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By Janis Mork
February 14, 2013 (La Mesa)- Seeking to prevent a repeat of problems at last year’s Oktoberfest, where teen gang members disrupted the event, La Mesa City Council on Tuesday weighed reactions to a report and three potential solutions. See agenda item: http://www.cityoflamesa.com/Archive.aspx?AMID=&Type=&ADID=5428
Police Chief Ed Aceves informed the Council that he had discussions with City Manager David Witt, fire officials, and representatives from the La Mesa Village Merchants Association and La Mesa Chamber of Commerce regarding options including removing carnival rides from this year’s Oktoberfest.
“It’s an open street event. Anyone can come in anytime anywhere,” Chief Aceves said of challenges posed for maintaining security. “How do we lower the service costs and still have merchants and the Chamber provide Oktoberfest that’s affordable and within their means?”
First up to speak was La Mesa Village Merchants Association (LMVA) President Arlene Moore.
“We all pretty much agreed to remove the carnival. It would be great for alleviating the problem,” she said.
Three scenarios were laid out:
1) Hold Oktoberfest on two successive weekends. One weekend would have the beer garden in the Allison Ave. municipal parking lot. The next weekend would have a street fair held on La Mesa Blvd. east of Spring Street. This would be sponsored by the LMVMA.
2) The La Mesa Chamber of Commerce and LMVMA would jointly sponsor this second scenario, holding Oktoberfest on one weekend with one beer garden in the Allison Avenue municipal parking lot and a street fair with booths on La Mesa Blvd .east of Spring Street.
3) In this final scenario, which is similar to past Oktoberfests, the main beer garden would be in the Allison Ave .municipal parking lot and a street fair on La Mesa Blvd west of Fourth Street to Acacia Ave. A small beer garden would be on Nebo Drive south of La Mesa Blvd. This scenario is similar to previous Oktoberfest events, minus the carnival rides.
Vice Mayor Mark Arapostathis wanted to know if the carnival area were removed, “Would it be replaced with more booths?”
Moore told Arapostathis, “We don’t know at this point.”
Mayor Art Madrid voiced approval of the consensus among event organizers. “I’m glad it was your decision to remove the carnival.”
Moore explained, “We’ve always worked with the fire and police departments. I don’t think it’ll impact Oktoberfest to remove the carnival. The merchants promote the event to promote business in La Mesa. We use funds for other events like the antique street faire, the car show, and most [people] go to the Christmas in the Village event, which is a give back to the community--no booth rentals, just rides and a parade. “
Madrid wanted to know if “the city is doing away with the car show.”
Moore was unsure. “The car show is a difficult event. It goes within a span of three months. The car show is great. The biggest problem is lack of volunteers with the merchants. We need a little help.”
Councilmember Kristine Alessio gave her input. “It’s a wise decision to remove the carnival rides. Do you think [costs] will be lower now?”
Moore answered, “We’ll have the same cost recovery this year to have Oktoberfest on one side of the street.”
City manager David Witt commended the city for working with public safety.
Moore then brought up another issue: stink bombs. “We don’t know how to address this. We’ve asked businesses to stop selling them, but they won’t.”
Chief Aceves explained. “One of the first formal resolutions is to talk with the store owner that it is isn’t the wisest thing to do [sell stink bombs]. We’ll see if we can get voluntary compliance or maybe get a meeting code to prevent this any special events. Maybe a voluntary compliance to stop selling those?”
Councilmember Ruth Sterling spoke up. “The only complaint I’ve heard is when people are out having a beer, they want to bring food with it.”
Moore told Sterling, “There are space issues. We can’t have a large beer garden. It has to be open for public safety. That’s why we have this planning meeting early to work out these issues.”
Sterling continued. “They have to go to the beer garden to go with the food.”
Alessio suggested “keeping an extra eye on the parking garage. We don’t have all bad teens. You could rely on kids to text you if they see trouble. Be proactive.”
Witt observed, “We can modify security control and access.”
Chief Aceves said ,“We’ll be looking at the strip mall condo complex fountain area, merchants and MTS. Last year, an option was fencing the area off, and people would have to show tickets. We’ll work with MTS and block off the fountain area. Merchants can provide security. We’re aware of people in the parking garage. Once we get a joint application, we’ll look at the whole issue and take action required.”
David Smyle, who is in charge of logistics for the beer garden, said it might be a “good idea to put a command station in place of the carnival rides. With people not having food in the beer garden, they could get their food first and then get the beer. With the issue of the underground parking garage, there are plenty of high school kids looking for volunteer work. They can put on a security vest and watch out at the parking. The cost recovery has gone significantly up, so there are more hours in public works.”
Last up to speak was Mary England from the La Mesa Chamber of Commerce. “We’re thrilled we can get together early. We want to be a part of the solution. So we can get the merchants, and the Chamber can plan entertainment.”
Alessio wanted to know if England supported the third scenario.
England was enthusiastic. “Absolutely! We participate because in 2000, when I was hired, it was already set. For the first two and a half to three years, we needed Oktoberfest to pay off loans.”
Everyone who spoke was in full support of the third scenario, and no one spoke against removing the carnival rides.
Council was not asked to take action at the meeting.
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