HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-765-09/16/2013Prepared by Carol Nemmers, Deputy City Clerk, City of Waterloo,
715 Mulberry Street, Waterloo, IA 50703, (319) 291-4323.
RESOLUTION NO. 2013-765
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A COMMUNITY GARDENS
POLICY IN THE CITY OF WATERLOO, BLACK HAWK
COUNTY, IOWA AND SUPPORTING THE CREATION AND
PROTECTION AND ENCOURAGING THE EXPANSION AND
LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF COMMUNITY
GARDENS.
WHEREAS, the City of Waterloo supports the creation and
protection and encourages the expansion and long-term sustain-
ability of community gardens; and
WHEREAS, community gardens are any piece of private or
public land located in appropriately zoned areas where plants
are grown and maintained by a group of individuals in the
community. Community gardens often produce food for individual
consumption, but may produce food for sale, be designed for
beautification of the community, or be used for educational
purposes; and
WHEREAS, community gardens make a significant contribution
to the civic and cultural life of communities and create
gathering places that bring people together across boundaries of
age and ethnicity; and
WHEREAS, community gardens provide access to healthy,
culturally specific food for people of all economic backgrounds,
allowing residents to improve nutrition and lower food costs;
and
WHEREAS, community gardens serve as a tool to fight obesity
by positively contributing to the physical activity of
participants, increasing access to nutritional foods, and
serving as an important environmental and health educational
tool; and
WHEREAS, community gardeners and their children eat
healthier, more nutrient -rich diets than do non -gardening
families; and
WHEREAS, community gardens provide positive attributes as
urban green spaces: they beautify areas, build a sense of
community among neighbors, abate criminal activity, and prevent
trash accumulation, dumping, and littering; and
WHEREAS, community gardens contribute to the preservation,
access to, and use of open space, vacant lots, and public parks;
and
WHEREAS, community gardens empower residents to become more
active in their communities, cultivating cross-cultural and
intergenerational volunteers and leaders who come together to
preserve open space and create gardens for the benefit of
present and future generations.
Resolution No. 2013-765
Page 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WATERLOO, IOWA, that the City of Waterloo adopts this
Community Gardens Policy and recognizes community gardens as a
valuable resource and supports collaboration with the community
and other stakeholders to encourage and preserve community
gardens on public and private land.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 16th day of September, 2013.
/'-'f 7 Y,./
Ernest G. Clark, Mayor
ATTEST:
6S=2y S hares, CMC
City lerk