116 replies to this topic

[Robert Giacometti]

I was being facetious with the soliciting remark.

I am ashamed at how little regard the city has for such longstanding good service this individual has provided. He's kept his prices reasonable and is very conscientious and consistent about his operation and yet the city isn't happy because he's not saying, "Thank you, sir. May I have another?" to their rent increase and extra fees.

I'm not holding my breath that someone will come in for the next 17 years and provide the same job without raising the price of the train rides or limiting the hours of operation.

I'm about as critical of the city as anyone, but in this case the City is doing the right thing. They really are being made out to look like the bad guy when they aren't.

Nobody likes to pay more in rent, but if one was to look at this objectively, we would see Mr. Gold has a very good arrangement without any competition. By going public in the manner that he did and implying this was going to force him to close, was very poor on his part. He is playing the victim card when he has a pretty sweet deal regarding the train.

Staff spent a considerable amount of time researching this, the P & R Commsison made up of 7 of our neighbors all gave this considerable time and attention and THEY are the ones who recommended this. I doubt very much if any one of them has an agenda to close the train. They are tasked with being fair to all concessionaires while representing the best interests of all the citizens.

I Know that Staff have offered to work with him on some other issues regarding expansions and quite frankly he thew them under the bus by implying they are stonewalling him. This was uncalled for.

If I felt Mr. Gold was getting screwed in any way, I'd be supporting him or anyone else in a heartbeat.

[asbestoshills]

asbestoshills, you haven't capitalized your moniker either so welcome to the small-minded club.

City personnel are already paid to negotiate contracts. It's part of city business.

Yeah, but I'm not the petty one correcting a hyphen. Maybe you should work for the city....You made my point without me having to say anything.....The city employees are already getting paid, but the cost of their salaries is being wasted arguing over a train service that is something the community wants....

IMHO, when the city wants to charge more per event, it reminds me of the mob taking some off the top, without even considering that this guy uses some of that money to float the rainy season etc...... I can't stand strip mall owners who squeeze small business owners out of their hard-earned profits! I hope the city isn't going to do this....Also, there's nothing wrong with charging rent, but don't make it 10,000 x's more than you did before just to catch up for previous years of not charging much......

[Rich_T]

If I felt Mr. Gold was getting screwed in any way, I'd be supporting him or anyone else in a heartbeat.

Robert, I understand your perspective, and why you don't think the city is treating Mr. Gold unfairly. I disagree, but I understand.

I guess the way I look at this is: it is fair for the city to increase the rent, but that is where it must end. And rent increases must be subject to certain laws, no? You can't just increase someone's rent 1000%, or 500%, and probably not 100% either. Where else do we see examples of that?

The city figured out that someone was making a profit, and that they could wrest some of that profit away just by imposing new conditions unilaterally. It seems very "un-American", and just rubs me the wrong way. They said "hey look, this guy's making money, that's not fair, we should be getting a bigger cut of that". But no, they shouldn't. It's his business, and he pays rent. Next they'll be asking for his first-born.

[Rich_T]

IMHO, when the city wants to charge more per event, it reminds me of the mob taking some off the top, without even considering that this guy uses some of that money to float the rainy season etc...... I can't stand strip mall owners who squeeze small business owners out of their hard-earned profits! I hope the city isn't going to do this....Also, there's nothing wrong with charging rent, but don't make it 10,000 x's more than you did before just to catch up for previous years of not charging much......

Exactly.

[supermom]

***rant mode on ***


lol--I've stayed out of this argument so far--but since it going around and around ( kinda like a kiddie ride ); I thought I'd put a new perspective on this.

I HATE THAT STUPID TRAIN RIDE!!!!


ok--I know, it's been a festering thorn in my side for a long time--I've never shared that with anyone--but, well--it's true.

Know what else? It really p____s me off when the guy sits there for 45 minutes giving a class on photography to a bunch of people and I had to sit there patiently and wait for the dang ride to even start.

The guy just doesn't have much business saavy--far as I'm concerned. He outta start a dang photo class booth and have a stupid schedule for the train ride. Hey greeat, the photo class can even end 5 minutes before the next train ride starts.

Just so long as I don't have to stand out there and wait for a 3 1/2 minute train ride to take nearly an hour.

Very irritating.

And frankly--not worth the money.

So--I say--if he ain't happy let's go rip the train tracks up outta the ground and put a nice little pony ride there. Seems like a beeter idea next to a zoo, anyway.

Dang it feels good to finally get that off my chest.

