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Shoppers peruse produce at the Sonoma farmers market. MARK ARONOFF/PD
By LORI A. CARTER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
After a year of upheaval that prompted the Sonoma City Council to intervene in management of the privately run farmers market, the city will consider new management proposals for next year’s market.
A unanimous council Wednesday night agreed to refine a use-permit process for operators seeking to run the Tuesday night fair of food, crafts and fresh produce in the historic Plaza. The event currently has about 55 vendors, according to its website.
But the current operator, the Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market, was the only potential applicant to attend the meeting, which was held to determine how deeply involved the city would become in market oversight.
The Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market is a private entity but rents space in the downtown Plaza. In previous meetings, as many as three applicants have expressed interest in taking over management of the popular market. No other potential applicants have contacted the city, said Milenka Bates, the city’s public works director.
Some city council members said recent improvements have been made by current market management after the city appeared ready to approve a new group to take over the event.
“The farmers market board has gone a very long way to providing all the things that the council has asked them to do,” Councilman Ken Brown said. “But we did open up the RFP (proposal process) and we will be soliciting other folks to be in there.”
Last summer, several vendors and customers complained to the city that market managers were secretive about their vendor selection process, treated vendors unfairly and behaved like bullies when questioned. After the season ended last year, the city sought new proposals for running this year’s market. A second community group submitted a proposal, but on a 3-2 split vote, the council stayed with existing management — with the addition of nearly 20 conditions of further approval.
At a review hearing in May, city officials said the market had made only minor progress toward the requirements, prompting the board president to quit.
In June, a new president took over and he has apparently smoothed some of the ruffled feathers.
Market board President Bill Dardon said Thursday his group has complied with every change the city requested, including creating a waste management plan, a new complaint procedure and a more open vendor selection process.
“We couldn’t get any more clear or transparent,” he said. “Our meetings are public, we have no secret agendas, everyone knows who we are and where we’re going to meet.”
Still, complaints have persisted about unprofessional behavior from some market managers, he acknowledged.
Sheana Davis, a chef, cheesemaker and owner of the Epicurean Connection shop on Sonoma Highway, said she has been bullied and scolded by market managers.
“That shows that no, it hasn’t changed,” she said. “It’s really time for the city to look at a new management.”
Dardon said the board will discuss management changes after the season ends next month.
“As a board, we hear the city saying, ‘You have to do something about this type of behavior,’ ” he said. “But are you going to change horses in the middle of the stride?”
Mayor Steve Barbose said the council suggested next year’s market focus on creating a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere and possibly setting aside an area for youth music.
He said the council wasn’t set on the necessity of a “certified” market. Vendors are certified when they produce a product from start to finish.
That means Davis, who buys local milk to produce her award-winning cheeses, isn’t certified and is therefore given a less-visible spot at the market.
“So a guy from Fresno who grows conventional fruit can drive up here and get a better placement than I do. I have an issue with that,” she said. “I respect the certification process, but when certification prevents locals from being supported in our farmers market, that concerns me.”
Brown and Barbose agreed that having local products showcased may be more important to Sonomans than having a certified market.
The proposals will likely come before the council in December.
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I suppose it is at that.
No worries. I’m not the grammar police. :)
@Dan … Suppose that is kind of an opinion in and of itself. lol …
And please excuse my wrong “your”.
Can’t have an opinion on everything.
Guess nobody cares about this topic. Poor topic. Your just not loved.