Mercado on Fifth attendance dips 37%; organizers ask council not to close 12th Street for Mexican Independence event

Frances Williams, executive director of Mercado on Fifth, told the Moline City Council on Aug. 5 that Mercado’s attendance is down roughly 37% compared with last year and that the decline is tied in part to “a lot of fear in our Hispanic community right now.” Williams thanked city staff for operational support, highlighted successful season events including Lucha Libre and a food competition, and said Mercado is making operational cutbacks to manage reduced revenues.

Williams also said Mercado partnered with the Moline Police Department to run a five‑week, Spanish‑language citizen academy and said participants reported feeling “much more relieved and relaxed with the people that they met from the police department.”

Williams formally asked the council not to close 12th Street on Sept. 12 for the Mexican Independence Day celebration and said Mercado plans to use its north lot to expand the site instead because organizers “do not anticipate large numbers for that particular night.” After Williams spoke, the mayor clarified that the licensing agreement on the council agenda does include permission for street closures, and staff later confirmed the council could approve the licensing agreement as written while notifying Mercado that the street would not be closed on Sept. 12.

Action: The council approved the licensing agreement for Mercado on Fifth as part of the consent agenda (Resolution 8.5); staff said the item’s language permits closures but the city will communicate Mercado’s request and not close 12th Street on Sept. 12.

Next steps: Mercado will proceed with a reduced operational plan for the remainder of the season; Williams said she will send a letter to the police chief documenting feedback from the Spanish‑language academy and will communicate the formal request about the Sept. 12 closure to city staff.