REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of October 8, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Roberts, Public Works Director/City Engineer SUBJECT: Bayfront Boulevard Road Closure for Relocation of Farmers Market RECOMMENDED ACTION:
City Council receive a report on a request to close Bayfront Boulevard from Railroad Avenue to Earnest Street to allow for the relocation of Saturday’s Farmers Market, receive public comments, discuss the request, and provide direction to staff.
BACKGROUND:
The Farmers Market began using the gravel lot at the corner of Bayfront Boulevard and John Muir Parkway across the street from the Exchange in August of this year under Temporary Use Permit 24-28 (Att #1).
Since that time, the Farmer’s Market Coordinator found the wind blows very hard along the Bayfront and raises the dust in the gravel parking lot they are located in. The dust covers food and merchandise, making the venue unpleasant for the merchants and market goers. The coordinator is requesting that the event be relocated to Bayfront Boulevard, which is paved.
ANALYSIS:
Relocating the Farmers Market to Bayfront Boulevard would address the dust issue but require a street closure to create a safe space for the vendors and pedestrians, since they would then be separated from automobiles by a physical barrier.
Based upon 16 vendors attending each Saturday, a closure between Railroad Avenue and Earnest Street would provide sufficient space for the market activities. This would result in a minimal amount of traffic detouring and allow the remaining sections of Bayfront Boulevard to be used for parking. The gravel lot would also remain available for parking, which would be required as a condition of approval.
The closure would begin at 8 am and end at 4 pm to allow sufficient time to install the traffic control and allow vendors to set up prior to the 10 am market opening and time for clean-up and re-opening the street after the 2 pm market closing time.
If the request for the Bayfront closure is approved, the Farmers Market on Bayfront could begin as soon as October 18 and occur continuously on Saturdays until December 28, 2024, which is the same end date specified in the Temporary Use Permit.
Bayfront Boulevard Closure Area and Event Parking
Properties within 300 ft of the requested closure were notified in advance of tonight’s discussion (Att #2).
FISCAL IMPACT:
There would be no fiscal impact associated with this agenda item as staff costs would be recovered through encroachment permit fees. Per the conditions of approval, the Farmers Market coordinator would be required to obtain a traffic control plan approved by the City Engineer, provide and set-up in advance the 48-hour No Parking signs, and set-up and take down the traffic control on the day of the event, as well as clean-up after the event and perform other applicable administrative duties including those outlined in the Temporary Use Permit.
ATTACHMENTS:
TUP 24-28
Bayfront Farmers Market Road Closure Notice