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ENLARGE
Jeff Pelline
If the Foothill Theatre's artistic director Carolyn Howarth wants to pump up attendance, she ought to consider productions of Nevada City council meetings.
You often can't find better theater around here - and this week's meeting was no exception. It's free, too.
Enter stage left, Dos Banditos owner Eric Engstrom and his lawyer, Kipp Wardell. Armed with a petition signed by more than 140 people, the two made a passionate argument why Nevada City would lose its "historic character" if a Beach Hut deli opened at the foot of Broad Street.
So passionate, in fact, that a police officer got up from his seat, tapped Wardell on the shoulder and reminded him not to speak out of turn or he would have to leave. Mayor Barbara Coffman banged the gavel and reminded the crowd to follow protocol (no clapping after somebody speaks, for example).
Engstrom, if you recall, is the same restaurateur who pitched a tent in a parking lot at the top of Broad Street to sell tacos. He also asked for a sign, complete with a cactus - an idea that was rejected by the planning commission Thursday, partly because it was too big. We've been assured it's not a permanent structure, however.
I'm not sure a taco tent in a parking lot preserves the historic character of the town - not to mention unexpected competition to Las Katrinas and Posh Nosh - but, heck, Nevada City had a lot of tents during the Gold Rush.
As an article in Sunset Magazine reminds us: "Nevada City began life in the 1850s as a muddy tent city north of the main Mother Lode. Then, it was a roughneck town. But today, Nevada City is a perfect lady ..."
You often can't find better theater around here - and this week's meeting was no exception. It's free, too.
Enter stage left, Dos Banditos owner Eric Engstrom and his lawyer, Kipp Wardell. Armed with a petition signed by more than 140 people, the two made a passionate argument why Nevada City would lose its "historic character" if a Beach Hut deli opened at the foot of Broad Street.
So passionate, in fact, that a police officer got up from his seat, tapped Wardell on the shoulder and reminded him not to speak out of turn or he would have to leave. Mayor Barbara Coffman banged the gavel and reminded the crowd to follow protocol (no clapping after somebody speaks, for example).
Engstrom, if you recall, is the same restaurateur who pitched a tent in a parking lot at the top of Broad Street to sell tacos. He also asked for a sign, complete with a cactus - an idea that was rejected by the planning commission Thursday, partly because it was too big. We've been assured it's not a permanent structure, however.
I'm not sure a taco tent in a parking lot preserves the historic character of the town - not to mention unexpected competition to Las Katrinas and Posh Nosh - but, heck, Nevada City had a lot of tents during the Gold Rush.
As an article in Sunset Magazine reminds us: "Nevada City began life in the 1850s as a muddy tent city north of the main Mother Lode. Then, it was a roughneck town. But today, Nevada City is a perfect lady ..."
Perfect lady? It's still pretty rough.
The theater continued. Enter stage right, newly named Vice Mayor Reinette Senum. Reinette, a house of fire with some wind at her back, made a valiant effort to help find some middle ground in the franchise fruckus.
She pointed out that the deli's owners control many business decisions, such as where they buy the ingredients for their deli sandwiches.
Excuse me, ma'am: "I'd like a roast beef sandwich on Dupree's white bread, with Nevada County Free Range beef and veggies from the Ridge." Here's what franchises are told: "To ensure quality, consistency, uniformity, and convenience for our franchises, products are purchased through pre-approved vendors," reads the information for Beach Hut Deli franchises.
I'm sure there's some middle ground, though.
Reinette kept reminding us she wasn't trying to "micromanage" businesses, but she kept bringing up a wall painting that was inside the store. She wondered if it could be more of a Yuba River and kayak theme than a beach theme.
The owners, longtime Grass Valley residents Steve and Cindy Smith, said they would look into that. So did the founder of Beach Hut Deli, Troy Feist, who came up from Roseville.
Then Gary Tintle, the man who leased the space to the Smiths, stepped up to the open mike and said the mural would look fine when it was finished.
The theater continued. Enter stage right, newly named Vice Mayor Reinette Senum. Reinette, a house of fire with some wind at her back, made a valiant effort to help find some middle ground in the franchise fruckus.
She pointed out that the deli's owners control many business decisions, such as where they buy the ingredients for their deli sandwiches.
Excuse me, ma'am: "I'd like a roast beef sandwich on Dupree's white bread, with Nevada County Free Range beef and veggies from the Ridge." Here's what franchises are told: "To ensure quality, consistency, uniformity, and convenience for our franchises, products are purchased through pre-approved vendors," reads the information for Beach Hut Deli franchises.
I'm sure there's some middle ground, though.
Reinette kept reminding us she wasn't trying to "micromanage" businesses, but she kept bringing up a wall painting that was inside the store. She wondered if it could be more of a Yuba River and kayak theme than a beach theme.
The owners, longtime Grass Valley residents Steve and Cindy Smith, said they would look into that. So did the founder of Beach Hut Deli, Troy Feist, who came up from Roseville.
