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®'-GR 9Crnir ye_D-FIN DI RFrom:Natalie Long[SMTP :NATALIERLONG@YAHOO .COM]f~J'ACAOAre«yn~se (2-FIRE CHIE FSent:Thursday, January 28, 2010 4 :38 :48 PM [3'ATTORNEY (cYPW DI R
To :Council, SloCity 12'CLERK/O8IO 2-POLICE CH F
Subject :Farmers' Market Association / Downtown Association !II DEPT HEADS i -REC DI R
Auto forwarded by a Rule rZnJTIL DI Riauu~~,a D H D1 R
'Gt-rty 4i‘./z._Hello ,
I've been reading about the Downtown Association's decision to operate the entire e`4"-2
SLO Farmers' Market, terminating the SLO County Farmers' Market Association's
contract .It seems a big mistake to take away the Farmers' influence on our Farmers '
Market . I wonder if the Downtown Association really has any concept of how ou r
community, as well as our visitors, enjoy the fresh produce, flowers, etc that th e
farmers provide?It is just as important, if not more important than the activities
provided during Farmers' Market .It seems logical to think that if the Farmers are no t
involved in the leadership and planning of the SLO Farmers' Market, their value d
presence may be affected .
Thank You for your time ,
Natalie Lon g
From :Dorothy Yelda[SMTP :YELDA805@CHARTER .NET ]
Sent :Thursday, January 28, 2010 4 :50 :03 PM
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Farmers' Market Associatio n
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I have been shopping for organic fruits and vegetables at Thursday night farmers' market since i t
was opened . The farmers are doing an excellent job ; there is no need for any change .
Thank you ,
Dorothy Yeld a
From :Penny Sullivan[SMTP :PENNYJSULLIVAN@YAHOO .COM ]
Sent :Thursday, January 28, 2010 5 :06 :11 P M
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :FARMERS marke t
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Greetings our City Council,
Our Thursday night market is known nation-wide for its originality and depth . If you ar e
RED FILE
-MEETING AGENDA
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going to continue to call this "Farmer's Market", then you need to let the farmers manag e
their significant part of this gathering . This is not a trinket fair as one might see exiting a
cruise ship . The farmers are the most important part ...nothing needs to change . They
have managed beautifully to organize stand placements, start time, collecting fees . I t
seems that maybe some restaurants that want tables on the side walk don't want to se e
produce trucks and real food like corn in husks, apples by the bushel or box . Please don't
mess with tradition . At a time when folks are really doubting govenment and the honest y
and fairness therein, we don't need our city council supporting this behind the door abrup t
attempt to over-ride the farmer's roll in this Farmer's Market .
Sincerely, Penny Sulliva n
1983 Partridge Dr .
San Luis Obispo
From :Barbara Halon[SMTP :BARBHALON@CHARTER .NET ]
Sent :Thursday, January 28, 2010 7 :23 :26 P M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Pending Termination of the SLO Farmers Market Assocatio n
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Honorable Council Members :
Tonight I read in the Tribune that the Downtown Association is set to take over management o f
Thursday night Farmers Market from the SLO Farmers Market Association who has operated that
function for the past 27 years . The announcement of the take-over seems strange, since I
previously heard nothing whatever about problems or reasoning prompting consideration of that
change . I would have thought that the situations, circumstances and reasoning for the take-ove r
would have been made public some time ago so that we citizens would have the chance t o
consider the issues and form reasoned opinions about them .
I respectfully request that The Council and the Downtown Association consider this emai l
message my request for The Council to table the pending take-over until the whole affair can b e
fully aired publically . That is, information provided and at least some weeks for the issues to b e
correctly understood with time enough for citizen response ; i .e ., possibly to support the take-ove r
or consider alternatives .
I apologize if The Council and/or the Downtown Association and The Council have already mad e
public their concerns . If The Council has, would you do me the courtesy of responding to m e
ASAP as to where I can find that information ; or send it to me ?
Respectfully,
Robert L . Halon, Ph .D .
