2017-10.1 DPR to AC re: Comm. No. 2017-10

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Communication No. 2017-10.1 Charmaine L. Kamaka Harry Kim Director 1 fgvor -_ �TFc 'wi.:N - 4,, Ryan K. Chong amount;) of 'awat"i Deputj,Director DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION 101 Pauahi Street,Suite 6• Hilo, Hawaii 96720 (808)961-8311 ■ Fax(808)961-8411 Email pjik,_iccrc:it€im a hdt► iiiLouiuN L-,ov httrl;��►i►i►L.f3a►►[1111'[11711E\.�inl€�al•1,�-arrrl-rccreatum� July 3, 2017 Mr Larry Brown, Chair Puna Community Development Plan Action Committee Subject Permitting Farmers Market Operations at County Park Facilities Dear Mr Brown I am in receipt of your May 9, 2017 correspondence regarding the above subject matter, and submit the following in response to your questions 1 The Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) does not have a formal application form specifically for obtaining of a Farmers Market permit Attached is a copy of the "Application for Facility Use - Special Requests" form that would be utilized by anyone seeking to permission to operate a farmers market, along with any other atypical event/function, at a DPR facility Each request is reviewed by the Director on a case by case basks 2 Beyond Chapter 15, Article 9 of the Hawaii County Code, there are no administrative rules explicitly governing the operation of a Farmers Market within DPR managed sites or facilities 3 As stated previously, every request for the use of a facility is considered and vetted on an individual basis We do not currently have a formal process or matrix that can be used to determine suitability of a particular farmers market request The Director, in consultation with appropriate departmental staff, reviews each request and makes a determination 4 Currently, there is only one farmers market in operation at a DPR-controlled site — Cooper Center at Volcano Park However, unlike the farmers markets addressed in the Hawaii County Code, the Cooper Center farmers market operation is a function of an approved Memorandum of Understanding between the County of Hawaii and the Cooper Center Council (CCC) While the County exacts no fees for this farmers market, all vendor fees collected by the CCC are required to be applied directly to the physical improvement and/or maintenance of the park facilities there or for the operation of public programs at Volcano Park While the department supports the concept of farmers markets at public facilities, there are numerous challenges that must be addressed to implement such activities in County parks The following are a few of these for your consideration