Woodinville Farmers Market Refused a Full Season by City Manager

The may have a much shortened season this year if city council does not find a way to overturn the decision of the city manager Richard Leahy, who told market organizers they can only have a 15-day permit for 2012.

Woodinville Farmers Market president Michael Charlton said he was shocked when he read an email he received from City Manager Richard Leahy April 20, stating that the market would not get the permits it needs to operate for more than 15 days this year. The Market, now in its 18th year in Woodinville, typically runs from May to October, 23 days per season.

“The other Board Members and I are so surprised by the City Manager’s action that it has left us dumbfounded,” Charlton told Patch. “We feel completely betrayed since we have done exactly what the city directed us to do and now find ourselves completely out of time with our only recourse to appeal to the Council.”

Charlton said he hopes to rally support for the market and appeal to the city council at its meeting, Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. 

Three years ago, in cooperation with the city, the market moved to its location on 133rd Avenue NE, as suggested by the City Manager according to Charlton. “We asked what permits were required. We were directed to request the usual sign and International Fire Code permits as well as a Special Events and Right of Way permit. While we did not fit the definition of a Special Event staff felt this was the best course of action. Two years ago we followed the same path of permitting and again it was noted that we did not really meet the definition of a Special Event, however since this was done successfully the previous year permits were again approved.”

On February 21 of this year the city council reviewed the Farmers Market permit requirements and fees and the information presented by staff, and discussion at the meeting, was that nothing would change.  “The city manager even commented that he would continue to treat the Farmers Market as he had done in the past,” Charlton said. “We subsequently submitted all necessary permit requests just as we had done for the previous two years.  No further communication from the city staff was received.”

Until Charlton contacted Leahy on another matter and in response received an email that includes the following:

“Additionally, it has come to our attention that our code only allows this type of event for not more than 15 days each year.  Unless you can find another section of the code that allows you to operate more than 15 days in the right-of-way, we are not able to approve any more than that. We can pursue a code change, however, I don’t know whether it will be approved by the City Council.”

“They [the city council] have all expressed support for the Farmers Market in the past and I am hopeful they will do the right thing,” Charlton said. “This farmers market was founded by leaders from Woodinville with the hope that it would be welcomed and supported by the community and for 18 years it has been. We would hope that members of our community will express their support for the farmers market through email, or phone calls to council members, and perhaps in person at the council meeting on Tuesday."