Observations From A BottleRock Napa Neighbors Meeting

     Went to the meeting held at the Napa Expo Center in Chardonnay Hall on Monday, April 8th. The attendance was a mixture of BottleRock supporters and skeptics. It began with 45 minutes of presentation by the organizers and logistics coordinators of BottleRock followed by at least 45 minutes of questions from the residents of Juarez, Fairview and Alta Heights neighborhoods.

Here's some of what BottleRock had to say:      

     Willpower Entertainment is the local company producing BottleRock and they are a for-profit company using a chunk of their profits to support at least 20 Local, Regional, National and International 501c3 not-for-profit groups. A big reason for this event is also to generate hundreds of thousands in revenue for downtown businesses. Yes, it is a capitalist venture.    

     They have 1000 volunteers, most of them local. Around 50 of these volunteers will be assigned as "Neighborhood Ambassadors" outside the event to aid with traffic, clean up and safety in the area surrounding the Expo Center. 75 law enforcement officers from various agencies will be patrolling throughout the event and around the perimeter.    

     There will be on-site Emergency Medical Response teams within the Expo Center and a first-aid station staffed by personnel familiar with large entertainment events. There are 8400 parking stalls reserved at Napa Pipe and more elsewhere with shuttle busses transporting attendees to and from the event.

     The gates will open at 11:00 am daily and the amplified music will end promptly at 10:00pm. These times were factored to fit around school and work commutes and to comply with City noise ordinances. A map of street closures and times will be posted on the BottleRock website. It was just approved the afternoon before the meeting.

Here are some of the concerns of neighbors:    

     Enforcement of no motorhome camping on city streets for 5 days. Number of porta-potties and their locations by homes. The loss of street parking. Detours of local traffic through already congested streets. Transport busses blocking driveways and large groups of attendees trespassing in yards waiting for busses. Towing services for attendees parking in business parking lots without permission. Loss of customers for many small businesses. Access to businesses. Interruption of taxi services for senior neighborhood residents. Clean up of litter and how often it would occur. How to continue with family gatherings on Mother's Day.    

     That is a general list of all the genuine concerns, most voiced in a reasonable manner but a few expressed with overwhelming frustration. The organizers of BottleRock and a couple of City representatives answered questions the best they could, definitely taking notes to review tricky situations later that were brought to their attention at the meeting. A couple things that I found unbelievable involved the sense of entitlement that neighborhood home owners felt. Several residents voiced their anger over losing PUBLIC street parking in front of their homes, one even asking "What about MY street parking?" It's a public road, anyone can park there at any time. I have to give it to BottleRock, they did say they would work with the City to close off one side of Juarez St. for resident parking only. Another resident asked 'What's in it for ME?", like they expected BottleRock to landscape their yard or something. The Expo Center is State property, and it was there when they bought their house. Unless they bought the home 60 years ago, home owners KNEW they were buying property next to a 26 acre event center when they signed the deed. Same people buy houses next to airports and then complain about airplanes.    

     Probably the best idea was brought up by a guy who lives right next to the entrance gates. He said that there should be de-briefing meetings with BottleRock neighbors AFTER the event to discuss what didn't work so things could be better next year. I applauded that. Another woman said it takes as much energy to be positive as it does to be negative. Applauded that, too.    

     Overall, my impression was that BottleRock is really trying to make this event work the best they can in such a difficult area. It's only 5 days, leaving 360 other days in the year without BottleRock. Residents of the surrounding neighborhoods are understandably concerned about valid issues. They feel a sense of invasion and trespass by thousands of unknown strangers.    

     There were free Thursday day-pass tickets for BottleRock or free tickets to a performance at the Napa Opera House for anyone who attended. It was announced that another meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 17, same place, same time.