Latest Hamilton Farmers Market Consultant Report Says Reno or Move Market | TPR Hamilton
The question of what to do with the ailing Hamilton Farmers’ Market remains unanswered as the latest advisors’ report lists problems that need to be addressed without offering concrete solutions.
The consultant’s hiring prompted the longtime citizen members of the Markets Committee to resign in protest at the continued spending on consultants.
The 77-page report, released Tuesday morning, recommends one immediate action — spending $200,000 to hire a consultant to create a market design and layout study.
The design and layout study then recommends renovations or relocation of the store.
The city hall should finance the renovation or the move of the market, write the consultants.
One renovation option could be converting the upper level into a food court.
The rest of the recommendations are high-level, obvious and without implementation plans.
They include:
– “more local farmers, local producers and pop-up traders”;
– “regular seasonal road closures”;
– “stronger connections” to Jackson Square, York Blvd, the library and surrounding buildings;
– “After work and extended culinary offer”;
– Issuance of spirits licenses for hospitality establishments;
– “Increase management capacity and sources of funding”; And
– “Extend opening hours (at least for parts of the market)”; And
– to maintain and ensure the availability of parking spaces.
The report does not provide actionable recommendations on key issues, including governance, rental rates, the city’s operational funding levels, and hours of operation.
Regarding the controversial issue of market hours, the consultants indicate that there is disagreement among vendors as to how current opening times should be enforced.
Meanwhile, the report said customers have “strong desire” for “extended days/hours of operation.”
On programming and pop-up providers, the report notes that “not all providers” want short-term and daily providers.
The market requires 1,322 parking spaces per day, the consultants write.
The city “transacted” its parking lots around the market to a private consortium, the Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group (HUPEG). The city no longer has ownership control over lands near the market.
The city’s role in regulating the market remains a point of contention. The report notes a history of distrust between some providers and the city.
Over the past decade, the Market Board has been plagued by internal dysfunction and conflict of interest issues.
The third consultant report, published in September 2020, called for the market committee to be dissolved due to “deliberate concealment” by vendor representatives.
The third report called for enforcement of market provider contracts – including the requirement to be open during business hours.
In the months that followed, Hamilton City Council voted to be the only municipality not to pass federal COVID rental relief funds to market vendors.
The city of Hamilton pocketed the funds and demanded full rent from the sellers with threats of eviction.
$100,000 has been budgeted for this fourth consultant report.
The Council will consider the report during a special session on Monday 8 May. The session starts at 1:30 p.m. People can register as delegates until midday on Friday, May 5th.
(Scroll down the page to find the online registration form. Enter the committee as “OTHER ADVISORY/SUB-COMMITTEE” named “Sole Voting Member of the Hamilton Farmers’ Market”)
Production Details v. 1.0.0 Published: May 3, 2023 Last edited: May 3, 2023 Author: Joey Coleman Edit Record v. 1.0.0 original version