05-28-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETEING Monday, MAY 13, 2019 7:00 o'clock p.m. for the City to designate another area for higher density. The density for this area is currently 3 to 10 units per acre. Seals moved, Crosby seconded, to deny the sale of Parcel ID 34-118-23-32-0051. Johnson noted it looks like some staff time has been invested into looking at this potential sale, and the best use of Staff time might be to find out whether the City is interested in selling it first before devoting any more Staff time to it. Walsh noted the City Council will look at any proposal that is brought forward and that a cursory review might be appropriate, but that City Staff does not have a lot of time to devote to reviewing requests for things that are not formal proposals. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Janie Delaney, 1350 Wooddale Avenue, noted a 501(3)(c) was formed in 2018 so they could take the garden in a different direction and get more community support, financing and donations. That has made all the difference in the world. A number of amazing people started the garden in 2011 and this garden would not exist without them laying the groundwork for it. Delaney stated they soon found out that the donated money was being used to purchase seeds and plants, which is not wrong, but that they are now soliciting donations for that. Delaney noted they have a fantastic website called donationgarden.org, which has a lot of great information on it, and that they would love to come in the fall to show the City Council all the things they do out there. Delaney stated they are excited about the donation garden and that it took them about two years to rebuild relationships with local businesses. Delaney indicated they are in agreement with expanding the garden to a community type garden and that she knows there are other fire departments that grow pumpkins for the kids and that type of stuff. Delaney commented the world is at a precipice of a huge societal change and that more people now live in cities, are rushing to various activities daily, and eating on the run. Most cities do not provide alternatives to that type of lifestyle and that it is important to have a venue, a plan, and local support for food and farming. One way to start is by having a community garden where kids can learn how to grow crops. The City of Maple Plain has a community garden, which serves the Sparks program at Orono Schools. There needs to be support like that in Orono. There is enough space for a school garden to provide produce to the school's lunch program and other programs can be contacted for support and guidance. Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world; for indeed it has." Delaney noted currently only three-quarters of the garden is farmed and that can be expanded as the interest grows. Walsh stated the whole idea of a community garden is a great garden and that he would suggest the Park Commission get involved and that perhaps a meeting could be set up with the City Administrator and a representative from the Park Commission to assist them.