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Madison is moving ahead with planning for a public market on the east side after the City Council decided to keep funding for the project intact Tuesday night.

Three alders — David Ahrens, Lauren Cnare and John Strasser — had sponsored a capital budget amendment postponing $6.25 million in expenditures to 2016. At final budget deliberations, community members, farmers and potential vendors came out to protest that idea.

“2015 is really going to be a critical year for this market,” said Madison Local Food Committee chair Anne Reynolds.

Others testified to the same effect, saying the market's momentum needs to continue, not be halted by putting off plans for another year.

Stephanie Kaat is hoping to sell mini cheesecakes as a future vendor in the market. She is currently working on her business plan to sell them at the MadCity Bazaar.

“Things like this is what makes it possible for me to start, to grow,” Kaat said. “I think it’s super important to consider people like me who have a fantastic idea and need — almost need — the public market in order to grow.”