City Commission Holds Special Meeting to Look at Arts, Beats & Eats Parking

A special meeting of the Royal Oak City Commission has been called for 5 p.m. this evening to look at a planned Arts, Beats & Eats parking station at the former Fresard property at 600 N. Main St.

“It's my understanding that a request will be made to investigate the lease agreement between 400 Main, LLC and You Park, LLC - which Commissioner Jim Rasor is the principal owner - as it relates to Arts, Beats & Eats,” said Commissioner David Poulton, responding to an email from Royal Oak Patch. 

“This item has raised a lot of ,” Poulton wrote.

In the past the city has operated the Fresard lots during the festival, but the new owners of the property, 400 Main, LLC, opted to sign a lease agreement with You Park, LLC. The aggreement leaves Patch reader Steve Johnstone wondering if this "leaves the city competing against one of their own elected officials for parking revenue."

Rasor, does not deny he is a partner in You Park, LLC.  He was introduced to the new owners of the Fresard lots through a mutual friend, he said. 400 Main, LLC was “shopping around” for a partner to operate the property as a parking station while they work on plans for a , he said. 

“We plan to donate 15 percent of what we make to ROOTS,” Rasor said. The ROOTS foundation benefits the Royal Oak Animal Shelter, Farmers Market, Library, Nature Society, Recreation Dept., and the Senior Center. 

Typically the city’s expenses for the four-day festival – such as, police and fire protection, EMS, and Department of Public Service workers– have been in the neighborhood of $400,000, according to City Manager Don Johnson. Revenue the city earns from parking helps offset these costs.