Plaza Scoping Report Released – February 1, 2012
Humboldt Mediation Services facilitator Chip Sharpe. KLH | Eye
Note: Humboldt Mediation Services has released its compilation of ideas aired at last week’s Plaza scoping session on how to abate excessive behavior on Halloween and New Year’s Eve. These include initial thoughts of attendees – responses to “What would you like to see accomplished by this meeting?” reports from the five subcommittees and a synopsis of ideas expressed at the Jan. 24 meeting. – Ed.
ARCATA COMMUNITY PLAZA SOLUTIONS
The Arcata Plaza as the Center of the Arcata Community
January 24, 2012
General Themes of the Participants
*We need to assure SAFETY on the Arcata Plaza
*The Arcata Plaza is a valuable RESOURCE for the entire community
*We must establish a BALANCE of control between ‘law enforcement’ and the ‘people’ using the Arcata Plaza
*The Arcata Plaza belongs to the ENTIRE community and needs to embrace ALL people
*In order to sustain the unique and positive culture of Arcata the whole community needs to be an active participant in growing an attitude of RESPECT and APPROPRIATE behavior for all citizens who use the Arcata Plaza
*Solutions regarding Arcata Plaza use need to include a ‘BIG PICTURE’ perspective—multiple avenues of use need to be addressed and problem-solved.
Small Group Brainstorms and Suggestions
*Citizen Volunteers for Plaza Clean-up and Crowd Control
*Community Education Campaign to develop respect, pride and care (vested interest) of Plaza
*Review of Plaza Conduct ‘Ordinance’
*Look at Multiple Solutions for a healthy Arcata Plaza that serves the entire Community
*Spread activity out beyond the Plaza—multiple venues (coordinate food/music)
*Create a Plaza Event to celebrate our Community Pride (like I St.)
*Make it ‘Fashionable to be Respectful and have Fun’
*Work in collaboration with police and other community groups to create a Happy and Safe Plaza
*Look at Plaza ‘Nightlife’ interests and issues
*Continue to have meetings that bring diverse ideas together with a focus on ACTION
Personal Solution Offerings
*Create and work in small action groups designed to address specific plans that resolve Plaza issues with meetings away from the Arcata City Hall (Private homes—D St. Neighborhood Center—etc.)
>Volunteers >HSU >SAMBA >DRUMMERS (Pat, Robyn, Oliver, Eric)
*Arcata Police will work with ALL groups (Tom)
*Positive ‘Vibe Squad’—Spread the Joy
*Main Street collaboration (Jennifer)
*Nightlife committee (Susan)
*Within 2 weeks—City of Arcata needs to facilitate another inclusive community meeting to follow-up
on what we started at this meeting
Next Steps
*Develop Action groups/committees to discuss ‘today’s outcome’
>Survey/Assessment Committee >Nightlife Committee >General Idea/Action Committee
*Information about today’s meeting, all other small committee meetings and next larger community
meeting will be posted on City of Arcata website—a Facebook page will be developed for ‘The Plaza
Study Group’—Robyn Paschall from the Samba People will take responsibility for getting the info from our large meeting to participants—The Arcata Eye will be publishing information from the large group.
Future meetings to be announced!!
REPORT FROM FIVE GROUPS
January 24, 2012
No. 1
Balance—Review of ordinance of Plaza Behavior
Clean-up group of citizens, volunteers
Campaign of education-communicate in community with respect and pride and care of Arcata
No. 2
McKinley Statue (Donate/sell to museum)
Group regarding resources
Communicate ahead of time
Off-Plaza events
Use Samba/drummers for crowd control
Review/amend town sound ordinance
No. 3
Multiple solutions number one thing
Alternative event (like I Street event)
Other venues—overflow from Plaza (coordinated event, food/music)
Process/Task Force developed to get this going
Another future meeting later
Fashionable to have fun with respect
No. 4
Community Plan now
$
Space for performers
Community Center
Close off McKinley
Volunteers collect glass bottles, other projectiles, etc.
