Board OKs temporary move of La Crosse Farmers Market to City Hall area through October

The La Crosse Board of Public Works on Sept. 8 approved a request to allow the La Crosse Farmers Market to operate on City Hall grounds Fridays from 1 to 8 p.m. through October, following the recent closure of Burns Park.

Staff told the board the market could bring up to 26 vendors and that organizers hoped to use the green/sidewalk area adjacent to the Victory Garden and portions of the City Hall lot. Market manager Sadie Laniero, who identified herself as a La Crosse resident and market manager, asked the board to prioritize visibility for vendors and noted the market had paid $13.50 per Friday for Burns Park seating this season.

“We did pay, $13.50 to be in Burns Park for every Friday through October,” said Sadie Laniero, the market manager, who added that vendors prefer to be near their vehicles and appreciated space for hot-food customers to picnic.

Council member Goggin moved to approve use of City Hall property for the market; Director Train seconded. Council president Dickinson proposed and moved an amendment to limit the market to the La Crosse Street portion of the parking area (near the Victory Garden) for better visibility; Director Train seconded that amendment. The board voted on the amendment and it passed unanimously; the main motion, as amended, also passed unanimously. The transcript records unanimous outcomes but does not provide numeric tallies.

Board members and staff discussed logistics, including minimizing disruption to city service and inspection vehicles. Director Gallagher said she did not support displacing utility vehicles and emphasized vehicle maneuvering and safety concerns. Staff said they would work with market organizers on parking placement and that if all 26 vendors attended some employee parking might be shifted for Friday afternoons.

The board asked staff to finalize parking assignments and communications with vendors and to return with any necessary details.