September 14, 2004

SUBJECT:  Authorization to Submit Grant Application to Satterberg Foundation for Development of Community Gardens

REPORT IN BRIEF

The Satterberg Foundation, a private philanthropic organization, has invited the City to apply for grant monies which could be used to support the development of community and senior gardens. Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening (SSG), an organized group of local gardeners, has indicated an interest in partnering with the City to maintain community gardens. This report requests Council authorization to apply to the Satterberg Foundation for grant funding. Timely filing of an application is important, as the grant funds may become unavailable after September 15. Should such an application be awarded by the Satterberg Foundation, staff would return to Council for acceptance of the grant monies and approval of a formal agreement with Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening for development and maintenance of community gardens.

BACKGROUND

The Satterberg Foundation has invited the City to apply for a grant of up to $40,000 for the purpose of establishing community gardens in Sunnyvale. The Satterberg Foundation is a private philanthropic group whose vision “is one of enriched, joyful, hopeful, and interconnected communities of individuals and families who have respect and opportunity, who are nurtured to reach their highest potential, and who are contributing, connected, and involved members of their communities.”  When a board member of the Foundation who happens to also be a 35-year resident of Sunnyvale (Mr. Dave Lazarus) learned of the City’s interest in community gardens, he invited the City to apply for a Foundation grant. The City needs to apply by no later than September 15, 2004. Coincidentally, the Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening group has been in touch with the Department of Parks and Recreation seeking a location to develop community gardens. Staff is currently working with Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening in exploring a possible relationship and suitable sites for community gardens.

EXISTING POLICY

Authorization to Submit Grant Application to Satterberg Foundation for Development of Community Gardens is supported by the following City policies:  

DISCUSSION

In the context of this report (and a possible application to the Satterberg Foundation), “community gardens” means a plot of land a minimum of one-third to one-half acre in size cultivated to serve as:

A.  Garden plots for use by Seniors-- When the City’s Senior Center was located at the McKinley Avenue site, there was a small plot of land dedicated to senior gardening. This is one aspect of our senior services that we have yet to replicate at the new Senior Center. 

B. Garden plots to be used by the general public—this topic has been raised periodically by the public during open space planning efforts for many years now. Many members of the community have an interest in a place to grow fruits and vegetables for personal consumption. For example, the public indicated that this would be a good use of Orchard Heritage Park should the City not be able to sustain the apricot orchard in future years; it was also suggested as a possible use of the land beneath the PG&E towers in the DeAnza neighborhood. Several unauthorized gardens were removed from the John W. Christian greenbelt when that land was formally developed; and

C. Demonstration gardens for educational purposes—the Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening group and local Master Gardeners have indicated an interest in a site where demonstration gardens could be used to teach and inform the public regarding various aspects of gardening, from composting to natural pest abatement practices.

The City’s Recreation and Open Space Sub-elements certainly support the concept of community gardening. The real policy questions for Council are do we have the money, and do we have the space?

Do We Have the Money?

The City’s current fiscal environment has clearly put a damper on consideration of additional services to the community.  The establishment of community gardens requires both capital and operating funds.   An application for funding from the Satterberg Foundation could provide the required capital funding, thereby eliminating this fiscal concern.  Staff has also entered into discussions with Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening, a community group which may maintain community gardens at little to no cost to the City.  The Satterberg application may be the first step in the development and maintenance of community gardens at no cost to the City. In any event, simply applying for the funds creates no City obligation.  If this application process is successful, staff will return to Council for acceptance of the grant monies at which time more detailed information will be provided regarding a possible relationship with Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening for operations as well.

Do We Have the Space?

Staff is currently exploring with members of Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening sites within the City that might be suitable for community gardening. It is not the purpose of this report to further discuss the subject of location or make a related recommendation to Council. If Council authorizes staff to apply for grant funding from the Satterberg Foundation, staff will explore further with the Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening group the concept of a partnership whereby Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening would help develop and maintain community gardens for the City. Staff would return to Council at a later date with a proposed agreement between the City and the Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening which recommended specific terms of the partnership as well as a specific location for the gardens. One of the primary reasons for not including that information in this report is timing. The application for the Satterberg grant must be submitted by no later than September 15. Council’s authorization to proceed with that application now will ensure the City does not miss the September 15 application deadline, yet allow for continued exploration of alternative sites and a possible partnership with the Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening.

FISCAL IMPACT

Due to community interest, Council will be considering a Study Issue Paper this coming fall related to the development and maintenance of community gardens funded by the City. Staff will be recommending against that Study due to the City’s current fiscal climate. This report, and Council’s authorization to apply for Satterberg Foundation funding, represents the first step in a strategy which might see community gardens developed and maintained via a partnership resulting in no fiscal impact to the City. With Council’s authorization, staff would apply for a total of $40,000 from the Satterberg Foundation.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Public contact was made through posting of the Parks and Recreation Commission agenda and Council agenda on the City’s official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City’s web page, and the availability of the report in the City Clerk’s office, Library, Parks and Recreation Administration office, Corporation Yard, Community Center and Senior Center.

On August 25, 2004, the Parks and Recreation Commission held a public hearing on this matter during its regularly scheduled meeting.

Copies of this report have been provided to the Satterberg Foundation and to Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening.

ALTERNATIVES

1.     Authorize staff to apply for a total of $40,000 funding from the Satterberg Foundation for development of community gardens in Sunnyvale.

2.     Authorize staff to apply for a different amount of funding from the Satterberg Foundation.

3.     Do not authorize staff to apply for funding from the Satterberg Foundation.

4.      Other action as determined by Council.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends Alternative No. 1.  Staff believe this is an important first step in exploring the feasibility of developing and maintaining community gardens at little to no cost to the City. Authorizing staff to apply for grant funding ensures the ability to continuing exploring community gardens but does not obligate the City to any future action.

The Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed this report on August 25, 2004, and recommended Alternative No. 1.  (Motion carried unanimously 5-0) 

Prepared by:

Robert A. Walker

Director of Parks and Recreation

Approved by:

Amy Chan

City Manager

C:  Satterberg Foundation Sunnyvale Sustainable Gardening