Contact HSU student body
Local media
Report from Five Groups
Page Two
January 24, 2012
No. 5
Samba—as leaders, for crowd control, for clean-up
Ownership of community (volunteers?)
Combination of techniques (not just Police)
Create a planned/coordinated event
Survey of town for nightlife interests
Volunteer commission
Regulated entry points (wrist bands, fee)
City of Arcata
Bar/business owners
Samba/music/entertainment
Participants of celebration
Hotel Samba leads volunteer group to plan a specific event or larger and smaller events
January 24, 2012
THE BIN
Facebook page: Plaza Study Group, created by Hannah Joy
Robin Paschall→Main Contact Task Force (aka: Positive Vibes Squad)
HYPERLINK “mailto:aquafoxx210@gmail.com” aquafoxx210@gmail.com
SOLUTIONS/PERSONAL
Task Force—Coalition/Volunteer Effort
Peg—HSU
Robyn—Samba
Oliver—Samba
Eric—Drummer
City needs to facilitate process for another meeting (better time than 8:00 a.m.)
Meetings outside City Hall
My home
D Street Neighborhood Center
Positive Vibe Squad
Get word out to HSU
Tom/Police—work with all groups
Jennifer Main Street
Susan—sub-committee/night life
Spread the joy
EVALUATION
| + (good) | Δ (suggested changes) |
| Inclusive | Identify others whom we want to include |
| Facilitation on point | Better announcement of large meeting |
| General/what we all wanted—let us hear we really want same thing | More time in small groups |
| Safe-comfort-space | Specialize/focus, small groups, consolidate. |
| Facebook page: Plaza Study Groupcreated by Hannah Joy | Make a plan/focus |
| Task Force needs to be action oriented | |
| We need concrete leadership, whether that is one or two individuals, or a head committee of three to six |
Task Force—Discuss today’s outcome
Survey Committee—Small group
→Assessments/Big Picture
Night life—Small group
Another general meeting/soon
>Flush out today’s ideas
Two weeks/afternoon
Who/Where/What to do from here
Communication among all
Arcata will post information
Robyn/Danger Drum Beat
Google Documents
Accessible to anyone—can be edited and changed
INITIAL ALL-GROUP GO-ROUND
January 24, 2012
Keep people safe
Spread concentration/policy shift
Sound ordinance revision
Build on positives of community
Find solution
Exploring other activities
Not happy with Halloween
Agreement for entertainment
Want balance—no free-for-all/no police state
High School perspective
Work on Plaza/workplace peace
Bar perspective/business
Property/people, safe/respect
Nighttime solution
Coalition/alcohol/drugs
Drummer/post happy atmosphere
Drummer/Police relationship
Peaceful resolutions
Keep positive atmosphere on Plaza
Agreement with using common Plaza
Access to Plaza
More coordinated activity—Police/businesses/Samba
Disappointed in overreaction—Access to commons
Peace
Protect plants and flowers
Recognize differences between attitude drummers
Creative solutions that include drummers
Balance—drumming/enforcement
Reasonable solution
Samba—creative solution
Maintain culture in safe way
Samba and protection on Plaza
Respect people who live on Plaza
Clear understanding of issues→Plan of action
Initial All-group Go-Round
Respectful party on Plaza
Teamwork
Back to balance of artists/drummers and City officials on Plaza
Drum “is not a weapon,” want safety, needs to be a common theme
Sound ordinance—Balance/safety & fun
Manage and enjoy Plaza resource
Celebrations and everyday community (nighttime economy)
HSU Police help with control
“Appropriate behavior in public places”
All people Plaza share
Keeping Plaza safe/accessible for celebration
Happy medium
Find ways to make night fun/safe
Communicate solutions with community
Keep privilege of access to Plaza year-round
Keep people off statue
Channel ideas to permanent solution
Fashionable to behave well
Move forward—festival/all-ages celebration
Look at other community solutions
INITIAL ALL-GROUP GO-ROUND
