City ignores Special Events Committee vote?

Well, the first event, the StayClassy “Charity Jam” was reviewed on and voted upon by the Special Events Committee. Their recommendation? To tell the city not to approve the event. The city’s response? To go against the committee’s recommendation and approve the event.

The PBTC’s voice was not ‘officially’ heard but, my belief is that even if we were on the committee, and our representatives voted no, the city would approve the event anyway. I too learned that Councilmember Faulconer will not be appointing the at-large committee members – providing the potential for future abuse in the selection of these at-large members.

I do not support the Pacific Beach Town Council rejoining the existing structure of the Special Events Committee.

I suggest that we need a committee to review events just not the existing-formulated committee. I believe the Town Council is the only true voice for the community – businesses and residents. I do think the Planning Committee has a similar voice but, since they are not a membership-based organization I do not want to compare their representative status with ours (all their seats are elected positions). Discover PB has clearly and consistently supported business interests over the community at-large. Their businesses also profit from most any event so there’s an inherent conflict-of-interest.

I do recommend as an alternative that we reformulate the way PB works with special event organizers by disbanding the current Special Events committee and:

1. Each group, Discover PB, Planning Committee and PB Town Council designate two ‘Special Events’ representatives that agree to represent their organizations and membership accordingly.
2. When event organizer applicants wish to hold an event requiring a city permit they invite the three group’s representatives, and anyone from the general public, to a meeting no less than 120 days before a planned event. At this meeting the event applicant presents their ideas, while the community representatives and/or public make their suggestions.
3. The two groups then meet no less than 90 days prior to the event to discuss final accommodations and compromises.
4. Each of the three community groups makes their recommendation to the city Special Events department no later than 60 days prior to the event.
5. I firmly believe tie votes should be decided by a representative from the PB Town Council (or we let the city make the ultimate decision based on who’s voting for and against… i.e. they need to give the PBTC more weight in their vote).

Following this process gives each community group time to take potential events, recommendations and suggestions back to their groups. The groups can then gather feedback from their constituents and communicate those concerns to the event applicant in time for all group’s members to be kept in the loop as well as for changes to be made.

This will allow us to substantively argue for or against future events based on our membership’s opinions and their dreams of the future of Pacific Beach. Alternative recommendations are welcome but, barring none I think this is a workable solution.