2092 McCollum Street ,
SLO 93405
805-544-587 0
From : Kathy Barnett[SMTP :KJBARNETT@TCSN .NET ]
Sent : Thursday, January 28, 2010 9 :11 :02 PM
To : Council, SloCit y
Subject : Farmer's Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
January 28, 201 0
Dear Mayor Romero and City Council Members ,
Until this week I thought that Slo's Thursday night Farmer's Market wa s
organized and run by the Farmer's Market Assn . When I moved to Pas o
Robles 10 years ago I didn't know anything about the Thursday nigh t
event ; my brother in Glendale told me how spectacular it was ...and is .
I
also believe the Market is the envy of every city in the county .
In today's Tribune farmer's are asking everyone that cares about th e
market to write to you voicing concern about recent happenings, tha t
no w
the Market will be operated by the Downtown Association . Tonight's TV
announcements keep saying that nothing has changed .
Hopefully you have heard of the First Law of Repair : "You Can't Fix I t
If It Ain't Broke ." If everything is staying the same than it can't b e
broken . To have notified the farmers so abruptly, without meeting t o
discuss perceived or real problems, says to me that you do not valu e
their participation .
Every city needs additional income but some things in the world do no t
have a dollar value ; I believe that by eliminating the farmers a s
administrators you are discarding something important, the feeling o f
being valued . You can't put a dollar figure on it but you know it's
there .
Farmers get caught in so many disputes, this does not have to be one o f
them . You have the ability to show you value their hard work by makin g
them joint administrators ; let farmers have a say in how the Farmer's
Market is run .
Respectfully ,
Kathy Barnet t
383 Quarterhorse Lan e
Paso Robles, CA 9344 6
(805)238-504 4
PS : I cannot attend your council meeting, my Tuesdays are reserved fo r
Paso's Council or PC meetings .
From : Jackie Parker[SMTP :SLOPARKER@CHARTER .NET ]
Sent : Thursday, January 28, 2010 9 :22 :33 PM
To : Council, SloCit y
Subject : Farmer's Market Rebellio n
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Dear City Council Members :
We would like to express our strong support for the SLO Farmers Marke t
Association and urge the City Council to reject the Downtow n
Association's cavalier and untimely move to take over management o f
the Farmers Market . For 27 years Farmers Market has been a vital par t
of the economic and social fabric of San Luis Obispo . We have
confidence in the Farmers Market Association and believe the managemen t
of Farmer's Market is best left to those with expertise in loca l
agriculture and direct sales of agricultural products . Peter Jankay
and the Association have been fine stewards of Farmer's Market .
Jackie and Ben Parke r
4423 Poinsettia Street, SL O
From :Gretchen Gonyer[SMTP :CRUSHEDGRAPE@HOTMAIL .COM]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 7 :39 :22 AM
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :farmers marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
dear mayor romero and council members, i have been attending farmers market o n
higuera since the beginning when i worked at the cigar factory- now nov o
restaurant . the reason i go is for the produce, flowers, and whatever local product s
have been offered . the management of the market have worked hard to make thi s
happen . i feel the way they weretold without a meeting with you was very unfai r
and i don't understand it .we need answers . sincerely gretchen gonye r
From :lyndon olmeda[SMTP :LROLMEDA@GMAIL .COM ]
Sent :Thursday, January 28, 2010 10 :11 :36 P M
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Farmers Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
SLO City Council ,
The recent actions of the SLO Downtown Association with regards to the management o f
the SLO Farmers Market and treatment of the SLO Co . Farmers Market Assoc . was badl y
done and speaks poorl to the colaborative theme many in the city are seeking to inspir e
amongst the citizenry .
I call upon the Council to consider this matter at the next meeting as it would appear n o
clear rationale has been provided, public input sought or consideration o f
the reverberating effects upon buisness or tourism this action may cause .
Concerned SLO Co . Citizen ,
Lyndon Olmed a
From :Richard Tickner[SMTP :RTICKNER@SBCGLOBAL .NET ]
Sent :Friday, January 29,2010 8 :34 :46 A M
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Farmers Marke t
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SLO City Council :
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"! Please leave our beloved Farmers Market in the hands o f
those who have the most to lose/gain--the farmers .
