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HomeMy WebLinkAboutREDvarious6presentationsFrom :Ximena Ames[SMTP :XIMENA622@YAHOO .COM] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 2 :31 :08 PM To :Council, SloCity Subject :Don't put the farmers out of business ! Auto forwarded by a Rul e To San Luis Obispo City Council : As concerned citizens, we want to say that the Downtown Association SHOUL D NOT be operating the Farmer's Market . Farmers should remain in charge ! Thank you . RED FILE — MEETING AGENDA DATE,x-/Zf%o ITEM #/t —ion 7o(23 Mr . and Mrs . Paul W . Ames 989 Sweet Gum Lan e Nipomo, Ca . 9344 4 From :Wendy Daly[SMTP :WGDALY@CHARTER .NET ] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 3 :00 :29 P M To :Council, SloCity Subject :Farmers' Market change s Auto forwarded by a Rule '12.DeePt_6mfr+(L ±COUNCIL CCDD DI R0-'-GAG &P//4162 E3-FIN DI REl—ADAGAssretrt,, Ea-FIRE CHIE F[ATTORNEY CAW DI Rf2-CLERK/©RIt Elf-POLICE CH F11 DEPT HEADS p ' C DI RyP~k.jU iL DI MTrz-En--IA DI R NCB Tav1es X t &. err,"/YI ./?, We hope that Mayor Romero and each council member takes the time to read our letter regardin g our strong opposition to removing the Farmers' Market Association from the co - administration of our Thursday night downtown activities ! Jim and Wendy Dal y 1775 Conejo Av e San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1 RE : Farmers' Market Administrative change s To City Council Members Dave Romero, Vice mayor Andrew Carter, Council member Allen Settle, Council member Jan Howell Marx, council member John Ashbaug h Slocitycouncil(a,slocity.org February 1, 201 0 San Luis Obispo risks losing one of our community's most loved treasures or seeing it s character and quality eroded . The ability of the Farmers' Market to co-exist wit h downtown merchants depends on the Farmers' Market having a separate advocate i n order to reach fair compromises on how the market is organized and where vendors sel l their goods . We have a Farmers' Market Association that had done a great job of this fo r 27 years! Why endanger such a wonderful part of our lives in San Luis Obispo and why chang e what so obviously works so well? We need the Farmers' Market Association to ensur e fair management and representation for the farmers who participate in our Thursday nigh t Farmers' Market and those who buy their produce . If you read the Tribune or the New Times or speak to farmers and their customers, yo u know that the Downtown Business Association, headed by Deborah Cash, is attemptin g to take over the Farmers' end of Farmers' Market in addition to controlling the Thursda y night food, information, and entertainment venues of the businesses in the Downtow n corridor. This is a bad idea for the following reasons : 1.Most of us did not realize that The Farmers' Market is a separate entity, but i t makes a lot of sense—a not for profit legal entity created for the mutual benefit of farmers and their customers, dedicated to providing its customers with fres h high quality produce at a reasonable price while providing a strong marketplac e for small family farms . The rapport between the farmers and our community wa s developed over many years and much hard work on Peter's part . It seem s senseless to do away with the very entity that makes Thursday night in Downtow n SLO so special . 2.The Downtown Association admittedly does not know the farmers, nor does i t know what it takes to get products from the fields to the store . The Downtow n Association will now be responsible for the quality and price of fresh produc e sold at our farmers' market, but no advocate for the farmers or their customer s will be involved in the Downtown Association's decisions . 3.The Downtown Association will decide where the farmers display and sell thei r goods, and it may decide to raise the cost of participation on Thursday nights ; but the farmers will have no advocate for their interests . The smaller farmers wh o now participate may be forced out due to higher costs and/or poorer locations . Thus we may see larger farming corporations dominating our market . 4.Being a merchant in downtown SLO is an expensive undertaking, but th e Farmers' Market is a big reason for the downtown's popularity and thus it s desirability as a business venue . Downtown businesses have benefited from th e participation of our small farmers . The farmers deserve representation in th e Downtown Association's Thursday night activities . Wendy and Jim Dal y 1775 Conejo Avenue, San Luis Obispo, 9340 1 805-543-944 7 From :rgingg@charter .net[SMTP :RGINGG@CHARTER .NET ] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 3 :24 :55 P M To :Council, SloCit y Subject : FARMERS MARKE T Auto forwarded by a Rule Right out of high school in 1960, I moved to San Luis Obispo . I worked for a living . I have lived there ever since except for 15 months which were spent in th e U .S . Army in Colorado Springs with my husband . I remember when Farmers Market was started . It was to keep the high schoo l and college students from cruising Higher Stree on Thursday nights . This woul d allow the adults who wanted to shop, do so in peace . For 27 years, the farmer s have done just that . Why is it now that we have some Hotel and othe r businesses who want to change