BRUCEDALE – Guelph-Eramosa Township is still negotiating a rental fee for use of the Rockmosa Park.
At the Feb. 19 committee of the whole session, director of parks and recreation Robin Milne presented a report on the Rockwood Farmers Market (RFM) and its move to Rockmosa this year.
His report noted the market enters its sixth year of operation in 2020.
In the report Milne stated “historically the market operated from the open green space in front of Rockwood’s St. Johns Anglican Church in the heart of downtown Rockwood.”
New for the 2020 market season the market will be calling Rockmosa Park its home.
Milne stated staff has been working with the market to develop a draft license agreement for the use of the park over the past couple of months for council’s review and approval.
He added “currently staff feel that the terms and conditions for this agreement are acceptable to both parties and at this time staff is looking for direction from council on a weekly site fee.”
For the past five seasons the market has paid a site fee of $150 per week to the Anglican Church and it was expressed to township staff that this was the maximum the RFM could pay and have the market succeed.
After reviewing additional costs that would be incurred by the township and from informal conversation with council, Milne said it felt that a $150 per day site fee was acceptable to the township.
Milne noted the township frequently receives requests to rent the Rockmosa parking lot and the fee is $332 per day.
He explained in his report that this is the eight-hour “hall only” rate for the Rockmosa Community Centre.
This rate is used with the theory that the hall cannot be booked if the parking lot is occupied.
The report stated the RFM has come back to the township staff and asked that the site fee be waived in its entirety. Cost recovery for wages for a township staff member to work during market hours will be $100 per market day. Council received the report and authorized Milne to continue negotiation of a one-year lease with the Rockwood Farmers Market for the 2020 season.
In negotiations
On Feb. 24 Guelph-Eramosa Mayor Chris White explained the township remains in negotiations with the RFM.
He said a recommendation will be coming to accept a $75-per-day site fee and if the market turns out to be a big success at the new location, the fee might change.
“It all depends,” he said. “This might be a challenging location and we want to give them a leg up to get going.
“But at the end of the day, it has to be able to stand on its own.”
White did note the township does have an additional parking lot coming online.
But he agreed parking could be an issue.
