Gary Shipman, with the small business association, said many in the room were there for the parking and other proposed ordinances for the business community. He said there are two types of people, those who complain and those who offer solutions. Shipman noted the business license, event and parking ordinances being proposed or looked at. He said they want to create solutions. Shipman said these should be reviewed by those who will enforce them to make sure they are able to be enforced. He said they should be concerned how they are impacting the business environment. He said the parking ordinance as proposed would have an impact on small businesses. He agreed there is a problem and noted some are during high visitor time.
Shipman said the system of workshops looking at one ordinance when there are several, does not work. He also said regulating new parking would not help the current situation. Speaking for a group, he said they should create a blue ribbon committee with people like the sheriff and TDC. He told the commissioners that if they put smart people together, then they might be able to come up with an ordinance that would work.
County Attorney Mark Davis said the Board has the authority to create a board. If that board will make a recommendation then it would have to operate in the sunshine. Shipman agreed the committee would work in the sunshine and agreed the members will have to follow the sunshine law. He said members from his group as well as others would be on the committee. Commissioner Meadows asked what they could do with a committee that they can not do in a workshop. She noted the member’s email could be open to the public. Shipman said the workshops are for one ordinance and only to that ordinance. He told commissioners the committee would work towards all the issues and finding solutions.
Meadows said her experience is committees have to have paid staff, minutes, and that committees usually drag things out. She said the committee can narrow down and limit to a select few and their agenda. She said they rarely come to a consensus. Meadows said they have come up with a process for ordinances that work very well. The audience broke out in laughter and Shipman said there are people here who disagree. Meadows said this is the first time she has seen many of the audience members there. The attorney said the workshop can look at other issues than just one ordinance.
Shipman said the reason they do not see many of the people who were at the meeting is because they have better things to do. He also said there is a distrust of the county enacting ordinances that are not what they seem, that they are here to harm. He said their experience is the workshop process does not work. Meadows said a Blue Ribbon Committee, or rather a Lloyd Blue Ribbon Committee is really not the type of thing. As the crowd interrupted her, Shipman addressed her as commissioner Harris. He said this is not a Blue vs Harris and it is himself that is standing before the commissioners. He said this is what is right for the county. Meadows said many of the ordinances are already on the books and they are not making up stuff to attack businesses. The only new one is the business license and they are asking input for the others. Shipman said they are proposing changes that would require a permit if six people come to a backyard cookout. Meadows said he is not properly representing the group.
Commissioner Sara Comander said she would make a motion to establish a committee. Comander talked about the businesses that might participate. Meadows agreed, saying the issue affects people who live here full time, part time and even business owners who might come from out of the county. Chairman Pridgen cautioned about having too many on the committee. Commissioner Imfeld said the key words are, “All the Stakeholders.” Shipman agreed. Commissioner Chapman talked about the difference of needs between those in the north and south. He said he is not in favor of a blanket approach. Comander withdrew her motion based on the matter coming back at the next meeting. Larry Jones said they all want the same thing and he would sit with and work with the business owners in a meaningful way.
Another audience member, who is a small business owner, said she does not agree with all the statements by Shipman. She said she does come to the meetings and they have been talking about these issues for years. She said she does not like taking the time to come, but that she learns things. She said this is a kind of slap in the face to those who have been asking for this. She also said she feels they are leaving out others, such as homeowners. She said this is for everyone in the county. She told commissioners one interest group in the county is being given preference with the commissioners taking action after “snapping their fingers.” Shipman said they are asking for everyone involved.
Lloyd Blue told Commissioner Meadows he is present and if she has any comments she would like to address to him instead of about him, Blue said he thinks it is inappropriate to make snide comments about people. He said he thinks she owes him an apology. She thanked him.