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HomeMy WebLinkAbout031219 Old Town Steering Subcommittee Action Minutes ACTION MINUTES OLD TOWN STEERING SUBCOMMITTEE VINEYARD CONFERENCE ROOM 41000 MAIN STREET TEMECULA, CALIFORNIA MARCH 12, 2019 3:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: Mayor Naggar @ 3:10 PM ROLL CALL: Mayor Naggar, Council Member Schwank PUBLIC COMMENTS Pat Comerchero Sherry Williams A total of 15 minutes is provided for members of the public to address the Committee on items that are not listed on the agenda. Speakers are limited to three minutes. If you desire to speak to the Committee about an item not on the agenda, a "Request to Speak" form may be filled out and filed with the staff liaison. When you are called to speak, please come forward and state your name for the record. For all other agenda items a "Request to Speak" form may be filed with the staff liaison prior to the Committee addressing that item. There is a five minute time limit for individual speakers. Attendance: Mayor Mike Naggar; Council Member Zak Schwank; City Manager Aaron Adams; Assistant City Manager Greg Butler; Director of Community Development Luke Watson; Director of Community Services Kevin Hawkins; Community Services Superintendent Bea Barnett; Community Services Manager Tracy Frick; Pat Comerchero (representing the Friends of the Children's Museum); Sherry Williams-Fletcher (Temecula citizen, Theater Concessions Operation / Alcohol Permit Holder, Jazz at The Mere Curator, Theater Performer, Temecula Theater Foundation President); Dr. Frank Fletcher (Temecula citizen, Concessions Operation and Alcohol Permit Holder); and Terry Whitington (Temecula citizen and Temecula Theater Foundation Board Member) COMMITTEE BUSINESS 1. Discussion of potential uses at 42061 Main Street. Citing that PPW is a victim of their own success and are out of space, Pat Comerchero presented the vision and layout of Pennypickle's expansion of the Museum facility (estimated at $1.6 million for 4,000+ square feet of buildout) in the vacant lot space with some open space behind gates and fagade that continues the frontage of the existing Museum elevation; Cultural Arts / Community Services Staff provided a preliminary schematic of a shared public space accessible for Special Events and other City functions and programs with revenue generating opportunities not limited to family hours in addition to expanded concessions needs; Sherry Williams spoke as a long-time Theater stakeholder and concessions operator at Temecula's Theater holding the Alcohol Permit and providing service to Theater and The Mere patrons for 11 years and cited Health Department restrictions based on the limited space. There has always been a desire and need for a small commercial kitchen with three sinks since the Theater was opened in October of 2005 to serve the 65,000 annual patrons at both venues. Sherry Williams also provided a written statement to the full Council (attached). MN asked about the possibility of a Capital Campaign for Pennypickle's to consider contributing to their request. He also inquired about CDGB Funding (LW responded that this is only available for low-income patrons). MN also suggested that staff present additional data/information to demonstrate the need for additional theater-related space. ZS expressed the difficulty of the decision because all are in need but suggested that any proposal should reflect a shared use. This could be confirmed through the Community Services/Park Master Plan process. Next Steps: MN/ZS directed staff to roll this discussion into the ongoing Community Services/Park Master Plan process that will engage community stakeholders to help drive a comprehensive master plan document. It is anticipated that a firm will be recommended by the end of this week—recommended contract/agreement to council next month-12 mos. process plus contingency and an updated document by Fall 2020. Note: the previous master plan was developed in 1993. ADJOURNMENT @ 4:05 PM 9` �L124, Date Kevin Hawkins, Director of Community Services REQUESTS TO SPEAK My name is Sherry Williams-Fletcher. I am here today, to request in the strongest possible terms that some portion of the property located at 42061 Main Street be designated for use by the OTTCT. I would like to give you an idea of what that could mean for the concessions operation at the Theater. My husband and I have a contract with the City of Temecula to provide concessions at the OTTCT. I also have a contract with COT to curate the Jazz Series at.the Merc. Additionally, I have performed in the theater often. Having utilized much of the space in the theater, I am uniquely qualified to speak to many of the things that the OTTCT is in need of in terms of space. For example, I know that the box office is bursting at the seams and that the janitor has a room the size of a shower stall... I know that the back of house staff does not have a "designated" restroom. My main concern today however, is the Concession operation. We are also bursting at the seams. We need to move the Concession operation to a more suitable space, as we are extremely hampered in our ability to provide service in a timely manner. There are several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that over the years, and more so recently, we have faced increasing restrictions by the health department. The health department now prohibits Concessions from making ice as well as making coffee, except in a Keurig machine. We are also prohibited from using a teakettle to boil water (although one would think the very act of boiling water would kill any bacteria present...) The removal of our ice machine, our hot pots for coffee and hot chocolate delivery, our hot water kettles for providing hot water for tea and hot chocolate-making, is the direct result of the inadequacy of the space in which we operate. This has made it virtually impossible to function efficiently and cost effectively. More space would allow room for the three sinks required for designation as a commercial kitchen. That would allow for an icemaker, and coffee pots among other things. Right now we are using Keurig machines, which are slow and expensive. During the Holidays, the crunch is very real. Coffee and hot chocolate are huge items at intermission. It is extremely difficult to keep up with the demand, especially given the limited time for serving our customers (approximately 20 minutes). More space would also allow for more storage, thereby making ordering supplies more efficient and lowering cost of goods. It would even allow me to make some small food items. The famous cheese plates would come back! .You should also be made aware that our staff does not even have direct access to the existing concession area. They must enter through The Merc. The front (patio) gate requires a master key, which only certain employees have. If there is a show going on in the Merc, I must borrow a key from FOH, open the gate, return the key and then enter the patio area. To say that this is not an ideal situation is an understatement. In an emergency, a staff member must jump over the counter, OR go out of the front gate and around the building. If the COT wants a proper concession operation for the Theater, the City could and should provide adequate space. The lot next door, 42061 Main Street is the logical place. It should serve both the Theater and the Museum. Over the past 11 years we have diligently operated the concessions at the OTTCT. We have committed our liquor license and ourselves to this endeavor. Our allegiance to the theater is beyond question but we cannot operate to our detriment. We have put these aforementioned concerns_in writing to several persons of note and hope to get some resolution. The current situation is untenable over the long term. We remain available for further discussion regarding the future of Concessions at the OTTCT As Temecula grows and encourages more high-end development like four-star hotels and upscale restaurants, the existing infrastructures should also be upgraded. The patronage of the theater has grown and the patrons are more sophisticated. Considering the increased needs of the theater, which includes Concessions, to my mind, it would be unconscionable for the COT not to designate some portion of the lot at 42061 Main Street for use by the OTTCT. Thank you for hearing me today, and I thank the COT and the OTTCT for supporting us - the concession operation and the Jazz series - over the years.