By Susan Motander
After another marathon meeting, the Monrovia City Council voted 3-2 to continue working with L.A. Partyworks for the Friday Night Street Fair, but to also bring in another manager as well. Partyworks will continue to control the kiddie rides and will bring in 10 special events each year and, in general, promote the fair. The weekly operation of the farmer’s market and the street vendors will be handled by Jerry Diaz of Green Leaf Events, Inc. (GLEI).
This plan was negotiated by City Manager Oliver Chi with both companies in the weeks since the last council meeting. At the prior meeting, Council Member Alex Blackburn had suggested giving Partyworks an additional six weeks to come into compliance with its contract with the city and to resolve ongoing problems with the fair. Blackburn had also advocated revising the oversight committee and creating a mutually agreed upon liaison between the company and the city.
Chi reported to the council that after the last meeting he had begun working with both Partyworks and GLEI to find workable solutions to the problems. He outlined the proposed plan which he said would draw from the strengths of both companies.
Public comments on the plan varied from decrying the “lack of transparency” in the proceedings to praise for reaching an equitable solution. At times it was even difficult to determine if those speaking were in favor or opposed to the proposed plan.
The members of the council were divided about the plan. Council Member Larry Spicer implied that as a member of the oversight committee he had only been given the city manager’s viewpoint of the problems with Partyworks before voting as a member of that committee to terminate Partyworks’ contract a month ago. There was a muttered comment from the audience asking whose fault it was for not investigating further.
Blackburn questioned both Eric Elkham and David Nemetz of Partyworks regarding the new plan. He asked them for “yes or no” answers only, allowing them no room to explain each answer when he asked if they felt their contract would be terminated if they had not agreed to the new plan.
Blackburn also objected to Chi bringing in a new solution rather than following the direction of council from the last meeting. “My concern is not with who runs the festival but with how we get to that decision.”
Councilmember Gloria Crudgington reported to the council that she had spoken to Nemetz during the break in the meeting and had asked him specifically if he wanted the new plan enacted. She said that he was in favor of the plan.
Questions were also raised about the association between Jerry Diaz and the former festival manager Dave Gayman and his company, Family Festival Productions, Inc. Diaz had worked for many years for Gayman and had gained his festival management experience working for Family Festival Productions. Chi reported that his investigation had shown that Diaz was no longer associated with Gayman or FFPI. Of this situation, Crudgington said, “I used to work for Sears Roebuck, but I am neither Mr. Sears nor Mr. Roebuck.”
Ultimately Mayor Tom Adams, Council Member Becky Shevlin, and Crudgington voted for the new plan with Spicer and Blackburn opposing it.