MikeK: Tubbs Hill Tours Deserve Shot

Since this idea came forward, I have heard about a lot of commercial activity in the parks and public spaces that has gone on ‘underground’.  For example: photographers taking senior portraits on Tubbs Hill; private for-pay tours scheduled on Tubbs Hill by the Resort (given by  Robert Singletary, a local treasure); for-profit yoga and physical fitness classes being held in Phippeny Park; for-profit scuba instructors and classes who use City Beach for putting into the water, etc. All of these have great merit and I wouldn’t want to be a event-Gestapo on this sort of thing, but if people want us to be completely consistent, we have to look at it.  I’ve also heard the old saying “consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”  Tough call/ Councilman MikeK , Huckleberries Online. Full comment below .

Question: Do you understand Councilman MikeK’s reasoning, even though you may not agree with it?

I was sort of dreading this moment, but I gotta step up to the plate and take my medicine - I was one of 5 who voted for this pilot project.  Here’s my general thinking:

Since this idea came forward, I have heard about a lot of commercial activity in the parks and public spaces that has gone on ‘underground’.  For example: photographers taking senior portraits on Tubbs Hill; private for-pay tours scheduled on Tubbs Hill by the Resort (given by  Robert Singletary, a local treasure); for-profit yoga and physical fitness classes being held in Phippeny Park; for-profit scuba instructors and classes who use City Beach for putting into the water, etc.

All of these have great merit and I wouldn’t want to be a event-Gestapo on this sort of thing, but if people want us to be completely consistent, we have to look at it.  I’ve also heard the old saying “consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.”  Tough call.

I have heard from people who very much support this Tubbs Hill pilot project idea, and people who very much oppose it.  I respect and value both impressions.

This is a one-year RFQ for a test project.  The total length of time is basically July and August, between 8 and 10 weeks out of the year max.  Staff is going to come up with the strict definitions of what is acceptable i.e. how many per day (likely no more than two tours), how many people per tour (likely 10-12, no more than 14), criteria a tour guide has to follow (should they pick up trash?  should they have only designated spots where they can stop with the group and talk?  should the kayak component go around Tubbs Hill or only to a certain point and then back?) and the like.

This could go down as a major mistake and a terrible vote for me when it’s all said and done - I don’t know.  It could also be the beginning of a precedent on commercial activity that would ensure good, fair, common-sense uses.  Currently the policy says No Commercial Use of any parks or public spaces anytime without express permission and permits, but how do we enforce that?  Is that the right policy?

Here’s another issue that’s worked it’s way through and has been vexing and ties into this overall issue:  if a commercial endeavor (housing development) across the lake wants to use the 3rd Street Dock to ferry guests back and forth, can they?  If the boat they use is actually a jointly owned asset of the Homeowners Association and not a part of a commercial venture, does that make a difference?  If realtors are showing lakefront real estate to people and they are using the 3rd street public dock to launch and land, can/should that practice be banned as a violation of the no commercial access policy?

I have had my eyes opened a bit about the policy, usage, emotions, and history of parks on this issue in a way I hadn’t experienced before.  I don’t know what my final answer will be, because just when I feel like I’ve decided and can make a confident, definitive statement of position and principle on something, someone will respond legitimately “well, the for-profit day care kids are touring Tubbs Hill too and have been for years, and that’s technically a violation of the policy as well - should we shut them down?”

And then I sigh and say, yea, this is all a pretty grey area, and while it’s vexing, if we can get good people together with their hearts in the right place and the right level of respect for the community’s assets, we’ll figure it out.

Not sure what or how, but I do believe that.

Sorry to those that are disappointed in this vote.  It wasn’t an easy one, and I’m keenly aware of the emotion on this.  I’ll keep watching closely and won’t take anything for granted.  Please keep in touch with me at: mkennedy@cdaid.org or my cell phone 661-7337.