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Council approves El Mercadito event but denies $260 vendor-fee waiver
Summary
Jacksonville council approved Coalition Fortaleza’s El Mercadito event with 26 vendors but declined a requested $260 total waiver for individual vendor business-license fees, citing precedent concerns. The motion passed by roll call with unanimous votes.
The Jacksonville City Council voted Aug. 4 to approve a large-event permit for El Mercadito, a community market organized by Coalition Fortaleza, but excluded a $260 waiver for individual vendor business-license fees.
Councilor Thompson moved to approve the large event packet “however, without the waiving of the $260 event fee, purely because of the precedent it sets,” and the motion was seconded; the council then conducted a roll-call vote and approved the permit without the waiver. “Motion by councilor Thompson, 2nd by councilor Castaglia to approve the El Mercadito large event package with the exclusion of the waiver for $260 for the vendors,” the council recorded during the vote.
Araceli, the Coalition Fortaleza representative, clarified that while 26 vendors are listed to participate at this event, the organization serves about 50 BIPOC vendors overall. The council noted the fiscal impact of the waiver would be negligible beyond the $260 but expressed concern about setting a recurring precedent for fee waivers. Staff told the council the vendors donate portions of proceeds to Coalition Fortaleza programs, including rental and food assistance.
The event will feature youth entrepreneurs, free family activities and community resources; staff recommended approval of the large-event package with the fee exclusion. Council members invited follow-up questions to staff and thanked the applicants for their presentation.
