Eric begins:
"-----Original Message-----
From: eric robert [mailto:eric@qubstudios.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 6:28 AM
To: Fischer, Adam
Cc: Vaughan, Nancy (Mayor); Westmoreland, Jim; Parrish, David
Subject: Signs provided to a privately owned and publicly subsidized parking lot.
Good morning Adam,
I am writing to you as I am not able to get any answer over the phone.
Yesterday, the city of Greensboro provided extensive signage along Elm Street to highlight the existence and location of a privately owned (and publicly subsidized) parking lot adjacent to my property at 120 W Lewis St.
I applaud the initiative and your willingness to help small business owners in our downtown.
I spoke with Mike Kirkman in planning in order to obtain the same signage to highlight some of the privately owned businesses in my building as well as some of my neighbors including , Creative agency, Night Club, Photography Production, Locksmith, small engine repair, brewery etc...
Mr Kirkman seemed to understand my inquiry on principle and mentioned that he passed on my request on a few occasions to no avail , but that in the end, the decision rested with GDOT.
So here I am Mr Fisher, asking for similar courtesy signage to support my business, tenants and neighbors . In the event you refuse to treat us equally, please explain to me the rationale behind your willingness to support select downtown businesses while refusing to support others.
I understand that Parking is serving some public function but the public has to pay to park in this privately owned and publicly subsidized lot.
One could argue that a Locksmith or a photography production company or even a night club also provide a public service.
One thing is certain in that we are all tax payers and we all contribute to our downtown economy and our city's bottom line.
Please advise on how to proceed.
Thank you
Er"
Mr Fisher's first reply:
"Mr. Robert,
Sorry I did not return your call from yesterday afternoon as I was tied up all afternoon.
The parking signs are generic in nature and do not direct folks to a specific business......they simply indicate that parking is available as indicated. Since businesses in the Central Business District are not required to provide parking for their customers and since available public parking is limited along South Elm Street (in this area), I would think that all the businesses in the area would benefit from the signs which indicate where additional public parking is available.
We do not place signs directing folks to specific private businesses. We do on occasion, in high traffic areas, place directional signs to “Shopping Center” or “Shopping District” to direct motorists to areas with several commercial establishments in close proximity. On one occasion, when we installed a median to restrict turning traffic on a dangerous section of roadway, we installed a directional sign that directed motorists to “Restaurants” which was a safer although more indirect route to several restaurants that were inconvenienced by the installation of the median.
This is the first time that I am aware of a request by you for signs directing motorists to the businesses on Lewis Street. We will evaluate this request in consultation with our planning and legal departments and follow up with you.
If you have any additional questions or concerns please give me a call.
Thanks - Adam
Adam Fischer, P.E.
Transportation Director"
Eric responds,
"From: eric robert [mailto:eric@qubstudios.com]
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 12:51 PM
To: Fischer, Adam
Cc: Vaughan, Nancy (Mayor); Westmoreland, Jim; Parrish, David
Subject: Re: Signs provided to a privately owned and publicly subsidized parking lot.
Mr Fisher,
Thank You for your response.
The parking lot recently highlighted by the city’s signage on city’s owned light poles is a private business, a private business that seems to benefit from your department’s generosity, and discretion over and over.
I am simply requesting the same for my tenants and neighbors who do not seem to possess such direct access to your department.
Action Greensboro also has placed other selective signs with Zip ties on other city owned poles.
Who authorizes the placement of signage on city property anyway?
Now, regarding your other comment ...with all due respect, Sir, you were aware of my request for signs as it was forwarded to you by the planning department after I found out of your intentions to assist Nancy’ Hoffmann’s partners to promote their tax payer’s subsidized parking lot.
The parking/service you are promoting sir is a privately owned paid service.... A service currently subsidized by Greensboro taxpayers and paid for by the customers and patrons of businesses we created, located in adjacent buildings we renovated and paid for without any public subsidies, loans or grants.
In the spirit of cooperation, I have enclosed generic icons that you could use to promote some of my current tenants and neighbors. I believe that the signs also help identify that these services are available.
In summary, Lewis St is home to a restaurant, a nightclub, a design Studio, a photography production company, an upcoming brewery, a prototype shop, a locksmith and a small engine repair shop... That is a lot to put on a pole sir...
