Daytime markets possible at Mallory Square Commission says

BY TERRY SCHMIDA
KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER
The City Commission on Tuesday gave conditional but near-unanimous encouragement to possible expansion of the famed daily Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square.
The commission, by a margin of six-to-one, voted to renew the five-year lease of the Cultural Preservation Society  on the basis of two previous five-year agreements. The Society has managed the nightly attraction for the past decade.  This time around, however, the CPS will be allowed/encouraged to experiment with “the extended use and occupancy of the area for the purposes of providing an artisans’ market on days when cruise ships are in port,” according to the meeting agenda.
The sole dissident in the vote was Commissioner Sam Kaufman who, while agreeing that “activating Mallory Square during the day makes a lot of sense, especially when cruise ships are in,” urged a cautious approach. Earlier, Kaufman put forward a motion to postpone the resolution for another day, but didn’t receive a second, and later withdrew the motion.
Among the issues being discussed were the lack of shaded areas around Mallory Square during the heat of the day, and who exactly would be responsible for daytime activities there, as some confusion arose on that front. The project was to be an “artisan-type market” arranged by the CPS, not to be confused with the Key West Artisan Market, an organization separate from the CPS. However, that organization and others like it would be encouraged to collaborate with the CPS so that all interested parties would be able to take part.
Any further steps in the direction of a daytime vendor presence in the square would ultimately require the approval of City Manager Greg Veliz, a point on which Commissioner Clayton Lopez provided some clarification..
“I alluded to that in the meeting,” he said afterward, hinting that his support was conditional upon the city retaining the power to approve or deny daytime market proposals by the CPS.
“Just go forward with what we have tonight,” Commissioner Weekley agreed, adding that he felt the current agreement was adequate to address any concerns.
“I’d like to keep things as they are,” the CPS Treasurer Ryan Steimers agreed.
And Sunset Celebration performer Will Soto spoke about prospects for the square during the day-time.
“I’m not kidding you, it’s 120 degrees there during the day, on the bricks,” Soto said. “There’s no way you’re going to get people out there in the afternoon without addressing the shade issues.”
The final resolution was that the CPS shall also have the right to establish guidelines, subject to approval by the City Manager . . . The extended period will begin at 10 a.m. and continue into the Sunset Celebration.”
The City Commission will meet next in the new year.
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