ACTION REQUESTED:
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Communication from the City Manager and the Community Development Director with a Request to Approve an AGREEMENT with GIFTS IN THE MOMENT FOUNDATION (GITM) for the BOSCH SUPERMARKET PARK PROJECT (Council District 1).
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BACKGROUND: On July 8, 2014 (Council Item # 14-294), the City Council adopted an Ordinance (No. 17,121) to provide $80,000 in funding to the Gifts in the Moment (GITM) Foundation for the creation and operation of the Bosch Supermarket Park and Mobile Food Van. Additionally, Council authorized City Administration to develop and execute an agreement with GITM for the $80,000 funding allocation. This project will help reduce the significant food desert on the south side of Peoria by providing residents access to fresh produce through the creation of a community garden at the corner of Marquette and Western and delivering produce to the area from other local area growers.
Specified in the Request for Council Action on July 8, 2014, City funds would be used for the purchase of a delivery van and support the project's marketing, education and research efforts. Since Council's action in July, City staff have worked with GITM to design the bid specifications for the delivery van as well as creating a spending plan for the remaining funds. It has been determined that additional needs exist beyond the project's marketing, education and research efforts. Through the development of the agreement, GITM has requested that the City expand the eligible expenses for the remaining funds to include park construction and maintenance, education and marketing materials, and the donation of weekly produce boxes for residents of the south side. The inclusion of additional eligible expenses will not increase the total funds allocated.
The Supermarket Park at the corner of Marquette and Western is nearly 90% completed with nearly 600 pounds of fresh produce grown and distributed to the residents in the 61605 zip code. In a...
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