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HomeMy WebLinkAboutmarxcorrespondenceSea -7?77o,d5 /4/rnrcer To : San Luis Obispo City Counci l From : Jan Howell Marx Re : Farmers' Market Issu e Date : 2/2/2010 V`k4,'4 4-re-)c OelmuL+IL ~I~Gllit!!~ 23y O /•9s/rd Please accept my apologies for not being able to attend tonight's meeting, due t o Doctor's orders to stay in bed . Below are my thoughts on this important issue . Like every single person who has commented on this issue, I am a long tim e supporter and customer of the Farmers' Market . I believe that the sale of fresh loca l produce is the heart and soul of the Thursday Night event, and should stay that way . It i s a community treasure . As landlords and custodians of the city streets, Council has a bas e line responsibility to the community to protect what the community treasures, includin g Farmers Market . As detailed below, I would like to see this issue be placed on a futur e Council agenda, so that the contract with the Downtown Association can be amended an d to provide for stronger oversight by the City of the Farmers' Market . I am deeply concerned that this change in management ("takeover") wa s presented as a "done deal" to the Farmers Market Association and to the City, wit h apparently no consideration of the community response or economic effect on the farmer s and other farmers' markets throughout the county . I am appalled that this abrupt change in management of the Farmers' Market was made without any prior notice to , consultation with, or guidance from city staff. The actual chain of events leading up to the decision has still not been mad e public . The Downtown Association met in secret to make this decision, even though it i s my understanding it has a contractual obligation to include city representatives in "al l meetings". Because of the secrecy involved, the Council and the public have no way o f knowing whether or not the takeover was fair or warranted . It is more than obvious that the "takeover" and the events leading up to it hav e been incredibly poorly handled by the both Downtown Association, but also by th e Farmers Market Association . Whatever the problems, having professional staff and year s of expertise, these two long trusted nonprofits should have been able to collaborate an d work them out, or they should have asked for city help . Instead, they have created an entirely unnecessary community crisis . If the current "train wreck" they have created is indicative of their professional expertise, then I hav e serious concerns about the ability of either of them to do an excellent job of running the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market . The City of San Luis Obispo expects, and deserves , better . I believe the city needs to step in and take a stronger role at this point in order t o make sure the Farmers' Market is well run and to restore the community trust .I recommend the Scope of Services section of the Contract between the Downtow n Association and the City be amended . Below are a few suggestions . I alrirecy M FEB2,-2010 E D SLO CITY CLERK that the performance of the Farmers' Market be carefully monitored by the city for th e duration of the Contract . Recommendation : 1 . Our contract with the Downtown Association (DA) does not specify that a Farmers' Market shall be part of Thursday Night Promotions, (TNP) which is a proble m that needs correction . I recommend that the Scope of services of the contract with th e Downtown Association be amended to include all of the recommendations of the cit y attorney and : a.That a certified Farmers' Market run by agriculturally qualified Farmers ' Market personnel remain a permanent part of Thursday Night Promotions ; b.That a city staff member be appointed by the City Manager as liaison to th e Farmers' Market ; c.That the Farmers who sell produce at the Farmers Market be included in th e governance of the event in substantial and meaningful way with recourse to the city staf f liaison if there are problems ; d .. That the Downtown Association present monthly (not quarterly) reports . e. That no substantive changes in the Thursday Night Promotions program b e made with out the approval of the city manager . 2 . The performance of the Downtown Association as the new manager of the Farmers' Market be carefully monitored by city staff and a report to Council be presente d at least six months before the expiration of the present contract with the Downtow n Association . Before we enter into another contract with the Downtown Association, w e need to be confident in its ability to perform up to the excellent standards our communit y deserves and expects .