City of Lawrence, KS

Community Development Advisory Committee

October 13, 2011 Minutes (City Commission Room)

MEMBERS PRESENT:		Eric Hethcoat, Vern Norwood, Brenda Nunez, Aimee Polson, Patti Welty, Patrick Wilbur

MEMBERS ABSENT:		Deron Belt, Quinn Miller Julie Mitchell, David Teixeira

STAFF PRESENT:		Alicia Barlow, Danelle Dresslar

PUBLIC PRESENT:		Eileen Horn

In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, committee member Welty called the meeting to order at 5:38pm. (All committee members listed were present except Eric Hethcoat.)

1. Introductions

Members and staff introduced themselves.

2. Approval of the September 22, 2011 Minutes.

There was no initial vote taken as there was no quorum.

(6:10 pm) Committee now has quorum.

Polson moved to approve the CDAC meeting minutes from

September 22, 2011. The motion was seconded by Nunez and passed 6-0.

3. Community Garden Presentation – Eileen Horn

Eileen Horn introduced herself as the Sustainability Coordinator for the City and the County. She said she is on the Food Policy Council, and the council has been looking at starting a Community Garden Program in order to give local farmers and growers a chance to produce healthy, local foods, as well as giving places in Lawrence options for buying locally grown foods. Horn said the council is looking at several different places, including the jail, to be able to buy food locally. As of now, the jail is really the only place where the City or County has the responsibility to purchase food.

Horn said there was a sub-committee focused on urban agriculture. Lawrence is a place that is home to several food deserts. Food deserts are defined as an area of primarily low-income households that have low access to food, which is defined as more than one mile to a grocery store. In addition, these food deserts have no public transportation to the nearest grocery store.

Horn said the land-lease program she is introducing is an opportunity to move properties such as parks and recreation areas and empty city-owned lots off the City’s maintenance program, and move them into a program to make food accessible to the community.

Horn presented the attached slide show.

Norwood asked about the site at Burcham Park and if there would be any issues with the flooding that can happen in that area. Horn said there was some water nearby, but most of the designated Community Garden area is dry. She added there may be some site improvements such as building up the land that may need to happen, but it is some of the best soil in Lawrence.

Norwood asked if there would need to be inclusion of irrigation systems at the sites on the Power Point designated as Riverfront I, II, and III.

Horn replied these would not have irrigation unless the farmer provided it.

Welty asked about some of the City’s smaller sites that were listed as available, and if any of them were buildable sites for an organization such as Tenants to Homeowners.

Horn said some of them could be areas of future development. She said many growers they have spoken to about the program want longer leases of 3-5 years. While this is what they are looking for, many of these undeveloped City sites could be used as temporary growing sites until the projects arise.

Norwood asked about the lease component to the program, and what happens if someone wants to purchase a multi-year lease and the land they have leased suddenly becomes a site for development.

Horn said the City will write the leases to be able to sever the lease as needed. She added this is why the park sites are the best areas to start, as they will remain parks and not change to any other use. The park sites are great for a trial program.

(Eric Hethcoat arrived 5:52pm)

Norwood asked who the grantee for this program would be in terms of the applicant for CDBG funds.

Horn said it would first be the County, and then it would turn into a sub-grant to the individual growers or to Parks and Recreation for the site improvements to enable growing. Horn said the program would apply for funds available for August 2012. The site infrastructure can be installed or improved, with the sites available for planting in spring of 2013.

Norwood talked about the “Step Up to Better Housing” strategy. She said she questioned if this would apply under the strategy.

Welty asked Horn how she saw the project fitting into the strategy.

Horn indicated she saw it as part of the neighborhood revitalization piece.

Dresslar noted the Committee could review the strategy at a future meeting if desired.

Horn said this presentation and discussion is just the start of the conversation. She said she would like to start the program on a very small scale with a really great pilot program. She added that there are some different issues with growing food within city limits. Some of these include noise ordinances in regard to running machinery, as well as concern over weeds that farmers would normally just let grow after harvesting until tilling later in the season. Horn said she wants to be cognizant of growing the relationship between the neighborhood and the grower. If that means the first year is really small, then it is.

Hethcoat asked about how the City ordinances with noise and weeds, as well as other applicable issues, would be handled.

Horn said the ordinance requirements would have to be part of the lease. She indicated she was researching all the city ordinances in terms of how a Community Garden program would affect them. Horn said recently when the Food Policy Council met with potential growers, 15 farmers showed up. The farmers were very excited about getting a chance to interact and meet the people they are providing food for as part of the process. Horn said Commissioner Schumm has been very supportive as well.

Horn asked the Committee if they had any suggestions to help publicize the program.

Polson suggested contacting the neighborhoods and talking about the program in neighborhood newsletters, as well as directly talking to neighborhood associations and providing information via brochures or fliers.

Hethcoat added the Farmers Market or The Merc would be good contact points.

Nunez suggested putting a sign at the property that would be the potential leased site.

Hethcoat said another option is if any of the neighborhoods have a group mailbox, that tends to be a good central location to post something.

Nunez mentioned providing information on the City buses although the City may not allow the advertising.

Horn thanked the Committee for their ideas and feedback.

4. Miscellaneous/Calendar.

Dresslar asked if the Committee wished to have the strategy on a future agenda for review.

Norwood said after hearing the presentation, she thought the Community Garden could fit under the neighborhood revitalization category.

Polson recommended revisiting the strategy after applications are received.

Hethcoat asked if there was any follow-up on the Bradburn discussion.

Dresslar said she did not know if any other steps had been taken by Mr. Bradburn. The City asked him to provide his the power point for the minutes, but he chose not to provide it.

Norwood asked about the attendance record attached to the minutes, and what the blank boxes stood for as there is no legend for that.

Dresslar said “excused” and “present” are labeled. If a committee member does not notify staff they are unable to attend, the box is left blank and considered “unexcused”.

5. Public Comment.

No public comment.

6. Adjourn.

Polson moved to adjourn the October 13, 2011 meeting of the CDAC at 6:15 pm. The motion was seconded by Hethcoat and passed 6-0.

Attendance Record

Members

Jan 13

Jan 27

Feb 10

Feb 24

Mar 10

Mar 24

Apr 14

Apr 28

May 12

May 26

Jun

July

Aug

Sept 8

Sept 22

Oct 13

Oct 27

Nov 10

Dec 8

Deron Belt

Quinn Miller

Julie Mitchell

Vern Norwood

Brenda Nunez

Aimee Polson

Roberta Suenram

**U

David Teixeira

Patti Welty

Eric Hethcoat

Patrick Wilbur

E Excused Absence

U Unexcused Absence

X Meeting Cancelled – Weather Conditions

- Meeting Cancelled – Committee Vote/No Business

* First meeting after appointment

** Last Meeting Prior to expired term