Richard Tickne r
SL O
From :Sue Waterbury[SMTP :SUEWATERBURY@YAHOO .COM ]
Sent :Friday, January 29,2010 8 :39 :16 A M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :SLO County Farmers Market Associatio n
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First,I really appreciate the fact that you are willing to hear thi sitem at next Tuesday's Council meeting .
I truly believe that the facts need to be presented and opened up fo r
discussion .
In my opinion, there is no reasonable explanation for taking th e
Thursday night market away from the organization that has diligentl yorganized and monitored it for so many years .Let's be honest, SLO had
the first ever Farmer's market in the state of California and they hav e
continued with hard work and established clear expectations . what aconcept!
Taking control of the market, by the Downtown Association, seems to b e
an unnecesary power play and I would think ms cash felt she coul deasilytake over, with little or no response from the Farmers or th e
public .That is NOT going to happen .
Thank you for your hard work ,
Susan Waterbur y
From : holly lindenthaler[SMTP :HOLLYLSLO@JUNO .COM ]
Sent : Friday, January 29, 2010 9 :39 :37 AM
To : Council, SloCit y
Subject : Farmer's Marke t
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Our Thursday Night Farmer's Market is an important part of our city an d
we hope this decision will be reconsidered . Please make sure i t
continues both on Sat . Morning and Thursday Night . Holly and Jonatha n
Lindenthale r
From :Lee & Dorothy Schlitz[SMTP :LSDSOPIE@SBCGLOBAL .NET]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 9 :37 :21 AM
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Farmers' Marke t
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I do not usually express an opinion, but on this one, I will . I do not think that the
Downtown Association should be in charge of this wonderful and over decades event .
The farmers who sell there vegetables, fruits, and other locally farmed items should b e
able to run their own market . The Downtown Association has way over stepped
themselves with out talking to the farmers who for years have been the main draw t o
Thursday nights . Shame, shame, shame.
Personally, I think the Downtown Association has turned this market into a carnival o r
circus ....music, vendors, political groups, all way out of line . Take this back to the foo d
and farm with special holiday events and you still have a winner .
Dorothy Schlit z
From :MICHAEL CURTIS[SMTP :MICHAELCURTIS7982@SBCGLOBAL .NET ]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 9 :14 :57 AM
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Farmer's Marke t
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Dear Council ,
Just a note of support for the Farmer's to have control over what goes on Thursday nights at Farmer's Market .
We feel it most important for the Farmer's to have a spokesman who will make decisions on their behalf, i n
their best interests .
Sincerely ,
Michael and Linda Curti s
From :Clark Staub[SMTP :CLARK@FULLOFLIFEFOODS .COM]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 11 :05 :23 A M
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Thursday Farmers Marke t
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Dear SLO City Council -
My name is Clark Staub and I own Full of Life Flatbread in the Northern Santa Barbara Count y
town of Los Alamos . In our 6 years of growing our national wholesale business as well as ou r
restaurant trade I have been a regular and consistent supporter of the SLO Farmers' Marke t
Association . As my acclaimed restaurant is located in a very rural area we make arrangement s
with farmers weekly to pick up their wonderful products at the Thursday night market . I spen d
between $300-500 weekly at the Thursday market . We also are regulars at the Saturday mornin g
market where I can spend another few hundred dollars ..
Through our direct interactions with farmers and food artisans, such as those we have befriende d
at the Thursday market, we, as chefs and food-related businesspeople, have become better a t
what we do : better cooks, better educators to our customers about the importance of locall y
produced foods, and better stewards of a food system constantly challenged by commoditizatio n
and suburbanization . Locally grown and produced foods are critical to ongoing sustainability
within our urban, and rural, landscapes .
Through my 6 year relationship with the SLO Markets, Peter and Diane have been excellen t
stewards and a credible, reliable, voice for and of the farmers . As the founder of the Claremon t
Farmers' Market Association, I know the singular importance of this voice . With no ill will toward s
the Downtown Business Association, having a Farmers' Market without that representation is a n
invitation to devalue the well-earned and deserved credibility that the Thursday night market ha s
gained over it's history .
