Title
Resolution to Authorize a Professional Services Agreement with Market Ventures, Inc. for Farmers Market Visioning & Engagement Plan (RFP #26-18) ($416,829.00) and Accept and Appropriate Funds ($248,000.00) (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
Attached for your review and consideration is a resolution to authorize a Professional Services Agreement with Market Ventures, Inc. for consulting services to develop and implement a visioning and public engagement process to summarize the needs, desires and values of the Ann Arbor community as it relates to the City of Ann Arbor’s Farmers Market.
In May 2024, the Farmers Market office building was closed and slated for demolition due to structural issues. The Farmers Market stalls (i.e. the roof-like structure that provides cover for vendors and patrons) remain intact, though investments are currently underway to repair and replace corroded support columns. In addition, the City’s Parks & Recreation ADA Transition Plan and Parks & Recreation Asset Management Plan have both identified substantial barriers and costs associated with continuing Farmers Market operations as-is.
The aging infrastructure of the Farmers Market, underscored by the unexpected condemnation of the office building, has prompted the City to initiate a public visioning process that will identify community needs and desires for the Farmers Market. This public visioning process will assist the City in improving and developing the Farmers Market’s function within the community, its operations, and its amenities.
At a minimum, this engagement and visioning process would (1) establish background & context, (2) assess the Farmers Market’s current amenities, operations and programming, (3) identify priorities for the future, and (4) synthesize and summarize options for the future of the Farmers Market. Across this visioning process, the community and stakeholder conversations would be contextualized by the Parks & Recreation ADA Transition Plan and the Par...
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