Questions regarding insurance.

To Andy Walker:
We did a lot of events with Make It Meadville. Do you know if those events needed to be covered by a private insurance policy?

The question of insurance has come up in regards to the things that DMBA is doing. Like the Quarter program that Tom implemented. And the Zombie Walk. This would have been no different than Johnny's Drive-In. Did Make It Meadville get private insurance for that?

Thanks
From Viki Allin



To Viki Allin
Good morning, Viki.
Make It Meadville did NOT have private insurance.  Any insurance guy or lawyer will tell you that you should.  The challenge, of course, is that Make It Meadville or now DMBA was never developed to a formal  organization with bylaws, officers, or legal status (501 c3, for example).
For Johnny’s Drive-In, one might argue that any liability claims that might have arises would have become the responsibility of the Market Grille (which they wouldn’t like) or the City (which pays for liability insurance there because they own it).  If an insurance company wanted to fight a claim, they would certainly look toward the policies of other responsible parties.
I don’t see any liability in the Meter Feeder program, but the Zombie Walk could be a different story.  Again, if there was a liability claim against any one participating business or the City, most likely their insurance company would attempt to deflect the claim.
I’m not sure it should be a deal breaker, but worthy of conversation.  I’ll be curious to learn what you hear back from the law and insurance guys.
From, Andy Walker
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk
City of Meadville
894 Diamond Park
Meadville, PA  16335

Ph: (814) 724-6000

Dot Com

I contacted Andy Walker who then contacted Jill Groves about the availability of the name, Make It Meadville.  They both said we could that name for our Dot Com site if we want.

So I am putting it out there.   www.makeitmeadville.com

According to Andy's email:
"I see no reason why the “Make It Meadville” name cannot be used as part of or in place of the Downtown Meadville Business Alliance.  Historically (mid-to-late 80’s), it was the name of the Main Street Program effort when Meadville was first funded by the Commonwealth of PA to employ a Main Street Manager."

This name has a history and it's associated with efforts to improve the downtown.

I just wanted to put this out there as an option. Tim is working on the design and content of our Dot Com web site. I am finding this all very exciting.

Viki

Map And Web Site Of Meadville!!!

Great news! Tim Kirk who owns Meadville Fine Art, has volunteered to create an inclusive map of downtown Meadville, for DMBA. AND, OUR DOT COM WEB SITE!!! Thank you so much! Having a map with all that Meadville has to offer will be a great tool for every business. And the web site is icing on the cake.

Zombie Walk - October 19th 2013

Why a Zombie Walk? People like to dress up! They are no longer allowed to go Trick or Treating. CosPlay is held in far off cities and it costs a lot of money to go to one of those conventions. And, it's just plain fun. Whole families get involved in it.

Once we get all those people into the downtown, we want to get them into our establishments. Each theater needs to have something to offer all these people. Stores can have discounts or pass out candy.

Each business can have something totally unique to offer.

This is the First Annual Zombie Walk so there will be a bit of a learning curve and that's ok. It won't be perfect! But it's a start for the DMBA. To get people INSIDE our businesses. 

And who ever is in charge of weather, needs to make it a beautiful autumn day!

And remember, this is also a fund raiser. Each Zombies need to bring canned goods for the Food Bank. 

12 Hour Meters On The 6th Level Of The Market Square Ramp

This morning I went up to the 6th level of the parking structure, where I occasionally park when I know my husband is going to be working longer than 5 hours. He and I share a rented space and I usually put quarters into a 5 hour meter on the 4th level.

Because of our vacation, he has had to work much longer and I have been using the 12 hour meters on the 6th level. At the meeting I discussed the fact that the Meter Men were putting letters in my car wiper blades telling me to rent a space and move my car out of the metered areas to allow parking for customers to park.

There are several part time employees that use these 12 hour meters.

After calling the city and asking why they had removed the 12 hour meters and replaced them with 3 hour meters, I received this response.

~~~
Good afternoon, Viki.

I followed up with Joe Chriest (copied here) and Charlie Cervone from our Public Works Department to review the recent meter changes.  Four of the five 12-hour meters that were on the top deck of the Market Square Ramp were moved to South Main Street (near its intersection with Arch Street) to create longer term parking options there, the need for which was identified by the parking survey.  One 12-hour meter remains on the top deck at this time.  At the time these meters were moved, nine new 5-hour meters were installed on the top deck of the Market Square ramp to accommodate longer term parking needs.  Charlie Cervone reports that twelve new 12-hour meters have been ordered and are expected to arrive within the next two weeks.  When these arrive, several of them will be re- installed on the top deck of the Market Square garage. Recognizing that several part-timers rely on the longer-than-5-hour meters, we will ask our parking enforcement officers not to enforce meter feeders on the top deck until the new 12-hour meters are installed.

Regards,
Andy

On a side note, I did receive an inquiry from Beth Huchert (sp?) at Tattered Corners regarding the whereabouts of the 12-hour meters.  I will let her know that four have been relocated to South Main Street.

Andy Walker
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk

City of Meadville
894 Diamond Park
Meadville, PA  16335

Ph: (814) 724-6000
www.cityofmeadville.org

“Meadville starts with ME!” Be the positive change you want to see in our City.

~~~~~

My Reply:
Thank you for your reply.

(Charlie Cervone reports that twelve new 12-hour meters have been ordered and are expected to arrive within the next two weeks.  When these arrive, several of them will be re- installed on the top deck of the Market Square garage)

Personally, I do not understand the logic of taking away meters that are being used by one group of people to give it to another group of people. If the employees on South Main have never had 12 hour meters, surly 'they' could have waited the two weeks for the arrival of the new meters.

~~~

And Andy replyed:

It is my understanding that the new 5-hour meters that were installed were initially thought to be 12-hour meters. When it was figured out that they were only 5-hour meters, the plan to locate 12-hour meters on South Main Street had already been communicated to City Council and was blessed by them…in an honest attempt  to create additional longer term parking options in that part of town.  Since the decision had already been made to locate 12-hour meters on South Main Street, four 12-hour meters from the top deck of the Market Square parking garage were “borrowed” to make that happen.  As referenced in my earlier email,  12 more 12-hour meters are on their way, several of which will be located on the top deck of the Market Square parking garage. 

I just hung up from Beth Huchert a few minutes ago.  She requested that we consider placing a few 12-hour meters on lower decks so that those spaces will still be available in the winter months when snow or snow piles prevent top deck spaces from being available. Joe and I will consider that request as well. 

Andy Walker

Assistant City Manager/City Clerk

City of Meadville

894 Diamond Park

Meadville, PA  16335

Ph: (814) 724-6000

“Meadville starts with ME!” Be the positive change you want to see in our City.