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Urban farm owner urges city to approve maintenance bid for stormwater banks after repeated crop damage
Summary
Black Farm Street Inc. asked the commission to approve an annual maintenance bid and clarify city policy after recurring overgrowth from an adjacent city-managed stormwater drain damaged garden beds and interrupted youth programs.
The founder of Black Farm Street Inc. told commissioners Aug. 19 that repeated overgrowth on city-managed stormwater-bank adjacent to her urban farm at 1650 Olive Road has damaged crops and disrupted programs and that a city maintenance proposal she submitted in 2024 has not been adopted.
"For three years now, I have pursued resolution through the proper channels regarding reoccurring overgrowth from the city owned and managed stormwater drain that borders our property," Lashondra Robinson told the commission. She said the city paid some damage claims but then denied a later claim and would not approve an annual maintenance contract she offered to perform.
Robinson asked commissioners to approve her maintenance proposal and clarify who is responsible for vegetation that originates on city-managed stormwater infrastructure and crosses onto adjacent nonprofit or private properties. She also said regular cleaning would create supervised paid opportunities for youth and help prevent crime by keeping young people engaged.
Engineering and stormwater staff said the city attempts twice-yearly maintenance on some creek banks but that staffing and inmate-crew shortages have limited the work, and risk-management rules constrain damage-claim payouts. "I can look at the schedule — the growth is probably pretty rapid — but I can look into it," said Oscar Flythe of stormwater. The administrator asked administration and legal to work with Robinson to find a path forward.
Commissioners asked staff to provide an update within 30 days and to explore contracting or other options that would produce a regular maintenance schedule that the farm and neighborhood could rely on.
"Approving this maintenance bid will allow Black Farm Street to continue our current work more effectively and efficiently," Robinson said in her petition. The commission did not vote to commit new funds at the meeting; commissioners asked staff, legal and risk-management to confer and report back.
