Following approval of the San José Flea Market Southside Rezoning project in June 2021, the OEDCA team launched a series of activities to involve the diverse community of Berryessa Flea Market vendors, as closure of the market approaches, plans for the site evolve, and next steps for vendors take shape. This page provides the details on the engagement activities and public meetings completed to date, beginning with the most recent.

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September 11, 2024: Flea Market Advisory Group Meeting #4: 

The City of San José hosted the fourth meeting of the Berryessa Flea Market Advisory Group on Wednesday, September 11 at the Berryessa Community Center.

Staff and its consultant team reviewed the findings of the economic studies published to inform planning for a future market, an alternative sites update, and a presentation by Mission Asset Fund on their opportunities.

The presentation slides for the meeting can be found here: English and Spanish.

September 7, 2023: Flea Market Advisory Group Meeting #3: 

On Thursday, September 7, the City of San José hosted the third meeting of the Berryessa Flea Market Advisory Group, an in-person meeting held at the Berryessa Community Center.

Staff and its consultant team gave a presentation, followed by discussions with the Advisory Group. The meeting centered around the ongoing Alternative Sites study, where we discussed the study's findings and potential locations and/or concept possibilities. 

The presentation slides for the meeting can be found here: English, Spanish and Vietnamese.  

 June 21, 2023: Flea Market Advisory Group Meeting #2:

On Wednesday, June 21, 2023, the City of San José hosted the second meeting of the Berryessa Flea Market Advisory Group, held online via Zoom. Interpretation was made available in Spanish. For your reference, here are the slides in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. View the recordings of the meeting in English or Spanish.

The meeting was focused on studies currently underway to characterize the existing market and inform potential solutions. Staff and its consultant team gave two presentations, followed by discussions with the Advisory Group. There was time for members of the audience to address the group as well. The two presentation topics included:

1. The general components of a flea market, specific data on the Berryessa Flea Market, and early takeaways on its economic and cultural impact.
2. The approach to assessing alternative sites for their potential to establish a new market.

June 2023: City begins to distribute information stall-to-stall

Staff began to distribute a flyer at the Flea Market to advertise the second Advisory Group meeting, to increase awareness of the Mission Asset Fund program created for small business owners operating at the Flea Market, and to encourage vendors to sign up for text and email updates from the City:

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

June 12, 2023: Presentation to the Berryessa Citizen Advisory Council on the Flea Market Rezoning Project

Staff from the Planning Division and Office of Economic Development and Cultural Affairs attended the monthly meeting of the BCAC and presented an update on the Flea Market Rezoning Project and associated efforts to support vendors through the redevelopment process. The presentation included an overview of the applications currently under the City’s review and a summary of the requirements related to the 5 acres designated for an urban market on the project site. Following the presentation (view the slides here), Berryessa community members had the opportunity to ask questions and were encouraged to reach out to staff with any questions or comments.

May 22, 2023: Flea Market Update at the City Council's Community and Economic Development Committee

Staff presented the latest quarterly report from the property owner and provided a status update on the Flea Market Advisory Group and related efforts. See the meeting materials here.

May 17, 2023: Flea Market Advisory Group Meeting #1

Thank you to all the vendors and members of the community who joined the first meeting of the Flea Market Advisory Group on Wednesday, May 17. Around 50 people participated in the meeting.

The meeting served as an orientation for the Advisory Group members. Staff provided a refresher on the purpose of the group, expectations of the members, and an update on the Transition Fund, and they shared an overview of the workplan. Advisory Group members asked questions and provided feedback. Members of the public had an opportunity to speak at the end of the meeting.

A key theme was for the City team to have an ongoing presence at the market and to make sure that all vendors receive information about the Advisory Group and related efforts. Attendees also shared some of their current concerns and priorities for the future. A common goal expressed at the meeting is the desire to help the vendor community through the tough times and to find feasible solutions as soon as possible.

The presentation slides for the meeting can be found here: English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.  

April 24, 2023: New Advisory Group members and first meeting date announced

Staff has completed the member selection process for the new Flea Market Advisory Group. We received 13 applications from interested vendor representatives and evaluated each against the membership criteria established in the charter for the Advisory Group. Please see this Information Memo with the list of selected members and for additional details on the process. We appreciate the interest and enthusiasm of all those who have applied and are confident that we selected a dedicated group of representatives!

December 2022 - May 2023: Vendor and Customer Surveys 

The City of San José is working to identify future options for vendors so that they can continue to operate when the existing Flea Market closes (timing is uncertain). To help with this process, the project team gathered input from vendors about how the market and their businesses are currently working. To view the online survey, click here:

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

They also surveyed Flea Market Customers. The feedback is helping to inform the search for future market options that best serve current vendors and customers. To view the online customer survey, click in the links below:

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese 

March 28, 2023: Advisory Group Status Report to City Council 

The project team presented a status report on the Flea Market Advisory Group to the City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Click here to view the full agenda and here to view the staff memo. The memo described the charter that establishes the Flea Market Advisory Group, as well as the stakeholder engagement process for drafting it. The next step is to complete the member selection process.

