Council unanimously approves Whatever USA

The vote came after the continuation of a public hearing on the event that began Monday, August 25. The council listened to more than seven hours of public testimony between the two meetings and heard argument both for and against the event. While the crowd was smaller Thursday, there were still approximately 200 people in Jerry’s Gym. The event will shut down Elk Avenue between Fourth and First Streets. The street, light poles and bike racks will be painted blue. There will be buskers, games and live music. Major concerts for the winners will be held at Big Mine Ice Arena Friday and Saturday nights. Carnival rides for the adults will be located in that area as well.

Town manager Todd Crossett told the council that the applicant had provided all the required details for the event and the staff was confident it could be pulled off safely. The application stretched to more than 100 pages and included a letter from the Crested Butte Fire Protection District signing off on the concerts at Big Mine that will fill the arena with up to 1,600 people.

Between Monday and Thursday, the company increased its donation to the community to $500,000 from the original $250,000. A primary concern of some citizens and council members on Thursday was dealing with the possibility of a huge influx of people coming to the valley for the event. While Bud Light is bringing 1,000 contest winners, the fear is that now that the event was no longer secret and the “cat was out of the bag,” tens of thousands of people will hear about the event and drive to the valley to participate.

Crested Butte chief marshal Tom Martin said he was comfortable with the security plan. He was bringing in additional law enforcement personnel and the company was providing 90 private security people. “If we get into the tens of thousands of people coming we may need to establish a checkpoint south of town,” he said. “I am looking into that possibility,” he said.

The public on Thursday reiterated the points about how the event would provide an economic boost to the community in a normally slow time. Others worried about the damage to Crested Butte’s reputation and marketing “brand.” Several spoke of the poor process involved since the town and the organizers had kept the event secret for months before letting the general public in on the potential event.

The council stated their opinions before the vote.

“I apologize for this process,” started longtime (24 total years) councilman Jim Schmidt. “I take full responsibility as a councilman. It was our failure as a council to not communicate better with the community. But as the debate has taken place the last few weeks, a few things have bothered me. This event is not shameful and despicable. What’s happening in Ferguson, Missouri and Gaza is shameful and despicable. I am also offended by accusations of impropriety by the council. That has not happened at all. When I’ve made decisions as a councilmember I’ve always tried to find a balance and that will make some people unhappy. I know that no matter what decision comes down, the council will get arrows in our back.”

Councilperson David Owen expressed disappointment with the organizers that he had been contacted by some business owners in the Entertainment District that hadn’t been contacted by the event team. Organizer Bobby Wells said they were waiting on a decision by the council before reaching out to everyone. “If we get approval we will canvas the area businesses,” he promised.

Owen too expressed displeasure with the process. “I think there has been insufficient time for the public to read the application, digest the information and share comments with us,” he said. “The hard question for us is ‘has there been adequate time for us to consider the health and safety of this event?’ When I look at the application with an objective eye I have to see that the standards required are captured in our resolution.”

Owen, considered an opponent to the event, then went down the list of what was required of a major special event in the town code. He stated that the applicant had met each benchmark. “Plus we have a recommendation from our staff that this can be pulled off and if they all believe we can pull this off I have to believe we can pull this off,” he said as the crowd applauded.

He then addressed rumors that some of the workers preparing for the event had been verbally abused and even spit upon. “If that is true then this saddens me a lot,” he said. “That is not who we are as a community. We are friendly and polite and we want these people to come here.”

Councilman Shaun Matusewicz said he wanted to talk about money, fear and standards. He was pleased with the increase of the donation to $500,000. “A lot of what I’ve been hearing concerning this event seems based in fear,” he said. “I don’t operate from a place of fear, I operate from a place of facts.

“As for standards, I went back and found an application from when I was working events in New York,” he continued as he held up a form. “This is the application to shut down Central Park and it is seven pages. They’ve given us hundreds of pages. This is a professional team and I think they will do a great job.”

Councilman Roland Mason was also in favor of the event. “I grew up here and I have seen the town change significantly,” he said. “I understand the comments coming from both sides and everyone has been heard. The cat is out of the bag on this event and if 30,000 people show up and aren’t allowed in I want to make sure we can safely handle that.”

Chief marshal Tom Martin said after word was out, he redid the safety plan to increase personnel and deal with a potential onslaught if revelers. “I’m as comfortable as I can be right now,” he told Mason.

“I haven’t said much during these hearings,” said councilperson Glen Michel. “I could talk about the merits and the detriments of the event but to keep it short I say, let’s have a party!”

Mayor Aaron Huckstep said he agreed with Matusewicz about the length of the application and the thoroughness of the Bud Light planners.

“We have never done something like this before and you guys were our guinea pigs,” he told the event team. “I want to thank you on behalf of the community.”

Huckstep also thanked the town staff individually for the work put into dealing with the application process.

 “The generous financial offer from the applicants I hope will benefit the community for a long time,” he said. “The impacts also affect Mt. Crested Butte and they are deserving of part of that money. I suggest we form a joint committee of the two councils to come up with how to spend that $500,000. The money isn’t just for Crested Butte since the impacts will be spread throughout the entire upper valley.”

He then echoed some of the thoughts about being afraid to do the event. “The notion that we have to overcome all possible objections to this isn’t the Crested Butte I know and love.  If that were the case there would never have been a klunker tour over Pearl Pass or a Chainless Race. This event won’t be any different.

“We are all concerned with how these people are being treated,” he continued. “We treat guests with respect here. And as for us, let’s remember that we are not just a walkable community but we are a talkable community. You can speak to your neighbors and your representatives if you have questions or concerns. Now, I too am ready to have a party.”

With that, the council voted 6-0 to approve the applications and the audience exploded in applause.

After 20 minutes of celebration, the crowd cleared Jerry’s Gym to enjoy free Bud Light at the Secret Stash. The council however dealt with more details needed to accommodate the event.

Given timing issues, the council approved an emergency ordinance that would add regulations to the town code creating an Entertainment District allowing the consumption of alcohol on public property. That district will essentially run up Elk Avenue between Fourth and First Streets and be wide enough at Third Street to include the Gourmet Noodle and Dogwood Cocktail Cabin.

The council approved a resolution as well dealing with the establishment of the entertainment district.

The Whatever USA party preparation has already started and the event itself begins Friday, September 5.