The Park City Council held a public hearing Thursday for an item that seemed to be decided back in May.
MuSE PC, a Park City-based musicians group headed by Bill McGinnis and Jody Whitesides, went before the Park City Council three months ago to discuss the use of an office space at 1685 Bonanza Dr., to host free all-ages open mics; performance and musicianship workshops; and, occasionally, larger-scale special events. The group plans to host events three days a week from 6 to 10 p.m., regularly anticipating 10 to 30 guests and up to 50 for larger events. At the May 2 council meeting, members of the local music community showed their support for the group. The council directed city staff to move forward with donating and arranging the use of space for MuSE PC.
The group planned to host their first song circle May 16, but they have yet to organize an event in the space. McGinnis says he doesn’t know what the hold-up is about.
“This is a project that began this month last year," McGinnis said. "I've been at it for a year, and it's incomprehensible to me how controversial a space that's about to get bulldozed can be.”
The space is at the future site of the city’s arts and culture district development, which is why Park City Redevelopment Director Nate Rockwood thinks MuSE PC is a good fit for a vacant office in the Bonanza building—until the building comes down and construction begins, scheduled for Spring 2020.
Pete Gillwald is a long-time tenant in the 1685 Bonanza building. He says the use of space isn’t what concerns him and other tenants—who pay to rent the space—as much as the process with the city.
“Nobody had come to the tenants to say, 'hey, this is something that the city is considering,” Gillwald said.
Gillwald says the tenants have concerns about maintaining and securing the building, parking availability and noise. After the May council meeting, Rockwood met with the tenants to discuss their concerns, and at Thursday’s meeting, Rockwood said he feels he came to an agreement with the tenants about mitigating the impact of MuSE PC on the tenants and the space. City staff also determined the use of space agreement triggered a public hearing and a 14-day notice of the hearing. But on Thursday, Gillwald expressed concern that the tenants weren’t specifically notified about the public hearing and what they discussed with Rockwood isn’t outlined in an official document.
“The current staff report doesn't mention anything about our concerns; it just talks about the use and does it fit some ordinance," Gillwald said. "I think what I heard from Nate was that whatever use agreement comes up will outline our concerns, and hopefully we can get some input on what that use agreement might look like. Again, just communication and moving forward.”
Rockwood said he would meet with the tenants again, and Mayor Andy Beerman suggested bringing Councilmembers Lynn Ware Peek and Nann Worel with, to ensure all parties are on the same page. In the meantime, McGinnis says MuSE PC isn’t trying to disrupt the tenants.
"Our group is a well-intentioned group of creative artists who are just simply looking for a space where we can improve our craft," McGinnis said.
The city council decided to continue the public hearing and action on the item until Aug. 15, after the tenants, council liaisons and Rockwood meet.
