City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: __09/27/10__ Item Number: _A-2____
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission’s Ideas on the Development of Additional
Community Gardens within Culver City.
Contact Person/Dept.: Pam Robinson,
Acting PRCS Director
Phone Number: (310) 253-6655
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: August 3, 2010
Public Notification: (Email) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (09/23/10); (Email)
Meetings and Agendas – Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission
(09/23/10); (Email) Parks, Recreation & Community Service Department Updates
(09/23/10); (Email) Senior Citizens (09/22/10); (Email) Ms. Dollard (09/22/10).
Department Approval:
Pam Robinson (by P. Mooney) (09/14/10)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (09/20/10)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (09/22/10)
City Manager Approval:
John Nachbar (09/22/10)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council hear a presentation by representatives of the
Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission regarding the
Commission’s ideas on the development of additional community gardens within
Culver City, discuss the issue, and direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
At the June 1, 2010 Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission
(Commission) meeting, the Commission crafted a statement on the importance of
developing additional community gardens within Culver City to be delivered in memo
format, through the former Interim City Manager, to the City Council. Over the
course of the following two weeks, the memo was drafted by staff and reviewed and
approved by then Commission Chair Daly Redholtz. Due to unforeseen delays, the
memo, dated June 14, 2010, was provided to the members of the City Council in
early July, when it was included in the packet for the July 12, 2010 Council meeting
(Attachment 1).
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
At the July 12, 2010 City Council meeting, Council Member Cooper requested and
received consensus from the City Council to have a member of the Commission
come before the City Council to present the Commission’s ideas on the development
of additional community gardens within Culver City.
DISCUSSION:
In response to the direction from the City Council as noted above, at the August 3,
2010 PRCS Commission meeting, the Commission unanimously designated Chair
Rick Hudson and Commissioner Laura Stuart as representatives to present the
Commission’s ideas on the development of additional community gardens within
Culver City. Chair Hudson and Commissioner Stuart are present at this evening’s
meeting to give an oral presentation to the City Council on this topic.
Impacts on Fiscal Year 2010/2011 Work Plan
The City Manager is currently working with the various departments to present
recommended work plans for each of the City’s departments to the City Council for
discussion and ultimate adoption. These work plans will be based upon the priorities
and the reduced availability of financial and staff resources reflected in the City
Council Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2010/2011. Currently, the draft work plan
does not include the proposal related to Community Gardens and the related staff
time to prepare and present to the City Council a proposal for consideration. Should
the City Council provide direction to pursue this new project, then the draft work plan
would be adjusted accordingly.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this Agenda Item.
ATTACHMENT:
Memo dated June 14, 2010 from the PRCS Commission to the City Council titled:
Culver City Community Gardens
MOTIONS:
1. Receive a presentation from Commission representatives and discuss the
Commission’s ideas on the development of additional community gardens within
Culver City; and,
2. Direct the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
MEETING DATE: September 27, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Presentation and Discussion of the Parks, Recreation
and Community Services Commission’s Ideas on the
Development of Additional Community Gardens within
Culver City.
ATTACHMENT
Pages
Memo dated June 14, 2010 from the PRCS Commission
to the City Council titled: Culver City Community
Gardens.
1 - 2
9770 CULVER BOULEVARD CULVER CITY, CA 90232-0507
MEMORANDUM
DATE: June 14, 2010
TO: Honorable Mayor Christopher Armenta and Members of the City Council
THROUGH: P. Lamont Ewell, Interim City Manager
FROM: Chair Vicki Daly Redholtz and Members of the Parks, Recreation and
Community Services Commission
SUBJECT: Culver City Community Gardens
At the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Commission Meeting of
Tuesday, June 1, 2010, the PRCS Commission made a motion to issue a statement to the
City Council emphasizing the need for developing additional Community Gardens within
Culver City.
The PRCS Commission wishes the Council to know that:
• 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 meet the basic eligibility requirements to participate in the program;
• Community Gardens promote urban learning;
• Community Gardens reacquaint the community with possibilities for urban
creativity;
• The space in our parks is limited, highly programmed and does not lend itself
easily to the development of new Community Gardens at this time;
Therefore:
Page 2 of 2
FILE NAME: JUNE 14- 2010_COUNCILCOMMUNITYGARDENMEMO (2).DOCPRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
• 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 priority;
• The Commission encourages the City Council to work with private land owners
whose properties have not been used in a long time to utilize that space for
Community Gardens;
• The Commission suggests working with schools to identify school property that
might be used for Community Gardens;
• The Commission recommends identifying properties owned by other government
agencies within Culver City and investigating the possibility of use for
Community Gardens;
• The Commission asks that the City Council prioritize the development of
Community Gardens at the earliest opportunity.