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| THE SATURDAY MARKET |
President Richard Cole said in the last two years council gave $5,000/year to it's aid. The Mayor said staff "looked at the Saturday Market's books the first year (2009) and found the number of vendors and market shrinking." So, the $5,000 payments were tied to marketing. Mayor Marchione said "after this first year the Market had the largest number of attendance and the largest number of booths."
Councillor Hank Myers said lots of other markets are supported by cities. Councillor Kim Allen said they discovered the Market was paying huge rent when it was supposed to be free according to when the contract was first negotiated with the Redmond Town Center. Cole said the **$23,000 rent to RTC was "a huge huge amount"; Councillor Hank Margeson shook his head in agreement. Margeson said other communities have their Market in a downtown park and Cole agreed, saying most markets like Woodinville's and Kirkland's are in public spaces and don't pay rent. Bellevue and Auburn also have their markets in donated space.
Allen noted the Saturday Market is a huge community builder and important to the city's sustainability goals, with access to local foods. Councillor David Carson started a talk on parking with his concern for the nearby hotels. Margeson said RTC has plenty of parking, after a short walk. Councillor John Stilin suggested the dirt lot across Leary Way. Mayor Marchione revealed the space "is programed to be developed into a parking lot in five or six years.."
Stilin talked about closing streets off for a market with street vendors as do other cities. Mayor Marchione said part of the downtown plan allows to close Cleveland Street in 5-6-years to create space for the Market. "The Park, Redmond Connector, and Market would bring synergy to bring people together" said Marchione.
Reported by Bob Yoder
Watercolor by Patti Simpson
Read ** "The Costs of the Saturday Market", 9/19/10. >>>>
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September 19, 2010 "The Costs of the Saturday Market", by Bob Yoder
The Saturday Market has been a part of Redmond's culture for the last *thirty-six years. With the move to "Buy Local" the Market is more popular than ever before. Driving down Leary it's not hard to see the bustle in the farmers and craftspersons white tents. Do you see the tents behind Redmond Town Center's gateway sign?
The Market and parking lot sits on 8,000 square feet of land leased from Redmond Town Center (RTC). According to Market Manager, Martha Tyler, they pay Redmond Town Center $950/day to rent "the dirt", or $3,800/month. The Sani-Cans are extra. The Market is open for six months from May 1 - October 30 so the total payment to RTC each year is $22,800. But, RTC **sponsors the Market with a $3,000/year donation plus advertising space valued at $1,800/year by RTC. Market Manager Martha Tyler said:
"It would be great if the market parking lot was donated each Saturday since it's a community service for the folks of Redmond. Many farmer market sites in the state of Washington are donated or charged a very small amount so that the market can operate with less of a financial burden, we're talking farmers and crafters here, not big business".About two years ago, Jim Hoagland, Saturday Market President, approached City Council asking for funds to help cover their lease payments and attract entertainment. According to Ms. Tyler, Council has approved a $5,000/yr. payment to the Market (a nonprofit) for the last two years. Three other government-funded entities sponsor the Market: Evergreen (Public) Hospital ($1,000), Think Redmond ($1000) and R-Trip ($1000).
By Bob Yoder
9/19/2010
Why should I be pleased that my tax dollars are subsidizing certain vendors operating in the city? The vendors who operate the stands at the Saturday Market should be paying their own bills as do the other stores in the city. This ‘gift’ of taxpayer funds only benefits the vendors who operate there and siphons business from stores who offer those same products.
ReplyDeleteSo how do we justify collecting tax from Trader Joes, PCC, Whole Foods, etc. and handing it to their competitors? Does this create a fair business environment?
I’ve also read complaints from those who think that the Redmond Town Center should donate the space to the Saturday Market vendors. Since RTC is in the business of renting space, is it good business sense for them to be donating space to those who compete with their paying tenants?
If the city feels compelled to financially prop up the vendors at the Saturday market, perhaps they should consider for them an exemption of city sales tax, business license tax, building permits, etc., etc. The exemption should be afforded to all similar businesses in the city; just to make it fair.
Don’t misunderstand my point… I’m not anti-Saturday Market. I’m just anti-bias when it comes to the way my City spends my tax money.
Mr Frazier,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to point out a couple of misconceptions about the city's sponsorship of Redmond Saturday Market. This is not a direct subsidy to the vendors, instead it allows us to provide better amenities and entertainment, creating a better atmosphere for the community. And rather than siphon business from other stores, the market attracts customers to all our surrounding businesses. Rather than a 'gift' benefitting only the market vendors, this should be looked at as a gift to all Redmond residents and their guests, similar to the parks, sculptures and plants the city provides to make the community that much more enjoyable!
Jim Hoagland
President - Redmond Saturday Market