Lollapalooza Concert, June 1993 Cacophonous concert criticized By BRIAN K. ALVORD Standard-Examiner staff OGDEN The Weber County Commission isn't scoring a lot of points lately with some neighbors of the county fairgrounds. Take, for example, these performance reviews: "They work for us, but they never come to work"... "All we're getting is lip service"... "Nothing happened." The assessments came from angry residents facing the specter of another Lollapalooza concert this summer. They claim the county has failed to follow up on promises to address neighborhood concerns before scheduling another such event. Last June's Lollapalooza performance wreaked havoc on the quiet residential areas west and north of the fairgrounds, they said. An estimated 18,000 people attended the all-day festival of alternative rock bands. The neighbors said traffic backed up for miles even onto Interstate 15 concertgoers urinated and defecated on their lawns, parked cars lined streets and spilled into fields and yards, and the music could be heard inside homes two miles away. And when Commissioner Spencer Stokes was a no-show Wednesday at a scheduled meeting with a neighborhood committee at the fairgrounds, some made it clear they are fed up. When county facilities Manager Gary Laird said Stokes was tied up in another meeting and might not make it, they greated the news with jeers. "It's the same old song," said Keith Butler, who owns a home on 400 North in Slaterville, a prime See CONCERT on 3C Concert From 1C fairgrounds access. "You might as well get the violins out." No commissioners attended. Commission Chairwoman Joan Hellstrom, in a March 14 invitation to residents, wrote that Stokes and Laird would attend. The fairgrounds is one of Stoke's designated management areas on the commission. Stokes declined a phone call from the Standard-Examiner Wednesday, and could not be reached for comment today. Laird and Golden Spike Arena Manager Gary Myrup listened to the concerns of the committee, and Laird said he will summarize the results and schedule an appearance for the group at commission chambers, per Stokes' suggestion. The overriding concern is traffic, committee members said. And the problem apparently stems largely from the inability to move vehicles quickly into fairgrounds parking. The fairgrounds has only two accesses: a three-lane road on the west side and a two-lane road on the north. At last year's Lollapalooza, the north entrance was reserved for emergency and. "VIP" vehicles, and traffic entering the west access backed up for miles, down 1200 West and 400 North and onto 1-15. Because concertgoers could park and walk to the fairgrounds faster, thousands did, lining neighborhood streets. The residents documented It with photos and videotape, and showed some to Laird and Myrup. Laird said the problem was worsened because parking fees were collected. If the concert is repeated this year, admission tickets may be priced to cover parking expenses, he said. Laird said the county could try several other improvements, including: Posting of no parking signs on access streets, coupled with early use of tow trucks to discourage violators. Keeping the traffic light at 1200 West and 400 North fully operational to facilitate incoming freeway traffic. The light now reverts to only flashing amber and red lights at certain times of the day. Allowing one lane of general inbound traffic via the north access, or dedicating all three lanes of the west access to inbound traffic and using both north access lanes for outbound traffic. Some committee members also said an ordinance should be passed to regulate the maximum volume of outdoor concerts, while others emphasized that the county's $ 19,000 share of concert profits did not justify its impact. "Does a dollar-per-person profit justify another concert?" said member Paula Okey, who calls the event Lollapa-"loser." Neighbors for miles around were forced to listen to lyrics like, "I'm a loser babe, so why don't you kill me?" protested Okey. Laird said the Lollapalooza promoters, United Concerts, have asked the county to reserve July 7 this year, but no contract has been signed. 40