Agenda Item Wording:
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Facility Use Agreement - Execute agreement with the Rural Prosperity Center and project partners to operate and maintain the Community Garden at 222 NW 3rd Ave.
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Prepared by:
Laurissa Roggenkamp, Recreation Manager laurissa.roggenkamp@visalia.gov, 559-713-4336,
Devon Jones, Economic Development Manager devon.jones@visalia.gov, 559-713-4190,
Jason Glick, Parks and Recreation Director jason.glick@visalia.gov, 559-713-4042
Department Recommendation:
Authorize staff to execute a Facility Use Agreement with the Rural Prosperity Center and project partners to operate and maintain the Community Garden at 222 NW 3rd Avenue for up to five years.
Summary:
The Rural Prosperity Center (RPC) has proposed to operate and maintain the Community Garden asset in the Community Campus with no financial support required. CSET is pursuing a CA Natural Resources Agency Nature Based Solutions (NBS) grant to utilize the Sequoia Community Corps to revitalize the site and prepare it for ongoing operation. Calwater foundation grant support may be available to assist the RPC with ongoing operations costs such as water utility costs. RPC along with its partners, Los Promotores Comunitarios and Parent University will replicate their Mujeres in Ag program (www.parentuniversity.org/blank-3 <http://www.parentuniversity.org/blank-3>) at the Community Garden, seeking participation from the neighboring community.
Mujeres in Agriculture y Más is an education and training initiative, in partnership with College of the Sequoias, targets farmworker women, providing them with hands-on skill development, career pathway guidance, and leadership development in agriculture and related industries. With a 12-24 month learning model that blends classroom instruction, digital literacy, and on-the-job experience, participants build the confidence and credentials to access higher-paying jobs in ag tech, horticulture, clean energy, and small-scale farming.
The Facility Use Agreement proposes RPC and its programming partners shall have exclusive use of the premises and shall actively and continuously use and operate the premises for the limited purpose of operating and maintaining a community garden asset for programming participants’ use for the production of agricultural products. The intent being to provide a garden asset in which program participants can produce food for personal household consumption. If there are products grown in excess of participants’ own personal consumption, products may be donated to any appropriate community partners for distribution to households in need of food resources.
The agreement is proposed up to 5 years, with annual terms with RPC submitting a request in writing by December 1st expressing intent to extend contract for additional year. RPC will pay all rates, tolls, and charges for utilities used on the property. Insurance requirements include a single combined liability limit of $2,000,000, property damage limits of not less than $1,000,000, and workers’ compensation insurance with limits of not less than $1,000,000 per accident. RPC will also be required to provide annual reports, to include certain metrics of programming conducted, RPC financial statements, and proof of non-profit status.
The Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission recommended City Council’s authority to execute this Facility Use Agreement with the RPC at their last meeting on November 12th.
Background Discussion:
The Community Garden was a City project converting an empty 14,000 SF lot in the Community Campus that began in 2017 and completed in October of 2019. The project intent at the time was to allow residents in the surrounding community to grow vegetables and fruits with some of the plots intended for use by the adjacent Wittman Center to provide afterschool activities for youth through a partnership with then site administrator, Pro-Youth. With both the COVID pandemic (and corresponding impacts to Parks and Recreation staffing levels) and the change in Wittman Center site administration from Pro-Youth to Visalia PAL, the Community Garden has not yet been utilized for its intended purpose. This agreement with RPC and their programming partners, as well as the assistance of several other stakeholders such as CSET, Foodlink, and Calwater, provide an opportunity to implement the original vision of the Community Garden project.
Fiscal Impact: None, utilities and any necessary improvements will be paid by RPC and program partners including CSET and their NBS grant project.
Prior Council Action: November 6, 2017 - Council approved appropriation of $132,190 of the 2016 Housing Related Park Grant (HRPP Grant) towards the Community Garden Project and improvements to Village Park as well as authorized use of $45,000 of 2016 CDBG funding towards improvements for Village Park and Jefferson Park. April 15, 2019 - Council awarded the construction contract to Sierra Range Construction and authorized City Manager to award an amount not to exceed $129,133. October 7, 2019 - Council filed notice of completion for the Project.
Other: November 12, 2025 - Visalia Parks and Recreation Commission recommended City Council’s authority to execute this Facility Use Agreement with the RPC for up to five years.
Alternatives: Per Council direction.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to authorize staff to execute a Facility Use Agreement with the Rural Prosperity Center and project partners to operate and maintain the Community Garden at 222 NW 3rd Ave for up to five years.
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Deadline for Action: 11/17/2025
Attachments: Facility Use Agreement, Agreement Attachment A