of Kingston was questioning it a couple of years ago, I wonder if we should build a Event Center say in the town of Watertown and all the other towns "kick in" some money for it, never happen to busy building state of the art Volunteer fire stations.
Mikey, how many beers do you think a "family man" needs to buy when he goes to a concert like this? Maybe we could do some sort of package deal. Say, 20 beers for half price. And include the costs of the DWI and beating the wife when he gets home. Where the hell are you coming from on this one?
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