Urban Agriculture Program Development Open House
Transcript of Urban Agriculture Program Development Open House
Hosted by Supervisor David Chiu, the Office of the City Administrator and the Recreation and Park Department
May 15, 2013
Urban Agriculture Program Development
Open House
Urban Agriculture Ordinance: Background
July 2012 Urban Ag Ordinance adopted to (1) establish an Urban Agriculture Program to oversee and coordinate all of the City’s Urban Agriculture activities; (2) adopt goals for the City related to Urban Agriculture.
Defined “Urban Agriculture” as “the growing of plants and raising of animals, usually for food or flowers.”
Multiple benefits to San Francisco
Need for more land, materials, supportive infrastructure
7 + City agencies involved
No current, dedicated city-wide FTE
Builds upon (2009) Exec. Dir. on Healthy & Sustainable Food & (2011) Urban Ag Zoning ordinance
Urban Agriculture Ordinance: Why?
July 2012: Urban Agriculture Ordinance adopted September 2012: City Working Group formed Sept-Dec 2012:
Preliminary work plan established, working pod meetings Individual stakeholder interviews (25+) Community outreach/ town hall meetings (3)
April 2013: Recommendation from City Administrator’s Office to Supervisor Chiu for how best to meet the goals of the ordinance
Work to Date
An accounting of all city funding and resources
A list of all local urban agriculture programs
A count of all active and inactive sites and site coordinators
A count of waiting lists
Evaluate which agency or non-profit should permanently house the program
A needs assessment of resident, organization, and business needs
Projected budget for the Urban Agriculture Program and identify potential sources of funding
Complete and publish an audit of city-owned rooftops potentially suitable for both commercial and non-commercial urban agriculture
Develop incentives for property owners to allow temporary urban agriculture projects
Preliminary Work Plan Goals: Fall 2012
Develop a streamlined “application” process for urban agriculture projects on public land
Develop and implement a strategy to reduce the wait list for SF residents seeking access to a community garden plot and to optimize plot use
Create a “one-stop-shop” for urban agriculture
Develop 10 new locations for urban agriculture
Provide 5 city-wide garden resource locations at new or existing sites
Develop new urban agriculture projects on public land
Coordinate support among public agencies and community organizations for gleaning programs
Explore how urban agriculture can enhance existing job training programs
Preliminary Work Plan Goals: Fall 2012
Recommendations The Recreation and Park Department, San Francisco Public
Utilities Commission, Department of Public Health and Department of the Environment should continue their leadership roles on urban agriculture.
The Recreation and Park Department should be the lead agency for the Urban Agriculture Program
San Francisco’s public spending on urban agriculture is significant, and should be used to leverage new private investment.
Rec and Park Plan
Develop a process calendar to outline Year 1
Hire a full-time Urban Agriculture Program Coordinator
Build on work done in Fall 2012 to develop and implement a Year 1 work plan in collaboration with other city agencies and group and community stakeholders
Develop Urban Agriculture Program along side/ in conjunction with RPD Community Gardens Program
SFRPD currently manages: • 25 RPD sites • 9 DPW sites • 1 PUC site
Next Steps
One Stop Website
Resource:
Build out existing RPD
Website
Next Steps Continue outreach to other interested stakeholder groups
Supervisor Chiu to present recommendation to Board
Public hearing at Board of Supervisors
Official transfer of Urban Ag Program coordination to RPD
Hiring of Urban Ag Program Coordinator
Develop and implement Year 1 work plan with support of interagency working group + community stakeholders
Contact Info Catherine Rauschuber
Office of Supervisor David Chiu [email protected] 415.554.7453
Melinda Stockmann Recreation and Park Department [email protected] 415.581.2548