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Home My WebLink About04-22-2024 - Special Study Session Agenda Packet SPECIAL STUDY SESSION AGENDA CITY COUNCIL CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO 7500 W. 29th Ave. Wheat Ridge CO April 22, 2024 6:30 pm This meeting will be conducted as a virtual meeting, and in person, at 7500 West 29th Avenue, Municipal Building. City Council members and City staff members will be physically present at the Municipal building for this meeting. The public may participate in these ways: 1. Attend the meeting in person at City Hall. Use the appropriate roster to sign up to speak upon arrival. 2. Provide comment in advance at www.wheatridgespeaks.org (comment by noon on April 22, 2024) 3. Virtually attend and participate in the meeting through a device or phone: • Click here to pre-register and provide public comment by Zoom (You must preregister before 6:00 p.m. on April 22, 2024) 4. View the meeting live or later at www.wheatridgespeaks.org, Channel 8, or YouTube Live at https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/view Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to participate in all public meetings sponsored by the City of Wheat Ridge. Contact the Public Information Officer at 303-235-2877 or wrpio@ci.wheatridge.co.us with as much notice as possible if you are interested in participating in a meeting and need inclusion assistance. Public Comment on Agenda Items 1. Happiness Gardens Update 2. Staff Report(s) 3. Elected Officials’ Report(s) Item No. 1 Memorandum TO: Mayor and City Council THROUGH: Patrick Goff, City Manager FROM: Karen A. O’Donnell, Parks and Recreation Director DATE: April 22, 2024 SUBJECT: Happiness Gardens Update ISSUE: Councilmember Hultin requested a special study session on Happiness Gardens. Members of the Parks and Recreation Department will discuss how the garden has fostered community building across generations, honoring the rich history of agriculture in Wheat Ridge. Staff will provide information on how Happiness Gardens has transformed in recent years through grants and partnerships. Additionally, staff will share future plans for Happiness Gardens, as well as the recently acquired Randall Park property. BACKGROUND: Happiness Gardens has existed in some capacity for approximately 51 years. Under the City’s ownership, the primary purpose was rental garden plots for residents and market gardeners until recent years. Through innovation, hard work, successful grant applications, and partnerships, Happiness Gardens has flourished to be much more than rentable garden plots. A 2021 grant application to the National Association of Conservation Districts funding program in partnership with the Jefferson Conservation District led to successful Regenerate Wheat Ridge programming that continues to thrive today. The presentation will provide information about a wide variety of other initiatives that are underway at Happiness Gardens. RECOMMENDATIONS: No action is required at this time. Krystyn “Yy” Dennis, Garden Coordinator; Brandon Altenburg, Grant and Special Project Administrator; and Karen O’Donnell, Parks & Recreation Director will be available for this presentation and questions. NEXT STEPS: Many of the initiatives discussed during the presentation will unfold in the coming months and years. If the USDA grant application for the Randall Park community garden is successful, the Parks & Recreation team will return to Council for grant approval, as well as future construction contract approval. In the meantime, staff will be sure to keep city council apprised of exciting events and partnerships. Wheat Ridge City Council April 22, 2024 Wheat Ridge named for golden ridges of wheat noted by travelers passing along the Overland Trail After the Gold Rush, miners returned and began farming the rich, fertile soil Wheat fields were converted to fruit orchards and vegetable fields Attracted buyers from all over Denver Delivered produce to areas where growing was limited Eventually led to greenhouses and the largest production of carnations in the world “Carnation City” Happiness Gardens site – approximately 51 years old 2 Primarily rentable garden plots & market gardeners until recent years Small horticulture team with no dedicated staff Variable (part-time) garden coordinator position became full time in 2022 Plots: Full (10’ x 12’), Half (10’ x 10’), Flower Bed (6’ x 25’) Available April 1 – November 1 Sold out for 2024! 