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Portnoy Valley Partners pitches community garden on city-owned land near water department
Summary
Portnoy Valley Partners representatives and Anne Butler, parks and recreation director, asked the Pocatello City Council to allow a community garden on a recently purchased city parcel near the water department and Green Belt, with the nonprofit handling operations while the city provides the land and ongoing water service.
Portnoy Valley Partners representatives and Anne Butler, Pocatello’s parks and recreation director, presented a plan to the City Council to locate a community garden on a recently acquired parcel adjacent to the city water department and the Green Belt.
The presenters said the city would provide the land and Portnoy Valley Partners would manage the site, sublease individual plots to residents, and maintain a shared cooperative area for donations to local food banks. “We are asking the city council to approve the use of the city land for designated community garden spaces, authorize a partnership agreement with Portnoy Valley Partners to manage operations, support modest start up resources, such as access to water, soil, and fencing to help the garden succeed in its first year,” the presenters said.
Anne Butler noted the parks department lacks staff and budget to install irrigation infrastructure but could absorb ongoing water usage once a tap and drip irrigation are in place: “There would have to be a water tap there, approximately $5,500. That is not something currently in our budget, but it would require some irrigation work,” Butler said. She and the presenters said legal staff had advised a use agreement allowing seasonal plot sales is feasible.
Council members pressed for operational details. Presenters said their tentative model would charge about $30 per plot per season to cover utility and maintenance costs and that they planned to pursue grants to fund installation. Justin Armstrong, the city water superintendent, confirmed an 8-inch water line runs along the frontage and that a stub exists for future service: “There’s definitely water available along that frontage,” Armstrong said.
Council members expressed broad support provided city costs remain limited. Staff said they'd draft a use agreement with legal counsel and work with Portnoy Valley Partners to return to council with a formal proposal and more detailed cost and site plans.
The council did not take formal action at the meeting; staff were instructed to continue negotiations and return with an agreement and any budget implications.
Ending: The presenters will meet with city staff to refine the infrastructure plan and provide the council with a proposed use agreement and site plan for future consideration.
