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July 21, 2017 Dear Moscow Farmers Market Vendor: The market is in full swing and we wanted to send you a brief update as to what the Moscow Farmers Market Commission has been working on. The Commission completed a strategic plan last winter which helped us organize goals for the future and immediate needs within the market (The strategic plan can be found here: http://www.ci.moscow.id.us/arts/Pages/Moscow-Farmers-Market-Strategic- Planning-Project.aspx). As you may have also heard, the City has restructured staff oversight of the Market allowing Kathleen Burns to focus on the Art portion of her position. As for Market oversight, Jen Pfiffner, Assistant City Supervisor is now overseeing Market operations. Specifically in regards to vendors, through the planning process it became very clear that the current fee structure has some significant inequities. We also received consistent feedback from vendors, City staff and City Council that we need a long- term plan that is equitable, scalable and sustainable. We embarked on the Farmers Market Fee Project by starting with a review of the history of fees with an eye to the future and how we can continue to support our vendors and maintain the vibrancy of the Market. City staff has been incredibly helpful in taking a deep dive into the numbers, committing to their contributions to the market, and presenting data to the Commission. The Commission has continually provided feedback to City Staff to ensure vendors, customers and the community have been represented throughout the process. Our work has been guided by many important considerations, including how to address inequities between walk-on and season vendors. There is currently no policy for determining how vendors are granted season status. We also realize that many walk-on vendors have participated in the Market at season vendor levels while paying up to three times as much as season vendors. Given these issues, we recognized that allowing for vendors to select their level of participation in the Market at an equitable cost was a change that should be addressed immediately. We will address fee structures first, as they influence the predictability of future fees, with attention to the layout and makeup of the market, and many other concerns brought forth by the strategic plan as we move forward. With the commitments made by vendors for participation, we felt it was very appropriate to provide certain guarantees as well. In addition to the many valuable services the City provides for the community and Market vendors, we created a model that provides for additional consideration and guarantee of same locations for vendors attending the Market for more days during the season. The proposed fee model allows vendors to choose their level of participation in the Market (with approved products) at the same costs as all other vendors. It would no longer be up Heart of the Arts City Commissions are advisory to the Mayor and City Council and this communication does not represent the official position of the City of Moscow. Farmers Market Commission c/o Jen Pfiffner P.O. Box 9203 Moscow, ID 83843-1703 Website: www.ci.moscow.id.us City Hall 206 East 3rd Street Phone (208) 883-7000 Fax (208) 883-7018 Hearing Impaired (208) 883-7019 Please check with City Hall to confirm meeting times or to volunteer for this or other City Commissions Regular Meeting Time: First Tuesday of the month 4:00 p.m. Council Chambers of City Hall Farmers Market Commission A Volunteer Commission of the City of Moscow Erin Carroll Chair Jen Pfiffner Assistant City Supervisor Staff Liaison Gary J. Riedner City Supervisor 100% post consumer content ---PAGE BREAK--- to City staff to grant seasonal status as it has been in the past. If vendors are committed to attending the market, we want them to be there. Attached we’ve included two handouts, one specific to the fee project, the other with frequently asked questions we’ve heard as we’ve worked through this project. We are offering several ways for vendors to provide feedback as well: • This packet is being emailed to all vendors on July 21, 2017, please simply reply to the email with your thoughts to Jen Pfiffner, Assistant City Supervisor and Farmers Market Commission Staff Liaison. • Hardcopies of this packet will be distributed to all vendors on July 22, 2017 before Market opens. Jen, Market Manger Daniel Stewart, and available Commissioners will be at the City tent during the Market to answer questions and collect comments. • A webpage with all of this information has been created and can be found by visiting the www.ci.moscow.id.us. Also included on this webpage is a calculator that allows vendors to estimate what their fees would be given the proposed changes. • Staff and Commissioners will be back at the Market on July 29, 2017 to again collect comments and provide additional information as needed. On August 1, 2017, we’ll close the public input so we can compile the comments, suggestions, etc. and discuss any adjustments to the proposal before it is forwarded to the City Council on August 14, 2017. For anyone interested in learning more about the process in the meantime please do not hesitate to contact Jen Pfiffner, Assistant City Supervisor at [EMAIL REDACTED] or by phone at [PHONE REDACTED] or Erin Carroll, the Commission Chair at [EMAIL REDACTED]. Daniel can also help you get in touch with Jen or your Commission members. This has been a difficult process and we realize it will have different impacts for all vendors. We look forward to your feedback and as questions are asked that others may be interested in, we’ll continue to share those via email to all vendors. Thank you for your patience in this process and your dedication to the Moscow Farmers Market. We appreciate you! Sincerely, Jen Pfiffner Erin Carroll Assistant City Supervisor Farmers Market Commission Chair Erin Carroll, Chair Community Representative Colette DePhelps UI Extension Representative Linda Heath Craft Vendor Representative Joann Muneta Community Representative David Pierce Community Representative Adam Reed Produce Vendor Representative Jeremy Ritter Specialty Food Vendor Representative Vacant Community Representative Vacant Moscow Chamber Representative Heart of the Arts 100% post consumer content City Commissions are advisory to the Mayor and City Council and this communication does not represent the official position of the City of Moscow.