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Council approves permanent zoning change for Cal City Farmers Market; city will absorb $3,600 fee
Summary
After extensive public testimony supporting the Cal City Farmers Market, council voted 3–1 to have the city fund a zone text amendment to allow the market permanently in C‑2 rather than require a temporary-use permit and repeated applicant payments.
The City Council voted March 24 to direct staff to initiate a zoning-text amendment that would allow the Cal City Farmers Market as a permanent use in C‑2 commercial zoning and to have the city cover the one-time administrative cost (roughly $3,600). The motion passed 3–1 after a tie on an alternative motion to require the applicant to pay the fee.
REACH Executive Director Shauna Rorton described the market as a six‑season community resource that provides access to fresh food, fitness and nutrition education, vendor opportunities and a dollar-for-dollar SNAP/EBT match up to $50 per shopper. She told the council the market’s operating rules have changed year to year and that the temporary-use permit’s 90‑day limit creates instability for vendors and patrons.
Scores of residents, market vendors and nonprofit leaders urged the council to codify the market to avoid moving it annually, protect vendor investments, and preserve the Fresh Food Funds program that matches SNAP/EBT tokens. Several business owners and small vendors said moving the market would hurt foot traffic and make long-term planning impossible.
Council members debated city finances and precedent. Some members argued the applicant should pay consistent with past practice; others said the farmers market generates measurable community benefits (business foot traffic, food access) that justify a one-time city payment and that the ordinance will benefit future applicants in perpetuity. The first motion—requiring the applicant to pay—resulted in a 2–2 tie; a subsequent motion to have the city pay passed 3–1.
Staff said the ZTA is a one‑time ordinance amendment (current fee: $2,066 permit; estimated full city cost ≈ $3,600) and would create a permanent entitlement so subsequent applicants would not need to repurchase the ZTA. Council directed staff to bring back the ordinance and engage the planning commission as required by the municipal code.
Council emphasized the city will continue to require business licenses for vendors and encouraged staff to coordinate grant opportunities and vendor support to minimize financial burden on REACH and other nonprofits running the market.
