Mount Clemens Farmers Market board says city negotiated Consumers Energy lease without following market's lease process

Members of the Mount Clemens Farmers Market board urged the City Commission to reconsider or properly process a proposed rental agreement between the city and Consumers Energy for the North River Road lot. Joanne Clark, a Farmers Market board member, said the board learned about the proposed lease two days after the decision was reportedly made and that the city did not follow the market's written lease-termination process.

"We came tonight to voice our objections to the city entering a lease with the Consumers Energy for the lot on North River Road," Clark told the commission, saying the move would relocate the market out of its current site and would mean the market would lose restrooms, electricity and storage. Clark said the River Road lot is open and accessible, while an alternative Roskot lot has raised concrete medians and parking meters and would not provide equivalent space.

Clark referenced the DDA strategic plan's action steps on establishing a downtown market and said the city appears to have moved directly to creating a DDA-run market instead of following stepwise guidance and negotiating with the existing market. She asked the commission to "reconsider the rental agreement with Consumers Energy and honor the lease that you have with us," and added that if the lease is to be terminated it must be done "properly."

Commissioners did not take a final vote on the lease at the meeting; the item was raised during public comment and will require administrative follow-up. The city manager's report and other agenda items included multiple community updates (holiday events, CDBG public hearing schedule) but did not record an immediate policy change on the Farmers Market lease.

Next steps: the Farmers Market board asked the city to follow its written lease-termination process and to engage directly with market leadership before finalizing any agreements affecting the market site.