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Muskegon Farmers Market Advisory Board-Meeting Minutes
Thursday, February 22, 2023 – Muskegon City Hall 2:00 pm
Present: Kim Martens, Kathi Upton, Janine Platt, Jon Zandstra, Jon Visser, Dianne Snow
Absent: Cindy Larsen, Commissioner St. Clair
1. Approval of Minutes
John Zandstra moved to approve the Farmers Market Advisory Board minutes of August 31, 2023;
supported by Kim Martens and carried unanimously.
2. Review of 2024 Guidelines and Application-Vendor Rates. Applications will be sent out the first week
in March.
Discussion: There was discussion around whether participation in the Winter Market should count
towards seniority to become a seasonal vendor. Further details need to be worked on. Also
discussion on the Seniority List and making that visible on the website. Currently other than the
Farmer category there are no openings in other categories.
3. Budget Review – Reminder that the fiscal year is July 1st through June 30th. The budget presented was
from July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023. Total revenue $626,420 and total expense $655,951 of which
$360,420 is a pass through of EBT dollars. A few questions came up about several line items in the
budget and these were the responses received after the meeting:
Please know that every bill that we pay is signed off by myself, the City Manager, and then the
Finance Department. We are audited every year. Several accountants come to our building and are
here for what seems like months and go through all of our records and pull up many invoices and
they are scrutinized. Our City Commissioners approve all budgets and adjustments to the budget.
I think the Commission has been very flattering to the Farmers Market the last few years and
complimented us on how well we have been doing financially. They understand that things break
and as the building gets older, we will be putting more into repairs. Those are things I list when we
go over and Commissioners understand. I do not put off needed repairs. I find they do not get
cheaper by waiting.
Staff studies fees of other markets and we try to be comparable. Kalamazoo and Holland are good
comparisons but we look at others as well. We do not base our recommendations based on how
much money the market needs to sustain itself. You saw that we recommended lowering a couple
of fees. We thought it was more important to get vendors to the market on Thursday and lowering
the fees might be the trick.
We try to offer entertainment and bring fun activities to the market and very little of it comes out
of the farmers market budget compared to how much the actual cost is. Most of it comes from the
General Fund of the City thanks to our City Commissioners. Big shout out to Kwame who works
tirelessly bringing music to the market each week. It has not been easy for him at times and he
donates all of his Saturdays to the market.
Finances do come into play when we talk about taking on expensive projects, adding more
personnel, etc. You will hear me say we cannot afford it. But I know you already understand that.
It’s why we do talk about grant money, or how can we raise funds to do that roof because we
know it will be expensive. I’m on board with these things, but I will need your help for the bigger
projects.
I have the heat bills listed on the attached document. They are not always paid on the month
listed. They go directly to finance so I don’t see them. Looking at the amounts, I think it looks like
it’s pretty close to the month paid.
I broke down the “other expenses” of $6,316 and they are attached. The Misc Material & Supplies
came out to $5,430 which is about $200 more than I put on paper. I may have typed in a number
wrong but you can get an idea of the types of items that are in there. There is an item called
reclass general journal expenses from Finance. This is when the auditors or finance move expenses
that were charged in the wrong account. It’s one of those reviews I was speaking of. It doesn’t
allow me to see it so I can’t say what they are but if Finance put them there, I know it is correct.
Other Discussion around the budget: 2024 market improvements not covered by the budget but
from funding raised by Taste of Muskegon. Fun activities held at the market such as the
Halloween Bash does not come from the market budget, monies are typically found elsewhere to
support.
4. Discussion
Vendor placement by 7:00 a.m. beginning in Summer 2024
Addition of Kid’s Market Area – Morris Street. Up to 3 booths. Review of proposed guidelines and
application. Questions: Sales Tax required? Liability Insurance requirements.
Morris Street Committee – an email was sent out inviting vendors to participate on a Morris Street
Committee
10th Anniversary idea suggestions for events from May – October: classes, demonstrations, music, 2
weekends where we would sell Bloody Mary’s and Mimosas. Kids programming, giveaways,
Scottville Clown Band. Other ideas are welcome.
Future Market Improvements:
• Snow stops on the first aisle – installation is being scheduled
• Extending the roof – gutters are not an option, need to find an engineering firm to
recommend a roof extension so quotes can be gathered and fund raising begin. This has
been an on-going issue when it rains on market days.
Food Programs: a summary was presented of the impact of food programs at the market for 2023.
• EBT : $105,771
• DUFB: $70,867
• Kids POP: $8608
• Senior POP: $63,978
• Sr. Project Fresh: $5375
5. Other Business
None
6. General Public Comment: None
7. Adjournment
John Zandstra moved to adjourn at 4:15 pm; supported by Jon Visser and carried unanimously.
Renae Hesselink, Recording Secretary
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