Market at the Square Advisory Committee Meeting

March 20, 2019 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING URBANA’S MARKET AT THE SQUARE ADVISORY BOARD DRAFT DATE: March 20, 2019 TIME: 5:30 p.m. PLACE: Executive Conference Room, Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, 2nd Floor, Urbana, Illinois MEMBERS PRESENT: Shea Belahi, Diane Cain, Kent Miles, Hyde Taidghin O’Brien, Stan Schutte, Sarah Simeziane, Gary Taylor MEMBERS ABSENT: Valerie Koress, MEMBERS EXCUSED: Sarah Simeziane, Maryalice Wu STAFF PRESENT: John Schneider, Community Development Director; Brandon Boys, Economic Development Manager; Rachel Storm, Arts & Culture Coordinator; Bryan Heaton, Market Coordinator; Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary OTHERS PRESENT: Kim Campbell, Lorien Carsey 1. CALL TO ORDER, ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM The Urbana Market at the Square Advisory Board was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Mr. Taylor. The roll call was taken, and a quorum was declared present. 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The minutes of the December 19, 2018 were reviewed by the Advisory Board. With no changes proposed, Mr. O’Brien made a motion to approve the minutes. Ms. Belahi seconded the motion. All Advisory Board members present were in favor of approval, and the minutes were unanimously approved as presented. 3. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA There were none. 4. PUBLIC INPUT Lorien Carsey of Blue Moon Farms addressed the Board and briefly spoke on her wishes for a more collaborative relationship between the produce growers, vendors, and the Market Staff. 1  March 20, 2019 She also asked that produce vendors be given an opportunity to have input on decisions that are major and structural to the Farmers Market. Ms. Carsey asked for the Market Staff to delay the decision to add a row of produce vendors to the west side until a meeting could be held to discuss this major change. Kim Campbell of Campbell Apiaries addressed the Board and stated that he completely agreed with Ms. Carsey. He also revisited his remarks from the previous meeting regarding quality control/screening in regards to musicians and entertainers at the Market. 5. PRESENTATIONS a. Staff Report Market Coordinator, Bryan Heaton presented the 2018 Annual Report for the Market at the Square and then presented City staff’s progress report on Market operations to the Advisory Board, outlining grants received, composition of Market vendors, programming at the Market, recommendations from the public, and staff activities. Economic Development Manager, Brandon Boys provided a status update on the Advisory Board representatives, including the addition of a food truck representative. He announced that board member, Sarah Simeziane was no longer working at the Land Connection, and as a result would not be eligible to continue as a community rep on the Board. He stated that current board member, Mr. O’Brien would be eligible to fill that position on the board. Arts & Culture Coordinator, Rachel Storm presented on the Arts and Culture Program; outlining projects in process, recent requests and recommendations from the public, staff activities, and upcoming events. She also reported on recent and upcoming activities/performances at the Market. b. Next Steps f or the Future of Urbana’s Market at the Square Facility Economic Development Manager, Brandon Boys, provided an update on this agenda item. He stated that the focus of the visioning was now on the 9-block area that the mall and hotel are central to. Mr. Boys then reported on the Facilities Study currently being conducted by the City. A brief discussion between members of the Staff and the Advisory Board ensued. c. City-owned land to benefit startup farmers or other local food Economic Development Manager, Brandon Boys, discussed an upcoming opportunity to put seven acres of City-owned land into production for startup farmers or other local food uses through partnership. A brief discussion between members of the Staff and the Advisory Board ensued. 2  March 20, 2019 d. Use of Walnut Street Advisory Board member, Shea Belahi, addressed the Board to discuss the Walnut Street section of the Market. She reiterated that the vendors would love to work more collaboratively with the Staff to come up with ideas that work for everyone. A brief discussion between members of the Staff and Advisory Board ensued. Following discussion, Mr. Schutte made a motion to table this idea until the next season. Mr. Miles seconded the motion. Mr. Boys clarified that even in the event of this motion, the Advisory Board could not prevent Staff from making a decision about this matter. A voice vote was called and Ms. Cain, Mr. Miles and Mr. Schutte were in favor of approval, while Ms. Belahi, Mr. O’Brien, and Mr. Taylor were opposed. The motion was tied, so it did not carry. Mr. O’Brien then made a motion to request that Staff prepare three proposals that look at different ways to address the same concerns, present them to the Board in a month, the Board/all vendors can give feedback, and then Staff can make decisions. There was no second to that motion. Further discussion on the agenda item continued. 6. NEW BUSINESS There was none. 7. ADJOURNMENT Ms. Cain made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Mr. Schutte seconded the motion. With no further business, Mr. Taylor declared the meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m. Submitted, Sukiya J. Reid, Recording Secretary 3