Comments on: Petaluma weighing future of fairgrounds site

By: Steveguy

Steveguy — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 03:15:48 +0000

Reality dude, I didn’t know the Sonoma County Fairgrounds lost money even if it was a small amount compared. Shame on them.

However— The fix seems to be to squeeze $$$$$$ from existing vendors and event planners, instead of expanding the amount of events. Like across the street at the Vet’s Building.

I do know a bit about this, as a former event planner there, and an exhibitor at the county fair.

The red tape and restrictions harm their ability to make it a truly community event spot, while they get full time work anyway. The food vendors are ready, really.

It’s all about the cash now, forget togetherness.

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By: Reality Check

Reality Check — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:09:38 +0000

While I’m sure Santa Rosa Fairgrounds hosts many popular events, it is one more county special district that loses money each year. This year’s loss is estimated at $600k, small by county standards.

But the real cost is in lost opportunity. The land is underutilized. Drive by most days and it’s mostly empty. Often there are events, but they take up only a tiny percentage of the fairgrounds. The rest sits empty.

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By: Follower

Follower — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:27:19 +0000

Let’s hire an out of state Construction Company to come in & dig a big hole.

Then we can get the pockets of some local politician lined when he awards the bid to his brother in law to fill it back up again.

We do this indefinitely!
Like the never-ending re-paving project on I-80 through Reno!

Maybe even get some Federal Funds since it’s “shovel ready”.

Just think of all the “jobs” it would create.

We could “do it for the children”!

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By: Over Easy

Over Easy — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 20:48:14 +0000

How about we build a huge homeless shelter and mental health facilities to serve the counties homeless population?
Or how about an outdoor gun range for our teachers and first responders to practice at?
Or how about a HUGE bio fuel generation plant where we could make friendly energy?
Or how about a county wide illegal immigrant hiring campus where they could be trained to perform local county and city jobs while waiting for contractors.

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By: GAJ

GAJ — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 19:35:40 +0000

The Santa Rosa Fairgrounds are a huge asset to the community.

The newest event, the Flat Track motorcycle event this past year, was outstanding.

Petaluma?

Not so much.

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By: Snarky

Snarky — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 16:38:51 +0000

Fairgrounds, including the one in Santa Rosa, are a relic from the past that need to be bulldozed.

Oh, but wait. That would mean public employees who sit around there half each day doing nothing would have to find some other employment ! Yikes !

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By: Valuable property

Valuable property — Sun, 20 Jan 2013 23:43:10 +0000

There are so many uses for this property that are better than a fair for one week a year. Any long-term use of the property should be at market rate.

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By: Elephant

Elephant — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 01:07:25 +0000

Anybody remember a few years ago when then Petaluma City Councilmember Mike O’Brien put a fairgrounds lease renewal at the same $1.00 per year on the City Council consent calendar? He and another councilmember made the request on right before the Friday deadline in hopes that nobody would notice it. Their sneak attack obviously failed and they were hammered mercilessly.

Then there were the negotiations with a group wanting to replace the racetrack with a baseball park and a minor league baseball team. Two bullies on the fair board made so many outrageous demands that the group pulled out and went to Portland Oregon. That team now brings in well over $1 million annually to them.

The RUMOR is that these same two on the fair board want a long-term renewal (50-year minimum) on the fairgrounds lease so they can turn around and lease the Regency people an easement through the fairgrounds to connect either East D Street or Jefferson Street straight through to the Target shopping center. Now that’s a story, PD.

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By: James Bennett

James Bennett — Sat, 19 Jan 2013 00:19:02 +0000

Hmmm…
A large site for Smart Growth next to the “Transportation Corridor”,
OR
support local citizens and small business.

Great site for a big farmer’s market.

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