Trolley advertises city, argues owner

He says he's promoting Dade City, not his bottom line, by parking the trolley downtown. Commissioners agree, and allow the trolley to stay.

Trolley advertises city, says owner.

By HELEN ANNE TRAVIS, Times Staff Writer
Published January 10, 2008

DADE CITY - There was huffing and puffing and a threat to shut down a city staple. It all started with a warning.

In the final minutes of Tuesday night's commission meeting, representatives from Dade City Trolley Tour confronted commissioners about a notice they received last week.

For the past year, the company has loaded tourists and residents alike into bright orange and green trolleys for a tour of the city. They leave one trolley downtown as an "eye catcher."

But city ordinance says no one can park a vehicle solely for advertising purposes without prior approval. Officials busted an energy drink supplier and a mortgage company for the same violation in the past. The lone trolley had to move or the business could face a daily $10 ticket or risk towing.

Jim Guedry, owner of the trolley tour company and the Dade City Business Center,didn't think the rule applied to his business.

The company is not a non-profit, but Guedry said the trolley tour's proceeds benefit a scholarship program, not his wallet. The trolley, he said, should be allowed to stay downtown.

Joey Wubbena, director of internal services at the Dade City Business Center, spoke to a reporter Wednesday on Guedry's behalf. A former city employee, Wubbena said he used to enforce the same 50-year-old ordinance. Still, he disagreed with the warning.

"If we're selling anything, we're selling the city as a whole," he said.

No one's looking to profit from the tour, he said. In fact, the overhead has put Guedry in debt.

"We've been operating in the red with this with his money," Wubbena said.

Tuesday night, Guedry said that if he felt he had to, he'd shut the tours down.

Faced with the sudden decision of whether to allow the trolley to park downtown, Commissioner Camille Hernandez made a motion for the commission to think about the matter until the next city meeting, two weeks away.

This did not sit well with Guedry. He said tourist season kicked off soon and he couldn't wait. He stormed out of the meeting room, motioning for his entourage to follow.

"We're in the peak of our season," said Wubbena. "If this was an August problem, we wouldn't have been as loud."

During the winter, the trolley moves as many as 600 people a week around town. In the summer, there might be 50 riders, Wubbena said.

Hernandez's motion didn't pass. Instead, commissioners allowed Guedry's trolley to remain where it is.

In the past they've waived fees for Guedry's ventures and reimbursed some expenses. These are typical moves for stimulating economic development, said Karla Owens, the city attorney.

Guedry's businesses bring jobs and tourists to Dade City, said Commissioner Steve Van Gorden. Allowing the trolley to stay was a "no brainer."

"That trolley screams Dade City," Van Gorden said.

Helen Anne Travis can be reached at htravis@sptimes.com or 352 521-6518.

[Last modified January 9, 2008, 21:44:57]