Council approves temporary rental terms to host farmers market at Centennial Commons

University City councilmembers approved a facility-use arrangement to allow the relocated farmers market to operate at Centennial Commons and accepted a temporary reduced fee while the market seeks outside funding.

Deputy City Manager Brooke Sharp told the council the farmers market relocated from the Delmar Loop after its lease ended and asked to use the Centennial Commons parking lot; staff and the parks commission recommended using the lot and set a new fee structure mirroring pavilion rental rates. Sharp said resident rates mirror pavilion pricing at $50 per use and nonresident rates $100 per use; because the market and its executive director do not have University City addresses, the market would qualify as a nonresident user.

Why it matters: Hosting the market preserves vendor access and commercial activity in the city but required a new pricing approach because the parking lot is a novel municipal use and could set a precedent for other nontraditional uses of park parking lots.

Details: The parks commission reduced the market’s fee to $200 for June while the market seeks a July decision from the Economic Development and Redevelopment Sales Tax (EDRST) board for additional funding that could cover the full rental rate. Sharp explained that if EDRST awards extra funds, the market would pay the normal nonresident rate — $800 a month based on two weekly markets — otherwise the commission recommended the reduced $200 rate remain through November. Council member Smotherson questioned the circular effect of providing EDRST funds that would then be used to pay the city; staff said EDRST is the most appropriate subsidy source so the parks department does not subsidize its regular operations.

Council approved the use agreement after discussion; the motion to approve was made by Council member Smotherson and seconded by Council member Brenner, and council members voted in favor.