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Commission raises follow-up and data-process gaps after slow, rainy farmers market; asks staff to clarify ‘Tell Us More’ cards handling
Summary
After a rainy farmers market with low turnout, commissioners discussed outreach takeaways, inconsistent survey follow-up and the use and disposition of "Tell Us More" comment cards; commissioners asked staff to develop a response process before next year and to archive survey results in the engagement binder.
Commissioners reported low turnout at the most recent farmers market because of rainy weather but said the event still surfaced recurring resident questions and concerns about local development and services.
Commission members said the Liberty Lake "Tell Us More" note cards—small cards left at the farmers market for residents to submit comments and contact information—appeared in limited numbers this year and that there is no clear process for intake, distribution and staff follow-up on the submissions.
One commissioner said she scanned and gave six returned cards to staff member Mark McAvoy for distribution, but other commissioners said they were unsure whether submissions were routed consistently to departments or whether residents received promised follow-up. Commissioners asked staff to determine where the cards are stored, who is responsible for contacting residents and whether the cards should be inventoried before each market.
Commissioners also discussed survey fatigue: residents told them they had been asked to take multiple surveys in the previous two months without seeing results. Members recommended centralizing survey results and making a short summary available to the public—suggesting the engagement binder or the city newsletter Splash as a place to report outcomes.
Members praised two city staff who worked the market and encouraged the commission to repeat co‑location with other commissions next year. They proposed creating a simple written process for handling market intake items, inventorying materials in the farmers market box before the season, and adding a standing agenda item next year to follow up on the "Notify Me" volunteer/notification tool for event volunteer signups.
No formal policies or expenditures were approved; commissioners requested staff follow up with a recommended intake and follow-up process before the next market season.
