The Brentwood Public Works Committee at its July 8 meeting discussed paying Richmond Heights for its use of The Heights, which was complicated by the Richmond Heights computer system crashing last year, resulting in the Parks and Recreation Department losing data, according to the meeting minutes.
As a result of the crash their staff could not create an accurate usage report for The Heights in order to submit an invoice to Brentwood. Data is still missing from January to March 2014. The computer had not been backed up since 2012.
Richmond Heights director of parks and recreation had asked if Brentwood would be willing to pay $53,044 for 2014, the same amount paid in 2012 and 2013.
Alderman Leahy said the committee should understand that the contract being discussed was approved by the Board of Aldermen but was not the contract that had been negotiated, and changed by the mayor at the twelfth hour. He said Brentwood was at a $32,000 flat fee, and then changed to this formula. After discussion, the committee passed a motion to pay Richmond Heights $45,000.
What to do about “juvenile disturbances” at Maddenfest
The Brentwood Public Works Committee at its July 8 meeting addressed “juvenile disturbances” during some previous Maddenfest fireworks, and came up with ways to improve the situation this year, including shutting down rides early and adding lights, according to the meeting minutes.
Update: Ward 2 Alderman Keith Slusser has commented on this article that the Board of Aldermen, at its July 20 meeting, voted 6-2 to pay the PARC Cooperative invoice for the full amount.
From the meeting minutes:
“In the Maddenfest wrap up meeting last year and in initial meetings in preparation for this years’ Maddenfest, the Maddenfest committee discussed priorities and public safety during the event. In the past couple of years there have been a number of issues of juvenile disturbances toward the end of the evening; specifically Saturday night and when the lights are turned off for fireworks. It has become more difficult for the police to address these concerns.
“To be proactive and prevent any further disturbances, the Maddenfest committee discussed a number of enhancements for the operations of Maddenfest. Changes have been endorsed by the chief and assistant chief of the fire and police departments.
“City proposes to shut the carnival rides down early. On Friday, it will be at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, it will be at 7:30 p.m.
Staff also will put up a temporary fence along the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) berm to comply with their request for greater security. In addition, there are plans to obtain light towers and low lighting to be strategically placed allowing opportunities to deter any negative gatherings; the bleachers will also be rearranged to discourage any gatherings.
“Alderman Leahy stated that he is not 100% on board of shutting down the carnival rides early; it may be more upsetting to patrons to sit around waiting. He agreed that there have been juvenile issues but it does not justify shutting down 2 hours before fireworks.
“Gruenenfelder (Parks Superintendent Eric Gruenenfelder) stated that hoped that if advertised well enough the disturbing youth may not want to sit around and if they do stay they will not be in the troubled areas.”
See the full Brentwood Public Works Committee meeting minutes for July 8, 2015.
disagree. people will wait. it’s the juveniles who’ll get bored and move on
So basically the Brentwood Public Works Committee capitalized on a computer error and stiffed a neighboring community of thousands of dollars? Sounds like it to me. Maybe The Heights should reconsider its relationship to Brentwood or change the rate for its residents.
Jane – just to follow up. At the July 20, 2015 meeting, the board voted 6-2 to pay the PARC Cooperative invoice for the full amount.
Thanks for the update! Obviously the minutes Doug detailed don’t tell the whole story.
Yes, thanks, Keith.
Another option is to go the wristband route… And make non residents pay for the wristbands. That could / would reduce the number of ‘visitor’ teens and perhaps fewer teens = fewer problems
I agree. I brought this up myself the last two years after Maddenfest. There doesn’t seem to be any support for this solution. Shutting down the rides two hours earlier isn’t the solution. People aren’t going to wait around for that long.