GoodRoots Northwest to manage Bonney Lake community garden under short administrative contract

City staff told the Bonney Lake City Council that the city is signing a management contract with GoodRoots Northwest to run the community garden and handle plot assignments and payments.

A staff member (S5) said the arrangement will effectively remove the city from day‑to‑day garden operations while keeping the garden designated as a community garden under the terms of the agreement. "They're going to manage it on our behalf. They're going to collect the rental fees. They get to keep 20% of it," the staff member said.

Staff explained the contract is for less than five years and therefore falls within the mayor’s contracting authority; it is being signed administratively rather than brought to the finance committee. The staff member said the city did not lease the property to GoodRoots Northwest but is contracting for management services; that distinction is why the locker lease (a no‑fee lease at not‑market rate) will come to council for authorization while the management contract will not.

Terms discussed included insurance requirements, a five‑year term with the ability to terminate for failure to manage according to the contract, and a 30‑day notice provision referenced in council questions. A council member asked for a copy of the contract; staff said they would provide it.

The staff member said the arrangement reduces city liability and council oversight for routine garden management while preserving the community garden use of the site. Staff said they expect the administrative signature to be completed in the coming days, and that the city will provide the contract to council on request.