Council approves farmers market MOA at Henry A. Tandy Pavilion after rejecting postponement

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council approved a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Farm and Garden Market Cooperative Association, Inc., d/b/a Lexington Farmers Market, allowing the market to operate at Henry A. Tandy Centennial Park, the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion and adjoining public property at no cost to the Urban County Government.

Councilmember Beasley moved to postpone the item to the March 20 council docket; Councilmember Morton seconded the postponement motion. Beasley said the postponement would allow additional scrutiny of the market's practices and the city’s relationship with the nonprofit. Parks Division Deputy Director Monica Conrad and several council members opposed delay, arguing the market's busy outdoor season begins March 22 and vendors need certainty to prepare.

"I don't want the vendors to have the perception their MOA has been jeopardized," Monica Conrad told the council, noting the agreement covers operational basics such as dates and additional services. "These market vendors have been putting in a lot of work, to plan and coordinate their trips to the market and in preparation for the season ahead. And I want to make sure that their business and their hard work is secure. So, respectfully, Councilmember Beasley, I won't be supporting this postponement," she said.

Vice Mayor Wu and Councilmember Legree also opposed postponement, citing timing concerns and the potential harms of setting a precedent where the council delays agreements with independent partner organizations. Councilmember Curtis likewise opposed postponement noting potential confusion about the council's role. The motion to postpone failed on the council floor; the clerk recorded the vote and the council proceeded to read and approve the MOA.

The transcript records an electronic vote on the postponement that failed, and later the council read item 15 into the record and approved the MOA in the batch of resolutions. During the roll-call vote on the batch, Councilmember Beasley recorded a "no" on item 15 while voting "yes" on other items; the remainder of the roll call recorded the item as approved by the council.

Parks staff said the current MOA follows prior years' agreements (the city has had a market MOA since about 2012) and addresses operational details such as dates and temporary services (portable toilets, additional service needs) similar to other event MOAs. Director Conrad said the city had scheduled meetings with market leadership and the CAO to address outstanding questions about the upcoming season.

The MOA allows the city and the market to proceed with the upcoming outdoor season; the market's vendors and downtown businesses will proceed with preparations with the understanding the MOA is in place. The transcript does not include the MOA text or specific operational conditions beyond Conrad's description; copies of the MOA are part of the council packet.