CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Meeting: March 15, 2022
Subject
Consider Options for West Coast Farmers’ Market Location at a City Park Recommended Action
Provide recommendation and direction on location of the West Coast Farmers’ Market Association to operate a farmers’ market at a City park on the westside of Cupertino Background
Cupertino has two popular farmers’ markets serving the community. These include a Friday farmers’ market at Creekside Park, organized by Pacific Coast Farmers’ Market Association (PCFMA) and a Sunday farmers’ market at the Oaks Shopping Center, organized by the West Coast Farmers’ Market Association (WCFMA). Since the Oaks Shopping Center site is no longer available as a farmers’ market venue, the WCFMA was temporarily relocated to the Senior Center/Memorial Park parking lot, until June 1, 2021, while it identified a permanent location for its market.
The WCFMA agreement for temporary relocation was brought to City Council on January 19, 2021 for approval. Since the initial agreement was approved there have been four amendments to extend the Memorial Park location. Due to the pandemic, Memorial Park was not being used for normal weekend park use including, Senior Center rentals, large Quinlan Center rentals, softball field rentals, festivals, summer events, picnic gatherings, etc. Therefore, Memorial Park has been available for the Farmers’ Market during this time. However, as we begin to reopen Memorial Park for normal use, that location will no longer be available for a farmers’ market.
Discussion
Staff has been working to assess the feasibility of park locations that could accommodate the WCFMA on the westside of Cupertino. Cupertino has 10 parks on the westside of DeAnza Boulevard: one dog park, five neighborhood parks with little to no parking, and four larger neighborhood parks with parking lots and restroom facilities. The four larger parks are: Memorial Park, Jollyman Park, Linda Vista Park, and Monta Vista Park. The pros and cons of each of these four park sites for potentially accommodating WCFMA are described below.
Memorial Park houses tennis courts, a softball field, an amphitheater, two playgrounds, and a large picnic site. It is one of the most popular parks in Cupertino. The park is home to large community events such as festivals, concerts, movies, and Shakespeare in the Park. The parking at Memorial Park is also shared by the Cupertino Senior Center and Quinlan Community Center. Rentals at both these buildings are popular on the weekends and parking will frequently overflow into both parking lots. Memorial Park has been available for the Farmers’ Market during the pandemic since normal City operations were not in full swing. However, during this period when the WCFMA was temporarily located in Memorial Park, we have received complaints from tennis and softball players due to lack of parking on Sundays. Additionally, there are three current capital improvement (CIP) projects planned for Memorial Park that will span multiple years of construction. The pond repurposing project will begin construction this Spring, with anticipated parking impacts due to construction staging. Staff have also received concerns from neighbors related to noise level, traffic congestion, inadequate parking, and emergency vehicle access associated with the Farmers’ Market at Memorial Park. Some Farmers’ Market customers park in resident-only spaces at apartment complexes near Memorial Park. The main advantages to holding the Farmers’ Market at the Memorial Park Senior Center parking lot is that it offers a sufficiently large venue which can be seen from Stevens Creek Blvd.
Jollyman Park houses a dog off-leash area, a softball field, a half basketball court, two playgrounds, soccer fields, and drop-in picnic areas. Jollyman Park also has a current Capital Improvement Project to build an all-inclusive playground. Parking may be impacted by construction due to the parking lot possibly being used for construction staging areas. Jollyman Park’s current use is heavy during the weekends and the Park only has one parking lot.
Linda Vista Park houses two playgrounds, a fitness area, a large rentable picnic area, and first come-first-serve picnic areas. The Park also has a parking lot that could accommodate the Farmers’ Market. However, the Park is located within a residential area with less traffic and visibility than the other two parks. Linda Vista Park has only one parking lot, and parking for large events at the park regularly spills onto neighborhood streets.
Monta Vista Park houses tennis courts, two playgrounds, and a softball field. The Park offers one parking lot, and there is street parking surrounding it. The Park faces the well-traveled Foothill Blvd. and offers fencing for Farmers’ Market marketing banners facing that road. Monta Vista Park also has a Recreation Center with restrooms open to the public seven days a week. Monta Vista Park is also close to major freeways allowing easy access for visitors. Although the parking lot configuration is not optimal for a Farmers’ Market due to its shape, it is adequate as it only offers four fewer spaces than Memorial Park.
Memorial, Jollyman, Linda Vista, and Monta Vista Parks are the only City parks with parking lots that are large enough to accommodate the Farmers’ Market. However, Memorial Park and Jollyman Park have large multi-year CIP projects planned that will limit the availability of parking. In addition, Memorial Park has events and programs scheduled on Sundays that preclude the Farmers’ Market to occur. Linda Vista Park has a sufficiently large parking lot, but it is not highly visible from more-traveled roads. Monta Vista Recreation Center has only one parking lot, but the Park has street parking on all four sides and is located on a well-traveled road.
Sustainability Impact
Continuing the Sunday farmers’ market will greatly benefit the community by providing access to fresh and locally sourced produce and other food items. This would also potentially help reduce the City’s greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint.
Fiscal Impact
No impact: License agreements for farmers’ markets do not currently require a use fee. _____________________________________
Prepared by: Rachelle Sander, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Reviewed by: Joanne Magrini, Director of Parks and Recreation Approved for Submission by: Dianne Thompson, Assistant City Manager Attachments: