CITY COUNCIL: Report & Policy Direction Regarding 2009 Homecrafters' Marketplace to Sunset Center

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive report and provide policy direction regarding returning the 2009
Homecrafters’ Marketplace to the Sunset Center from its current location on Ocean
Avenue.

Description: The City-sponsored Homecrafters’ Marketplace was temporarily moved by
Resolution 2001-135, from the Sunset Center to Ocean Avenue in 2001, while the
Sunset Center was being renovated. Over the past eight years, the City, Council and
Commission have received repeated requests to move the event back to the Sunset
Center.
Overall Cost: A reduction in current staffing costs is anticipated.
Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends that the City Council uphold the decision of the
Community Activities and Cultural Commission and move the event back to
the Sunset Center.
Important Considerations: Safety, staff time, concerns of business owners on Ocean
Avenue and parking were all taken into account by the Commission.
Decision Record: Resolution 2001-135 (attached) temporarily relocated the Homecrafters’
Marketplace from the Sunset Center to Ocean Avenue to accommodate the
renovation of the facilities.
Reviewed by:
______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date
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CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCILMEMBERS
FROM: HEIDI BURCH, STAFF LIAISON TO THE
CA&CC COMMISSION
DATE: 27 MAY 2009
SUBJECT: Moving Homecrafters’ Marketplace to the Sunset Center
I. RECOMMENDATION:
Uphold the decision made by the Community Activities and Cultural
Commission and move the 2009 Homecrafters’ Marketplace to the Sunset
Center.
II. BACKGROUND:
The City-sponsored Homecrafters’ Marketplace was temporarily moved by
Resolution 2001-135, from the Sunset Center to Ocean Avenue in 2001,
while the Sunset Center was being renovated. Over the past eight years, the
City, Council and Commission have received repeated requests to move the
event back to the Sunset Center.
III. STAFF REVIEW:
Staff concurs with decision made by the Community Activities and Cultural
Commission to return the event to the Sunset Center. Corporal Rana has
evaluated access and egress points and developed processes for the vendors
to unload and load their booths. Unlike the venue on Ocean Avenue, the
streets surrounding Sunset will not be closed for the duration of the event,
only during load-in and out periods. Approval for use of the parking lot was
obtained from Peter Lesnik, Executive Director of Sunset Center.
The Commission took into account the following are the pros and cons of
each location:
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Ocean Avenue location
1. Nice downtown feeling/ambience.
2. Set up too early for volunteers, staff, and vendors. Combination of
vehicles/pedestrians in the dark creates a dangerous situation.
3. Additional staff time to set up barricades for street closure, posting
of “no parking” signage prior to the event.
4. Danger of errant traffic during show hours.
5. Patrons disappointed that show ends too early at 3:00.
6. Too much on-street parking is lost.
7. Several businesses on Ocean complain the show diminishes their
sales for the day.
8. City Council approval of street closures required.
Sunset Center location
1. A more pedestrian-friendly location. Danger of errant traffic,
collisions, and vehicle/pedestrian accidents would be reduced
significantly.
2. Easier set-up for volunteers, staff and vendors.
3. Show hours could be 9:00 or 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Vendors
check-in could start at 6:30 or 7:00 a.m.
4. Reduces staff time required to erect barricades, direct traffic, post
“no parking” signage, etc., prior to the event.
5. Does not reduce or remove on street parking in the commercial
district.
6. If no Friday night performance at Sunset, vendor stalls could be
marked then.
7. Would not detract from the sales in the commercial district.
IV. FISCAL IMPACT:
Reduction of costs for staff time required to erect barricades, direct traffic,
post “no parking” signage, etc., prior to the event.
V. SUMMARY
The move from the Sunset Center to Ocean Avenue was intended by
Council to be temporary for the duration of the renovation of the facilities.
The Community Activities and Cultural Commission would like to move
the event back to the Sunset Center with the stipulation that if it is not
successful there in 2009, it be returned to Ocean Avenue in 2010. Staff will
monitor attendance and the Commission will be developing a survey to be
distributed to the vendors following the event to gather their impressions
and sales data. The surveys will be evaluated by the Commission to
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determine the “success” of the event. The Commission will then provide its
recommendation on the future venue of the event to the Council.