Carefree Truth
Issue #616, January 12, 2018
Mayor Les Peterson began the Council meeting by asking everyone to observe a moment of silence in honor of Town accountant Jim Keen's wife, Bobbie, who passed away approximately 3-1/2 weeks before. He said that is was a distraught time but Mr. Keen is weathering it as well as he can. The Mayor suggested that we all remember our own blessings. https://vimeo.com/250602642
Vice Mayor John Crane announced that the Gardens Seminars, which have been held for several years, are continuing this year. The first one of four to be held this season will take place in the new Council Chambers at 33 Easy Street, this Saturday the 13th, from 9:30 AM - noon.
Cesar Mazier, the former director of Horticulture for the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden, will be the speaker. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in desert horticulture. Mr. Mazier has appeared on PBS and HGTV. In 2002 he was the recipient of the prestigious Master of the Southwest by Phoenix Home and Garden magazine. He will discuss environment and landscape conditions as well as the background and spaces plants will occupy, important issues that will ensure perfect results. A $5.00 minimum donation is requested to support these lectures. Seating is limited, so come early. https://vimeo.com/250713555
Mayor Peterson announced that the Town is "prepared and eager" to come out and do a presentation of the Long Range Plan and its basis. So far, there have been responses from 4 HOAs and from Kiwanis. The offer will be extended to area churches as well. The Town wishes to communicate the factors influencing Carefree, to inform, and to get input from the residents. https://vimeo.com/250716047
Councilman Mike Farrar announced that Ollie the Trolley is operating each Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM-11 PM. It starts at Local Jonnie's in Cave Creek, making 16 stops along the way. In Carefree it stops at the Mariachi Plaza, Spanish Village, and the Sundial. The trolley runs the route every 30 minutes and riding it is free. Some of the businesses at which it stops are organizing guitar and banjo musicians to play on the trolley to make it a fun and festive event. Mr. Farrar said his Facebook page is "literally exploding" with comments about the trolley. He encouraged everyone to bring their family and friends to ride and enjoy it.
Councilman Mike Krahe asked if a report had been generated with the metrics. How is the trolley doing, how many are using it? Will that data be seen eventually? Mr. Farrar said that a report on the month of December showing the number of riders was sent to Gina Kaegi, and he believed the Mayor had also seen it. He asked that it be shared with the rest of the Council. The trolley organizers are talking to the drivers to determine the busiest times, and as expected, it is from 11 AM-3 PM. Mr. Farrar said he loves getting feedback. They are trying to make it better all the time. They are looking to develop "wooden nickels" to be given out on the trolley and redeemed for discounts at participating businesses. Some businesses will address the Council to say what the trolley has done for them.
Dr. Krahe asked what they were hearing from Carefree businesses. Mr. Farrar said, frankly, there weren't that many. He had hoped for more participation. He hadn't approached the 2 in the Mariachi Plaza for feedback, but hadn't heard anything negative from the coffee shop, which operates during the day, or Alberto's restaurant, which is open at night.
Mr. Farrar explained that the idea was to create a circulating path to allow people to see what's happening in Carefree. Unlike Carefree, Cave Creek's businesses front on the road and people can see the activities and events. The goal was to allow people to see what is available within the downtown core of Carefree, rather than driving past it. He said it would be wonderful if the businesses would stay open and participate. It's a partnership. The businesses need to do things to drive traffic into their doors and to compel people to get off the trolley.
Dr. Krahe said those were all valid points. His concern was the Town's investment of money. He understood the benefit to Cave Creek stores of moving people around, but he hasn't seen anything yet on the value it's bringing to Carefree. Mr. Farrar responded that the Town is spending half a million dollars on marketing to bring people into Carefree for a few days of the year, on the days there are events. For a very small fraction of that, $11,000, people can be brought into town every weekend for 5 months.
Dr. Krahe asked how many were going into the businesses from the trolley. He pointed out that the half a million dollars in marketing money brought up by Mr. Farrar brings in tens of thousands of people. "If we're seeing a handful of people coming from the trolley, I'm concerned about that. If we spend a half a million dollars to load our businesses with people, thousands and thousands of people, that's a different discussion." He said they shouldn't get off track.
Mr. Farrar said the same metrics for festival events should be applied to measure the effectiveness of the trolley throughout the entire year. Mayor Peterson felt this was premature, as these metrics take time to generate. Dr. Krahe agreed, again asked for the trolley report, and said the Town could work on the metrics.
Mr. Farrar pointed out that the trolley had only been operating for 4 weeks and asked that it be given a chance. The trolley is only known in Carefree and Cave Creek. He felt that the message about a trolley up here needed to get out to the entire Valley and it would become an event unto itself. We would be seen as "a mini San Francisco". "People would say, 'Let's spend a weekend and go up there and ride the trolley.' " Unless that message gets out, the intent of the trolley is not being fulfilled. He stressed that the intent is to get people from outside into our community just like we do with the money spent for the festivals.