Finally, the parking signs you are using to promote the private lot are the same that you are using to identify city owned parking lots. It may create confusion with patrons as I am sure the security, insurance, liabilities and towing particulars are different.
Please advise,
Thank you
Er"
Adam Fisher lays down the law:
"Mr. Robert,
I am mandated to install traffic control devices, including signs within the public right of way, in accordance with the “Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways” (MUTCD) which is published by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The purpose of traffic control devices is to promote safety and efficiency by providing for the orderly movement of all road users on streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. Traffic control devices notify users of regulations and provide warning and provide guidance needed for the uniform and efficient operation of all elements of the traffic stream in a manner intended to minimize the occurrences of crashes.
In my opinion, as a register Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina, the parking area guide sign that was recently installed at Elm Street and Lewis Street is an allowed traffic control device “guide sign” (see below),
The signs that you have suggested that we place for guidance to the “Locksmith”, “Engine Repair Shop”, Design Studio”…..etc are not allowed according to the MUTCD. As you can see, if we did not follow the MUTCD, we could potentially have a multitude of guide signs to every single business in Greensboro which would cause significant sign clutter and distractions to motorist. The installation of traffic control devices that do not conform to the MUTCD, including guide signs, could subject the City and myself to liability claims.
I do value your businesses and other business interests in downtown Greensboro as well as all parts of Greensboro, however, I cannot recommend that we place the unauthorized guide signs that you suggest.
If you have other suggestions on how we can improve traffic conditions, pedestrian conditions, bicycle accommodations, parking operations/conditions that will benefit your businesses, please give me a call.
Thanks - Adam
Adam Fischer, P.E.
Transportation Director
City of Greensboro"
At this point Eric Robert forwards the entire e-mail thread to me:
"to Adam, Nancy, Jim, David, Sue, tony.wilkins, Marikay, yvonne.johnson, Jamal, Scott
Mr Fisher,
I respect your opinion as a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of North Carolina, but I resent your tone as you are clearly overstepping your authority to protect, promote and and advertise this PRIVATELY owned and publicly subsidized parking lot.
Please do not attempt to mislead me Sir... you have chosen to support one privately owned business and not the rest of us...and you got caught. The “mandate” you are talking about, is in fact a “guide”, as verified by the NC school of government, so, let’s be very clear here, you are using your sole discretion, and have chosen to support Nancy Hoffmann’s business partners and not the other adjacent privately owned businesses.
Is it the city’s legal department’s opinion that you, and your department can selectively promote privately owned (and publicly subsidized) businesses on city property while refusing to promote other adjacent private businesses?
As a registered tax payer, I do take offense at your tactics destined to support one particular entity while refusing to treat the rest of us equally. As a downtown property and small business owner, I take offense in you attempt to insult my intelligence by justifying your actions with some obscure guideline from a manual. An honest answer would have sufficed.
What about the Action Greensboro Zip Tie signs? Are they in your manual?, Were they part of your mandate as well?
Please advise, as I contend that this is an abuse of the position you currently occupy as I doubt that misinforming/disinforming the public is in your job description or manual.
Madame Mayor, Council Members, this is not the way our city should function... We are better than that, Greensboro citizens deserve better than that...Mr Fisher’s latest reply illustrates the current malaise within our city. It is your duty to ensure that we are all treated equally.
Please let me know your thoughts and I remain available should you have any questions or comments.
Thank You
er"
Why is the City of Greensboro choosing one business over another? Why is property owned by Greensboro City Councilwoman Nancy Hoffmann being given special status. Why are downtown visitors being directed at taxpayers' expense to park in Hoffmann's pay-to-park lot when Eric offers free parking next door? Why is Nancy Hoffmann still on the Greensboro City Council? Why haven't the other City Council members who were all made aware of this issue before I was made aware of it, gone public before I took the issue public?
I think you already know all the answers.
The sad thing is: I warned them all in e-mail and blog post that I was going to do this and still they did nothing to curb Councilwoman Hoffmann's abuse of power.
As always, I'll happily forward the e-mail to anyone who e-mails me at RecycleBill@gmail.com
