Title
Request to Award $70,000 Brownfields Grant to Desert Botanical Garden (Ordinance S-44205)
Description
Request authorization for the City Manager, or his designee, to enter into a development agreement with the Desert Botanical Garden to award a $70,000 grant for development of the Spaces of Opportunity Project located at 6641 S. 15th Ave. Further authorize the City Controller to disburse the funds necessary for this item. The funds will be used for public infrastructure improvements, environmental cleanup in areas of public infrastructure improvements, and development fees.
Report
Summary
The Office of Environmental Programs (OEP) Brownfields Land Recycling Program has provided technical and financial assistance to the Spaces of Opportunity Project through the Brownfields to Healthfields initiative, which is focused on increasing food and healthcare access. OEP completed environmental assessments, funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant on the approximately 20-acre site and found lead and arsenic contaminants in the soil that required mitigation to ensure safe food production on the site.
The Spaces of Opportunity project involves development of urban agriculture, including community gardens, a farmers' market, arts and cultural space, and agricultural and nutrition training. The goal of the project is to transform the low income, food desert area into a thriving food oasis. The project meets the requirements of the Brownfields Land Recycling Program, the criteria established for distribution of grants, and the goals of the Brownfields to Healthfields initiative.
The project restores an undeveloped property, increases access to healthy food, improves public health, encourages community cohesion, and creates employment opportunities. The project is being developed in phases with completion of the public infrastructure improvements in late 2018 to early 2019.
Contract Term
The development agreement will cover up to a two year period and provisions of the agreement may include an option to extend the term up to one year, which may be exercised by the City Manager or designee.
Financial Impact
Funding is available in the Office of Environmental Programs Capital Improvement Program.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
The Sustainability, Housing, Efficiency and Neighborhoods Subcommittee recommended this item for approval on Nov. 28, 2017, by a vote of 3-0.
Location
The project is located at 6641 S. 15th Ave.
Council District: 7
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Environmental Programs.