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.