***rant mode off***

[M.E.G.]

I am not going to make any friends here with these comments, but here it goes.

Seventeen years is a long time to get to run a "town concession" without it being opened up for bids. Looking at it at this time it feels like he got a "good old boy" deal and I think it is time the business was put out to a bid.

If he can't make any money with the new deal the city if offering him, (without putting out to bid), then he gets to make the decision not to take it and not run the train.

I don't like the feeling that I am being threatened he will have to close if the city's deal goes through. I don't think he realizes how good he has it. He has probably not spent any $ to market his train. Every once and a while there is an article about him. Most of his business is by word of mouth, and the fact that families see him when they come to the library or zoo. Most businesses have to pay something for advertising/marketing.

To me the train is not a draw. Folsom is not bringing in $ because that train is here. It is an added benefit for a few families with very small children. It is not a destination type of activity. Would it be missed, possibly for a short while for a few families. I think for the cost of it and the land it takes up, other activites or features of the park that would benefit more people could be looked into.

Mr. Gold has the option anytime to go buy land, set up his train track and run it how he wants to, for how much he wants to without paying $ as a concessionaire. But oh, that would mean he would have to put more effort and money into his business for marketing, land/facilties and someway to draw people.

And before you all comment, I have kids and have had my kids ride that train. Yes, he takes pictures, so does the barber/hair stylist the first time your kid gets a haircut.

I don't like the fact that he can't negotiate with the city without the "I am taking my toys and going home if I can't get what I want." I always tell my kids when someone gets that attitude, their not the people to play with anyway.

M.E.G.
(ducking)

[Darthvader]

***rant mode on ***
lol--I've stayed out of this argument so far--but since it going around and around ( kinda like a kiddie ride ); I thought I'd put a new perspective on this.

I HATE THAT STUPID TRAIN RIDE!!!!
ok--I know, it's been a festering thorn in my side for a long time--I've never shared that with anyone--but, well--it's true.

Know what else? It really p____s me off when the guy sits there for 45 minutes giving a class on photography to a bunch of people and I had to sit there patiently and wait for the dang ride to even start.

The guy just doesn't have much business saavy--far as I'm concerned. He outta start a dang photo class booth and have a stupid schedule for the train ride. Hey greeat, the photo class can even end 5 minutes before the next train ride starts.

Just so long as I don't have to stand out there and wait for a 3 1/2 minute train ride to take nearly an hour.

Very irritating.

And frankly--not worth the money.

So--I say--if he ain't happy let's go rip the train tracks up outta the ground and put a nice little pony ride there. Seems like a beeter idea next to a zoo, anyway.

Dang it feels good to finally get that off my chest.

***rant mode off***

Gee I bet you are a blast to have around at kid's parties....

[Terry]

I'm about as critical of the city as anyone, but in this case the City is doing the right thing. They really are being made out to look like the bad guy when they aren't.

Nobody likes to pay more in rent, but if one was to look at this objectively, we would see Mr. Gold has a very good arrangement without any competition. By going public in the manner that he did and implying this was going to force him to close, was very poor on his part. He is playing the victim card when he has a pretty sweet deal regarding the train.

Staff spent a considerable amount of time researching this, the P & R Commsison made up of 7 of our neighbors all gave this considerable time and attention and THEY are the ones who recommended this. I doubt very much if any one of them has an agenda to close the train. They are tasked with being fair to all concessionaires while representing the best interests of all the citizens.

I Know that Staff have offered to work with him on some other issues regarding expansions and quite frankly he thew them under the bus by implying they are stonewalling him. This was uncalled for.

If I felt Mr. Gold was getting screwed in any way, I'd be supporting him or anyone else in a heartbeat.

I agree with you. Mr. Gold has had 10 years of what I believe to be less than fair-market value of rent. And I certainly wouldn't want to have Mr. Gold subsidized by Folsom residents.

[Erika]

Found this while searching for train hours.



Pretty good video of the train ride.

[harrmill]

Howdy! Just wanted to add my 2 cents. While I am not in disagreement with the sentiment of providing a fair shake for concessions working with Folsom City, I want to be careful to preserve that which makes our town unique, and that little train is one of those things that makes Folsom interesting. I confess we have not been for a while, and I am not up to date on the financial deal under review. I guess my concern is that there should be some amount of compromise in order to keep this unique feature going. I would hate to see a similar problem arise for the Zoo Sanctuary, or the Rodeo Grounds. If we do not preserve that which is unique to our fair city, it will eventually be paved over entirely with strip malls (as if we dont have enough of those already). Not everything or every decision should be based on the "bottom line". I would hate for Folsom to be seen as a place where we "know the price of everything, and the value of nothing."

