Present: Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Councilor Don Laws; Director Ken Mickelsen

Absent: None

Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street

John McLaughlin, Community Development Director, gave an overview of the proposal for relocating the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market (Ashland Farmer’s Market) to Lithia Park. Two site alternatives were outlined.

Citizens spoke in support of allowing the Grower’s and Crafter’s Market to conduct itself in Lithia Park:

Janet Bierbower, 4290 Foothill Blvd., Grants Pass, the market’s manager, asked the Parks Commission to make an exception to their "no selling" rule by allowing the Rogue Valley Grower’s and Crafter’s Market to operate in Lithia Park. Both site alternatives were proposed.

The Commission also heard from the following market supporters:

Paige Morse, 746 Cambridge Street

Michael McKenzie, 746 Cambridge Street

Alex Forrester, 47 Union Street

Lorey Myers, 2528 Siskiyou Blvd.

Diane Taudvin, 47 Nutley Street

Rob Cain, 279 Granite Street

Bill Francis, 40 Van Ness

Danielle Platia, 885 Clay Street, Apt. 155

Alan DeBoer, 2260 Morada Lane

Kate Geary, 111 B. Street

Kiah Bosy, 500 Ashland Loop Road

Elizabeth Bretko, 130 Graham Street

Carol Carlson, 509 N. Mountain Avenue

Megan Lebov, 698 Ashland Street

Leslie Belew, 345 Alta Street

Mark Bassik, Williams, OR

Jean Crawford, 923 Harmony Lane, cautioned that allowing the Grower’s Market to operate on Park property could precipitate many more requests in the future that might be hard to justifiably deny.

Commissioner Rosenthal proposed granting a one-year, conditional acceptance to the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market for usage of Winburn Way between Nutley and the parking turnaround near the bandshell in Lithia Park on Tuesdays from April to November, as stipulated in the CUP application. He outlined important terms and conditions and overall CUP guidelines related to the proposal.

Commissioner Eggers expressed her appreciation for the valuable ways in which the Grower’s Market contributes to the local community. She also outlined her concerns about allowing the market to operate in Lithia Park. Commissioner Amarotico and Vice-Chair Gardiner voiced concerns relating to parking problems and future potential issues with denying other groups’ access to commercial activities in the park. Chair Lewis discussed the potential viability of using Market Alternative #2 (the "skating rink" lot on Winburn Way) for the Grower’s & Crafter’s Market. Vice-Chair Gardiner proposed using North Mountain Park, despite its distance from downtown Ashland.

MOTION – Commissioner Eggers moved to deny the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market’s Alternative #1 (Winburn Way beginning north of the Nutley Street intersection, stopping short of the turnaround at the bandshell) for the weekly market. Vice-Chair Gardiner seconded the motion.

MOTION – Chair Lewis moved to approve the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market’s Alternative #2 (the "skating rink" lot on Winburn Way) for the weekly market. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Chair Lewis adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.