all of this . There have been many magazine and newspaper articles that showcase ou r Farmers Market . I think that is a feather in their cap . Let the farmers continu e like they are doing now . Rosalind Ging g 1326 Cecelia Cour t SLO, CA 9340 1 From : Vivi Justesen[SMTP :EVYJUST@GMAIL .COM ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 3 :45 :04 PM To : Council, SloCit y Subject : Farmers' Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e Honorable City Council : I was unable to sign the petition for the Farmers' Market las t Saturday and would like to add my name to what I hope is a very lon g list of residents who think that the Market has been very unfairl y treated by the Council . What makes the Market so wonderful - and attractive to the tourist s in the summer - is precisely the produce - farmer aspect of th e Market . All the rest is just "fluff". Don't treat the backbone o f our Market so spuriously . Respectfully yours . Evy Justese n 2065 McCollum S t SLO 9340 5 From : Dawnna McDougall[SMTP :DAWNNAMAC@CHARTER .NET ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 4 :09 :27 PM To : Council, SloCit y Subject : Farmers' Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rule Honorable Mayor Romero, Vice Mayor Carter, and Council Member s Ashbaugh, Carter, Howell-Marx, and Settle , Since inception, the San Luis Obispo Farmers' Market has been a wonderfully successful Thursday night event, acclaimed far and wide , imitated and celebrated . It is certainly puzzling and disturbing t o see the Downtown Association suddenly and without explanation tak e over from the SLO County Farmers Market Association operations whic h have been so well managed under the leadership of the very responsibl e and capable Administrator Peter Jankay . It is my expectation that you will call for an explanation , documentation and a just rationale from the Downtown Association fo r this disturbing action when you take up the issue tomorrow night . Dawnna McDougal l 3040 Johnson Avenu e San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1 From :Larry Wright[SMTP :LARRYSLO@YAHOO .COM] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 5 :13 :27 P M To :Council, SloCit y Subject :farmers marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e Dear members of the SLO City Council , Please do not let the Downtown Association take over control of the Thursday farmer s market , We believe that farmers are best qualified to say how the market should be run . Thank you, Larry and Carolyn Wrigh t From : Beverly Gingg[SMTP :BGINGG@SMCF .ORG ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 5 :25 :28 PM To : Council, SloCit y Subject : Farmers Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e Dear San Luis Obispo City Council Members , We're writing to express our strong opposition to termination of th e 27 year relationship betwee n the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market and the San Luis Obispo Farmer s Market Association . Farmers have made and will continue to make the Thursday nigh t Farmers Market the succes s that it is . Please do not go through with the Downtown Association's ill - conceived plan to take this away fro m the Farmers Market Association . This could ruin one of the bes t things about SLO . Thanks for giving this your full consideration . Best regards , Beverly and Bryan Ging g 680 Skyline Dr . San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 5 (805)549-931 9 From : Janice Zoradi[SMTP :JLZORADI@GMAIL .COM ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 5 :42 :42 P M To : Council, SloCity Subject : Keep the Farmers in Farmers' Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e To SLO City Council Members , I support the role the SLO County Farmers' Market has played in th e Thursday Night Farmers' Market . I urge you to do the right thing an d continue to allow the SLO County Farmers Market to have a say in th e how the Farmers' Market is run . It's obvious, it's natural, and it's commonsense . I buy all my fruits, vegetables, flowers, nuts, eggs , plants, meats, etc . etc . at the SLO Farmers' Market, and I trust th e farmers to continue their long record of making good decisions o n behalf of the entire community . Take a stand for small business - these farmers are the backbone of our agricultural presence in thi s county . I support the farmers ...and I vote . Sincerely , Janice Zorad i 2360 Madrid Ct . San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1 From : rschmidt@rain .org[SMTP :RSCHMIDT@RAIN .ORG ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 6 :20 :24 PM To : Council, SloCity Subject : farmers marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e Dear Council Members , I fully support the farmer's market association having control over its own event . The downtown association is seriouslsy out of line in it s unilateral exercise of hegemony over the farmers . Their control-frea k mentality needs to be curbed by the council ; the streets belong to us , no t to them, after all . Frankly, the DA's events stink, and I wouldn't min d seeing the farmers take them over, and make this event the nic e family-friendly community event it used to be instead of a prelude fo r th e first of three successive drunk nights . Sincerely , Richard Schmid t From :Dylan George[SMTP :DYLANGEORGE541 @GMAIL .COM] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 6 :23 :39 P M To :Council, SloCity Subject :Farmer's Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e My favorite part of "Farmer's" Market is the fresh local produce I can purchase directly fro m the people who grow it in our county . I feed my family with it, and the experience we get to enjo y together is most priceless . This beloved town is known across the nation for our Farmer's Market . Without the Farmer's, it's just another, colorless painting in the newspaper . The vibranc e that the fresh food selection brings to the downtown scene, shines through each customer tha t travels across town to experience the family friendly atmosphere . If you make this unfortunate decision, you will be responsible for decreased optimism and increased shame upon this county . Please reconsider . Sincerely , Dylan G . From :Whit Donaldson[SMTP :KESTREL1234@SBCGLOBAL .NET] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 8 :08 :08 P M To :Council, SloCit y Subject :Farmer's Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e My husband and I, who have lived in this county over 20 years, are not pleased by th e action of the Downtown Association in regards to their take-over of the Farmer's Market . We LOVE the Farmer's Market being run by those who, over the years wit h their experience and intelligent decision-making, have made this event one of the great experiences anyone visiting the Central Coast can have . This surprise action reeks of the corrupt politics that San Luis Obispo County has been known for in the past . Pleas e don't let this happen to a great organization of people led by the most competent perso n we know, Dr . Peter Jankay. We beg you to hold off on this decision and get the righ t people working together to develop and institute a fair solution . If the Downtow n Association (who in our eyes is already destroying our beloved downtown with all thei r planned high-rise buildings) gets their way, we, our friends, family and guests wil l boycott the Farmer's Market . Please keep the farmers involved in how the Farmer's Market is run . For 27 years of success, these folks deserve much better treatment an d respect . Sincerely , Jane and Whit Donaldso n 2736 Santa Barbara Ave . Cayucos, C A From :A Riley[SMTP :ARILEY@FIX .NET ] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 8 :20 :23 PM To :Council, SloCity Subject :Please support the Farmers Market Asso c Auto forwarded by a Rul e Dear SLO City Council , I would like to support the Farmer's Market Association . They should definitely retai n their control over the market . We need to support local farmers and the local aspects of the produce markets . The other `events' on Thursday night are getting unwieldy, and I worry that the Downtow n Association would increase this trend until the traditional SLO farmer's market become s more of a burden on the city residents than a blessing . Mary Rile y From :Jessica Barba[SMTP :JESSICABARBA.MD@GMAIL .COM] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 8 :25 :25 P M To :orgfarm@calpoly .edu ; sloda@downtownslo .com ; Council, SloCity Subject :farmers market Auto forwarded by a Rule hello my name is Jessica Barba and I am a reporter from the Mustang Daily on Farmer's Market and the Downtown Association and wanted to ask you several questions . If yo u could get back to me as soon as possible as my deadline is tomorrow at 9 I would reall y appreciate it . I am available anytime tonight and tomorrow . Jessica Barb a 818 389 996 2 From : Douglas Pillsbury[SMTP :DOUGLAS@THEGRID .NET ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 9 :19 :51 P M To : Council, SloCity Subject : Farmers Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e To : Dave Romero, Andrew Carter, Allen Settle, Jan Howell Marx, Joh n Ashbaugh :] We are concerned that the Downtown Association has not treated the SL O County Farmers Market Association with the respect it is due afte r year s of service to our community . If there is a way for both organization s to share the benefits of the Thursday night event, we hope that th e cit y council will make the effort to promote that solution . Sincerely , Douglas Pillsbur y From :paganspirit[SMTP :PAGANSPIRIT@GINANKEN .COM ] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 9 :50 :45 PM To :Council, SloCity Subject :Farmers Market debacl e Auto forwarded by a Rul e Dear SLO City Council Members , I am astounded to hear of the lack of respect with which the SLO Downtown Associatio n has treated the local farmers and the Association they have set up to protect thei r interests . Like an "at-will" employee, the SLO County Farmers Market Association ha s been blindsided, without either notice or even official paperwork, told that they ar e completely dispensable, and essentially are being "fired" by the Downtown Association . It is obvious to me that the Downtown Association has an inflated image of itself ; who has granted them the power to treat the SLO County Farmers Market Association lik e this? If the City Council has any say so in this matter whatsoever, I hope that you will game r an explanation at the very least from the Downtown Association for