Item 5AAGENDA ITEM # SA
MAY 24, 2010
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Approve the Cultural Arts and Recreation Committee proposal to
start aMid-Week Market in Bull Park
SUBMITTED BY: Timmy Johnson, Recreation & Special Events Director
Board Liaison
DATE: May 14, 2010
BACKGROUND: The Cultural Arts and Recreation Committee approved a proposal
presented by Jeff Wight to start a weekly Farmers Market in Bull
Park. The objective of the Market is to provide fresh, nutritious
foods to Atlantic Beach residents from local small farmers and
small businesses. The vendors will complete an application and a
maximum of five vendors will be selected through a screening
process.
The Market will be held on Wednesdays:
Summer Hours: April 1St -Oct 15t" 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Winter Hours: Oct 16t" -March 31st 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
BUDGET: The cost for the market will be absorbed within the Cultural Arts
and Recreation Committee budget.
RECOMMENDATIONS: Approve the Cultural Arts and Recreation Committee proposal to
start aMid-Week Market in Bull Park
ATTACHMENTS: AB's Mid-Week Market Proposal
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
AGENDA ITEM # SA
MAY 24, 2010
"AB's MID-WEEK MARKET"
A WEEKLYMARKET HELD AT BULL MEMORIAL PARK ON WEDNESDAYEVENING.
A CARAC PROPOSAL by Jeff Wight on 4/26/10
INTRODUCTION TO FARMER'S MARKETS:
Two-thirds of Americans are now overweight or obese. This is largely because of the way we
eat. We primarily eat "industrialized" foods from grocery stores and restaurants that are heavily
processed and unhealthy.
People are ready to abandon the "Western Diet". People are ready to go back to eating fresh
and nutritious foods. Hence the Farmer's Market craze that is taking the country by storm.
People also love to shop at farmer's markets to be "green". Foods from farmer's market are
produced and transported in environmentally-friendly ways. This contrasts industrialized foods
which take a toll on the environment. It takes 10 calories of oil to produce 1 calorie of
industrialized food!
AB's MID-WEEK MARKET WILL BE UNIQUE:
Held on Wednesday evening!
-most area markets are held on the weekend
• Free for the vendors!
-most area markets charge the vendors $10-40
• Great location!
-Bull Park isfamily-friendly, easy to get to, and walkable for many AB residents
-most area markets are tough to get to and require driving in intense traffic
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES
1) Deliver fresh, nutritious foods to AB residents
-from local small farmers, vendors, and small businesses
2) Create amid-week community event
-healthy, cultural, and family friendly
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES
AB's Mid-week Market will also deliver the following products:
1) "Green" products
-feature 1 (or a few) local vendors and small businesses
2) Art
-feature 1 (or a few) artists at the market
3) Music
-have a musician play at the market
4) Small Business Advertisement
-allow 1 local small business to have a table and advertise each week
5) Non-profits
-allow 1 or more local non-profits to have a table and advertise each week
AGENDA ITEM # SA
MAY 24, 2010
AB's MID-WEEK MARKET POLICIES
Location
The market will take place at Bull Memorial Park. Vendors will be allowed to set up tables on
the grass (SE part of park) and on the pavers that circle the large palm tree. Vendors will receive
an assigned spot to set up their table.
Market Dav and Time
The market will take place on Wednesday afternoon/evening year-round.
Summer Hours: April 1st -Oct 15t1i: 4:30pm-7 :30pm
Winter Hours: Oct 16~' -March 31st: 3pm - 6pm
Vendor Requirements
This market will adopt Arts in the Park policies:
-vendors must present business license and insurance at least one week in advance
Vendor Fee
-there will be no charge to the vendors
-vendors must provide their own tables and supplies
Vendor recruitment
Vendors must fill out an application to participate in the AB Mid-Week Market. Priority will
be given to local vendors.
Priority will also be given vendors that provide products and services that are: -
organic
-healthy
-green
The application pool will be continuously monitored by Jeff Wight and AB' s Cultural Arts and
Recreation Advisory Committee.
Market Workers
The market will be supervised by Jeff Wight and the Cultural Arts and Recreation Advisory
committee.
Jeff Wight will organize LJNF student volunteers to help run the market. Each week, 1-3 UNF
student volunteers will supervise and work the market. The students will arrive 30 minutes
before the market and leave 30 minutes after the market.
The student volunteers' primary duties include:
-help vendors set-up before market and pack-up after market
-set-up "greeting table" and answer questions for those who attend market
-report any emergencies to AB police department
-report weekly update to Jeff Wight and CARAC