Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

To:      David L. Corliss, City Manager 

From: Eileen Horn, Sustainability Coordinator

CC:      Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

Date:  October 27, 2011

RE:      Future Agenda Item:  Discussion of use of city-owned property for urban agriculture and community gardens (Common Ground Program)

City staff and the Douglas County Food Policy Council have collaborated to create a program to license city and county-owned properties to local market farmers and gardeners.  The Common Ground Program is intended to assist initiatives for the development of urban agriculture and community gardens in the City of Lawrence and Douglas County, increasing local food production, and providing community benefits. 

The City and County will seek applications from qualified individuals, businesses, and/or nonprofit organizations to apply for a license to use currently vacant or underutilized municipally-owned properties with the goal of producing fresh healthy food for personal consumption and/or sale.  The Common Ground Program’s goal is to license these properties for the cultivation, personal consumption and/or sale of plants, herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables, either as for-profit or not-for-profit enterprises. 

Key Program Elements:

Sites: The licensed properties are scattered throughout Lawrence and Douglas County (see map).  Plot sizes range from 1/3 of an acre to 20 acres.  All are currently vacant properties maintained by Public Works and Parks & Recreation.

License Terms:  Land would be offered as a license for use, at a rate to be determined.  Most sites will be licensed for a rolling 3 year term.  The City and County will retain the right to reclaim use at any time (see attached license agreement).

Timeline:  Application process (Dec-Jan), and notifications (Jan-Feb).

Process: The City and County will release a Request for Applications (RFA).  Applications will be evaluated by the Douglas County Food Policy Council, and recommendations submitted to the City and County Commissions for approval.

Oversight:  The City/County Sustainability Coordinator in conjunction with the Douglas County Food Policy council will facilitate program success by evaluating applications, and providing support to neighborhood associations, growers, and City/County departments.

Recommended Action: Provide staff direction on further program development, timeline, process.