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Council agrees to cosponsor June downtown outdoor market but not to waive city hard costs
Summary
The council approved a co-sponsorship for the mall-run outdoor market in June, requiring the mall association to cover the city's labor and public-works hard costs; staff will convene the mall association and downtown business owners to try to resolve ongoing disputes and to consider a longer-term quarterly format.
The City Council voted to co-sponsor the San Fernando outdoor market for June while requiring the mall association to cover the city’s labor and hard costs for street closure and public-works services.
Deputy City Manager Kanika Keith summarized outreach staff conducted after earlier council direction. She said staff met with 18 downtown business owners who expressed concerns that past markets reduced customer access, blocked parking and placed food trucks on San Fernando Road in locations that generated noise and odors. The business owners proposed a compromise—quarterly street-closure events patterned on the city’s Celebration Expo that would prioritize downtown businesses and offer a small number of free booths to mall merchants.
Mall representatives said they want the market to return and offered changes: later closures to preserve daytime business access, moving food trucks off San Fernando Road to McLean Street, and providing about 10 free booths to downtown merchants to encourage participation.
Councilmember Joel Fajardo said the market enhances the city’s Christmas tree-lighting event and supported one more June event to test the revised format. Some council members urged that city-held costs be drawn from downtown event funds; staff said labor and inspection costs are real and recommended not waiving hard costs that come from the general fund.
Councilmember Patty Lopez, who had sought more outreach to merchants, supported continuing the conversation. Vice Mayor Mary Salodio and Councilmember Victoria Garcia asked that staff and the mall association convene the downtown merchants who oppose the current format so both sides can negotiate details.
The motion that passed directed staff to cosponsor the June market but not waive the city’s hard costs (public-works labor, inspections and building-permit fees). Roll-call on the motion was recorded as Lopez—Yes; Garcia—Yes; Fajardo—Yes; Salodio—Yes; Mendoza—Yes.
Staff said they will work with the mall association and the ad hoc MOU committee to refine the format and to consider using downtown special‑district funds for eligible event costs, and will return to council with recommendations for a longer-term approach.
