Lansing Council waives vendor fees for Makers Market in September, reviews Cherry Street request and discusses variety of library matters
by Joshua Sharpe
The Lansing City Council met in regular session Monday, July 20 to address a variety of agenda items. Among those items on the meeting agenda was a vendor fee waiver request by Main Street Lansing for the second annual Makers Market coming up in September, a request involving Cherry Street, a residential setback variance request, an ordinance regarding city elections, and several library matters.
MAKERS MARKET VENDOR FEES
Main Street Lansing Executive Director Jackie Cooper formally requested the waiver of the city’s $25 vendor permit fee for participants in the upcoming second annual Makers Market scheduled for Sunday, September 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. throughout downtown Lansing. Cooper emphasized that the event is organized by Main Street Lansing, a nonprofit organization, with the objective of supporting artists, food vendors, and small businesses while attracting additional visitors to the downtown area of Lansing.
Cooper shared that the inaugural Makers Market successfully attracted over 40 artists, vendors, and food trucks last year. Organizers are planning to enhance the second event with additional activities, including live art demonstrations and children’s activities. Main Street Lansing intends to charge a $50 event registration fee for each participant, which is designed to cover advertising, printing, radio promotion, and social media outreach. The imposition of the separate city permit fee would raise a participant’s total cost to $75.
Council members contemplated whether the Makers Market should be regarded as a community nonprofit event rather than a collection of independent vendor operations, and what precedent a fee waiver would set. Comparisons were drawn between this market and other community events, such as Fish Days. Ultimately, Mayor Mike Verdon prompted a motion to approve the waiver of vendor fees for participants in the Makers Market, which the council unanimously approved. It is anticipated that city staff and Main Street Lansing will collaborate on traffic management and any relevant considerations from the Iowa Department of Transportation impacting the downtown area where the Makers Market is scheduled to be held.
To read the full article, pick up the Wednesday, July 29, 2026 print edition of The Standard or subscribe to our e-edition or print edition by clicking here.
