To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: ELIZABETH HAUSE, WATERFRONT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE CONTINUATION OF THE NORTH REDONDO BEACH FARMERS MARKET AS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM ON GREEN LANE BETWEEN ARTESIA BOULEVARD AND VANDERBILT LANE
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The North Redondo Beach Farmers Market (NRBFM), organized by OurNRB, a local nonprofit organization, began operations on April 22, 2026 as a six-month pilot program intended to support community gathering, local businesses, and revitalization of the Artesia and Aviation Corridors Area Plan (AACAP) area. The pilot program is scheduled to conclude on October 28, 2026.
OurNRB has requested that the City Council allow the market to continue as a year-round program. The organizers report that the market has established a regular customer base, provides opportunities for community organizations to engage with residents, and generates sufficient proceeds for sustainable market operation and the potential to support improvements in the AACAP area.
This report provides an overview of the pilot program, summarizes the organizers’ request and reported results, and identifies operational, financial, and public-facility considerations associated with year-round operation. Representatives of OurNRB will be present at the Council meeting to provide additional information and to respond to questions. Staff is supportive of OurNRB’s request to continue market operation.
BACKGROUND
Pilot Program Approval and Operations
The North Redondo Beach Farmers Market was established as a grassroots initiative organized by OurNRB, a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on improving and maintaining the Artesia and Aviation Corridors through beautification, public art, placemaking, community events, and local engagement.
On April 14, 2026, the City Council considered the organizers’ request for fee waivers to facilitate the launch of the market. The approved pilot program was established for six months, from April 22 through October 28, 2026, operating each Wednesday from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Green Lane between Artesia Boulevard and Vanderbilt Lane. The original operating parameters anticipated approximately 30 to 45 vendors, with sales limited to food and nursery products during the pilot period.
The Council approved waivers of specified permit fees and street-signage costs, estimated at $2,365, while retaining the requirement for applicable individual business licenses for recurring vendors. The pilot was intended to provide an opportunity to evaluate the market’s performance, identify operational issues, and determine whether the program could transition to permanent operation. The original staff report also identified the need to monitor impacts on the North Branch Library, Community Services offices, parking, and other City functions.
The market supports the City’s broader objective of revitalizing Artesia Boulevard and creating opportunities for residents to shop locally, walk, and gather within the AACAP area.
Market Activity and Community Partnerships
According to OurNRB, the market has operated weekly since April 22, 2026, with approximately 30 to 35 vendors participating each week. Vendors include businesses from Redondo Beach and other South Bay communities.
The organizers report that weekly attendance was approximately 2,000 to 2,300 patrons during the first two months of operation. Attendance subsequently declined during the summer, particularly during periods of extreme heat, but the organizers report that a consistent customer base has developed. They are continuing marketing efforts and adding programming intended to encourage repeat visits and increase participation.
OurNRB has also used the market as a venue for community engagement and outreach. Activities and partnerships reported by the organizers include:
• The Redondo Beach Education Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign
• Outreach by the South Bay Bicycle Coalition, Redondo Beach Police Department, and South Bay Cities Council of Governments regarding bicycling, public safety, and the Local Travel Network
• Community fundraising activities, including a planned Halloween event organized by the Redondo Beach Little League PCH 12U team
• Collaboration with Beach Cities Health District on potential Blue Zones certification and future walking, nutrition, and wellness activities
• Discussions with the Redondo Beach Unified School District regarding student participation as a job-training opportunity
• Outreach to local businesses through the North Redondo Beach Business Association, including collaborative promotions with businesses such as Georgia’s Restaurant
• Efforts to recruit resident volunteers to assist with market setup and breakdown
The organizers also intend to explore additional partnerships, including outreach to senior groups and the potential to accept Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) payments, with the possibility of pursuing matching-fund grants to increase purchasing power for eligible customers. These remain prospective activities and are not represented as established program components.
Financial Operations and Reinvestment
OurNRB reports that initial startup costs for banners, tables, traffic-control devices, and other market supplies were covered through sponsorship support from South Bay Credit Union and the North Redondo Beach Business Association. Weekly market proceeds currently cover direct operating expenses, including the market manager and rental of Meridian traffic barriers. They also report setting aside reserves to cover potential operating shortfalls during the winter months and to support future reinvestment in the AACAP area.
OurNRB has expressed interest in using a portion of future proceeds for outdoor seating near the North Branch Library and Community Services building. They have also requested that the City revisit the potential installation of removable bollards at the Green Lane intersections with Artesia Boulevard and Vanderbilt Lane. A permanent street-closure solution could reduce recurring market expenses and allow a greater share of proceeds to be directed toward community improvements.
No detailed financial statement or specific reinvestment budget has been provided for inclusion in this report. The financial information above reflects the organizers’ description of the program. Additional financial details may be addressed by OurNRB representatives at the Council meeting.
Request for Year-Round Operation
OurNRB has requested that the market continue beyond the six-month pilot period as an ongoing, year-round community program.
The organizers anticipate continuing weekly operations while making several adjustments for seasonal conditions and expanding the market’s programming. Their proposed operating approach includes:
• Schedule: Continue operating Wednesdays from 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., with planned closures during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s weeks
• Entertainment and programming: Introduce low-volume music and additional activities to encourage residents to remain at the market, dine, socialize, and allow children to play
• Winter operations: Provide lighting at vendor booths to accommodate shorter daylight hours following the November time change
• Weather: Remain open during light rain but reserve the ability to cancel during severe storms, with cancellation decisions generally made the day before the scheduled market
• Community and economic development: Expand collaboration with local businesses, community organizations, and artisanal vendors to increase participation and support activity along the Artesia commercial corridor
The proposed continuation would extend the program beyond its original pilot period and introduce operational elements that were not specifically included in the initial pilot parameters. Council may wish to discuss the proposed operating schedule, expanded programming, weather-related closures, and any conditions to be established for ongoing operation.
