Minutes from April 6 meeting

Monroe Community Garden
Meeting Minutes for April 6, 2008


Meeting began at 9:15

MIKE: garden options:
Adopt-a-Spot
Liberty gardens (the newsstar)
YMCA
National Society for Community Garden guidelines


CHRIS Pealer, Director YMCA of NELA

YMCA is a 501-C3 organization and can provide or help with
Contracts with city
Grant proposals
Insurance
Administrative tasks

Also,
Knowledge of gardens stays with the group; essentially, YMCA provides support for the garden committee to do its work. YMCA is not involved with planning or developing of gardens themselves.
Development of by-laws as they pertain to YMCA umbrella (not specific garden by-laws)

MIKE:

Existing by-laws (from American Community Gardens online @ www.community gardens.org).

Additionally, we want to include statements concerning
Recycled materials
Above ground structures
Handicapped accessibility
Water use and accessibility

Other issues
Fencing
Neighborhood watch
Signage
ULM Ag center extension office: suggests planting blackberries around perimeter as deterrent
Granting agencies (for fall grant deadlines)
Burpee, USDA, native plants program
Railroad contact for used ties (creosote): Mr. Riley’s brother (?)

BOB:
Adopt-a-spot = expedience
YMCA = long-term


MIKE: Other organizations to involve
Boy and Girl Scouts of America
ARCO
Senior citizen communities

KASH: Adopt-a-spot seems risky—we need to find out how many adopt-a-spots there are, who the adopting organizations, and what the issues might be with the program, especially liability.

BOB: YMCA will be better

CHRIS: Board meeting Tuesday, 11:30 am. Can charter a committee for Monroe Community Gardens.
Any agreement with the city will take time.
Lease stating use of land

BOB: Issues of land use and loss

CHRIS: Lease is a buffer against loss (improvements to a property may lead to someone wanting to buy the land—it happens).

KASH: We still need to find out more about Adopt-a-Spot.

MIKE: Ms. January is the city beautification director.
Can Chris go to a meeting with Ms. January before city council meeting Tuesday (CHRIS: has to check schedule, but probably not)
We’re not on agenda for city council meeting anyway.

PLAN FOR PLANTING:
Build square foot beds
Aim for fall planting
Get the compost started
Trees, Fence, Signs

KASH: What’s the liability insurance with YMCA cost ($100-200?)

MIKE: to raise the funds
Seed program, bulbs, flowers, vegetables, organization keeps 45%, use YMCA as “bank” to pay for insurance.

CHRIS: There’s a board meeting Tuesday,
I can add Monroe Community Gardens as a committee
Then City Attorney will have to look over lease agreements

MIKE: March St. folks need to be on committee, too.
Veronica motions to send Mike and Delilah to Marx St. to gather signatures and support.
(We forgot to second)
The motion passed.
Veronica motions to include all residents of Ouachita Parish in Monroe community gardens when they request membership.
(We forgot to second)
The motion passed.
Veronica motions to become of committee of YMCA
(We forgot to second)
Motion passed.

CHRIS: invites everybody to come to the board meeting Tuesday. 1505 Stubbs Ave at 11:30.

NEW MEMBERS:

Scott Tisdale
April Williamson
Ethan Williamson
Manish Pariher

Meeting Adjourned at 10:30