Council Report: View Royal Community Garden Proposal (Sept 4)

View Royal Community Garden Proposal

PURPOSE OF REPORT:

The purpose of this report is to facilitate a discussion on the future of the View Royal Community Garden located in View Royal Park.

BACKGROUND:

Council referred the staff report dated July 14, 2014, titled “Statement of Understanding – Community Garden” to the Parks, Recreation and Environment Advisory Committee (PREAC), Item C-102-14 from the July 29, 2014 Special Council Meeting, for review and comment.

At the meeting Council noted they are in support of the concept of the community gardens and discussed the following:

siting and size of the proposed gardens within View Royal Park;
proximity to residential units;
size of individual plots;
maintenance standards;
management of the existing community gardens in View Royal Park;
revenue to the Town in exchange for free water;
statement of understanding content;
usage by non-residents; and
ability of the existing shed to accommodate additional gardeners.

The former Craigflower Community Garden representatives took the comments made by Council away and have revised their proposal to address the concerns identified by Council. They have submitted a revised proposal, dated August 23, 2014, for review and discussion.

PROJECT INFORMATION:

	Existing Garden	Original Proposal	Revised Proposal
Management	Town Staff	Assume existing + new, in exchange for water	Assume existing + new, in exchange for water
Site	30 plots	60+ plots	6 plots Phase 1, 24 plots Phase 1A
Location	See map attached	SW of existing	East of existing – see map attached
Size of plots	3x10, 4x10, 5x10	Various, larger	5x12 typical
Maintenance	Town Staff – mowing & trimming	Volunteer – mowing & trimming	Volunteer – mowing & trimming
Management	Town Staff	Assume existing + new, in exchange for water	Phase 1 – Town Staff, Phase 1A – assume existing + new in exchange for water
Membership Fee	$20/year, 3 yr term	$.50/sq.ft./yr, annual term	$20/year, 3 year term
Revenue	Future development	Maintenance	Maintenance, projects
Non-Residents	VR residents only	VR residents 1st, 3 members grandfathered, non-residents if beds are empty at deadline	VR residents 1st, 3 members grandfathered, non-residents if beds are empty at deadline
Term	3 years	1 year	3 year
Renewal	Priority to waitlist, all remaining into a lottery	Current members have right of first refusal	Priority to waitlist, all remaining into a lottery
Use of Shed	Each member has small space	Use to store equipment	Requested to house assets they will be bringing for use of entire membership

Management

The group would form a non-profit society to be responsible for the administration, maintenance and facilitate fund-raising. This society would consist of a president, secretary, treasurer and members at large. This society would be responsible for the rental of plots, collection of fees, regular maintenance including grass cutting and weed trimming and enforcement of rules in exchange for water and the use of the community garden shed and compost facility. They would bring their existing assets for use and benefit of the entire membership. The group would also be willing to form a partnership with the existing members to take over management of the View Royal Community Garden from the Town in exchange for the Town providing water. The Town estimates it would cost $6 per plot, per gardening season, for water.

Adequate funding is available to proceed with Phase 1 (6 plots). Funding for Phase 1A of this expansion would be raised through grants, community fund-raising events, and fostering community involvement. The construction and maintenance of the plots would be through volunteer labour, including a volunteer draftsman to create the design of the new garden.

Site & Location

The original expansion proposal was for 60 garden plots, to be located in the grass corridor west of the existing Community Garden. In consideration of comments made at the July 29 Council meeting, the proposal has been amended into phases. The expansion would see Phase One consisting of 6 plots and Phase 1A consisting of 24 plots located in the area east of the existing garden beds, towards the parking lot. See Figure 1 of the View Royal Community Garden Proposal. Expected completion for Phase 1 would be spring of 2015. Phase 1A will be completed upon securing additional funding.

Plot Size

Garden plots would look similar to those in the existing garden, though slightly longer. A typical bed would be 5’ x 12’ constructed using 4” x 4” timbers, three high. Beds in the existing garden vary between 3’ x 10’, 4’ x 10’ and 5’ x 10’.

Maintenance

The new beds would be maintained by the users, including the pathways and grass surrounding the garden beds using their own equipment.

Membership & Revenue

The membership fee for the garden would be $20, as is the existing Garden, with the funds collected used for maintenance and relevant upgrades such as deer fencing, irrigation, signage, honorariums, transportation, community outreach, programming, etc.

Access to allotment space in the community garden would be open to any resident of the Town of View Royal. New members would be admitted on a first come, first serve basis with View Royal residents having first priority.

Non-Residents

The original (former VR residents) three members of the former Craigflower Community Garden would be “grandfathered” as members; and at the spring deadline membership would be open to non-View Royal residents if plots were available.

Term & Renewal

The existing Town policy has a term of three years. Upon renewal first priority is given to the waitlist by sequence order, with the remainder going into a lottery style draw.

Shed

The existing shed is a bare-bones structure used by the current gardeners to store their equipment. There should be enough room to accommodate the group’s equipment.

Future Goals

Future goals include a children’s garden, community workshops, seed exchanges, and an annual picnic in the garden open to the community.

SUBMITTED BY: _______________________________________________ Jennifer Smith, Engineering Clerk

REVIEWED BY: _______________________________________________ John Rosenberg, Director of Engineering