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Council asks staff to analyze providing water and electricity for planned community garden
Summary
Council directed staff to continue discussions and develop a cost and controls analysis for supplying water (and possibly electricity) to a community garden on CCISD land; no formal commitment to cover installation costs was made.
Council directed city staff to continue discussions with partners and produce an analysis of costs, controls and installation needs for water and electric service to a planned community garden on Copperas Cove Independent School District land.
City Manager Ryan Haverlaw briefed council on the long-standing idea for a community garden. Haverlaw said CCISD has provided and already fenced the site; the 5 Hills Garden Club and other community members have been organizing the project. Staff said the city's involvement would primarily be to provide utility service (monthly water and potentially electricity), not to pay for major infrastructure installation unless council later directs otherwise.
Public works staff explained that using the city's water distribution to serve the garden would typically require a backflow prevention device, which can be costly; staff reported they have identified alternatives and will work with the garden club to reduce immediate costs. Council asked for a focused analysis that addresses how water would be metered and controlled, where electricity would be sourced or installed, potential vandalism or misuse controls, and cost estimates for both monthly utility charges and any needed infrastructure.
Councilmembers generally supported continuation of planning and asked staff to return with a report on costs and practical implementation steps. The item was direction-only; no ordinance or funding appropriation was approved at the meeting.
