Diane Ward

From: Sent: To: Subject: Attachments: Nancy Manos Monday, March 31, 2014 3:08 PM Diane Ward FW: Rivertown Art Festival Request Rivertown Art Festival Council Letter 3 31 2014.pdf

Nancy Manos, City

of Stillwater

From:MainstreetStillwaterIBA[mailto:mainstreetstillwateriba@gmail.com] Sent:Monday,March31,20143:03PM To:KenHarycki;MikePolehna;DougMenikheim;TedKozlowski;TomWeidner Cc:BillTurnblad;NancyManos Subject:RivertownArtFestivalRequest

Mayor and City Council Members, We have had no response from the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce about our request to change the date of the Rivertown Art Festival. So we are resending this letter, with additional supporters, and ask for your thoughtful consideration. It has recently come to our attention that the date of the Rivertown Art Festival has changed from the long standing third weekend of May date to the first weekend of June. We are concerned that this decision was made without consulting either the City of Stillwater or businesses that will be affected by this last minute change. The attached document, directed to the City Council, addresses our concerns. The purpose of this letter is not to pit businesses against the Chamber's Rivertown Art Festival, although this particular festival is what has triggered our concerns. This last minute date change is certainly going to create challenges for the historic district and Stillwater lodging, but this has brought up a bigger issue. This letter may not stop this art festival date change, but we hope it will bring the larger issue to the City Councils' attention and prevent private groups from being able to schedule events and make changes without consent. Businesses that will be affected by events deserve a say. With all the exciting things happening in our town in the next couple of years, we feel it is more important than ever that this issue is understood. We have a wonderful, lovely downtown and many groups will want fundraisers in our historic district. We want the City Council to understand the precedent this date change could set for the future. Thanks for your consideration. Mainstreet Stillwater IBA and friends.

Mayor Ken Harycki and Stillwater City Council Members, Re: Date Change of the Rivertown Art Festival

March 31st, 2014

We are writing to urge the City Council to deny the special event permit submitted by the Greater Stillwater Chamber of Commerce for the Rivertown Art Festival and encourage the Chamber to keep the long standing festival date. We strongly disagree with the Chamber decision to move the date of the event to the first weekend of June. Historically, the Chamber of Commerce art festivals were scheduled to bookend the busy season in the historic district. The spring art festival has been the 3rd weekend of May for 30+ years. Not only do people come to expect the date and book hotels for that date a year in advance, but the new date has now crept into what is already a busy weekend. Lodging establishments tell us that couples book rooms year after year for this event. Now theyll have to tell them that the weekend they have booked has changed and that they have no vacancies the new weekend as it is filled with other guests for already booked events. Also, the Chamber moved this date without going through the usual permitting process. They published the date, pushed information about parking lots and layouts without the input from the City. They didnt ask for input from businesses in the historic district, businesses that will be directly affected by the change. Its not good business to change a major event without discussing it with those involved and giving us enough notice. Approving this change of date sets a bad precedent for the city. The city has policies for special events in place for a reason. Its not too late to change the date back to the original weekend and we urge the council to do so. Respectfully, Aimee Pelletier, Darn Knit Anyway Sherri Hopfe, Dock Caf & Tin Bins Chuck Dougherty, Water Street Inn Randy Gutzman, Savor MN, Three Rivers Wine Trail Jerry & Cathy Helmberger, Aurora Staples Inn Meg Brownson, Alfresco Casual Living Loanne Stokes, Katydids & Stokes Jewelry Diane Rollie, Our Community Kitchen Joan Sleem, Camy Couture Angela Hudson, Collaborations Boutique Lolly Hoefler, Purefex Salon Kiva Sherr, Mama Luna Natural Apothecary Kristin Klemetsrud, Our Community Kitchen Kathleen Eddy, Valley Bookseller Joyce Rudquist, Our Antiques Lynn Morgan, Mainstream Boutique Jeff Anderson, 45 Degrees Liz Brookes, Capture Salon Kristi & Larry OConnor, Larrys Floor Covering Mary Mahley, Art & Soul Steve Roll, Super 8 Motel Tiki Oswald, AmericInn Barb Garden, Betty Junes& Mainstream Boutique Carol Stabenow, Sash Kim Cavanaugh, Fine Living Stillwater Nancy Haugen, Forget Me Not John Kershbaum, Gondola Romantica Kristin Carlson, Tin Bins Brandon Lamb, Candy Land Mary Jo & Tim Keenan, Brick Alley Management Jeanne M Anderson, Anderson Legal Services PLLC Reggie and Ashley Gillespie, Allure Jewelers Lori Tyler, Loris New York Fashions Nate & Matt Stabenow, Reve 324 Stephanie Smith, River Jeans Judy Dougherty, Cover Park Manor B&B Monty & Terri Brine, A.B.S. Co/Staples Mill Antonio Rossini, Lexington Inn and Suites Carol Sudheimer, Our Shop Steve Gnan, Let There Be Light Tom & Sandy Lynum, Sauntry Mansion B&B