<p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Hello farmers and gardeners who use hydrants to water their gardens, </span></font></p><p style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></font></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">The <a href="https://hup.betterstrongersaferchicago.org/#/home" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><b>Hydrant Use Permit (HUP)</b> </a>for community gardens and farms is open, and as in years past, NeighborSpace and Advocates for Urban Agriculture are partnering up to support the steps (there are many!) in getting access to hydrant water. </span></p><br style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" /><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.656; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">There are some new procedures that we feel will help grease the wheels, please read below. </span></p><ol style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">From now until March 24, 2025:</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> Drop off your RPZ at the Center for Green Technology </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt;">(445 N Sacramento Blvd) </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">between 8 am and 8 pm, in the metal cart or red wagon in the lobby. There should be someone at the front desk between those hours to open the doors. Sometimes, the guard has stepped away and has locked the doors but should be back soon. It’s recommended to call the front desk to let them know you are on your way. 1-312-743-7230. After you drop your RPZ off, please take a picture of your unit in the cart, note date and time, and email your garden information and photo of your unit with serial number to </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:water@auachicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><b>water@auachicago.org</b></a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> and </span><a href="mailto:rcline@neighbor-space.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>rcline@neighbor-space.org</b></span></a>.<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If you do not have an RPZ and you need one, email </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:water@auachicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">water@auachicago.org</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">We may have an extra or two for farms and gardens that are establishing first time water access, but will need to get some information from you beforehand. Email </span><a href="mailto:water@auachicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>water@auachicago.org</b></span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> if you need a new RPZ.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Starting now: </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Get your application started here:</span><a href="http://hup.betterstrongersaferchicago.org/#/home" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>http://hup.betterstrongersaferchicago.org/#/home</b></span></a>.<span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">You can start the city application process now. You will need a</span><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/u/1/d/1ptlwbV0iOqbSCVglcN8PIn91UAnZ6kxlMEhprMH6WGU/edit" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"> simple letter from your garden </span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">to upload into the application, you can make a copy of this letter, and fill in the blanks. If you don’t have your RPZ test certification yet, mention that in your letter. Also, upload a pdf that says “RPZ testing in process”- you can add the RPZ test certificate later, just make sure to keep track of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">your reference # that you will get via email</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. Your confirmation number and reference number are not the same thing, so just make sure you check </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">AutoResponse-DoNotReply@CityOfChicago.org</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> in your junk mail if you are looking for your reference number. Please see the following image:</span></p><br /><br /></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: none; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; width: 624px; height: 280px;"><img src="https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeUwAR8u9R-2QZKK8W6b8c3JB5EHPJgvcSHSh1VuTy13EHWeci9C8Simz2HpIJYnRbqkZVT7fSKXfE3RycmDpV4VFfo-nORhYkGi2nKI8b3fvU3PClCaB2Mj23IA5-4UdG8vDK69g?key=JOwdGO8saKu1AnKr9rH9qsq3" width="624" height="280" tabindex="0" style="cursor: pointer; outline: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;" /></span></span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Plumber will test RPZ’s for gardeners/ farmers the last 2 weeks of March</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> and do the paperwork that is required after the testing. Unlike in years past, this testing is not happening on one day and you do not need to be in person during this testing.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Pick up your RPZ after April 6 @ 445 N Sacramento Blvd.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. You will have a report attached to the RPZ that you can now upload to the application. Simply take a photo/ scan with your note app on your phone, make sure everything is eligible, upload to application, and this will move you to the next step of the hydrant use permit application process. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>As in years past, you will need to make sure you have insurance naming the water department and a legal agreement.</b> If you are a NeighborSpace garden, let NeighborSpace know that you need a certificate of insurance for the water department by emailing </span><a href="mailto:admin@neighbor-space.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">admin@neighbor-space.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">. If you are not a Neighborspace garden, direct your questions to </span><a href="mailto:water@auachicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">water@auachicago.org</span></a></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Once the agreement is in place, and the tested RPZ document is in the system, the water department will confirm that the application is approved and ready for invoicing and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:BPermits@cityofchicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">BPermits@cityofchicago.org</a></span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> will follow up with an invoice to the garden contact.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">To pay online, go to this website. </span><a href="https://wps.chicagoworks.org/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">https://wps.chicagoworks.org</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">This is the easiest way to do it, otherwise you have to come downtown with two paper copies of the invoice and pay at one of the four city of Chicago payment stations (not the ez pay stations.) When it asks for your payment id, please use your permit number. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Once the invoice is paid, the garden contact will send the receipt to </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:Bpermits@cityofchicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Bpermits@cityofchicago.org</a></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">, who will then follow up with the actual HUP permit in an email. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">If you need a refresher on all the steps, </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> you can make an appointment by emailing </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="mailto:water@auachicago.org" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">water@auachicago.org</a></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"> to schedule a walkthrough.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">We will follow up with emails to this group to help you jump through the hoops, thanks!</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 11pt; list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">For those who are having trouble because custodian caps have not been removed, please let us know. We try to steward these removals through, but it often takes a LONG TIME.</span></p></li></ol><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 1.38; margin-left: 36pt; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">-</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; vertical-align: baseline;">Warm regards- Robin (NeighborSpace) and Tucker (Advocates for Urban Ag)</span></p>
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