City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 06101/10 Item Number: AA
. PRCS COMMISSION AGENDA ITEM .t. Consideration. of Issuing a Statement to the
Pity Council Regarding Developing Additional Community Gardens within. Culver
' Pity.
Contact Person/Dept.:: Pam Robinson, Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Acting PRQS ,Director
Fiscal Impact Yes []
No [X] General Fund i:i ye .8. [] N .0
. Public Hearing: a Action Item; [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification:: (Email) Meetings and Agendas — Parks, Recreation and Community
' Services Commission (05/27/10); : (Email) Parks, Recreation & Community ServicO,
Department Updates (05R7/10); (Email) Senior . Citizens (05/27/10),
Deportment Approval: Pam Robinson ! (by
R. Mooney) (05/26/2010)
_
City Attorney Approval NIA
Chief Financial Officer Approval: N/A City Manager Approval NIA:
RECOMMENDATION:
and Community Services (PRCS)
to the City Council, through the City
for developing additional community
and Community Services Commission
forward during "Public Comment on Items
the Commission agendize a discussion on
Garden program. She stated that the
had grown to 39,000 residents. She
not been updated in 35 years, that her
her community garden plot and that there
for plots.
Commissioners," Commissioner Stuart
the topic of community gardens at
suggested that the Comprehensive Plan
stakeholders to discuss ideas for the
the issue was brought before the full
Staff recommends that the Parks, Recreation
Commission consider issuing a statement
Manager's Office, emphasizing the need
gardens within Culver City.
BACKGROUND:
At the October 6, 2009 Parks, Recreation
meeting, a member of the public came
Not on the Agenda" and requested that
expanding the Culver City Community
program had only 16 plots and the community
also commented that the program had
neighbor had waited five (5) years to get
was currently a minimum three (3) year wait
Later in the meeting during "Items from
requested and received consensus to agendizing
a future meeting. Chair Daly Redholtz
Subcommittee meet with community garden
possible expansion of the program before
Commission.City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
At the December 1, 2009 PIRGS Commission meeting, Commissioner Kim reported
that she and Commissioner Greene, as members of the Comprehensive Plan
Subcommittee, had met with then PRCS Director La Pointe and members of the
community regarding community garden issues.
At the May 4, 2010 PRCS Commission meeting, the issue of community gardens
came up during Agenda Item A-1: Upcoming Agenda Items to be Considered by the
Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission and its
Subcommittees. Parks Manager Patrick Reynolds reported that the Parks Division
continually gets requests from the public to develop more community garden plots,
but unfortunately our parks do not have room for new community gardens. He
mentioned that the Redevelopment Agency staff was looking into developing
community gardens, at least on a temporary basis, on vacant Agency parcels_ It
was noted that the issue of developing temporary community gardens on vacant
Redevelopment Agency parcels will not come before the PRCS Commission as an
Agenda Item, but could come back as an information item. Subsequently, members
of the Commission expressed the opinion that both the Commission and the PRCS
Department should have some involvement in the development of community
gardens within Culver City.
The Culver City Community Garden
Currently, there is only one designated community garden within Culver City. It is
located in Veterans Memorial Park, between the AmVets Building and the Boy
Scout Hut, at 10860 Culver Boulevard. There are 16 plots, access to which is
determined though placement on a waiting list; the plots are not distributed through a
lottery. There are currently 22 on the waiting list and the wait can be anywhere from
three to six years.
Eligibility criteria for placement on the Community Garden waiting list are: (1) Culver
City residency; and, (2) applicants must dwell in an apartment, condo, or townhome
with no gardening space of their own. There is an annual $30 rental fee of for each
plot, which includes water and green waste disposal service. Senior and Social
Services Disability Specialist Darren Uhl is responsible for overseeing the waiting
list, collecting the annual fees, issuing keys, resolving complaints and providing the
renters with occasional informational updates. It is estimated that about 40 staff
hours annually are spent managing the Community Garden.
Renters are required to have their plot weeded and planted so that the overall
garden looks nice and that weeds do not encroach on the neighboring gardens
either by ground or air. Gardeners are responsible for removing trash and gardening
tools from the area at the finish of each garden use. General maintenance and
green waste removal is overseen by the Parks Division; it is estimated that a value
of approximately $3,600 in Parks Division resources are expended annually on the
Community Garden.City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Community Gardens in Surrounding Areas
The Los Angeles Community Garden Council (LACGC; a non-profit corporation)
serves as a resource for those interested in local community garden programs.
LACGC connects people with community garden space in their neighborhood.
According to their website (www.lagardencouncil orgy
Approximately 70 community gardens are growing in Los Angeles County,
seiving 3,900 families. Community gardens are vibrant, cooperative
organizations that build neighborhood self-reliance, and reduce poverty,
mitigate global warming and benefit the LA River and Ballona Creek
watersheds. Los Angeles devotes little taxpayer money to community
gardens yet they return abundant neighborhood benefit.
DISCUSSION:
The intent of this evening's agenda item is to give the Commission an opportunity to
consider issuing a statement to the City Council, though the City Manager's Office,
emphasizing the need for developing additional community gardens within Culver
City. Currently there are no plans to develop community gardens within our parks or
open space areas; however, if and when this situation changes, such plans would
come before the Commission for discussion and possible recommendation to the
City Council. A statement such as the one now being considered could be a way for
the Commission to convey its' view regarding the importance of community gardens
to the City Council in a more general way. The statement might include the following
points, among others:
• Community gardens are important assets that improve the overall quality of
life
• Community garden programs are highly valued by the public
• Culver City currently has only one community garden, while thousands of
residents met the basic eligibility requirements to participate in the program
• The space in our parks is limited, highly programmed and does not lend itself
to the development of new community gardens at this time
• The Commission respectfully requests that when the City Council is
considering land uses within Culver City, the development of community
gardens be given a high priorityCity of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this Agenda Item.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
MOTIONS:
That the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission:
1. Issue a statement to the City Council, through the City Manager's Office,
emphasizing the need for developing additional community gardens within Culver
City;
or
2. Provide staff with alternate suggestions.