Sonoma farmers market president resigns in protest

<p>The president of Sonoma's farmers market has resigned in protest of increased city oversight following complaints raised last year about the market's management.</p><p>Jim Cahoon, a Sonoma restaurant owner and longtime board member of the privately run market, had harsh words for the city as he quit.</p><p>“I reached the limits of my tolerance with the arrogance and divisive attitude of the City Council of the city of Sonoma,” he said Thursday.</p><p>“The City Council, rather than working collaboratively with the farmers market, has been from the beginning of this process, working dictatorially, giving us far too little time to accomplish the goals that they wish to have accomplished.”</p><p>Mayor Steve Barbose said the market simply is being asked to comply with use permit requirements, just like every other event conducted on city property.</p><p>The Sonoma Valley Certified Farmers Market is a private entity, but rents space in the downtown Plaza for its Tuesday night fair of food, crafts and fresh produce. The market has a second event on Fridays on county land.</p><p>Troubles between market leaders and the city came to a head last fall, when after the market closed for the season, the city sought new proposals to run this year's Tuesday night market.</p><p>City officials said complaints had been lodged by vendors who had been denied booths in the market and who had concerns about a shrouded – and some said, unfair – process of selecting vendors.</p><p>A second community group submitted a market proposal, but on a 3-2 vote in January the council awarded a use permit to the existing market management. The council added nearly 20 conditions of further approval.</p><p>A city committee and advisory group have been keeping tabs on the market and whether it has met the conditions.</p><p>At a review hearing May 12, city officials said the market had made only 20 percent progress toward the requirements, which include submitting a waste management plan and adopting tracking criteria for applicants and reasons why they were denied market space.</p><p>Cahoon disputed the city's numbers, saying his board met about 80 percent of the requirements.</p><p>He said he suspects the city just wants to take over the popular community event.</p><p>“I believe the entire process has been about wresting control from the market from those that controlled the market to those that are either directors of the city or close friends of those that are directors of the city,” he said.</p><p>Barbose said the entire council was frustrated with the perceived lack of progress in meeting the requirements.</p><p>“It was the same kind of thing we were confronted with last fall,” he said. “We want clear, transparent guidelines. ...The fact that they couldn't get it together in six months is disappointing.”</p><p>In Cahoon's resignation email, he encouraged other board members to join him in a mass exodus. No one else has quit.</p><p>Bill Dardon, a longtime real estate broker in Sonoma who has stepped in as the new president, said he hopes to mend relationships with the city, vendors and the community.</p><p>“I totally support Jim. I'm not in favor of what he said or how he said it, but he is absolutely entitled to his opinion and what he feels,” Dardon said. “As far as I'm concerned, I just want to see the very best for Sonoma.”</p><p>The next market is Tuesday. The next city council review of the board's progress is set for July 14.</p>