Carefree Truth
Issue #591, September 11, 2017
At Call to the Public, Warren Linsdale said he lives in Carefree and owns the Easy Street Boutique. He has had businesses in Lake Havasu, Sedona, Prescott, Jerome and Laguna Beach. The decisions he has seen made in Carefree have affected his store here very positively. The exception to this was the Sunday concerts in the park. During the concerts, his business went from hundreds of thousands to zero during those 4 hour periods. He opens at noon on Sundays in consideration of church and closes at 4 PM to go home for Sunday dinner. Other merchants around him close. As a business owner, that's not why he's there.
The concerts were held last year from 1-3 PM in May. He got an email from someone on the Council stating that they were considering rescheduling the concerts to 2-4 PM in February, March and April, which is the prime sales season. He reiterated that they benefit phenomenally from a lot of what the Town does, but he was shocked when sales went to zero during the concerts.
Mr. Lindale proposed changing the concert times to 3-5 PM, which would allow shop owners to open their doors to tourists who aren't there for the concerts, and still get some sales. Concert goers can elect to stay and have dinner at 5 PM. No one has dinner at 4 PM.
When he suggested this to others in the email chain, some said it would be inconvenient for the artists who have to travel on to do another show. He hated to sound arrogant, but he pays his taxes here. The Town is paying artists $2000 to sing for us and they can't accommodate a time frame of 3-5 instead of 1-3? It didn't make sense to him. Even if it doesn't change, at least it got him to come to the meeting, as suggested, and become involved in the community and vocalize his concern. They are retiring here, so are here long term.
He said, "Why not make the concerts better?" He suggested reaching out to all the high schools and community colleges for aspiring artists. This could be a venue for them to present their music. There could be a vetting process. The artists could end up being nationally renowned. "Where else could a 14 year old fiddler go on a Sunday to play in front of an audience?" He realized it would take some effort, but it would be much better. The current artists are OK, but not inspiring.
It kills all revenue for the area merchants and affects the Town's surplus because sales tax revenue doesn't come in during that period. He did a calculation. By having the concerts, they are paying $2000 to lose $3000 in revenue. "It doesn't make sense." Mr. Lindale said he likes concerts and has probably been to more concerts than anyone in the room. He likes music. But it seems there could be a better way. Maybe there could be a transition period where the concerts are held from 3-5 PM.
"I employ 6,000 people. If somebody says, 'I'm paying you to come and work', and they're telling you, 'It's inconvenient for me', why are you paying them?" "It doesn't make sense." He said the concerts will be coming up on the agenda in the near future. As a merchant and a resident, he wanted to speak up. "It's better to come here than to bellyache on the street". He thanked Councilman Jim Van Allen for inviting him to speak.
Mayor Les Peterson said Mr. Lindale and Mr. Van Allen had spoken. The Mayor had spoken to Mr. Lindale earlier that day and they had a substantial discussion. The Town would continue to discuss the concerts.
https://vimeo.com/231963621
Also at Call to the Public, John Traynor said that in a few minutes, the Council would be addressing "development in the town core, and we've been here before." There were "ups and downs" in the discussions. He requested that Council members keep an open mind and listen, and had been assured by each that they would. He asked that they think long and hard and very seriously about a proposal that would put a very large building in a very visible part of town. He hadn't seen any sketches or renderings, but was concerned that a focal point of the town could potentially have a building that would be "off-putting". He thought that was probably not what was wanted at this point in Carefree's economic life. He requested due deliberation, and for the Town to be explicit this time around so there were no misunderstandings in the calculations.
https://vimeo.com/231959846
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.comwww.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.comwww.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Issue #591, September 11, 2017
At Call to the Public, Warren Linsdale said he lives in Carefree and owns the Easy Street Boutique. He has had businesses in Lake Havasu, Sedona, Prescott, Jerome and Laguna Beach. The decisions he has seen made in Carefree have affected his store here very positively. The exception to this was the Sunday concerts in the park. During the concerts, his business went from hundreds of thousands to zero during those 4 hour periods. He opens at noon on Sundays in consideration of church and closes at 4 PM to go home for Sunday dinner. Other merchants around him close. As a business owner, that's not why he's there.
The concerts were held last year from 1-3 PM in May. He got an email from someone on the Council stating that they were considering rescheduling the concerts to 2-4 PM in February, March and April, which is the prime sales season. He reiterated that they benefit phenomenally from a lot of what the Town does, but he was shocked when sales went to zero during the concerts.
Mr. Lindale proposed changing the concert times to 3-5 PM, which would allow shop owners to open their doors to tourists who aren't there for the concerts, and still get some sales. Concert goers can elect to stay and have dinner at 5 PM. No one has dinner at 4 PM.
When he suggested this to others in the email chain, some said it would be inconvenient for the artists who have to travel on to do another show. He hated to sound arrogant, but he pays his taxes here. The Town is paying artists $2000 to sing for us and they can't accommodate a time frame of 3-5 instead of 1-3? It didn't make sense to him. Even if it doesn't change, at least it got him to come to the meeting, as suggested, and become involved in the community and vocalize his concern. They are retiring here, so are here long term.
He said, "Why not make the concerts better?" He suggested reaching out to all the high schools and community colleges for aspiring artists. This could be a venue for them to present their music. There could be a vetting process. The artists could end up being nationally renowned. "Where else could a 14 year old fiddler go on a Sunday to play in front of an audience?" He realized it would take some effort, but it would be much better. The current artists are OK, but not inspiring.
It kills all revenue for the area merchants and affects the Town's surplus because sales tax revenue doesn't come in during that period. He did a calculation. By having the concerts, they are paying $2000 to lose $3000 in revenue. "It doesn't make sense." Mr. Lindale said he likes concerts and has probably been to more concerts than anyone in the room. He likes music. But it seems there could be a better way. Maybe there could be a transition period where the concerts are held from 3-5 PM.
"I employ 6,000 people. If somebody says, 'I'm paying you to come and work', and they're telling you, 'It's inconvenient for me', why are you paying them?" "It doesn't make sense." He said the concerts will be coming up on the agenda in the near future. As a merchant and a resident, he wanted to speak up. "It's better to come here than to bellyache on the street". He thanked Councilman Jim Van Allen for inviting him to speak.
Mayor Les Peterson said Mr. Lindale and Mr. Van Allen had spoken. The Mayor had spoken to Mr. Lindale earlier that day and they had a substantial discussion. The Town would continue to discuss the concerts.
https://vimeo.com/231963621
Also at Call to the Public, John Traynor said that in a few minutes, the Council would be addressing "development in the town core, and we've been here before." There were "ups and downs" in the discussions. He requested that Council members keep an open mind and listen, and had been assured by each that they would. He asked that they think long and hard and very seriously about a proposal that would put a very large building in a very visible part of town. He hadn't seen any sketches or renderings, but was concerned that a focal point of the town could potentially have a building that would be "off-putting". He thought that was probably not what was wanted at this point in Carefree's economic life. He requested due deliberation, and for the Town to be explicit this time around so there were no misunderstandings in the calculations.
https://vimeo.com/231959846
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.comwww.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.comwww.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.