how the Farmers Market Association has been treated, if not a full apology . As a weekly consumer o f fresh, safe and local produce from my own farmers markets in Arroyo Grande, I a m aware that the loss of both control over and substantial revenue from the Thursday nigh t farmers market could affect smaller farmers markets throughout the county, including m y own Arroyo Grande markets . In this era of food insecurity, we who live in SLO County feel extremely fortunate to have locally grown, fresh produce available year round from our beloved farmers markets . Please do not let corporate interests and selfish financial gain blind you to th e importance of local farmer control over these markets, which are precious to all ou r county residents . Please reverse this decision by the Downtown Association at Tuesday's meeting of your council . It is both unfair and inappropriate for anyone but the farmers to have contro l over their markets, and if you would listen carefully to the farmers' explanations abou t why this is true, I am sure you will have no choice but to agree . Sincerely , Gina Whitake r Arroyo Grande, CA From :carolja[SMTP :CAROLJA@GOTSKY .COM] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 10 :10 :33 P M To :Council,SloCity Subject :Keep farmers Market as we know i t Auto forwarded by a Rul e I beg you gentlemen -- DO NOT take our farmers out of their rightful place at framer s market What is your reason ??? The vegetables & fruits are wonderful -- They are a very bi g calling card to Thursday nights event s WHY ?? WHY ??? Please do not do this .!! Carol Alexander 5010 Hwy One Cayucos CA 9343 0 From : Robert Lyon[SMTP :BOB@STUDIOSBLACKBIRD .COM ] Sent : Monday, February 01, 2010 11 :40 :38 PM To : Council, SloCit y Subject : Farmer's Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e Hello ; As a thirty six year resident of San Luis Obispo, I am ver y upset by the recent move by the Downtown Association in their blatan t take over of the Farmer's Market on Thursday nights . I do not feel that the Downtown Association actually has the best interest of th e majority of participants of the "Thursday Night Event", which by mos t everyone who knows about it calls the event the San Luis Obisp o Farmer's Market . Please consider the idea that the Farmer's Marke t should be run by the Farmer's Association, which has the bes t interests of the actual farmers in mind, as opposed to the Downtow n Association, which seems to only have the narrow interest of a selec t few of their members . The Downtown Association has stepped over th e bounds of what an association such as their should be focusing on .I suggest that Deborah Cash be removed as the head of the association a s she has been in the position of leadership when the association ha s stepped over those bounds . Thank you, Bob Lyon, San Luis Obispo . From :Kimberly Pasciuto[SMTP :SENZAPENSIERI@SBCGLOBAL .NET] Sent :Monday, February 01, 2010 3 :12 :15 P M To :Council, SloCit y Subject :SLO Farmers Marke t Auto forwarded by a Rul e Dear Council Members , In anticipation of your meeting tomorrow, attached is a letter regardin g the issues surrounding the SLO Farmers Market . Thank you for your consideration of this very important matter . Sincerely , Kimberly B . Pasciuto, J .D Central Coast Agricultural Networ k Farm to School Committee, Chai r (805) 238-3775 San Luis Obispo City Council Feb 1, 201 0 Via Email :slocitycounci1(slocity .org Re : San Luis Obispo Farmers Marke t Dear Council Members , Tomorrow you will hear many members of the public and many of our best loca l farmers speak against the unilateral decision of the Downtown Association to tak e the management of the farmers' portion of the Farmers Market away from th e Farmers Market Association . While at first blush it might seem a wise decision to consolidate the market under one manager, the fact is this will be a serious mistak e and put all our county farmers markets at risk . Farming is a difficult proposition at best. The farmers market system is critical t o the financial success of our local farmers . The fees that farmers pay for their space s go, in part, to support the management of the market by professionals with th e farmers' interests first and foremost . Market managers spend untold hours not only working with farmers and the publi c directly at the markets but also by supporting a variety of community organization s like Farm to School Programs and Pallet to Palate . Who shall I call at the Downtow n Association when I need a box of produce for a tasting at a local elementary school ? Who will attend the National Farm to School Conference with local school foo d service directors to support their efforts to get locally grown produce in ou r schools ? The fees collected at the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market go to support the networ k of smaller markets throughout the county . Allowing the Downtown Association t o grab the fees that pay the market managers will weaken the entire system . I urge you to ask reject the unilateral action of the Downtown Association and leav e management of the Farmers Market with the farmers and their market managers . Sincerely , Kim Pasciut o Central Coast Ag Networ k Farm to School Committee, Chai r (805) 238-3775