Fairness was an elusive goal Monday as the City Council tried to balance festival approvals with merchants' needs.
In a special meeting, the governing body granted approval to Edison Garcia for use of city parking lots for a September festival celebrating Central American independence, but imposed a 10 p.m. closing for the three-day event and ordered the sound system shut off at 9 p.m. In public comment after the meeting, Garcia said a rival festival received approval to close at 11 p.m. with no sound system restriction.
The 4-2 vote overturned a 3-2 failed vote on Aug. 19. Two council members who were absent on Aug. 19 voted "yes" Monday after saying they had investigated a business owner's petition against Garcia and found some signers did not exist, while others said they didn't know what they were signing.
Before the vote, Special Improvement District Manager David Biagini said he had 30 names of objectors on another petition. Councilman Cory Storch said he attended a SID meeting where eight merchants voted to recommend denial of Garcia's request.
Business owner and SID board member Maritza Martinez said merchants want the festival to be held somewhere else than the parking lot behind their stores, perhaps in Cedar Brook Park. She said Hispanic festivals in other towns are held in parks. Elizabeth only has one, she said, adding, "Plainfield is getting out of control."
Garcia began the festival tradition five years ago with one two-day event, later expanding to three-day events in July and September. Last year, a rival request resulted in two three-day festivals on the same September weekend. This year, the requests expanded again to events in July and August and two in September, for a total of twelve days' use of downtown parking lots for festivals.
Councilman Adrian Mapp, who won the June mayoral primary, called for a better approach in 2014 to balance the needs and concerns of all. He praised the Hispanic heritage festival concept as one that can bring visitors and new business to the city.
"We've made some mistakes, but I want my colleagues to look at ways to promote arts and culture in the city," he said, adding, "We want businesses to flourish and make money."
Mapp said the city needs a calendar of events "spelled out way in advance."
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams objected vigorously to Garcia's request and to the council's calling a special meeting to reconsider it. She said the applicant for such events is supposed to have approval from surrounding retail merchants and the request must be made 45 days in advance.
"We are violating our own rules here," she said.
A proposed amendment to ban alcohol sales at the festival failed. Both Garcia and rival Rodney Maree have beer tents at their events and objectors on Aug. 19 said drinkers mingle with children. The amendment to limit hours and amplified sound passed with Council President Bridget Rivers, Vera Greaves and Mapp voting "yes" and Williams and Cory Storch voting "no." William Reid was absent.
With Monday's approval, Garcia will now be holding his celebration on Sept. 6, 7 and 8. Maree has permission to hold his event on the traditional weekend to celebrate Central American independence, Sept. 13, 14 and 15. Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua all mark their independence from Spain on Sept. 15.
--Bernice
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