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The city is still trying to make Bluesfest face the music over extra transit costs during the summer festival.
Mayor Jim Watson said he’s been briefed on the discussions with Bluesfest. He believes there are parameters for an agreement.
There wasn’t anything definitive from Bluesfest or the city on Tuesday, but Watson expects the city will have more information for the transit commission at its next meeting May 9.
OC Transpo’s 2016 budget includes $200,000 the transit agency wants to collect from Bluesfest this year. The city says taxpayers have been footing the bill for enhanced bus service during the festival in July.
Bluesfest criticized the city for not getting a chance to make a case against the six-figure charge to the festival.
Last December, festival executive director Mark Monahan said the transit invoice from the city would mean concertgoers would likely need to pay an extra five per cent on their tickets. Monahan described $200,000 as “huge money” the festival would need to free up internally to avoid a transit surcharge on tickets.
On Tuesday, Watson suggested the city and Bluesfest were reaching a resolution.
“There’s certainly an understanding on the part of Bluesfest that there is an additional cost to send the extra buses down there,” Watson said.
“We want as many people as possible to take the bus because as you know around Bluesfest there’s virtually no parking, so we think we’re going to come up with a good compromise that meets the needs of the extra costs the taxpayers put into OC Transpo, but also respects the fact that Bluesfest is a great local festival we fund.”
Bluesfest has received an annual cultural grant from city hall.
The festival will be held July 7-17 on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
Mayor Jim Watson said he’s been briefed on the discussions with Bluesfest. He believes there are parameters for an agreement.
There wasn’t anything definitive from Bluesfest or the city on Tuesday, but Watson expects the city will have more information for the transit commission at its next meeting May 9.
OC Transpo’s 2016 budget includes $200,000 the transit agency wants to collect from Bluesfest this year. The city says taxpayers have been footing the bill for enhanced bus service during the festival in July.
Bluesfest criticized the city for not getting a chance to make a case against the six-figure charge to the festival.
Last December, festival executive director Mark Monahan said the transit invoice from the city would mean concertgoers would likely need to pay an extra five per cent on their tickets. Monahan described $200,000 as “huge money” the festival would need to free up internally to avoid a transit surcharge on tickets.
On Tuesday, Watson suggested the city and Bluesfest were reaching a resolution.
“There’s certainly an understanding on the part of Bluesfest that there is an additional cost to send the extra buses down there,” Watson said.
“We want as many people as possible to take the bus because as you know around Bluesfest there’s virtually no parking, so we think we’re going to come up with a good compromise that meets the needs of the extra costs the taxpayers put into OC Transpo, but also respects the fact that Bluesfest is a great local festival we fund.”
Bluesfest has received an annual cultural grant from city hall.
The festival will be held July 7-17 on the grounds of the Canadian War Museum.
jwilling@postmedia.com
twitter.com/JonathanWilling
查看原文...