February - March 2023: February 22, 2023 Community Meeting

The City of San José hosted a meeting at the Berryessa Community Center (3050 Berryessa Rd) on Wednesday, February 22, 7:00pm-8:30pm. The purpose of the meeting was to present the final charter for the Flea Market Advisory Group and kick off the member selection process. The final charter is based on the feedback received during the public review process (see the following section).

At this meeting, we provided: 

• Information and interpretation in Spanish and Vietnamese
• Light appetizers and beverages
• Supervised activities for kids 4 years and older (children welcome!)
• Free parking

Final Advisory Group Charter:

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

Public Review of the draft Advisory Group Charter

The City of San José invited the vendor community and general public to review the draft charter for the Flea Market Advisory Group and provide feedback. The City team and its consultants developed the draft charter based on input from the vendor community and other stakeholders gathered in 2022. The draft charter explained the purpose of the Advisory Group, the number of members it will have, and how members will be selected. There were additional details about how the group will operate in the presentation slides and video. 

Draft Charter:

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

 Watch the Video Presentation: 

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

We collected feedback from January 25, 2023 through February 12, 2023 using the following methods: 

• Online feedback form
• Stopping by our table at the Berryessa Flea Market on Saturday, January 28, during the hours of 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM [table #418]
• By email to fleamarketsj@sanjoseca.gov
• By phone at (408) 535-8181in Spanish or Vietnamese
• We used this flyer to share information: 
  • English/Spanish
  • English/Vietnamese

December 2022 Outreach

 The City hosted a virtual meeting on Wednesday, December 7 at 7:00PM to provide an update on efforts underway to support and engage vendors, including:

• Developing of a charter to establish the new Flea Market Advisory Group
• Establishing a Business Transition Program to provide access to loans and grants, financial planning, and other assistance
• Surveying vendors to understand the range of business types and needs – as part of a larger study intended to inform future decisions.

This meeting was held in Spanish, English, and Vietnamese.

Videos of the presentations:

• English
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

Meeting summary:

• English
• Spanish 
• Vietnamese 

October 2022 Outreach

  The OEDCA team hosted an outreach event for vendors at the Berryessa Library on October 19, 2022. The purpose was for vendors to learn about what’s going on with the Flea Market and future plans. Additionally, the vendor community had the opportunity to meet the consultants who will be working on the Advisory Group, Vendor Transition Fund, related studies and most how to get involved. 

See below for links to slides in English, Spanish and Vietnamese: 

Presentation, Oct. 2022 (English)

Presentation, Oct. 2022 (Spanish) 

Presentation, Oct. 2022 (Vietnamese)

September 2022: Report to Council Committee in September 2022

 OEDCA staff provided an update on the Flea Market project to the City Council Committee on Community and Economic Development (CED) on Monday, September 26. The purpose of the update was to share the most recent Quarterly Report from the property owner and summarize work undertaken and planned in support of the Flea Market Advisory Group and the Vendor Transition Fund, consistent with City Council direction provided in June 2021 and August 2022.  Click here for meeting information, including the staff report.    

August 2022 City Council Meeting

 On Tuesday, August 30, the City Council approved several staff recommendations related to the Flea Market. These actions enabled execution of two consultant contracts and ongoing outreach to the vendors. The consultants will complete several business and operational studies to inform decisions related to the Flea Market, and will assist in setting up the Flea Market Advisory Group. The meeting materials are online.

April 2022: CED Council Committee Meeting

Staff provided an update to the Community & Economic Development Committee of the City Council, on Monday, April 25, 2022. This included a summary of the planning and permitting activities related to the Flea Market rezoning, as well as a status report on the Flea Market Advisory Group and the Vendor Business Transition Fund.  The video of the meeting, and the OEDCA Staff Memo are available online.

February 23, 2022 Outreach Event

 The City hosted an outreach event for vendors, in collaboration with the Berryessa Flea Market Vendor Association and providers of business support services. The purpose of the event was to provide a project update, connect vendors with providers of business support services, get feedback on the Workplan and Framework for the $500,000 payment (linked above), and engage vendors in the process of setting up the Advisory Group. Approximately 150 people attended the event.

• Presentation - English, Spanish, Vietnamese
• Event Flyer
• Meeting Summary with Notes

January 5, 2022: Draft Framework

In collaboration with vendor representatives and community coalitions, the OEDCA Team prepared this draft framework, linked below, for the initial $500,000 payment to the City, based on Council direction. 

 Summary of Council Direction

Framework for $500,000 payment

OEDCA Workplan for 2021—2022 

December 2021: BFVA Meeting

 The team met with the Berryessa Vendor Association (BFVA) on December 14, 2021 to provide an update and discuss upcoming work. See below for links to slides in English and Spanish: 

• Presentation to BFVA, Dec. 2021 (English)
• Presentation to BFVA, Dec. 2021 (Spanish)

October 2021 Outreach

 The OEDCA team partnered with the Housing Department to host an outreach event for vendors at the Flea Market on October 15-16, 2021. The purpose was to share information about available resources, including the State’s residential rental relief program.

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