As construction continues for the Goleta Community Garden in Armitos Park, the Goleta City Council approved polices and fees during its meeting Tuesday to be implemented once the garden opens later this year.
The garden will have 50 plots available — including 10 oversized garden beds for larger gardening options — for community members to rent on a yearly basis.
“As we all know, community gardens enhance nutrition and physical activity and promote the role of public health and improving the quality of life in a community,” Parks and Recreation manager JoAnne Plummer said. “We are excited about the project and our residents are eager to secure their plot.”
The council approved a monthly fee of $10 per month, or $120 per year, with a refundable $25 deposit, and Plummer said monthly or quarterly payment plans will be available.
The city plans to have a program to offer financial aid or volunteer opportunities in lieu of fees for those who may be unable to afford the fee.
Staff are also developing a waiver and release of liability form and will offer materials in English and Spanish.
“This is exciting,” Mayor Paula Perotte said. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time, so this is great.”
Plummer said that the annual water use for Armitos Park costs about $1,500 per year, and an increase in maintenance of about $7,000 per year is expected with the community garden. The park is located at South Kellogg and Armitos avenues in Old Town Goleta.
If all 50 plots are rented, these regular total costs will be offset by $6,000 in participant payments per year.
Construction is expected to finish in late October and the city plans to release the community garden application process later this month, “so gardeners can begin to plan for their plot upon the grand opening of this exciting, one-of-a-kind facility in Goleta,” Plummer said.
The draft application and guidelines say that plots will be assigned through a lottery about two weeks after the application due date. During this initial lottery, Goleta city residents will be given priority access to plots.
After the initial lottery, garden plots will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, with a wait list capped at 25 people.
The draft application also says that staff intend to have the fees begin no earlier than Nov. 1, and gardeners may renew their plots for up to two years.
A picnic area and shaded pergolas will be available at the site for everyone to use, unless they are already reserved for classes or workshops.
Gardeners renting plots will be responsible for maintaining their plot year-round and practicing water conservation.
More information on the application process on guidelines for the Community Garden are available in the staff report here.