Vice Mayor John Crane agreed that December numbers can be misleading. They should look at the January numbers. January should be more active with the Thunderbird show. Mr. Farrar said that December is the worst month of the the year for trolleys Valley-wide due to the holidays. Mayor Peterson reiterated that it's a 30 minute route.
https://vimeo.com/250713004
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.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.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Issue #616, January 12, 2018
Mayor Les Peterson began the Council meeting by asking everyone to observe a moment of silence in honor of Town accountant Jim Keen's wife, Bobbie, who passed away approximately 3-1/2 weeks before. He said that is was a distraught time but Mr. Keen is weathering it as well as he can. The Mayor suggested that we all remember our own blessings. https://vimeo.com/250602642
Vice Mayor John Crane announced that the Gardens Seminars, which have been held for several years, are continuing this year. The first one of four to be held this season will take place in the new Council Chambers at 33 Easy Street, this Saturday the 13th, from 9:30 AM - noon.
Cesar Mazier, the former director of Horticulture for the Phoenix Desert Botanical Garden, will be the speaker. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in desert horticulture. Mr. Mazier has appeared on PBS and HGTV. In 2002 he was the recipient of the prestigious Master of the Southwest by Phoenix Home and Garden magazine. He will discuss environment and landscape conditions as well as the background and spaces plants will occupy, important issues that will ensure perfect results. A $5.00 minimum donation is requested to support these lectures. Seating is limited, so come early. https://vimeo.com/250713555
Mayor Peterson announced that the Town is "prepared and eager" to come out and do a presentation of the Long Range Plan and its basis. So far, there have been responses from 4 HOAs and from Kiwanis. The offer will be extended to area churches as well. The Town wishes to communicate the factors influencing Carefree, to inform, and to get input from the residents. https://vimeo.com/250716047
Councilman Mike Farrar announced that Ollie the Trolley is operating each Saturday and Sunday from 9 AM-11 PM. It starts at Local Jonnie's in Cave Creek, making 16 stops along the way. In Carefree it stops at the Mariachi Plaza, Spanish Village, and the Sundial. The trolley runs the route every 30 minutes and riding it is free. Some of the businesses at which it stops are organizing guitar and banjo musicians to play on the trolley to make it a fun and festive event. Mr. Farrar said his Facebook page is "literally exploding" with comments about the trolley. He encouraged everyone to bring their family and friends to ride and enjoy it.
Councilman Mike Krahe asked if a report had been generated with the metrics. How is the trolley doing, how many are using it? Will that data be seen eventually? Mr. Farrar said that a report on the month of December showing the number of riders was sent to Gina Kaegi, and he believed the Mayor had also seen it. He asked that it be shared with the rest of the Council. The trolley organizers are talking to the drivers to determine the busiest times, and as expected, it is from 11 AM-3 PM. Mr. Farrar said he loves getting feedback. They are trying to make it better all the time. They are looking to develop "wooden nickels" to be given out on the trolley and redeemed for discounts at participating businesses. Some businesses will address the Council to say what the trolley has done for them.
Dr. Krahe asked what they were hearing from Carefree businesses. Mr. Farrar said, frankly, there weren't that many. He had hoped for more participation. He hadn't approached the 2 in the Mariachi Plaza for feedback, but hadn't heard anything negative from the coffee shop, which operates during the day, or Alberto's restaurant, which is open at night.
Mr. Farrar explained that the idea was to create a circulating path to allow people to see what's happening in Carefree. Unlike Carefree, Cave Creek's businesses front on the road and people can see the activities and events. The goal was to allow people to see what is available within the downtown core of Carefree, rather than driving past it. He said it would be wonderful if the businesses would stay open and participate. It's a partnership. The businesses need to do things to drive traffic into their doors and to compel people to get off the trolley.
Dr. Krahe said those were all valid points. His concern was the Town's investment of money. He understood the benefit to Cave Creek stores of moving people around, but he hasn't seen anything yet on the value it's bringing to Carefree. Mr. Farrar responded that the Town is spending half a million dollars on marketing to bring people into Carefree for a few days of the year, on the days there are events. For a very small fraction of that, $11,000, people can be brought into town every weekend for 5 months.
Dr. Krahe asked how many were going into the businesses from the trolley. He pointed out that the half a million dollars in marketing money brought up by Mr. Farrar brings in tens of thousands of people. "If we're seeing a handful of people coming from the trolley, I'm concerned about that. If we spend a half a million dollars to load our businesses with people, thousands and thousands of people, that's a different discussion." He said they shouldn't get off track.
Mr. Farrar said the same metrics for festival events should be applied to measure the effectiveness of the trolley throughout the entire year. Mayor Peterson felt this was premature, as these metrics take time to generate. Dr. Krahe agreed, again asked for the trolley report, and said the Town could work on the metrics.
Mr. Farrar pointed out that the trolley had only been operating for 4 weeks and asked that it be given a chance. The trolley is only known in Carefree and Cave Creek. He felt that the message about a trolley up here needed to get out to the entire Valley and it would become an event unto itself. We would be seen as "a mini San Francisco". "People would say, 'Let's spend a weekend and go up there and ride the trolley.' " Unless that message gets out, the intent of the trolley is not being fulfilled. He stressed that the intent is to get people from outside into our community just like we do with the money spent for the festivals.
Vice Mayor John Crane agreed that December numbers can be misleading. They should look at the January numbers. January should be more active with the Thunderbird show. Mr. Farrar said that December is the worst month of the the year for trolleys Valley-wide due to the holidays. Mayor Peterson reiterated that it's a 30 minute route.
https://vimeo.com/250713004
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.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.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.