HomeMy WebLinkAboutREDvarious2farmersRECEIVE D
MAY 18 2010
SLO CITY CLER K
From :Susan Hoffman[SMTP :SUSANH2@SBCGLOBAL .NET]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9 :27 :01 A M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Farmer's Market special meeting toda y
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
I just heard the Mayor speaking on the King Harris radio show about the special meeting at 4p m
today regarding the Farmer's Market .
I attended the previous night meeting when there was a huge turnout of community members t o
support the farmers staying in control of the farm produce and products part of the market . Th e
supporters for the farmers overflowed into the hallway and an adjoining room and out the fron t
door . Supporters stood and lined the walls of the council room when there were not enoug h
seats .
I am a San Luis Obispo resident and have attended the Thursday night Farmer's Market on a
regular basis ever since I moved here five years ago . The market is well known to my friends i n
other parts of the state, some of whom have come to visit me at times when they could atten d
the SLO Farmer's Market .
It is not the other things I or they come for -- the food is fun but I could just as easily go to th e
restaurants and cafes themselves for a supper or snack, and I and they could make do if we ha d
to without the entertainment, the booths, and things for sale .
The essential part of the Farmer's Market is the farmers and what they grow and sell . And I can't
do without them being in charge of what they manage so well .
Please -- all City Council members -- take a leadership role to settle this problem between th e
Downtown Association and the farmers . KEEP the farmers doing what they hav e
done successfully all these years -- let them be in charge of running their part of the market ,
physically and financially .
The Downtown Association's plan to take over management of the farm stands and farmers wil l
only result in loss of revenue and bad press for our wonderful city . It is a bad plan for Sa n
Luis Obispo . The residents are not behind it . If informed, I am certain the students would not b e
behind it . There are other farmer's markets in other local cities on other days . What will th e
Downtown Association and you, the City Council, gain by alienating community members such a s
myself? You will send us to other locations and we will be doing less shopping downtown .
The Mayor brought up the Wineman Hotel as an issue again, but it is a non-issue if the tables ar e
set up as they have been in the past on the other side of the street . I believe Councilma n
Carter had stated this as a solution .
It is time for the City Council to do the right thing and tell the Downtown Association -- enough .
Thank you ,
Susan Hoffma n
SLO City registered vote r
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From :lobogrown@aol .com[SMTP :LOBOGROWN@AOL .COM ]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9 :30 :32 AM
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Issue of the Farmers Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
The management of the Down Town Association is a failure at best . This person should b e
removed from her throne .
As per your Feb . orders to give the thursday nite market back to the SLOFMA, nothing has bee n
done . Th e
SLOFMA could have had better comunications with a fence post .
The City Council should contract directly with the SLOFMA .
Lyle Overley , farme r
From :lobogrown@aol .com[SMTP :LOBOGROWN@AOL .COM ]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9 :38 :03 AM
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :THURSDAY NIGHT FARMERS MARKE T
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ALL THE FARMERS I KNOW THOUGHT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS BEHIND US IN AR E
ENDEAVOR TO END THIS CONFLICT WITH THE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION .
I GUESS WE WILL HAVE TO BE ON THE MARCH AGAIN TO TRY AND MAKE YO U
UNDERSTAND THAT ONLY FARMERS APPRECIATE OTHER FARMERS WORK .
STOP THIS CHILD'S PLAY .
A LOCAL FARMER BARBARA OVERLEY
From :MA2KAG@aol .com[SMTP :MA2KAG@AOL .COM]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 9 :53 :11 AM
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Thursday Night Farmers' Marke t
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
Dear SLO City Council ,
As a family farm member that sells produce at the Thursday Night Farmers' Market, I a m
writing this e-mail to encourage you to please return the management of the Farmers' Marke t
section back to the Farmers' Market Association . I feel this delay has gone on far too long .
