Approval of License Agreement with Oscar G. De Leon for the Mead Valley Community Center Farmer’s Market, Mead Valley

The Mead Valley unincorporated area of the County of Riverside is known as a close-knit rural community of both residents and businesses. The focal meeting point of the community is the Charles G. Meigs, Sr. Mead Valley Community Center (Community Center) and there has been a recognized need for a Certified Farmer’s Market to serve this local community. The County’s (Licensor) goal is to organize and recruit a trusted farmer’s market operator to duplicate the success of other local farmer’s markets in the downtown Riverside and Moreno Valley areas. This new Mead Valley Farmer’s Market (Farmer’s Market) will be certified by the County Agricultural Commissioner and feature nutrition incentive programs such as Woman’s, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The Farmer’s Market will also partner with The Blue Zones Project to help measure healthy outcomes based on data collection between the Farmer’s Market and consumers. The selected site for what is envisioned as the Mead Valley Farmer’s Market will be located in the parking lot of the Community Center at 21091 Rider Street in Mead Valley. The hours of operation will be weekly on Sundays from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., which also includes two extra hours each on the start and end times for setup and tear down. The selected operator, Oscar G. De Leon (Licensee), is a known and successful operator of farmer’s markets throughout the region and will enter into a license agreement with the County for a three (3) year initial term. The County, through its strategic partnerships with The Blue Zone Project, SNAP, WIC, and Mr. De Leon, endeavors to create a regional gathering place where small businesses, farmers, and healthy living are all promoted. The License Agreement with the Licensee for operation of a weekly farmer’s market is identified as the proposed project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The operation of the site will result in the continued use of an existing facility. The Project will not result in a substantial increase in capacity or the intensity of the use. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated.