Story Created:
May 20, 2010 at 11:24 AM PST
Story Updated:
May 20, 2010 at 11:24 AM PST
WHITTIER — The City Council has approved a special event permit for the fifth year of a farmers market and family fair each Wednesday through Sept. 29, but has added several conditions after hearing complaints from some merchants in the Uptown area.
Jeff Collier, director of community development, said the event, sponsored by the Whittier Uptown Association, will include a farmers market with vendors selling fruit, vegetables, arts and crafts and other items; along with food vendors, free entertainment, a petting zoo and a children’s ride area.
In a written report to the City Council, Collier noted that some Uptown merchants have complained about competition from vendors in front of their stores selling items they sell, that some out-of-town food vendors compete with local restaurants, items sold are of low quality and the event leaves streets and sidewalks dirty in front of their stores.
The Whittier Uptown Association and an independent group of merchants both conducted surveys of the affected merchants and found a majority still favor the event, Collier said.
In February, the Uptown Association polled its entire 473 members on the issues. Of the 79 who responded, 60 percent favored the continuation of the event.
Of the 79, 26 businesses were in the actual event area on Greenleaf and Bailey, of which 54 percent supported the event.
The second survey by the independent group in February received 69 responses, of which 50 percent supported the event.
Collier said the association has promised to talk with the event contractor on the outside competition and merchandise quality issues but as of May 11 had not yet hired one.
Council approved the following conditions:
• Instead of the 5 to 10 p.m. time sought by the association, city staff proposed 5:30 to 9 p.m. to give office workers a chance to leave the area before roads are blocked.
• A reduction of the event area, placing it on Greenleaf between Philadelphia and Hadley streets but not on Bailey Street as in past years.
• A 4 to 10 p.m. street closure instead of the 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. time slot sought by the association.
• City staff recommended against letting merchants in the fair area set up tables in front of their stores, as in past years, saying the sidewalks are not wide enough.
• Staff also recommended that restaurants not set up tables in front of their businesses to sell food for the same reason — width of sidewalk — and because there was no way to make sure they comply with county Health Department requirements. Instead local restaurants should set up shop in an expanded food area off the sidewalks, they said.
• City staff called for steam cleaning of the sidewalks and event area each night.
Also, vendors at the weekly family fair must have a city business license and the Whittier Uptown Association must hire a security guard for every 1,000 patrons. In the past the association has estimated crowns totaling 10,000, Collier said.
The vote was 3-0 with council members Robert Henderson and Joe Vinatieri abstaining because their businesses are located within the Uptown area.
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