Report to Rapport au: Community and Protective Services Committee Comité des services communautaires et de protection 20 August 2015 / 20 août 2015

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1 1 Report to Rapport au: Community and Protective Services Committee Comité des services communautaires et de protection 20 August 2015 / 20 août 2015 and Council et au Conseil 26 August 2015 / 26 août 2015 Submitted on August 13, 2015 Soumis le 13 août 2015 Submitted by Soumis par: Susan Jones, Acting Deputy City Manager / Directrice municipale adjointe par intérim, City Operations / Operations municipales Contact Person Personne ressource: Aaron Burry, General Manager / Directeur général, Community and Social Services / Services sociaux et communautaires x23666, aaron.burry@ottawa.ca Ward: CITY WIDE / À L'ÉCHELLE DE LA VILLE SUBJECT: Community Garden Update File Number: ACS2015-COS-CSS-0016 OBJET: Mise à jour sur les jardins communautaires REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS That Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council approve an additional contribution of $15,000 per year to Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa for the provision of community gardens as outlined in this report.

2 2 RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT Que le Comité des services communautaires et de protection recommande au Conseil d approuver l octroi d une contribution supplémentaire de $ par année à Alimentation juste afin de permettre l aménagement de jardins communautaires comme le précise le présent rapport. BACKGROUND The City of Ottawa has had a community garden action plan since 2004 (ACS2004- CPS-CSF-0016). The program is operated by Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa/Community Garden Network (CGN) with support from one City staff. In April 2009, City Council adopted a formal policy statement entrenching community gardening as a valuable community activity that can contribute to community development, civic participation, neighborhood revitalization, environmental awareness and a healthier lifestyle (ACS2009-COS-RCS-0005). This report provides an update on the progress since 2009 as well anticipated actions for this term of Council. At the time of the report in 2009, there were 19 community gardens. There are currently 59 community gardens with a further 4 anticipated to be completed by fall 2015 (see Document 1 for a list of community gardens). This is a testament to the success and approach of the development of gardens in the community which are developed by the community with support and oversight by CGN. The City will continue to ensure that all gardens on City property continue to comply with standards, legislations and requirements. DISCUSSION Ottawa has many areas in communities that are suitable for community gardens. 60% of existing gardens have been established on property other than City of Ottawa property which is negotiated through CGN. The CGN networks and assists the community with developing all aspects of the garden project including securing the appropriate leases and consents to enter for specific non-city property. The Community and Social Services Department supports one position, a liaison officer, to oversee a contract with Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa. This liaison officer acts as the central point of contact for the organization with respect to establishing gardens on properties owned by the City. Since community gardens are public spaces meant to be enjoyed by the general public, properties and the construction of gardens must meet specific conditions and requirements that are compatible with multi-use demands. These requirements include: land availability

3 3 including appropriate space to accommodate community gardens, a water source, accessibility, insurance and be compatible with existing activities on the land. The liaison officer assists Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa with ensuring that all the public requirements are met, that the appropriate agreements for City owned property and approved design and testing requirements are met. The liaison officer works across City departments to ensure that all requirements for a specific community garden are coordinated. Costs for gardens are achieved through allocation provided by the City, community equity, various forms of donations, and fundraising. This is consistent with the overall goals for the program. Funding grants typically under $5000 are provided to develop and/or maintain gardens through funding provided through Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa. Costs to develop community gardens have increased over the years, due to legislative changes, insurance and materials costs. There is additional complexity in site selection and garden design due to these changes. To respond, communities are addressing these additional costs through additional fundraising. CGN is working directly with the City to ensure that City properties being developed comply with any new legislative requirements. In a similar manner, CGN ensures compliance and negotiates terms with other land owners. There has been considerable learning through the ongoing collaboration of the CGN and the City that will benefit and simplify many aspects of future garden development. As part of the development of this report and the needs during this term of Council, the Department reviewed the funding agreement with Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa. To date, CGN is supporting 59 gardens compared to 19 gardens in 2009 and has received no additional funds beyond the basic Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) increases. CGN anticipates that 2 5 new gardens will be developed each year. Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa provides the basic start-up funding and annual smaller grant funding. Therefore, the Department is recommending that the contract be increased to $176,337 based on the projected expense growth and new gardens to be added. This represents an additional $15, 000 per year to the Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa contract. Document 2 is a copy of the draft contract with Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa. RURAL IMPLICATIONS There are no specific rural implications.

