MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — The City Council is backing the local farmers market, saying it offers a place for residents to meet their neighbors and that it supports local businesses.
The council approved an agreement with the Mountlake Terrace Business Association earlier this month to waive certain permit fees in exchange for displaying city materials during the market season.
The farmers market’s third season begins Fridays and runs Fridays until Sept. 28 from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 23208 56th Ave. W.
City officials plan to read a proclamation on June 1 declaring it Farmers Market Day.
The farmers market fits into the city’s comprehensive plan, said Shane Hope, community and economic development director.
“It’s a special community event that provides economic development and a place for people to gather,” Hope said.
The farmers market debuted in 2010.
“The business association stepped up and did a tremendous amount of work to get this started,” Hope said.
The farmers market encourages Mountlake Terrace residents to support local businesses by buying locally, said Don Andrews, president of the Mountlake Terrace Business Association.
The recent agreement with the city is expected to help lower the cost to operate the farmers market, Andrews added. “This would help in a great way,” he said. “It reflects that the council agrees the market offers a public benefit.”
The council approved a two-year agreement in 2010 with the business association to run a farmers market on city property at 58th Avenue. That agreement included waiving certain permit fees for the market and allowing city officials to offer community information at the market. When the venue changed to a private lot last year, the agreement didn’t carry over and the business association covered all the fees to operate the farmers market.
Councilman Rick Ryan said he looks forward to the farmers market coming back this summer. Further, last year’s venue change to 56th Avenue W. put the market in a better location along the city’s main drag, Ryan added.
“It’s a great place to meet your neighbors. It’s really beneficial to the community,” he said.
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