Is there someone else to bid for this that can be on terms more agreeable to the city? What is the city losing by acquiesing (sp) to the train guy? What do we all lose if there is no train guy? Is the train going to be one of those things people say about Folsom "yeah, back in the day there USED to be a little train in town..."?

Sorry - just the sentimental me & IMHO.

Thanks!
harrmill

[Lisa in Folsom]

Now I am just curious about the "putting it out to bid" process since I have been told on several occasions by contractors and City staff, that they don't post RFP's online and that in order to get word of opportunities to contract, it is "who you know". So how can it be a fair and competitive bid if it is not released to the public, the way every other city does?

[Darthvader]

Now I am just curious about the "putting it out to bid" process since I have been told on several occasions by contractors and City staff, that they don't post RFP's online and that in order to get word of opportunities to contract, it is "who you know". So how can it be a fair and competitive bid if it is not released to the public, the way every other city does?

Looks like the train guy is stepping it up a bit. there was just a story on Ch 13 news about the city trying to "force him out" and get other cheaper conductors to run the railway. Only a short snip about his rent remaining the same for 10 years while his revenue was up 47%.

[Andrea V]

Looks like the train guy is stepping it up a bit. there was just a story on Ch 13 news about the city trying to "force him out" and get other cheaper conductors to run the railway. Only a short snip about his rent remaining the same for 10 years while his revenue was up 47%.

I am not too sure going on the news was a good idea. I think he might get more people wanting to take his place, then to help him stay there.

[Dave Burrell]

I am not too sure going on the news was a good idea. I think he might get more people wanting to take his place, then to help him stay there.

with the sweet deal he's had - as Darth noted - I can see why others might want that kush job now

[ducky]

Whether you think the train guy is being treated fairly or unfairly, I don't think this editorial puts the city in a good light. As a resident, I found it condescending and arrogant. There was no name attributed to the author. I think the city is the one that needed to blow off some steam, which tells me Mr. Goss has had more than 12 complaint calls.




http://www.folsomtel...3...=&town_id=7


Maybe operator of Folsom train just blowing off steam
Mothers, take a deep breath and relax. Children, dry your eyes.

We promise you, the sun will come out tomorrow. Everything is going to be okay. And most importantly, this isn’t the end of the line for the Folsom Valley Railway.

We’ve noticed plenty of kicking and screaming during these last few weeks regarding Terry Gold’s new contract. Many people seem to think the “evil” city is out to wring the noble train operator and his loveable steam engine out of every possible cent.

The truth is, that’s not what’s happening.

Folsom Lions Park has undergone a total facelift in recent years. It’s received millions of dollars in renovations. The zoo is bigger and better than it’s even been. There’s a new state-of-the-art library.

The park of yesteryear, the park Terry Gold first brought his business to, is just a distant memory.

Perhaps in a magical wonderland where money rains from the sky and people whistle as they walk down streets paved with gumdrops, it doesn’t make sense for Gold’s contract to increase. However, for many, many years, his fees stayed the same.

But now it’s time to pay the piper. It’s no coincidence that, as the park has grown, the number of train riders has gone up.

Gold is also unhappy that his operation will be subject to a competitive bidding process. The audacity of the city. What are they thinking, musing with the idea of allowing competition for a business?

To our knowledge, there are no other miniature train rides within city limits. Gold has had what amounts to a monopoly since he first arrived. He’s done a fine job with the Folsom Valley Railway, but to play the victim card over the competitive bidding is crying wolf.

Plus, Parks and Recreation director Robert Goss said any potential railway replacement would “have to be someone who was measurably better.” Chances are they won’t find someone who fits the bill. But it wouldn’t be surprising if there are plenty of offers.

Whether you agree with their politics or not, the people who run Folsom are smart. They know just how much people love riding that little train. We assure you, they’re not sitting in a smoke-filled room sinisterly twirling their mustachios thinking of new ways to eliminate Gold.

But when something so near and dear to the hearts of residents is “threatened,” the city will look like the heel, no matter how irrational the justification is.

What it boils down to is fairness. With the new contract, the city is doing what’s fair. It deserves more of a return on the millions it invested, millions that have helped the Folsom Valley Railway.

And for the time being, Gold isn’t going anywhere – unless he wants to.