R2023-120 Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Negotiate Terms and Execute an Agreement Between the City of Decatur and Good Samaritan Inn for an Urban Ag Project

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seasonal progress benchmarks.A minimum threshold should be set to continue projects and determine whether to pull the property back. When selecting partnerships, consider well organized and sustainable organizations so that the space, once altered, doesn't once again become a dead space that just looks different. Revitalizing the space needs an organization's attention, promotion, and continued active use. St. Louis's method of receiving proposals may assist in vetting whether a land use idea is sustainable over time. (See footnote 3.) D. Early wins: As Good Samaritan is preparing the soil for the agriculture project, encourage immediate pursuit of the other goals they have in mind (such as the apprentice project) to begin right away. This could be accomplished by apprenticing individuals to help put up fencing, and otherwise help prepare the sight.As benchmarks are attained encourage positive media contacts to publicize these successes. E. Causal Connections: Encourage qualitative case reporting to show the positive impact and outcomes the policy and programs have on the lives of individuals and their families. Encourage quantitative reporting to show the production impact the produce has in the community and their plans for future production on a semi-annual basis. Conclusion As the city departments and Good Samaritan work together, close attention to decision points, progress benchmarks, and minimum thresholds will be guiding metric factors in developing formal policies to encourage similar land repurposing programs in the future. Noting how the city's departments interact as they work together to accomplish the project can help determine whether a central coordinator is needed. Early wins will endear the project to elected officials, and the public. Dedicating staffing, network resources to land repurposing projects and showing multi-department city support either through a coordinator or through the disparate departments will encourage additional projects that help the citizens and the city of Decatur implement the use of its lands in new and productive ways. i For further comparison,see the provisions supporting this information at§ 17-3-0207 of the Chicago Zoning Ordinance,Title 17 of the Municipal Code of Chicago,specifically in the category of PARKS:Community Garden at§17-9-0103.5, § 17-10-0208;and under the category of COMMERCIAL Urban Farm: 1. Indoor Operation §17-9- 0103.3,§ 17-10-0208;2.Outdoor Operation§17-9-0103.3,§ 17-10-0208;and 3. Rooftop Operation§17-9-0103.3 § 17-10-0208. The Chicago model differentiates Community Gardens from Urban Farms as follows: A community garden is: 1. owned or managed by public entities,civic organizations or community-based organizations 2. maintained by volunteers 3. Plants grown on site are intended for personal use,for charity,or for community beautification purposes. 4. allowed to sell surplus produce that was grown on site if the sales are accessory or subordinate to the garden's primary purpose 5. limited in size to 25,000-square-foot size or equivalent to eight standard city lots(25 x 125 feet)or 1/3 of a typical city block(intended to prevent a single community garden from dominating a given block or detracting from the block's existing residential or commercial character.) 6. allowed accessory buildings(like equipment sheds,and greenhouses),but limited to 575 sq. ft. (Hoophouses and similar shelters will not be considered accessory buildings as long as they are temporary and do not require a building permit.) 7. required to comply with city regulations concerning composting,building permits,purchasing or leasing City owned property,business licenses and/or environmental contamination.