You can scrap the strawberries, cancel the carrots and toss out the tomatoes. City Hall is no place for an edible garden. At least that was the feeling of a majority of Kelowna City Councillors. "I don't know what kind of appetite council has for this but I just want to say that I commend staff for coming up with such a diplomatic report," says Councillor Graeme James. "The people I talked to aren't so diplomatic and I can't repeat it because we're in a public forum. I find this expenditure just extravagant. I can't begin to express my disdain for this so I'm not going to support it." The edible garden idea was put forward by Councillor Michele Rule in June as a way to use a strip of land between City Hall and the north parking lot. Rule, who missed Monday's meeting while recuperating from surgery, proposed the edible landscaping after seeing similar gardens in Portland, Oregon. The recommendation Park Services Manager, Ian Wilson, brought to council would have transformed the strip of land into an edible garden, managed by volunteer city staff on a trial basis. The $4,225 project would have included installation of nine raised wooden beds with soil and bark mulch. City staffers would supply their own plants and volunteer labour to tend the garden outside work hours. A portion of the produce would be donated to the food bank. Councillor Robert Hobson called the idea whimsical and not a very substantial proposal. He says if the city wants to explore the idea it should in other areas of the city within existing parks budgets. Hobson went on to say the whole debate was a waste of council's time. "I don't want to see council spending its Monday afternoon's deciding what to do with little strips of landscaping on the north side of City Hall. We have bigger fish to fry," says Hobson. "That's what frustrates me. We've micromanaged this issue and it's a waste of our time. We should be dealing with things on a larger scale." Previously, the area in question was planted with a hedge, however, it was removed when it was considered a safety hazard. Hobson says the city should do what it normally does when it tears out landscaping and that's replace it within an existing budget.
While many councillors spoke against the project, Councillor Angela Reid was sad to see it tossed aside. She also took a shot at people who believe this is nothing more than a chance to provide a playground for city staff. "I'm concerned that there is a thought out there that this would be something that's frivolous for city staff to have their own little garden plots which is ridiculous. It's a way of providing landscaping in a unique and creative way," says Reid. "When you plant a tree it has no greater benefit to the community or to staff. Maybe you could argue it's going to provide shade for city council's cars that park there or something ridiculous like that." The proposal fell 5-2 with Councillors Reid and Kevin Craig in favour. Councillors Rule and Andre Blanleil were absent.
While many councillors spoke against the project, Councillor Angela Reid was sad to see it tossed aside. She also took a shot at people who believe this is nothing more than a chance to provide a playground for city staff. "I'm concerned that there is a thought out there that this would be something that's frivolous for city staff to have their own little garden plots which is ridiculous. It's a way of providing landscaping in a unique and creative way," says Reid. "When you plant a tree it has no greater benefit to the community or to staff. Maybe you could argue it's going to provide shade for city council's cars that park there or something ridiculous like that." The proposal fell 5-2 with Councillors Reid and Kevin Craig in favour. Councillors Rule and Andre Blanleil were absent.
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