Bulletin on The Aftermath of The Jazz Festival.

An e- email from Mr.Ballantyne received by Councillors yesterday has information to contribute to the ongoing discussion. I thought I would share.

Hi everyone,

I received a few questions this morning from Sean Pearce at the Banner regarding this past weekend's jazz festival.

I know the festival has generated some media coverage and, as such, may be one that prompts residents to ask you questions about it. Because of this, I wanted to provide you with the answers I sent to Sean after getting the information from staff in both Parks and Bylaw.

The questions are in black, my responses are in blue.

-Jason

1) First of all, I understand there were some tall fences erected around the town park. Who authorized and paid for them? Why were they there?

The fencing was required under the Ontario Liquor License Act. The area where the Rotary Club was selling alcohol needed to be clearly defined and separated from the unlicensed area by at least a 36-inch (0.9 metres) high separation. They were paid for by the festival organizers.

2) The organizer, Sher St. Kitts, had a delegation request to ask for a waiver of fees, but then didn't do it. Were the fees waived then? If so, how much was waived and how was it done?

The fees were not asked to be waived by Ms. St. Kitts, nor were they subsequently waived.

3) I've also heard there were some issues related to the farmers' market patrons and other members of the public having trouble accessing the public washrooms at the band shell. Is that true? What action did the town take to remedy the situation?

Prior to the festival, the town communicated to the organizers that the public washrooms needed to be accessible to everyone, not just those who paid to attend the festival. Saturday morning town staff were made aware the fencing was blocking the public from using the washrooms. Staff attended shortly after and the fencing was moved to allow open access.

4) How smoothly did the festival go overall? Were there any incidents either between it and the farmers' market vendors or others? Any problems/complaints?

To date, the Town hasn't received any complaints from residents or vendors about the festival. It also hasn't received notice from York Regional Police about any complaints received on its end either.

5) The festival was billed as a non-profit event and sponsored by the town. Does it have any obligation to provide an accounting to the town?

I am not aware of any advertising that referred to the event as "non-profit." The Town committed to co-sponsoring the event at a cost of $2,000 and was one of 10 recognized sponsors. The funds associated with the sponsorship were taken from the Town's operating budget allocated for corporate promotional activities. This account has traditionally been used to fund corporate economic development and tourism projects/advertisements.

As part of its mandate to promote local economic development and tourism, the Town regularly supports and/or sponsors community-oriented events such as the Home Show, the Street Festival and the Business Achievement Awards. Participating in these type of events allows us to both increase the Town's profile and support local economic development and tourism.

The Town--as one of 10 recognized co-sponsors--will not be asking for an accounting. To put this in context, the Town has not asked in the past for accounting of sponsorship fees for events like the Street Festival, Home Show or other events it has sponsored.

6) I'm wondering what sort of arrangements does the town make for the annual ribfest? Are there fees waived there? Fencing put in place?

Ribfest is an official Town of Aurora event. The park is a Town facility being used for a Town event and admission is free. Participants pay premium rates to the Town to take part. Fencing is put in for the Rotary Club beer garden. The setup and takedown of fencing is paid for by the Rotary Club.

Jason Ballantyne
Manager, Corporate Communications

I learned few things myself from the communication.

As noted in a previous post,I was the Councillor, who received the complaint on Saturday morning. It's normal for a resident to call a Councillor with a concern. Anyone can call the Town during off hours and a voice mail will give instructions to leave a message. The on-call staff member quickly calls back, gets particulars of the problem and does what needs to be done.

The message I received was that individuals were blocking access to the public washrooms to anyone not wearing the $5. admission bracelet,

The fence wasn't blocking access, people were.

I knew beforehand ,the festival organizer had been notified by the town, they had not paid for the washrooms and they must be accessible to the public at all times.

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The Mayor followed up Sean Peirce's e-mail with a question of her own.

Jason

Re # Q / A #3$

What time Saturday morning were town staff made aware the fencing was blocking the public from using the washrooms?

And what time was the fencing moved ?

I was there at 11:15 am and it was fenced properly then

Thank you

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Me talking now.

I was home writing a post. I wasn't there. I didn't need to be there. It is a staff function to take care of problems. The problem was promptly resolved as I knew it would be. I received no more phone calls.

I didn't hear until later about people enjoying a small repast at picnic tables arranged by staff for their convenience, in the ball diamond area, being ordered out of the area by the Mayor's best friend and Jazz Festival organizer,Ms St Kitts.

I guess people enjoying a coffee and breakfast on a bun at the tables, didn't know they had a right to be there. Ms St. Kitts certainly did.

Some of Mr. Ballantyne's answers were a surprise to me:

The Aurora Home Show held annually in the Community Centre is organized by the Aurora Chamber of Commerce.

The town has a couple of promotional booths in the show.

We do not sponsor the show. Nor should we. It is a strictly commercial event.

The Annual Street Sale is a Chamber event. Like the Home Show, it is a commercial event which adds colour and excitement . The town and its various agencies have booths to promote their various activities. Which is, as it should be.

There is no sponsorship.

The Chamber holds an annual black tie dinner . Tickets are usually $125. The town pays for awards presented to businesses for excellence in some degree or other. The Mayor and Councillors get free tickets

I don't agree with paying for awards. I think we are awash with awards.

I pointed out once $125 is more than a low income family's food budget. after they have paid more than half their income for fire trap accommodation.

Which is the reason for food banks.

The Chamber Awards are the only hand-out I know about. I would not describe that as a
"sponsorship" of the Chamber's Annual Dinner. The patrons pay for their own dinner.

To argue, forking out $2,000 of taxpayer's money to the Jazz Festival is the same principle is bafflegab in the extreme. .

Furthermore, I do not believe the idea was staff initiated.