More parking? Done.

More parking enforcement? Done.

The Napa Flea Market is working to quell its critics and operate legally after expanding in recent years without the proper permits. The market has drawn the ire of some county residents for everything from impact on weekend traffic to allegations that vendors sell gray market goods and prepared food that doesn’t meet safety standards.

The Napa County Board of Supervisors decreed in August the flea market should find a way to fix problems including illegal parking and backed up traffic along South Kelly Road.

To comply with county regulations and stay open, county officials say, the flea market needs an amendment to the Napa County Airport Industrial Specific Plan, approval from the county Planning Commission and a thumbs up from the Board of Supervisors — steps that will take several months.

“They’ve been very interested in working with us,” Hillary Gitelman, director of the county planning department. “I’m hoping that this is not going to be a contentious process.”

Much of the work to soften problems was completed by mid-November, owners Tom and Clark Harding told the Board of Supervisors in a letter delivered this week.

Parking, for example.

“On Sunday mornings, two flea market employees are positioned at each end of South Kelly Road,” the Hardings wrote. “The employees make sure that vehicles park parallel where posted.”

Trash accumulation is decreasing as well.

“Trash is routinely emptied from the receptacles throughout the day,” the Hardings wrote. “In addition, we have a seven-man cleanup crew that starts cleanup at 4 p.m. on Sundays. Several flea market employees ... also start picking up trash at approximately 4 p.m. Large pieces of trash are picked up by hand.”

Traffic troubles are also being addressed.

“Recently, we have also marked our parking lots with chalk lines,” the Hardings wrote. “This ... provides much more parking efficiency. We are working with the Abraham Traffic Engineers from Walnut Creek to ensure traffic flow, circulation and capacity are maximized.”

The Hardings did not return phone calls by press time Wednesday.

Gitelman said there was no set deadline to complete the required regulatory moves.

“It really could take a while, but we’re hoping to get it wrapped up before the peak season again,” she said. “The flea market really ramps up in the summer. We’re hoping to get this done by Memorial Day.”

One bright spot for the flea market is that the Board of Supervisors indicated in August they wanted the market to succeed.

“The board itself initiated this,” Gitelman said. “They wanted to pursue this as way to save the flea market as an institution, but mitigate its problems.”