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06.f Staff Report - Scandia Farmers Market Staff Report Date of Meeting: February 21, 2023 To: City Council From: Brenda Eklund, City Clerk Re: Proposal to use the Community Center parking lot for the 2023 Scandia Farmers Market Background: For the past three market seasons (2020 -- 2022), the City approved the use of the Community Center parking lot for the Scandia Farmers Market to conduct their weekly sales during the summer season. This was a change from using the grounds of the Gammelgarden Museum because there was more space for vendors and customers to spread out and follow Covid-19 precautions that were in place at the time. The organizers closely followed the State’s guidelines for markets. The organizers and vendors appreciated the larger market space, and the markets were safely and successfully conducted. Proposal Details: The Scandia Farmers Market would like approval to conduct the 2023 market following the similar operations as it did last year, operating on Wednesdays from 3:30-6:30pm, with the season running from June 14-September 20, 2023. Issue: Should the City Council allow the Scandia Farmers Market to operate in the Community Center parking lot on Wednesdays from June 14th to September 20th? As well, plant sales will be held on May 10th and 17th. Staff sees no conflicts with planned events at the Community Center, particularly in mid-week when the parking lot is not being used. There were no issues or concerns regarding past Market seasons, and each week’s events all went smoothly. If approval is granted to operate the market within the public parking lot, staff recommends that the Market provide to the City a public liability insurance policy naming the City as an additional insured entity with limits of not less than one million dollars per occurrence , prior to the opening of the market. Options: 1) Approve use of the Community Center parking lot for the 2023 Scandia Farmers Market, conditioned on submission of the required liability certificate. 2) Approve use of the Community Center parking lot for the 2023 Scandia Farmers Market, with different conditions. 3) Deny use of the Community Center parking lot for the 2023 Scandia Farmers Market. Recommendation: Option 1.