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Farmers Market leaders urge council to restore City Hall restroom access or ease porta-potty costs
Summary
Representatives of the Newport Farmers Market told the council that losing City Hall restroom access will cost the market an estimated $12,000 this season for porta‑potty rentals, risks vendor income and could force staff layoffs; they asked the city to reconsider the restriction or allow a permanent on‑site porta‑potty location.
Two representatives of the Newport Farmers Market told the council at the March 2 meeting that a recent operational change barring market use of City Hall restrooms will impose large costs and operational burdens on vendors.
Eric Hanneman, market manager, said the market has drawn as many as 2,000 visitors on peak Saturdays. He said vendors sometimes depend on market revenue as their primary income and that renting one regular and one ADA porta‑potty for the season would total about $12,000 because units would need delivery Friday evening and removal Saturday. “We have $5,000,000 of liability insurance that we cover with the city,” Hanneman said, and he offered to pay a city employee to monitor or clean the restrooms to address the city’s concerns.
Rita Rudeman, a market board member and vendor, said the season begins March 28 and that the late change threatens the market’s staffing and two vendor spaces. She asked the council to reexamine denial of City Hall restroom access and, if necessary, to designate a permanent city location where porta‑potties could remain for the season to lower costs and disruption.
City staff acknowledged the market's concerns and said they would continue working toward a solution outside the council meeting. Councilors asked staff to follow up and were told more discussion will occur with the city manager and relevant staff.
