Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident proposes community food garden next to library, asks council for water access and parks review
Summary
Shane Kelly told the Myrtle Creek City Council he wants to expand the library’s native-plant garden into a community food garden with individual plots, seed support from the library and management help from master gardeners and a new nonprofit; he asked the council to consider water access and permit requirements and to send the plan to the Parks Commission.
Shane Kelly, of 347 Clark Street, told the council he would like to expand the existing native-plant garden beside the library across to the next street and convert part of that area into community plots where residents could grow food. "We are gonna be doing the native plant project... We would like to expand that further all the way across to the other street and do that other 0.5 with, like, a victory garden," Kelly said during the public-comment period.
Kelly said the library would provide seeds and that the new nonprofit Everyday Needs Network and local master gardeners want to help manage the beds. He told the council the project would help address food-security needs for people who cannot grow food at home and suggested community food boxes and small assigned plots for residents. Kelly explained the native garden needs little water after establishment but adding vegetable plots would increase water demand: "For the native garden, we don't need water... But this would be a lot more water requirement," he said, and asked whether the city could provide water access from a nearby spigot or via the backside hose near the library.
Finance and parks staff answered procedural and permitting questions. Staff said a fence permit would be required if the group installed fencing but that there is no charge for a fence permit. Council members directed Kelly to bring a written plan and cost estimate to the Parks Commission for its review; the council noted the Parks Commission is advisory and will meet the second Tuesday in December. Mayor (presiding) and council members asked Kelly to document the proposal with details on maintenance, water-meter needs and potential costs to the city. The council did not take a funding vote at the meeting; next steps are for the group to present the detailed plan to the Parks Commission and then return to the council if the commission recommends action.
The Parks Commission meeting schedule and council guidance were the procedural next steps; the council asked staff to provide any needed information about water-meter fees or system requirements before the commission review.
