Farmers Market dominates CITCOM meeting

Although there were 14 numbered agenda items for the 03 March CITCOM meeting, one topic dominated the evening: the Farmers Market.

The meeting began with 12 of the 16 Public Comment speakers addressing Farmers Market matters. Customers, vendors, and would-be vendors spoke of such factors as permanent or temporary vendor-booths and their cost; the cost of and responsibility for curtains in front of those booths; whether the city-owned market should be separately responsible for its own operating and maintenance costs. "The market should be operated as a business, not as a charity" in the words of City Manager/former Finance Director Don Johnson.

Tom Wurdock, speaking for the mostly ignored Farmers Market Committee, said that the committee has been told, "That's none of your business" when it asks questions. It was impossible not to sense the animosity toward Johnson (and Public Service Department head Greg Rassel) in much of the dialogue.

The CITCOM meeting ended with multiple votes re Farmers Market matters: Failing with a 3-3 tie (DuBuc was absent) was the motion to retain permanent booths with a 3-year lease at a rate of $1,200/year. Voting No were CommissionersDouglas and Fournier and Mayor Ellison.

Approved was the motion to extend current leases for one year at a comparable rate that the vendors are paying, with notice that after one years they will be removing the permanent booths. Voting No were Goodwin and Poulton. A friendly amendment calls for current vendors to be first in line to have a booth.

Other matters:
CITCOM also reviewed liquor license matters; approved a Special Event Permit for Shakespeare in the Park; passed on First Reading an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Membership; approved Staff proposals re use of the Community Development Block Grant; approved a Construction Engineering Services contract re Traffic Signal Improvements; and approved a contract for Sewer Analysis, with Poulton voting No.