fwd_ palafox market issue.pdf - adobe reader.pdf

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From: John Asmar

To: David Flaherty; Bill Reynolds

Subject: Fwd: Palafox Market issue

Date: Tuesday, April 17, 2012 4:09:24 PM

David and Bill, my recommendation is a meeting with DIB this week. I fear anuprising on Monday from farmers at the COW meeting especially if the have been

utilizing the same areas. Let me know how I can assist.

John F. AsmarChief of Staff

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

From:"Franklin D. Kimbrough" Date:April 17, 2012 5:02:20 PM EDT

To:David Flaherty , John Asmar, Bill ReynoldsCc:Kim Kaminski , 'Clay Roesch', Ryan Winterberg-Lipp , 'Hilary Gilles'Subject:RE: Palafox Market issue

Ladies and Gentlemen-

It really is very late in the game to be changing the rules. Our permit for the 2011

season included more than one median on North Palafox Street (which we used to

locate additional vendors several dozen times during the peak of the growing season).

When we started the planning with the vendors for the 2012 season (which begins on

May 5th), we assumed that we would again be able to use the same areas that we had

used in the prior year. The new year (and annual permit) begins on Saturday, May 5,

2012.

Hilary Gilles, our market manager, has already been assigning locations to vendors on

the larger three-median area to allow us to accommodate more participants, more

produce, more local art, etc. The denial of the permit a little over a week ago really

threw a curveball in the planning and preparation that has been going on since early

January. We had no idea or expectation before Dave's call the first week of this month

that the rules would change between 2011 and 2012. Pulling back now will cause

considerable uproar with the farmers, growers, bakers, and artisans that sell on the

market as well as a potential PR problem for us all.

Moving the market anywhere other than where it currently operates will diminish its

attractiveness and retard its success. It has taken five years to get it established and
mailto:/O=CITY%20OF%20PENSACOLA/OU=PENSACOLA/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=JASMARmailto:/O=CITY%20OF%20PENSACOLA/OU=PENSACOLA/cn=Recipients/cn=Dflahertymailto:/O=CITY%20OF%20PENSACOLA/OU=PENSACOLA/cn=Recipients/cn=BReynoldsmailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:/O=CITY%20OF%20PENSACOLA/OU=PENSACOLA/cn=Recipients/cn=BReynoldsmailto:/O=CITY%20OF%20PENSACOLA/OU=PENSACOLA/cn=Recipients/cn=Dflahertymailto:/O=CITY%20OF%20PENSACOLA/OU=PENSACOLA/CN=RECIPIENTS/CN=JASMAR


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flourishing in its current location. A hard surface option without a significant covering

to reflect the heat is not feasible during our long summers. Closing the street would

also add additional (and unnecessary) costs that we would have a hard time going back

to the farmers to tell them that they will have to pay more just a few weeks before the

market is scheduled to open for the new season. Limiting or reducing the number of

vendors will also have a negative impact on the year-round businesses within walking

distance that now benefit from the thousands of patrons that visit the market eachSaturday and then walk over to browse, eat, or make a purchase.

Please note that the grass in the center median is dead because the sunlight can't get

through the more mature tree canopy in that block. The other two blocks will likely

have the same turf problem as the trees in those blocks mature and a more dense

canopy ensues. It was also exacerbated by the Occupy camp that was allowed to exist

there for several weeks. The vendors are only on the grass for between six and seven

hours once a week. The vagrants that we allow to charge their phones, sleep, eat,

urinate, and lounge on the grass all week long are longer term users than the farmers,

bakers, and artisans (that bring patrons, commerce, and positive imagery to our city)from a three county radius. Surely, we want the market vendors (with their customer

drawing power) instead of the gangs of drunk vagrants that would otherwise populate

these unused medians on Saturday mornings?

Time is getting really short for this misunderstanding to be corrected. We desperately

need your assistance to keep the Palafox Market working as it has for the last few

years. Please reconsider the permit denial so we can keep a good thing going for

downtown on Saturday mornings. Your assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Kim

From:David Flaherty [mailto:[email protected]]Sent:Thursday, April 12, 2012 1:05 PMTo:John Asmar; Bill ReynoldsCc:'Franklin D. Kimbrough'; Kim Kaminski; 'Clay Roesch'; Ryan Winterberg-LippSubject:RE: Palafox Market issue

John:

DIB is asking to use the other two Islands located on North Palafox, along with the

current one they have been using for their Saturday Market.

Until know, the Market has been seasonal. They are now requesting to operate every

Saturday, year-round.

The Island used to date (again on a seasonal bases) no longer has any turf on it and is

now covered with mulch to keep the dust down. The loss of turf is a direct result of


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the Market Vendors and their booths. (Certainly Occupy Pensacola had an additional

impact, but it only accelerate the loss of the turf)

My concern, and the main reason I have denied the DIB's request to expand the

Market to the remaning two Islands, is the expected damage/loss of turf that will take

place if they Market is allowed to expand. In addition, nether of the other Islands have

the water or electrical needs that I anticipate the Market's Vendors will be requesting,if not this year, certainly next year.

While I have denied their use request for the additional Islands, I do believe there are

other alternatives and I would be happy to meet with the DIB and the Market

Coordinator to discuss them. I have been a strong supporter of the Market and have

enjoyed walking through it on at least 1/2 dozen occasions. It has become extremely

successful and well attended. However, instead of expanding the Market in the

current area at the cost of adversely effecting the other two Islands, let's explore

possible alternatives.

I suggest the following be vetted:

Moving the Market to a new location(certainly within the downtown area) and utilize a "hard scape" area rather

than a landscaped area. (i.e. a parking lot or street area that can be closed off

from 7am to 3 pm)

Leave the Market where it is (using onlythe one Island) and close off the two one way streets between Chase and

Gregory. This would allow the Market to expand outwardly into the street area

on both sides of the Island. This would effectively expand the space available

to the Market by 200%.

I am happy to meet to discuss these and other possible options. Let me know if you

need any additional information or clarification.

David FlahertyDirector, Neighborhood Services222 West Main St. | Pensacola, FL 32502

850.436.5670

For Non-Emergency Citizen Requests, Dial 311 or visit Pensacola311.com

Notice: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state

and local officials regarding government business are public records and available to the public and
http://cityofpensacola.com/311http://cityofpensacola.com/311


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media upon request. Your email communications may be subject to public disclosure.

From:John AsmarSent:Wednesday, April 11, 2012 5:29 PMTo:Bill Reynolds; David FlahertySubject:Palafox Market issue

Bill and Dave, have we resolved this issue? I received a call from DIB concerning theissue. I have an economic deal that may be tied to this issue. Let me know your

thoughts.

JFA

John F. Asmar,

Chief of Staff

City of Pensacola

222 W Main St.

Pensacola FL 32502

850-435-1626

www.cityofpensacola.com

Citizen Non-Emergency Support Line - Dial 311

Notice: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from

state and local officials regarding government business are public records available to the public

and media upon request. Your email communications may be subject to public disclosure.
http://c/www.cityofpensacola.comhttp://c/www.cityofpensacola.com


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