Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Economy Business Support topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winery owner asks Fillmore council to move park benches, citing impact on tourism-related business
Summary
Geisinger Winery owner Edward Geisinger and a representative told council that benches facing the winery parking lot attract people who deter Harvest Host RV customers; they asked the city to move or rotate two benches into the park to improve customer comfort and protect small-business revenue.
Edward Geisinger, owner of Geisinger Winery, urged the Fillmore City Council on Feb. 11 to relocate two park benches he says are a magnet for people who make Harvest Host RV customers feel unsafe and have reduced winery business.
A representative introduced the owner during general public comment and said the town’s tourism trade has dropped, in part because visiting RV customers see people sitting on the benches near the winery parking area and decide to leave. “We feel like a very easy solution actually is there is two benches that, kind of, you know, face the parking lot. If those benches were moved or turned around so it faces the park and not the parking lot, that would kind of solve the problem because, Ed calls the benches, ‘vagrant magnets,’” the representative said.
Geisinger told council that about 90% of his business comes from outside the area and that a decline in harvest-host visits has forced him to reduce staff. “They're really helping the town. And now we've seen, as I can tell you, it dropped tremendously,” he said. He described customer perceptions of people loitering and said police have helped but cannot be present continuously.
Council members and staff discussed options. Staff said they had previously provided additional patrols and would explore bench relocation, noting potential costs and the need to identify a permanent location. The mayor and staff said they would work with the business owner and police to evaluate short-term steps — such as increased enforcement and message-board signage — and longer-term placement options for the benches.
Council asked staff to review the sidewalk/park furniture inventory, identify any cost for moving benches and return with options; staff indicated that if no budget appropriation is required the matter could be resolved administratively, otherwise it would return to council for approval.
The council received the comment and directed staff to coordinate with the owner and police.
