Sunday, April 02, 2000
Festival organizers meet to avoid another Mardi Gras
BY ANDREA TORTORA and CINDY SCHROEDER
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — When MainStrasse Village celebrates Maifest next month, residents in the neighborhood known for its outdoor festivals will likely get designated parking and a command post dedicated to their concerns.
A group of 10 residents and business owners met Saturday to discuss ways to improve festival management.
Resident Sandy Arnold said the meeting was more productive than she expected it would be.
“There's been a lack of trust between residents and the village association,” Ms. Arnold said. “It's the doing we are waiting for now.”
Rachel DeLugish, neighborhood development specialist for Covington Community Center, said Saturday's meeting was to discuss how to avoid repeating the mistakes of Mardi Gras at future festivals, such as Maifest and Oktoberfest.
She invited residents with a range of opinions on the area's festivals.
“Residents have said their top three concerns during festivals are parking, litter and money from the events going back into the community,” Ms. DeLugish said.
All three issues were addressed Saturday.
Kathie Snyder, president of the MainStrasse Village Association, said the meeting was very productive and positive.
“We all know what the problems are,” Ms. Snyder said. “Now we're working together to fix them.”
• A command post with a dedicated phone line will give residents a place to call if problems arise during a festival. A blocked driveway, under age drinkers or piles of trash can be reported to a group of volunteers who will help residents handle the situation or contact police if necessary.
A log of all calls and actions taken will be kept.
• A designated parking area will be set aside for residents. The parking area will be served by an attendant to ensure only village residents use the spaces and to direct visitors to festival parking.
• The MainStrasse Village Association will do a better job of telling residents how the money from festivals is spent and which non-profit groups benefit.
The village association will seek support and approval from city officials and police before these ideas are implemented, Ms. Snyder said.
Ms. DeLugish said she would like to see at least one more large community meeting to discuss ways to improve festivals. That will likely happen later this month.
“I do know from talking to Tom (Steidel, Covington assistant city manager) that the city will not grant a permit for any festival plans that do not have community support,” she said. “So I think it's key for community members to be involved.”
Mr. Steidel said city officials were not asked to take part in Saturday's meeting.
In recent meetings with Ms. Snyder, Mr. Steidel said that he has suggested moving some of the eating and drinking booths at MainStrasse festivals farther west.
“We need to utilize Goebel Park more, especially since we acquired some more space there in the parking lot (on Philadelphia Street),” he said.
Mr. Steidel said he also wants to see more security, effective on-site management during festivals, enhanced fire lanes, and plans for trash removal and portable toilets “from delivery to pickup.”
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