Community Gardens Fort Worth City Council Melody Mitchell

Community Gardens Fort Worth City Council Melody Mitchell, Parks and Community Services; Leann Guzman, City Attorney’s Office and Andy Schoolmaster, Dean of Add. Ran College of Liberal Arts, Texas Christian University December 15, 2009 1

Community Garden • Growing interest in starting community gardens in Fort Worth. • Collaboration of community groups and Parks and Community Services, Housing and Economic Development and the City Attorney’s Office • Reasons to Lease City Property for Community Gardens – lower city maintenance cost – provide instructional opportunities on gardening – meeting community needs 2

Community Gardens Private/Public Partnership • Demonstration Project – Partnership with TCU, Fort Worth South, Fairmount Neighborhood and Master Gardeners of Tarrant County • Need for Community Gardens • Successful Community Gardens – Milwaukee Wisconsin 3

Lease Agreement Terms • • • City Owned Property 5 year term 3 – 1 year renewal term $1. 00 annually lease Deposit for water required • Tenant must pay all water and impact fees • Leasing Property “As Is” 4

Community Gardens- Lease Terms Insurance Requirements • Risk Management insurance recommendations: • $ 500, 000 General Liability • $1, 000 Auto (if used on City property &/or if delivering portion of produce to food bank or other charity) 5

Community Gardens Additional Terms • No illegal or poisonous plants or trees and cacti allowed • Gardening during daylight hours • No permanent structures • No alcohol without a permit and insurance • Termination – City has right to terminate for any reason with 30 days notice, but the lease continues until the end of the growing season or December 1 6

Identifying Lease Space • Housing and Economic Development staff will identify City surplus fee owned – land not being used or needed for a city purpose • Once identified the community group must complete a petition that is circulated to household in a three block radius – Signatures approving the community garden must represent at least 50% of households in the 3 block radius • Parks and Community Services and Housing and Economic Development will process the request for a community garden. 7

Proposed Community Garden Location In Fairmount 8

Recommendation/Next Steps • Recommend – Place M&C on City Council agenda January 12, 2010 to lease City owned property for Community Gardens • Finalize Lease Agreement • Work with other community groups who are interested in beginning community gardens to identify other city owned property 9

Community Gardens Questions? 10