Depot Bay committee pauses farmer’s market and tables craft-fee action until September

The Depot Bay Parks and Recreation Committee on July 16 removed the farmer’s market item from the consent agenda and agreed to table the related craft-fee work until September, after members said the usual point person, Kathy, is unavailable and no one else had agreed to lead.

At the meeting, a committee member explained that she had volunteered to meet with Kathy to outline processes but never intended to be the lead organizer. “I apologize if anyone thought that I was stepping up to say that I was going to take that on as a lead person. That was never my intention,” she said. Committee members said subsequent planning meetings were canceled because of Kathy’s health.

Why it matters: The farmer’s market and the committee’s craft-fee discussion relate to local small businesses and event revenue; tabling the item defers decisions about permits, pricing and operational oversight.

Discussion and next steps: Committee members said the city is not currently positioned to take over market leadership and that, without a volunteer point person, the market is unlikely to operate this year. The group agreed to revisit the topic in September to assess whether anyone will volunteer to lead or whether the city can provide additional support. A commissioner suggested a shared responsibility approach rather than a single appointee.

Formal action: The committee did not record a formal motion and vote in the transcript; the item was effectively tabled to a future meeting for reconsideration.

Ending: Committee members asked interested volunteers and commissioners experienced with events to step forward and said they would re-evaluate the market and craft-fee item in September.