Lastly, as an analogy, my company sells Certified Organic Frozen Pizzas nationally . Yesterday I
took my mother to New Frontiers where she purchased 2 of my pizzas (although I told her I coul d
just bring them to her). Later in the day someone asked me how much my business made off m y
mothers' purchase . I replied that my company made roughly $0 .75-$1, New Frontiers made $5 ,
and the distributor that we use to get our pizzas from our bakery to New Frontiers made
approximately $4 . Selling directly would obviously level this playing field a bit - as the farmer s
have with the Farmers' Markets .
As someone who is involved daily with food and as a businessperson committed to purchasin g
locally grown and produced foods, I am constantly seeking voices as strong, committed, an d
clear, as those of Peter and Diane . I urge you to reconsider the positioning and oversight of th e
Thursday night market and put the voice of the farmers in a committed farmer's hands .
Sincerely,
Clark Stau b
President - Full of Life Flatbrea d
225 West Bell Stree t
Los Alamos, CA 9344 0
www .fulloflifefoods .co m
From :Ron Rawlinson[SMTP :RONRAWLINSON@GMAIL .COM ]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 11 :30 :51 AM
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Farmer's Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
Let Farmers run their Market .
Maybe downtown business would prefer they move this ag venture out of their streets .
Let them see their sales on Thursdays then !
Ron Rawlinso n
Director of Sales & Marketin g
WineSmith Wines
ronrawlinson@gmail .co m
805 .459 .2056 cell/voicemai l
From :Sherry Fontan[SMTP :SLOTOWN78@GMAIL .COM ]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 11 :44 :16 A M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :farmers marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
City Council Members :
This email is in support of the SLO County Farmers Market Association .
Farmers should run "Farmers" Market . Not the SLO Downtown Association .
Sherry Fonta n
544-4897
From : gerry robertson[SMTP :GERRYMAMA@GMAIL .COM ]
Sent : Friday, January 29, 2010 12 :34 :30 P M
To : Council, SloCity
Subject : farmers marke t
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I strongly believe that the farmers should have a say in how th e
Farmers Market is run!!!!!!!!!!!!! The market should not be run b y
the Downtown Association . What is going on!!!?? Gerry Robertson, SL O
From :Richard Tibben[SMTP :HEMICAR1964@YAHOO .COM ]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 1 :16 :32 P M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Farmers Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
Dear Gentleperson,
I manage an educational booth for a non-profit at SLO farmers market . We are
entering our 20th consecutive year of having a booth a farmers market . I am confuse d
concerning the change in the management of the "fruits and vegetables" area of farmer s
market. As a manager in my profession, I always seriously considered not changin g
something that is not broken . Perhaps the city council should do the same .
From :Mary Ann Vasconcellos[SMTP :MAVTHYME@EARTHLINK .NET]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 1 :53 :03 P M
To :Council, SloCity
Subject:Farmers Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
SLO City Council ;
The promotion of San Luis Obispo should include generous support for our local Farmer s
Market Association . This means leaving the fees collected with this strugglin g
grassroots organization . The opportunity to capture another source of revenue must b e
enticing to the Downtown Ass .; however, doing so on the backs of the farmers is wrong .
I don't know if the SLO City Council has any authority to amend the actions of Debra
Cash but if, yes, then please do so . I will also be appealing to the Ag Commissioner an d
hope that he can make good this short sighted situation .
Thank you,
MaryAnn Vasconcellos
From :John MacKeen[SMTP :RSS2500@SBCGLOBAL .NET]
Sent :Friday, January 29, 2010 3 :00 :03 P M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Farmers Market
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
I believe the city is shortsighted in terminating the SLO Farmers Market Association afte r
27 years and without notice .
Harry Truman said "If it ain't broke - don't fix it! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!
One of the attractions for us to move to the Central Coast was the Thurs . night Farmers
Market because of its uniqueness . Frankly, we wouldn't go to SLO in the evening iif it
weren't for this event . We appreciate the friendly atmosphere, fresh produce and alway s
go to a restaurent for dinner . Many times, we also frequent the stores that border th e
Farmers Market .
I assume the cancellation is to increase city revenues but it will cast an unfavorable imag e
on the city which has always strived to be viewed as a city with the welcome mat out fo r
locals and visitors . Don't let deficits color this image .
John & Rosemary MacKee n
Shell Beach