City of Sacramento
City Council - 2PM Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2025-00551 3/4/2025 Consent Item 12.
Agreement: Meadowview Community Farmers' Market Operator File ID: 2025-00551
Location: District 8
Recommendation: Pass a Motion authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to execute a Non-Professional Services Agreement with Alchemist Community Development Corporation (“Alchemist CDC”) with a two-year term, through June 2027, in an amount not-to-exceed $320,000, and to increase the total not-to-exceed amount up to $430,000, provided that sufficient funds become available.
Contact: Mikel Davila, Senior Development Project Manager, (916) 808-8506, [email protected]; Denise Malvetti, Deputy Director, (916) 808-7064, [email protected]; City Manager’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Non-Professional Services Agreement with Alchemist CDC Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: On September 13, 2023, Senate Bill 104 allocated $500,000 to the City of Sacramento for the Meadowview Community Farmers Market. Through advocacy from City Councilmember Mai Vang, Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen secured State funding through the California Department of Food and Agriculture to launch a farmers’ market in the Meadowview neighborhood. This investment was intended to increase access points to fresh and healthy foods for underserved communities and improve the local food economy.
The Meadowview Community Farmers’ Market launched on June 7, 2024, as a certified farmers’ market at the Meadowview Light Rail Station and operated weekly on Sundays through December 8, 2024. The market is planning to return in the Spring of 2025 and continue weekly operations.
To get the market launched quickly, the City entered into an agreement with Alchemist Community Development Corporation to launch and operate the market for the first year. The City issued a solicitation on January 7, 2025, to seek a long-term market operator. The City received five proposals. A panel reviewed and scored the proposals. The proposals were evaluated based on qualifications, experience, approach, work plan, and cost. Alchemist received the highest score and
File ID: 2025-00551 3/4/2025 Consent Item 12.
is recommended for the long-term operator through June 2027.
Policy Considerations: None.
Economic Impacts: The Meadowview neighborhood in South Sacramento has a lower median household income compared to other neighborhoods citywide. Surrounding the area where the Meadowview Community Farmers’ Market is located - at the Meadowview light rail station - there is a relatively high number of households that are without vehicles, considered low-income, and more than a half mile from a supermarket and fresh produce, based on the USDA Food Atlas. Meadowview Community Farmers Market brings together local farmers to bakers and craft food makers with neighbors to access fresh produce and hot and pre-packaged food items weekly. CalFresh/EBT users can use their credits on the market.
Environmental Considerations: The recommendation in this report is not a “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) because it involves an organizational or administrative government activity that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment, as contemplated by Section 15378(b)(5) of the CEQA Guidelines (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, §15000 et seq.), and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines.
Sustainability: None.
Commission/Committee Action: Not applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: In its first year, the Meadowview Community Farmers’ Market has been a successful certified farmers’ market. The monthly events from Halloween and Dia de los Muertos to the craft fair and the grand opening have certainly increased foot traffic and created a celebratory atmosphere in the neighborhood. There are a variety of vendors from local farmers to packaged goods that serve the needs of residents. The ability to offer CalFresh is a major draw and market match has been able to double CalFresh customer’s spending power. Though there have been challenges in its first year, such as vendor attrition and customer foot traffic, Alchemist has responded with creative ways to boost vendor participation and increase customer foot traffic. They are best poised to adapt and respond to future challenges.
Financial Considerations: This agreement is funded through a $500,000 grant received by the California Department of Food and Agriculture. There is sufficient funding available in the Meadowview Farmers Market MYOP (G02180350, Fund 2702) to continue the market through June 2027.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Alchemist CDC is in the city of Sacramento and therefore qualifies as a local business enterprise.