[Education] [Resources] CCGA Signatory on AUA

[M Toy]

Hi Lorraine,

I also have some concerns about this and the solutions proposed.
Specifically, I have a concern with treating a for-profit, non-profit, and
a community garden serving families, all the same.  Most community
gardeners grow for food and not to sell.   We need to understand the
mission of the nonprofits and how it's run.   Unfortunately, there are bad
nonprofits out there.  As advocates for community gardeners, I'm not
comfortable advocating for "for-profits" and other "nonprofits" simply
because they are growing food.

An entity that is using a 2 inch RPZ would be typically be a large
enterprise.  It's not equitable for these 3 types of organizations to be
treated equally and have the same rate applied to them.

I haven't read the required agreement yet but in general, I personally like
written agreements because then everyone understands their role and
responsibilities.  If there terms of the agreement that need to be changed,
that is fine but agreements drafted correctly will protect all parties and
the larger community.

I'm also concerned about waiving any requirements that safeguards the water
supply.  I'm fine with advocating for reductions in fees and resources for
community gardeners if food is grown for personal use.

Thanks.
May.

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On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 3:04 PM Ellen Claire Newcomer via Resources <
resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:

> Lorraine,
> I have some concerns about this issue, and do not agree with CCGA
> participating in this.
> Ellen
>
> On Jul 14, 2020, at 2:53 PM, Lorraine Kells via Resources <
> resources at chicagocommunitygardens.org> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> This is just to inform you all that without your objections CCGA will sign
> on to a letter drafted by AUA below.  The communications team hopes there
> will only be affirmation to our signing on and that you will each
> personally sign on when we send you the link in our upcoming newsletter.
>
> Here is the letter:
>
> In recent years, the City of Chicago has recognized the positive
> contributions of urban agriculture, including job creation, healthy food
> access, green space beautification, and environmental benefits. As a result
> of the COVID-19 pandemic, food supply chains have been heavily disrupted,
> highlighting the growing importance of urban farms and gardens as essential
> operations that combat health inequity, strengthen our local food system,
> and foster more resilient communities. To keep urban agriculture and the
> local food system thriving in Chicago, access to affordable water is
> critical.
>
> Despite these realities, Chicago’s growers continue to face a series of
> financial and legal barriers preventing them from accessing the water
> needed to grow food for their communities. Most growing operations do not
> have the land security or capital to install a permanent water line, which
> can cost as much as $40,000. Due to the cost prohibitive nature of this
> option, the majority of farms and gardens access water through a City of
> Chicago hydrant. In February, the Department of Water Management (DWM)
> released an updated hydrant permit policy
> <https://auachicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Copy-of-DWM-Memo-2_1_20.pdf>,
> which made it harder than ever for growers to access water and produce
> fresh, healthy food for their communities.
>
> The impact of this policy has been stark in Black and Brown communities,
> who are already experiencing higher rates of hunger and consequential
> health disparities. This type of health inequity caused by food insecurity
> exacerbates underlying chronic conditions and leads to higher rates of
> COVID-19.  Black and Brown people are now forced to bear the weight of this
> expensive and cumbersome water policy.
>
> In response to these issues, AUA has worked in coalition with farmers,
> gardeners, and food system partners to advocate for a set of immediate and
> long term solutions aimed at reducing the cost of and increasing access to
> water for Chicago’s growers. After months of communication with the Mayor’s
> Office, Department of Water Management, Department of Planning and
> Development, and the Department of Legal Services, the City of Chicago has
> implemented a new temporary hydrant permit policy
> <https://auachicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/HYDRANT-POLICY-final-to-NeighborSpace-and-AUA-Chicago-group-060520-2.pdf> for
> the remainder of the 2020 growing season.  Check out AUA's Grower's Guide
> <https://auachicago.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AUA-Updated-Chicago-Growers-Guide-.pdf> for
> more information on navigating the new policy.
>
> The updated water policy:
>
>    - Establishes a new rate of $117.81/year that is applicable to both
>    farms and gardens. That rate is applicable to operations under 3,000 square
>    feet. It is an added $50.68 for each additional 3,000 square feet
>    - Prohibits the use of vacuum breakers and requires the use of a
>    Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) unit as a water backflow prevention device.
>    This device must be re-certified annually.
>    - Removes the requirement that a farm or garden must be a nonprofit
>    organization.
>    - Aligns the City’s zoning and water policies — community gardens can
>    be as large as 25,000 square feet and can make ‘incidental sales.’
>
> The updated water policy does not:
>
>    - Recognize that the new application process puts additional financial
>    and administrative burdens on farms/gardens — Temporary Hydrant Use
>    Agreement, legal fees, insurance requirements, and a complex application
>    system.
>    - Provide any support for the costs associated with RPZ acquisition,
>    installation, and certification, or the acquisition of hydrant fittings and
>    keys. The average cost of this is around $1800.
>    - Acknowledge that several large gardens and farms normally use a 2"
>    RPZ valve to ensure adequate water pressure. The new policy only allows for
>    the use of a ¾” RPZ valve.
>
> Moving forward, we propose the following solutions to ensure a more
> equitable water policy in 2020 and beyond:
>
>    - Immediately approve existing permit applications that meet City
>    requirements.
>    - Create a clear and streamlined application process for accessing a
>    hydrant permit.
>    - Determine the annual water rate based on square footage under
>    cultivation, not total square footage of the farm/garden.
>    - No longer require the use of the Temporary Hydrant Agreement- a
>    newly required legal contract between the landowner, farm/garden and City
>    of Chicago.
>    - Enable the Department of Water Management to provide growers with
>    hydrant equipment — RPZ units, hydrant fittings, and keys
>    - Allow for the use of larger RPZ units to ensure adequate water
>    pressure for larger farms/gardens.
>    - Apply rules equitably to all organizations regardless of land
>    ownership.
>
> We, the undersigned urban farmers, community gardeners, workforce
> development programs, local food and health equity advocates, community
> organizations, emergency food responders and Chicago residents strongly
> support these solutions as a means to provide Chicago food producers with
> access to affordable water. This will ensure, both now and in the future,
> that these essential operations can continue to grow healthy, nutritious
> food for their communities and collectively contribute to the sustainable
> development of Chicago.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Advocates for Urban Agriculture
>
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>
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>
>
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>
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