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Council approves month‑long trial for downtown farmers market, asks staff to study fees and alternative locations
Summary
Council approved a trial farmers market through August and directed staff to work with organizers on alternative city parking‑lot sites to avoid repeated street closures; staff will also evaluate a cost‑recovery fee schedule for recurring events.
The Porterville City Council approved a limited trial run of a proposed recurring farmers market through August, directing staff to coordinate with the organizer on site selection and to evaluate cost‑recovery fees for recurring events that require overtime or additional staffing.
Staff noted the applicant sought to close Cleveland Street weekly from August through December, which would require repeated Sunday overtime for barricades, cleanup and public‑safety coverage. City staff provided an earlier fee schedule showing typical staffing costs for events: a small event (≈2 hours) was estimated at about $2,134 in city costs, a medium event at about $6,124, and a large event near $9,921 when additional police and street‑sweep services are required.
Council preferred not to close downtown streets repeatedly; the mayor suggested alternative city parking lots adjacent to Main Street that would not require street closures. Council approved a trial through August and asked staff to evaluate a cost‑recovery fee schedule for recurring events and return with options.
What’s next: Staff to coordinate with the applicant on locations that limit staff overtime and to present a proposed fee schedule and evaluation at a future meeting.