4 4 CONSULTATION The City s Community Garden Liaison Officer holds regular meetings with Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa and the CGN as well as participates in their Annual General Meetings. The City s Community Garden Liaison Officer participates as an active member of the annual CGN allocations committee which reviews applications for funding and allocates funds for new development and or sustainability of existing community gardens. The Community Garden Development Fund application process, timelines, criteria are all available on the CGN website as well as in previously noted Council reports. There is significant internal engagement by the City s Community Garden Liaison Officer who collaborates with Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa and CGN experts on a daily basis bridging informational and service requests of current and prospective community gardeners with various City colleagues and Councillors. Multiple City departments provide expertise, information and support to community gardens including: Community and Social Services, Parks, Recreation and Culture, Public Works, Infrastructure Services, Planning and Growth Management, Real Estate Partnerships and Development Office (Disposals and Environmental Remediation Unit, Parks Grounds and Maintenance), Corporate Programs and Business Services (Accessibility), Ottawa Public Health, Environmental Services and City Clerk and Solicitor (Insurance, Legal). LEGAL IMPLICATIONS There are no legal impediments to the implementation of the recommendation in this report. RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS There are no risks associated with this report. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The funding to increase the contract with Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa, from $161,337 to $176,337 has been identified within the department budget. ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS There are no accessibility impacts associated with this report.

5 5 TERM OF COUNCIL PRIORITIES Community Gardens aligns with the City s strategic priorities of Healthy & Caring Communities and Environmental Stewardship. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION Document 1: Garden List by Year Document 2: Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa Contribution Agreement DISPOSITION Community and Social Service Department staff will amend the Just Food Ottawa/Alimentation juste Ottawa/CGN contract to reflect funding changes once approved.

6 6 Document 1: Garden List by Year by Ward # Garden Year Developed Ward 1 28th Girl Guide Garden St. Laurent Community Garden Bayshore Park Community Garden Bethany Church Community Garden Brewer Park Community Garden Brooke Tower Communal Garden BUGs ( Bytowne Urban Garden) 1997/ Moved Cardinal Creek Children s Community Garden Carlington Community Garden Centretown Community Gardening Project Centretown United Church Chateau Donald Community Garden CHEO Healing Garden Children's Garden in Leggett Park Daily Bread Community Garden Debra Dynes Family House Community Garden Fatima Manor for Seniors Friendship Community Garden Gloucester Allotment Gardens 1981 as Community Garden after NCC abandoned the allotment garden program. 20 Gloucester Allotment Gardens (2 nd Location) 1981 as Community Garden after NCC abandoned the 2 2

7 7 # Garden Year Developed Ward allotment garden program. 21 Greenstar Growing Up Organic School Gardens Jardin Arrowsmith Thyme-less Garden Jardin Communautaire Orleans Community Garden Jardin Communautaire Vanier Community Garden Kanta North Community Garden Kilborn Allotment Garden NCC ran the gardens from 1981 until 1988 when the City took over Lees Avenue Community Garden Leslie Park Community Garden Lexington Green Life Gardens Lowertown/Basseville Community Garden Lowertown/Basseville Community Garden (AKA: Angel Square Garden:2 nd Location) McNabb Park Community Garden Michele Heights Community Garden Nanny Goat Hill Community Garden Nepean Allotment Gardens New Edinburgh Community Garden Oasis Food Growing Project Osgoode Museum Community Garden

8 8 # Garden Year Developed Ward 40 Ottawa East Community Garden Ottawa Salus Gladstone Rosemount Garden Overbrook Community Garden Partage Vanier Community Garden: Peaceful Garden Pinecrest Terrace Revell Court Community Garden Rochester Heights Children's Garden Russell Heights Russell Manor Community Garden Sandy Hill Community Garden St. Joe s Supper Table St. Laurent Community Garden Stittsville Strathcona Heights Community Garden Sweet Willow Community Garden Trinity Community Garden Urban Shades Community Garden Vars Community Garden West Barrhaven Community Garden

9 9 Gardens to be developed in 2015 # Garden Development Date Ward 1 South Nepean Muslim Community Garden Marigold Friendship Community Garden (AKA Kanata South Community Garden) 3 LindenLea Food and Wildlife Community Garden Queensway Terrace Community Garden