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ITEM 3.8 Northwood Park Community Garden Policy ProceduresDEPARTMENT INFORMATION Request for City Council Action ORGINATING DEPARTMENT: REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE: Parks and Recreation Ross Demant, Parks & Recreation Director February 27 2017 PRESENTER(s): REVIEWED BY: ITEM #: Consent Adam Flaherty, Interim City Administrator 3.8 AGENDA ITEM DETAILS RECOMMENDATION: Staff is recommending that the City Council approve the Northwood Park Community Garden Policy and Procedures. ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED? No No BAC K G RO U N DM U ST I F I CATION : A community garden was included during the planning process for Northwood Park. The size of the garden is 22'x46' with an additional four 4'x8' raised garden beds. The garden is located on the west side of the park just north of the parking lot. During initial construction discussions for Northwood Park, staff and commissioners felt that due to the type of housing that was going to surround a portion of the park a community garden would be a good amenity for residents that may lack access to proper space to host their own gardens. Staff has been contacted by several residents over the past year inquiring about the process for acquiring a plot. Due to this initial interest, it is recommending that the City adopt a lottery system for assigning garden plots. The recommended lottery method is as follows: o Residents that live within a % radius of the park that do not have access to a "yard" (i.e. townhouse, apartment, mobile home) will have priority use. o Residents will be able to apply on the Parks and Recreation registration software; this will allow staff to verify that the address and type of property fall within the guidelines of the garden. o Staff will printout the registrations and hold a random drawing for the plots. o If after the initial lottery there are still plots available, all residents of the City of Otsego may be considered for a plot and chosen using the same lottery system. A fee of $20 is being recommended, this fee will be used to defer irrigation costs, tools usage, and staff time. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: X ATTACHED NONE A. Northwood Park Community Garden Policy and Procedures MOTION: (Please word motion as you would like it to appear in the minutes.) Motion to approve the Northwood Park Community Garden Policy and Procedures. RIInr.FT INFORMATION FUNDING: BUDGETED: X YES 101-45200-210 ❑ NO NORTHWOOD PARK COMMUNITY GARDEN GUIDELINES AND POLICY Intrndurtinn: The City of Otsego will be hosting a community garden at Northwood Park, 1600, 72nd Street NE. The garden consists of 10 plots each being 5'x9'. There are also four raised gardens that will be 4'x8'. Rules and Guidelines: • Residents that live within a half mile radius of the park that do not have access to a "yard" (i.e. townhouse, apartment, mobile home) will have priority use. • A lottery system will be used to determine which resident receives a garden plot. Advertisement for the lottery will be made public on February 28, 2017, and the lottery drawing will take place on March 28th, 2017. o Residents will be able to apply on the Parks and Recreation registration software; this will allow staff to verify that the address and type of property fall within the guidelines of the garden. o On March 28th Staff will printout the registrations and hold a random drawing for the plots. o A fee on $20 will be charged for each plot, this fee will not be charged until a resident has received confirmation that they were chosen during the lottery. o If after the initial lottery there are still plots available, all residents of the City of Otsego may be considered for a plot and chosen using the same lottery system. • Basic gardening tools will be available in a locked tool box that will have a coded lock that gardeners will be given at the beginning of the garden season. • Water will be available to gardeners, information on how to use the water system will be made available prior to the gardening season. • The garden will be made available starting mid-May and will vary depending on weather conditions. • Gardeners will need to consider their planting varieties to ensure plants do not encroach onto others plots or over the outside of their own plot. • Due to the size of garden plots herbicides and animal traps of any kind are not allowed, gardeners are expected to provide weekly maintenance of the plots. • Separate waste and compostable receptacles will be made available, please spend the time to sort you garbage. • Gardeners will be required to remove all compostable material from their plot at the end of the gardening season. • If a gardener does not comply with any one of the policies or procedures they may be excluded from participating in the community gardening program for one calendar year.