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Council backs concept to expand community garden with small orchard and modest stipend increase
Summary
Parks staff and volunteers proposed planting an 11‑tree orchard on underused park land, leveraging $600 in outside funding and requesting a one‑time city match of $846 plus a $500 annual stipend increase for tools and maintenance; staff will verify utility locations before planting.
Parks Superintendent Nathan Brungard and garden coordinator John Folies presented a proposal to plant approximately 11 fruit trees on a flatter area behind the aquatic center. Brungard said the community garden produced a record 932 pounds of donated produce and that the group seeks modest support to maintain operations. The project leverages outside funding ($600) and requests an $846 city match for installation plus a $500 annual stipend to buy tools and supplies; Brungard noted the group is largely self-sustaining and would handle maintenance.
Staff cautioned that a hodgepodge of underground utilities runs through the area and said they will identify exact planting locations after utility locates; Brungard said "we cannot plant a tree over an existing utility line." Council members expressed general support for the concept and the stipend increase; staff indicated they can proceed under staff authority and will present the item on the consent agenda if any formal council action is needed.
