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Council asks staff to explore Farmers Market expansion and ways to better include downtown businesses
Summary
Council directed staff to study options for expanding and reconfiguring the downtown Farmers Market, including vendor placement, business participation and whether to broaden the market footprint to additional streets; staff will consult market managers and downtown businesses and report back.
After several public comments from downtown merchants and the Downtown Brentwood Coalition, the City Council on Jan. 28 asked staff to study possible changes to the configuration and footprint of the city’s Farmers Market.
What council asked staff to do: Council directed staff to consult the market operator (Pacific Coast Farmers Market), poll and meet with downtown businesses (including the Downtown Brentwood Coalition) and return with options for expanding the market footprint, including possible placement changes so booths do not block storefront access and ways to prioritize space or low-cost opportunities for local downtown businesses. Council asked staff to explore whether portions of the market could be placed down the center of streets in a way that maintains emergency access and accommodates business access.
Public input at the meeting: Downtown merchants told council they generally support the market but asked for changes that would make it easier for storefront businesses to remain open and capture foot traffic on market days. Some merchants proposed allowing downtown businesses to operate booths or displays at no or reduced cost; others suggested moving some vendor stalls to side streets that front additional downtown stores.
Next steps: Staff said they will contact the market operator, survey merchants and prepare options that include traffic, safety and public-safety constraints (for example, fire apparatus access if tents occupy the center of a street). The council asked staff to return with study results and a recommended plan.
Ending: Council members said they supported the Farmers Market and downtown vitality and requested staff bring a report and recommended options to a future meeting.