Representatives of OurNRB will attend the Council meeting to provide additional information regarding the market’s performance, financial operations, proposed programming, and plans for the winter months, and to respond to Council questions.
CITY CONSIDERATIONS
AACAP Improvements and Use of Market Proceeds
The market was established in part to generate proceeds for reinvestment in the AACAP area. OurNRB has identified outdoor seating near the North Branch Library and Community Services building as a potential initial project. The organizers are working with the City’s Public Works and Community Development Departments, along with the Library to determine potential locations, costs, and the applicable approval process. Some bench-type seating does exist on the library property adjacent to the right of way next to the parking lot entrance on Green Lane. However, there is limited space for benches or other street furniture in the right of way itself and efforts to add dining areas would need to focus on Library or Community Services Department property.
Any improvements proposed for City-owned property would require appropriate City review and approval, including consideration of site suitability, accessibility, maintenance responsibilities, and any required permits. No specific seating plan, cost estimate, or installation schedule has been finalized.
The organizers have been storing some materials in the electrical room closet on library property and this should be addressed as a priority. If it continues to be necessary to store these materials adjacent to the market location, staff recommends the installation of an outdoor storage shed or enclosure area for the equipment and materials.
The organizers have also requested that the City revisit removable bollards at Green Lane and Artesia Boulevard and Green Lane and Vanderbilt Lane to reduce the recurring costs associated with temporary street closures.
The City’s FY 2026-27 Budget Response Report No. 42, dated June 9, 2026, evaluated four options for controlling vehicle access at these intersections. The options included automatic retractable bollards estimated at $385,000; manually retractable hydraulic bollards estimated at $360,000; manually removable fixed bollards estimated at $35,000; and a portable vehicle-barrier system with storage trailer estimated at $150,000. These estimates included engineering, project management, and installation, where applicable. The removable fixed-bollard option was identified as the lowest-cost permanent installation alternative among those evaluated.
The June 2026 Council budget discussions also addressed allowing the pilot to conclude and reviewing the program’s performance before committing to implementation of the bollards. The organizers’ current request provides an opportunity for Council to discuss whether further engineering, budgeting, or implementation steps should be considered in connection with a decision regarding continued market operations.
North Branch Public Library
The North Branch Library experienced a notable growth in patronage on market days, recording measurable increases in visits, material circulation, and Library card registrations, despite the challenges of limited public parking. Throughout the planning and implementation of the North Redondo Beach Farmers Market pilot program, OurNRB worked collaboratively with Library staff to mitigate potential impacts on Library operations. When minor issues arose, OurNRB was responsive, and those concerns were promptly addressed.
Continued market operations will require a long-term solution for storing traffic control devices and market equipment that is currently located alongside the Library building and temporarily housed in the Library’s electrical room. These areas need to be cleared for their intended purposes. Potential options include requiring the traffic control vendor to deliver and remove the barriers each week, which would reduce onsite storage needs, or as noted above identifying a permanent storage location for the equipment. A permanent storage solution may require a small storage shed or enclosure area and could affect available parking at either the Library or Community Services Department lot. The feasibility and location of any such arrangement would require further evaluation.
Neighborhood Feedback and Complaints
As of the preparation of this report, staff has received one complaint from neighboring residents regarding the operation of the North Redondo Beach Farmers Market. The complaint was related to waste management, and market patrons utilizing neighbors’ trash bins to dispose of trash. OurNRB was responsive and ensured sufficient trash disposal locations were put in place. Staff will continue to monitor operational impacts and coordinate with the organizers and relevant City departments if any additional concerns arise.
City Council Direction
This item provides an opportunity for the Council to consider OurNRB’s request to continue the North Redondo Beach Farmers Market beyond the six-month pilot period and provide direction on the following:
1. Continuation of the Market: Whether to authorize the market to continue beyond October 28, 2026, as an ongoing program with or without any new conditions
2. Duration and Review: If continuation is authorized, the length of the authorization period and when the program should return to the City Council for review of its operations, community benefits, and any issues identified
3. Applicable Fees: Whether to continue the existing fee waivers or apply applicable City permit fees and charges during any extended operating period
4. Removable Bollards: Whether to direct staff to pursue further engineering and cost evaluation for removable bollards at Green Lane and Artesia Boulevard and Green Lane and Vanderbilt Lane, to assess the feasibility of reducing recurring market operating costs
If continuation is authorized, staff will coordinate with OurNRB and the appropriate City departments to implement the applicable operating requirements and permitting arrangements for the extended program.
COORDINATION
This report was coordinated by the Community Services, Public Works, and Library Services Departments.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City’s prior approval of specified permit and signage fee waivers was estimated to result in $2,365 in uncollected fees for the six-month pilot period. Any continuation of fee waivers beyond the pilot period would require separate consideration. Applicable business-license requirements would remain in effect unless otherwise determined by the Council.
The potential installation of removable bollards at Green Lane and Artesia Boulevard and Green Lane and Vanderbilt Lane has previously been evaluated at an estimated cost of $35,000 for manually removable fixed bollards, including engineering, project management, and installation.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Administrative Report - City Council, April 14, 2026
• Budget Response Report #41 FY 2026-27 Bollard Options