[Communications] [Education] CCGA - Zoom Meeting this Wednesday at 6pm - 2 Motions to Discuss and Vote On - Water Access for Community Gardens & Project with State of Illinois

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Yes. I will be there.

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> On Aug 3, 2020, at 4:06 PM, Amy Olson via Education <education at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> 
> I hope this email finds all of you well.
> 
> Lorraine has been in touch with many of you individually about a couple of items our CCGA working group needs to discuss and vote on. We’ve set up a Zoom call for this Wednesday, August 5, at 6pm to cover two topics, each with a motion to make our support official. 
> 
> Please read below for some background info on each issue/motion. The proposed agenda will be to state the proposed motion, second the motion, have a brief discussion about it, and hold a final vote to make it official. 
> 
> Please reply with any feedback or ideas prior to Wednesday’s meeting.
> 
> Here is the meeting info:
> Topic: CCGA Meeting Wed. Aug 5 at 6pm
> Time: Aug 5, 2020 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
> 
> To join via video:
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6387472394
> 
> Meeting ID: 638 747 2394
> Passcode: 728853
> 
> To join via phone audio only - Dial by your location
>         +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
>         +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
>         +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
>         +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
>         +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
> Meeting ID: 638 747 2394
> Passcode: 728853
> 
> 
> Motion 1: CCGA supports equitable water access for all community gardens
> 
> In order to respond to the needs and requirements of community gardens which are non-commercial and neighborhood residents’ growing organizations, as pertains to the city water hydrant policy on the hydrant cap assembly, back flow preventer, and installation and inspection of hydrant keys, CCGA supports a survey of gardens affected by this new policy and advocates for policy changes and resources for those gardens to be conducted in a cooperative manner.
> 
> Here's the link to the draft water access survey: https://forms.gle/uroWr5SGR3Hjjwm4A
> 
> Background info:
> Water is a vital resource, and we understand that some community gardens are struggling to access water given the changes in the City of Chicago - Dept of Water's new policy and procedure to obtain a fire hydrant permit. Fees are not the only problem, inspections are costly for community gardens with little resolution when problems arise, and some gardens continue to lack water access, even after thousands of dollars have been spent. We can work on more equitable water access and a reasonable fee scale for neighborhoods growing their own food in our community gardens.  Additionally, liability insurance is  now required by the city's legal department with little understanding of how this impacts our community gardens.
> 
> 
> Motion 2: CCGA support of and participation in pilot project with the State of Illinois Department of Human Services
> 
> Community gardeners act as neighborhood stewards of green space in our city. These shared spaces provide social networks or norms that establish coordinated efforts of all members of a community to support and engage in food gardening and environmental awareness; therefore, CCGA is willing to work with the state of Ill. Department of Human Services on this pilot project.    
> 
> Background info:
> CCGA Communications received a request from the State of Illinois to provide technical assistance to selected faith based organizations which will receive COVID funds to create a new garden or expand an existing one. Community gardens may benefit from technical assistance from CCGA. We can provide technical assistance in a range of areas including composting, plant distributions, gardening resources, and accessing additional resources for soil, tools, materials for raised beds or tool sheds. 
> 
> Materials provided would be 
> Basic Steps to Starting a Community Garden
> How to Collect a Soil Sample (with support from Andrew)
> COVID 19 & Community Gardening Gardening Guide
> 
> Please see the attached Word doc titled State of Illinois Pilot Program for Community Garden Scope of Work 07-20 which was sent to Communications by the State of Illinois. 
> 
> <State of Illinois Pilot Program for Community Garden Scope of Work 07-20.docx>
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
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