REPORT TO PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Recommend Approval of Proposed Community Garden Guiding Principles & Rules for the Mini Park Located at 3450 Copper Road
Report
BACKGROUND
On October 17, 2017, the Commission reviewed and recommended City Council approval of the schematic design for the SummerHill-Lawrence Station Area Public Parkland (Attachment 1) including a community garden at Mini Park parcel G, located at 3450 Copper Road (Attachment 2). Currently under construction, and projected to open in late 2021, the community garden will have 26 raised garden beds, container garden display beds, picnic benches, a shared 8’x12’ shed, compost area, fruit trees, and blueberry bushes.
The Community Garden Program is a City (public) recreation program. The Guiding Principles established for the Community Garden Program support and promote safe garden practices, garden aesthetics, equity, environmental stewardship, and create a community of gardening neighbors. While Guiding Principles apply to the Program as a whole, Garden Rules are site specific due to the differences in each community garden background, development, size, shape, locations, land use restrictions (such as CC&R’s or ), as well as specific adjacent neighborhood issues and concerns.
Previously, the Commission reviewed and approved community garden Guiding Principles in association with the City’s first community garden located at Everett N. “Eddie” Souza Park & Community Garden. The Guiding Principles were developed based on research based best practices for the sustainable operation and management of the community garden. These principles communicate the City’s expectations of community garden members and participation in the Community Garden Program. The Guiding Principles are reviewed periodically, consider community garden member input, and are updated to reflect current research based best practices.
Generally, the Community Garden Guiding Principles & Rules will provide:
1. Background information on the Community Garden Program
2. Roles and Responsibilities for City staff, Garden members, and guests
3. Code of Conduct
4. Garden hours of operation, maintenance practices, amenities, and shared use and non-shared use areas/equipment
5. Gardening Rules
a. Description of garden beds
b. Organic gardening policy
c. Garden-bed specific gardening guidelines
d. List of prohibited and allowed pest control products and fertilizers
e. Waterwise Gardening resources
DISCUSSION
The proposed Community Garden Guiding Principles 2020 (Attachment 3) is based on experience at the Everett N. “Eddie” Souza community garden and on best practices for the sustainable operations and management of the community garden. The City will manage the Community Garden Program. A designated Recreation Coordinator will supervise the program and waitlist, conduct orientation, garden member meetings, training and workshops in conjunction with the Everett N. “Eddie” Souza Community Garden.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Parks & Recreation Commission agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Recommend that Council approve the Community Garden Guiding Principles & Rules for the Mini Park Located at 3450 Copper Road.
Staff
Prepared by: Kimberly Castro, Recreation Manager
Approved by: James Teixeira, Director of Parks & Recreation
ATTACHMENTS
1. Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes October 17, 2017
2. Mini Park G Community Garden Site Plans
3. Community Garden Guiding Principles & Rules 2020