Monterey May Move Flea Market To Lot South Of Museum

Monterey yard sellers may be moved to the city-owned parking lot south of the Monterey Depot Museum, reserving farmer’s market parking for its intended purpose.

Monterey Alderman Alex Garcia said the city discussed marking off spots at the new location to allow the flea market sales to keep operating. He said this was the best decision for both the farmers and the yard sellers.

“We’re having some issues where people are coming in and they can’t get to the Farmers Market because of the yard sellers,” Garcia said. “So, we’re going to separate the two, but I mean, they’re in walking distance. So you can still reach either wherever you park.”

Garcia said the Monterey Farmers Market was built through a grant that specifies that the space is designed to be a farmers market and nothing else. He said he does not expect any ripple effect from the move and feels everyone involved benefits from this outcome.

“I don’t think there’s much of a difference here,” Garcia said. “I don’t think this is a big issue. We’re basically just making a designated area for yard sellers and a designated area for the farmers market.”

The issue stems from farmers’ concerns that getting into the farmers market had become difficult due to the flea markets set up in the parking lot. Alderman Bill Wiggins said farmers with disabilities in particular were having trouble with the arrangement. Wiggins said Monterey considered removing the yard sales altogether, but the city receives funds from a “yard sale collection fee” that each yard sale entrepreneur must pay to participate.

“It was just the citizens’ complaints or comments or whatever it was,” Garcia said. “It was brought to the Buildings and Grounds meeting and that’s what we decided as a committee.”

Garcia said since the decision, he has not heard from either group that this decision will negatively affect business or comfort. The decision will be brought to the board at next month’s meeting for a final ruling.