3 2021 grant application to the National Association of Conservation Districts funding program in partnership with the Jefferson Conservation District Awarded $50k for 15 months in collaboration with the JCD from 2021- 2022 to: Establish the Regenerate Wheat Ridge educational workshop series at no cost to participants Develop 2 landowner-producer partnerships to increase local food production capacity Create a Technical Assistance Guide to provide helpful information to other communities looking to establish similar landowner-producer partnerships Host a public Harvest Festival event Program presented at 2022 Colorado Parks and Recreation Association Conference Received the Columbine Award for Programming from CPRA in 2022 (statewide award)4 5 free workshops in first year 7 free workshops in second year Up to 9 workshops currently; fees align with department’s service sustainability model Workshops topics include soil, composting, bugs, companion planting, harvest gifts, tree care, goats, pollinators, and more! Typical attendance ranges from 15- 25, with some sessions selling out! 5 2022 grant application to the Community First Foundation and Jeffco Public Health’s Food Security funding program Awarded $50k for Happiness Gardens improvements including: Irrigation system expansion to southern and southeastern areas and related upgrades Site preparation for garden expansion in above areas Crusher fines access walkways in expansion areas New educational garden Orchard trees Landscaping plants, compost, edging, and soil amendments Part of the funding is to route food from gardens to people who need it Fresh Food Connect app Kaizen Food Rescue (free farmer’s market) 6 Colorado Native Plants Grant - awarded $1,975 Volunteers helped design and plant 1,500+ native plants in 2023 Demonstration exhibit educates about plants that thrive in our climate/region (Southeastern, Foothills, Plains and Prairies of Colorado) 7 Partnership with Denver Urban Gardens for tree planting in expansion area Planted 127 trees plus companion plants in 2023 Aside from staff time coordinating the event, the tree planting happened at no cost to the city DUG also provides TreeKeepers to care for the trees Happiness is one of 16 food forests in Denver metro area through this program 8 Therapeutic Garden Initiative Partnership for a therapy/sensory garden Ch’il Indigenous Foods partnership just getting started Mother Patch Dedication School programming Many educational programs with Wilmore Davis students  WRHS Landscaping & Agriculture class – every Thursday for two years Volunteer programs Volunteer participation required of gardeners Friends of Happiness Gardens 9 Goat grazing for one month Bee hives on site Leaf Drop – provides a community service & composting material Fruit trees planted on the north side in 2022 & 2023 Cherry, pear, apple, peach, and service berry (for the birds & pollinators) Annual plant giveaway (2,000+ plants) 10 4100 Gray St. owner approached the City to sell the property to expand Randall Park to encompass the full 2 city blocks City worked with Jefferson County Open Space to secure $150,000 in county funds of the $535,000 purchase price City purchased the property and subsequently demolished the house after asbestos abatement and other pre-demo tasks Offered a public survey on future use of the space related to community gardening 46 responses 91% supported a garden at Randall Park 40% wanted educational gardens, 30% rental plots similar to Happiness, 20% larger garden space Town of Mountain View has supported the project through letters of support for grant funding 11 $200K in ARPA dollars originally budgeted Demo, survey, utility disconnect, asbestos abatement, etc. cost approximately $25K, leaving $175K remaining for the project Applied for $339K in USDA Urban Ag funding in April 2024 to build greenhouse, classroom space, and outdoor garden plots 12 RANDALL PARK – FUTURE PROJECT Greenhouse: provides renters indoor growing space to start plants and then take home or plant at their community rental plot, gives WR horticulture team indoor space to grow/research/experiment/save seeds/etc. Classroom: dedicated educational space for WR programming about urban ag, regenerative ag, sustainability, etc., plus rental space. Find out in June 2024 with contracting in September 2024 What if we don’t receive grant funding? 13 Brings the community together Honors history/tradition Provides educational opportunities for individuals of all ages Contributes positivity to those experiencing food insecurity And so much more! 14 We’re not just growing plants, we’re growing community!