Then Gary Tintle, the man who leased the space to the Smiths, stepped up to the open mike and said the mural would look fine when it was finished.
The debate about the mural inside the deli lasted for quite a while as the crowd looked on. I figure I'll peek inside next time I'm at the Saturday Farmer's Market on Union Street to see what all the fuss is about.
We also got to see Laurie Oberholtzer, whom some see as the planning czar (or self-appointed one) of Nevada City (and Grass Valley and Nevada County and Yuba County, etc.) step to the mike - twice, in fact. Laurie sat on the city planning commission and City Council for years, helping to craft many ordinances.
Despite all the rules that merchants have complained about for years, it turned out that the city had no ordinance - nothing, nada - regulating "formulaic" businesses.
Laurie said everybody combed city documents, looking for language that everybody thought was there - but wasn't. "Let's start thinking about the new ordinance," Laurie said.
Gee, thanks, Engstrom, Wardell, the petition signers and some audience members must have been thinking. It's too little too late.
We though it was "common law" that the historic district wasn't a place for franchises, said David McKay. Oh.
The council agreed to study the issue and consider some sort of anti-formulaic business ordinance.
The horseless carriage discussion was one of the meeting's last acts. The award went to an outfit out of West Sacramento, not local business owner Chuck Shea. The West Sacramento firm won, we were told, partly because it is paying the city a $1,000 franchise fee. Shea wanted to do just the opposite - charge the city.
We also got to see Laurie Oberholtzer, whom some see as the planning czar (or self-appointed one) of Nevada City (and Grass Valley and Nevada County and Yuba County, etc.) step to the mike - twice, in fact. Laurie sat on the city planning commission and City Council for years, helping to craft many ordinances.
Despite all the rules that merchants have complained about for years, it turned out that the city had no ordinance - nothing, nada - regulating "formulaic" businesses.
Laurie said everybody combed city documents, looking for language that everybody thought was there - but wasn't. "Let's start thinking about the new ordinance," Laurie said.
Gee, thanks, Engstrom, Wardell, the petition signers and some audience members must have been thinking. It's too little too late.
We though it was "common law" that the historic district wasn't a place for franchises, said David McKay. Oh.
The council agreed to study the issue and consider some sort of anti-formulaic business ordinance.
The horseless carriage discussion was one of the meeting's last acts. The award went to an outfit out of West Sacramento, not local business owner Chuck Shea. The West Sacramento firm won, we were told, partly because it is paying the city a $1,000 franchise fee. Shea wanted to do just the opposite - charge the city.
On the other hand, Ann Tatum is trucking her horses up here from Sacramento while she waits for her home to sell so she can move here, we were told. She reminded us that it takes a while to sell your house nowadays, so we have to be patient.
This horse-carriage contract would seem to raise the old "carbon footprint" and "buy local" (even with higher prices) issues, which many locals think are paramount. The council unanimously approved the deal after weighing the pros and cons of both.
I respect their decision, though Shea is skeptical it will work out long term. Heck, I voted for the current council members (despite endorsement overkill for some), and I buy lunch regularly at Dos Banditos (try two chicken tacos à la carte, with a side of guacamole).
But sometimes we seem to get too caught up in our own principles, applying them inconsistently, and need to take a more practical, pragmatic approach.
I liked Coffman's line about franchises: "I don't feel it's the job of City Council to micromanage businesses." Simple and to the point. If you recall, Barbara ran a political campaign without a single sign. Refreshing.
The curtain didn't close on the proceedings until 11 p.m.: a four-hour production with mere a 15 minute intermission. Egad! That's longer than "Les Misérables."
It's good to remember, though, that besides being informed - and entertained - we were part of the process. That's something to cheer about.
Jeff Pelline is the editor of The Union. His column appears on Saturdays. Contact him at 477-4235, jeffp@theunion.com, or 464 Sutton Way, Grass Valley 95945.
This horse-carriage contract would seem to raise the old "carbon footprint" and "buy local" (even with higher prices) issues, which many locals think are paramount. The council unanimously approved the deal after weighing the pros and cons of both.
I respect their decision, though Shea is skeptical it will work out long term. Heck, I voted for the current council members (despite endorsement overkill for some), and I buy lunch regularly at Dos Banditos (try two chicken tacos à la carte, with a side of guacamole).
But sometimes we seem to get too caught up in our own principles, applying them inconsistently, and need to take a more practical, pragmatic approach.
I liked Coffman's line about franchises: "I don't feel it's the job of City Council to micromanage businesses." Simple and to the point. If you recall, Barbara ran a political campaign without a single sign. Refreshing.
The curtain didn't close on the proceedings until 11 p.m.: a four-hour production with mere a 15 minute intermission. Egad! That's longer than "Les Misérables."
It's good to remember, though, that besides being informed - and entertained - we were part of the process. That's something to cheer about.
Jeff Pelline is the editor of The Union. His column appears on Saturdays. Contact him at 477-4235, jeffp@theunion.com, or 464 Sutton Way, Grass Valley 95945.
