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Soledad council backs recurring El Mercadito market, approves street closure and limited city co‑sponsorship
Summary
The Soledad City Council voted unanimously to allow monthly and seasonal block closures for a recurring downtown market — El Mercadito — and approved fee waivers and limited in‑kind city support while partners provide seed funding and vendor management.
The Soledad City Council on Wednesday approved Resolution 6332 to co‑sponsor and temporarily close Front Street between Main and Soledad Street for a recurring regional market called El Mercadito.
City staff described the proposal as a downtown activation strategy to run monthly from April through September and twice monthly during the holiday season. The market is intended to boost foot traffic for front‑street businesses and serve as a pilot phase for a future container‑village small‑business incubator.
Under the approved plan the council agreed to waive the $1,800 park and recreation fee and estimated public‑works closure costs of about $2,244, producing an approximate city co‑sponsorship value of $4,044. The Monterey County Business Council will administer vendor applications; the city said partners include the Monarch Small Business Development Center, Building Businesses Back (which has committed $50,000 in seed funding through 2026) and the Solidad Chamber of Commerce. Vendor participation fees were set at $50 per market for non‑food vendors and $80 for food vendors.
In discussion, council members pressed staff and partners on public safety and traffic control measures, restroom capacity, impact to existing front‑street businesses, vendor rotation and marketing plans. Staff said the police department requested full street closures (both sides) for security reasons, and the city will provide barricades consistent with other local events; two unarmed security guards will be present for an added layer of safety. Environmental Health reviewed restroom capacity and did not object to using the three city restrooms at Caesar Chavez Park for the expected crowd; staff noted $50,000 in seed funding could be tapped for additional services if attendance outpaces estimates.
About 51 vendor applications have been received in the initial outreach period; organizers told council they will reserve three slots for south‑county nonprofits and two rotating slots to let occasional vendors participate. Organizers plan to include front‑street businesses in year‑round marketing and offered front‑street merchants the option to set out tables at no charge so they benefit from event traffic.
Council members asked staff to document a clear, short‑term budget and post‑market follow‑up with downtown merchants. The council voted unanimously to approve the resolution. Mayor called for the city and partners to meet with front‑street businesses after the market to review impacts and adjust the program as needed.
