TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary documents for a lease with Long Beach Local, Inc., for the development and management of the Orizaba Park Community Garden, for a term of three years, with two, three-year renewal options at the discretion of the City Manager or his designee. (District 4)
DISCUSSION
On April 12, 2011, the City Council authorized the City Manager to accept and appropriate $2.2 million in grant funds through the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program of 2008, for the construction of a new community center and community garden at Orizaba Park. The Orizaba Park Community Center is under construction and the area for the Orizaba Park Community Garden (Garden) has been graded. A requirement of the state grant is to include a volunteer outdoor learning opportunity for residents. Of the $2.2 million in grant funds, $10,000 has been set aside for construction supplies to assist community volunteers in the construction of the Garden, which will satisfy the volunteer outdoor learning requirement.
Originally, the West Eastside Community Association (WESCA) expressed an interest in developing and managing the Garden. Subsequently, WESCA decided that they could not manage the Garden, but agreed that they would help search for an operator who could meet the grant requirements and the community’s desires for the Garden. WESCA interviewed several local nonprofit organizations and recommended that Long Beach Local, Inc. (Lessee), be selected to develop and manage the Garden. The Lessee is a Long Beach-based nonprofit organization that “educates residents about urban farming in the City of Long Beach” and successfully operates Farm 59 in Willow Springs Park. The Department of Parks, Recreation and Marine currently administers contracts for six community gardens on properties owned by the City of Long Beach (City).
The proposed lease for the development and management of the Orizaba Park C...
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