Title
Hearing to receive and accept the accomplishments and final product of the 2007-08 Economic Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance (EDBG PTA) Standard Agreement 07-PTAE-3137 for a Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Certified Farmers' Market Feasibility Study and to authorize staff to submit said Study to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to close out and satisfy grant requirements. (Est. Time: 15 Min.)
FUNDING: Federal Economic Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance Grant Funds.
Body
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: There is no change in Net County Cost
Background:
The Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce conducted an online survey of residents and businesses in their jurisdiction in July 2006. The survey questions covered many issues, including desired community events. A farmers' market was among the top three events that Shingle Springs/Cameron Park residents wanted to see in their area. Based on the results of this survey demonstrating the unmet community need for a farmer's market, staff worked with the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce and identified the Economic Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance grant as an opportunity to provide funding to conduct a certified farmers' market feasibility study for the area of Shingle Springs/Cameron Park that would document the potential for the success and sustainability of a substantial certified farmers' market.
On August 28, 2007 the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 223-2007 approving submittal of an application to the State of California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) under the 2007-08 Economic Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance allocation to receive a grant in the amount of $18,375 to hire a consultant to conduct a Certified Farmers' Market Feasibility Study in the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park area to support the efforts of the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce. The grant was subsequently awarded on November 5, 2007, the Director of Human Services signed Standard Agreement #07-PTAE-3137 following review and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management as authorized by Resolution 223-2007, and HCD executed the Agreement on February 5, 2008. A Request for Proposal was issued by the County to procure a consultant to conduct the Certified Farmers' Market Feasibility Study. On December 2, 2008, the County executed Agreement for Services #374-S0910 with Southland Farmers' Market Association, Inc. to conduct said study.
Reason for Recommendation:
The planning activity funded by the Economic Development Block Grant Planning and Technical Assistance grant has been accomplished with the completion of the Shingle Springs Farmers' Market Feasibility Study. When the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce requested this study there were no farmers' markets in those communities. Today there are two. This report provides a community resource that can be used in the future expansion of these existing farmers' markets and in the creation of new certified farmers' markets in the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park area as well as in other communities in El Dorado County interested in hosting similar markets.
The State Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) requires that the Board of Supervisors, as governing board, conduct a public hearing to advise the public of grant accomplishments, receive public input and accept the final product of the grant. Following Board acceptance, staff will submit the final product to HCD to close out the grant prior to the expiration of the grant term on December 31, 2009. The final product will also be posted online at the County Housing, Community and Economic Development website and will be distributed to a list of interested organizations provided by the Shingle Springs/Cameron Park Chamber of Commerce, including other local Chamber of Commerce organizations, agricultural entities and existing farmers' markets.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
Human Services staff to submit final product to HCD to close out the grant.
Contact: Daniel Nielson, 642-7275
Concurrences: N/A