Thank You, Mary Ann Bathe
From :Fred Collins[SMTP :FCOLLINS@NORTHERNCHUMASH .ORG ]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 10 :01 :07 A M
To :Council, SloCity
Subject :Farmers Market
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
Mayor and Council Members ,
The Northern Chumash Tribal Council (NCTC) is a supporter of our local farming community ,
NCTC owns and operates Chumash Farms and supports Native Herb and Honey Co ., both are
local "all native all natural" farming organizations . For years we have watched the Farmer's
Market, and the different products sold at the market . It has always been our contention tha t
not enough local farmers were participating, and come to find out that most of the farmer s
selling at our market come from other counties and are not local San Luis Obispo Farmers . Thi s
Great San Luis Obispo Farmers Market should be for our local farmers first and foremost, ou r
local farmers should have priority over all other out of the county farmers, there should be a
section for seasonal farmers from out of county, but our Local Farmers should have top priority ,
always . The protocols for entry and exit from the San Luis Obispo Farmers Market shoul d
prioritized with Local Farmers First and then the process should be the same for everyone an d
be an open process, no hidden agendas . We have plenty of room in the downtown area for a s
many local farmers as we have, this creates completion for better quality/healthier products ,
with a greater variety . Supporting our local farmers is a way to support a new and importan t
movement to build our economy with a stable foundation, Farming . NCTC will be speakin g
today for our Native American Chumash Community and the Native American Farming
Community Nationwide, who are supporters of farming and the preservation of Mother Eart h
(Hutash).
NCTC would like to see this Council support our local farming community in any way that yo u
can, please urge the staff to look at ways to adopt an open door to local farmers, with an ope n
review application process .
Be well ,
Fred Collin s
Tribal Administrato r
NCTC Northern Chumash Tribal Counci l
67 South Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
(805) 528-0806 www .NorthernChumash .org
Educational Services & Environmental Consultin g
From :EMF2739@aol .com[SMTP :EMF2739@AOL .COM ]
Sent:Tuesday, May 18, 2010 10 :08 :03 A M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :Thursday Night Farmers' Market Managemen t
Auto forwarded by a Rule
To the SLO City Council :
Our family farm has been participating in the SLO City Thursday Night Farmers' Market sinc e
its inception . Please return the management of the market portion to the Farmers' Marke t
Association . Thank you .
Evelyn M . Fernamburg
From :James Bednar[SMTP :JJGENOLA@CHARTER .NET ]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 10 :33 :40 A M
To :Council, SloCit y
Subject :farmers market
Auto forwarded by a Rul e
To Whom it may concer n
keep the farmers in charge PLEASE i would not go there with out them .
Thanks James
From :John D . Grady, CFP [mailto :jgradyslo@earthlink .net]
Sent :Tuesday, May 18, 2010 11 :23 A M
To :Council_AL L
Subject:Farmer's Market Disput e
Dear City Council Members ,
I am a member of the Downtown Association (DA) and am quite upset that the issue o f
the farmers controlling their Thursday night booths at the downtown Farmer's Market i s
still not resolved! I spoke personally with Deborah Cash when this dispute first becam e
known to the public when it was discussed previously by the city council . At that time ,
Deborah Cash assured me that an agreement was close at hand and would soon b e
implemented . I, like most folks, assumed this had been accomplished long ago as I hav e
heard nothing from the Downtown Association since then regarding this ongoin g
dispute .
I (like most citizens of our city) would like to see the farmers restored to their rightfu l
place in managing and overseeing their Thursday night downtown Farmer's
Market . I hope at today's special City Council Meeting that you all make it very clea r
to Ms . Cash and the DA that you expect control and management of the Thursday nigh t
Farmer's Market returned to the farmers immediately . Short of the DA fully complyin g
promptly with your request, I encourage you to revoke their contract with the city t o
sponsor this weekly event .
This has gone on far too long and I see it as a power play by Deborah Cash and the DA t o
wield their weight and authority over the farmers . I think the community expresse d
loud and clear at your last meeting on this subject their support of the farmers . I urg e
your strong and unequivocal support of the farmers at today's meeting .
Thank you .
Regards ,
John Grad y
525 Marsh Stree t
San Luis Obispo, CA 9340 1
544-2242