POINT ARENA CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM: VII E
MEETING DATE: 7/21/2026
TITLE
Memorandum of Understanding with Revival Community Church for Management and Operation of the Point Arena Community Garden
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt Resolution 2026-15 approving the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Point Arena and Revival Community Church (RCC) for management of Point Arena Community Garden and authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement.
ANALYSIS
The Point Arena Community Garden is located on City-owned property and has historically served as a community resource for local food production, gardening education, and neighborhood engagement. The garden requires maintenance, organization, and community coordination to realize its full potential. Due to lack of funding, the City depends on volunteerism to maintain the community garden.
RCC has approached the City with a proposal to assume responsibility for managing and operating the garden. RCC has identified Ms. Marcela Torres as the Community Garden Manager and has presented a vision for revitalizing the site, increasing community participation, expanding educational opportunities, and improving local food security.
The proposal aims to improve and revitalize the community garden by enhancing site conditions through weed management, site clean-up, and pathway improvements. It also includes rehabilitating existing garden infrastructure, such as raised beds, fencing, and storage structures, to ensure the space is safe, functional, and productive.
Educational workshops will be offered on topics including gardening, composting, sustainability, and urban agriculture to build community knowledge and skills. In addition, the project will organize volunteers and establish a community garden committee to support ongoing maintenance and leadership. Community engagement will be strengthened through social media outreach and volunteer recruitment efforts, while approximately 20% of the garden's harvest will be donated to local food assistance programs to help address food insecurity and benefit those in need.
The MOU establishes a clear division of responsibilities between the City and RCC.
Under the agreement, the City will: 1) Make the garden site available, 2) Provide water access through the existing garden spigot, 3) Participate in annual coordination meetings regarding garden operations. RCC will: 1) Maintain, repair, and operate the garden, 2) Manage community participation and plot use, 3) Maintain fencing, equipment, and all infrastructure within the fenced garden area, 4) Organize educational workshops, gardening programs, and community events, 5) Designate a staff member to manage operations and community engagement, 6) Maintain required insurance coverage and assume responsibility for activities occurring within the garden.
The MOU grants RCC a license to operate and maintain the community garden while the City retains ownership of the property. The agreement includes insurance and risk management requirements, including naming the City as an additional insured before activities begin.
The MOU becomes effective upon execution by both parties and remains in effect until amended or terminated. Either party may terminate the agreement with thirty (30) days' written notice. Any City assistance beyond the scope of the MOU would require separate Council approval and available funding.
This partnership allows the City to support community gardening and food security goals while limiting the City's operational responsibilities and financial obligations.
FISCAL IMPACT
Minimal. Estimated City costs include approximately $135 for the annual coordination meetings and ~$300 annually for water line maintenance. No significant impact to the General Fund is anticipated.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment I: RCC Proposal
Attachment II: MOU RCC and COPA
Attachment III: Resolution 2026-15 MOU with RCC & COPA For Community Garden Management
CITY MANAGER SIGNATURE
_________________________________
Molly C. Haviland, City Manager
Community Garden Management Proposal
Goals and Vision
The garden aims to improve local food security and foster neighborhood unity.
1. Sustainability: Promote organic growing practices and urban greening.
2. Education: Host quarterly workshops on composting and urban agriculture.
3. Equity: Dedicate 20% of all garden yields to local food banks.
Starting Points
1. Site Clearing & Weed Management
• Clear Perimeter Overgrowth: The large pile of pulled dry weeds and dense brush in the foreground should be cleared immediately. Ask city if they have a woodchipper they can use to turn brush into free garden mulch. • Sheet Mulching (Lasagna Gardening): For the heavily weeded patches between plots, lay down thick layers of unprinted corrugated cardboard and cover them with 3 to 4 inches of wood chips (ask city if they have any) to suffocate persistent weeds naturally without chemicals.
2. Upgrading Growing Infrastructure
• Standardized Raised Beds: The existing wooden plots appear low and weathered.
Rebuilding them using rot-resistant wood (like cedar) or durable corrugated metal kits creates a clean look and saves volunteers from excessive bending. • Vertical Trellising: Incorporate cattle panels or vertical wooden frames. Vining crops like peas, pole beans, and squash can grow upward, maximizing the footprint of smaller community plots. [1]
3. Clear Pathways & Definition
• Establish Dedicated Walkways: Line the main walking paths with heavy-duty landscape fabric topped with gravel or wood chips to create an obvious, mud-free walking route.
Community Garden Management Proposal
• Border Definition: Use simple materials like timber borders, large local stones, or woven branches to cleanly separate the wild grass areas from the cultivated garden plots.
4. Secure the Perimeter & Structures
• Repair and Level the Fencing: The wire mesh and post fence on the left is sagging.
Straightening the posts and tightening the tension on the wire will improve aesthetics and better deter local wildlife.
• Revitalize the Shed/Greenhouse: The small structure can be pressure-washed, repaired, and painted. Adding simple tool organizers, a community bulletin board, or a rain harvesting barrel underneath its roofline would increase its utility.
5. Community & Educational Enhancements
• Add a Communal Gathering Area: Clearing a small central space for a weatherresistant picnic table or a couple of benches gives volunteers a place to rest, meet, and build community.
• Unified Signage: Install clear, creative wooden signs indicating plot numbers, a shared composting station, and a welcome board outlining general garden rules. • Create Social Media Post seeking community volunteers for garden upgrades, and a separate add seeking volunteers to create a Garden Committee.
Memorandum of Understanding
Between
City of Point Arena and
Revival Community Church
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City Of Point Arena (City) and Revival Community Church (RCC). Both organizations recognize that RCC and City share the mission to empower communities for resilience, wellness, and long-term success. This MOU describes and confirms an agreement between RCC and the City, regarding the Point Arena Community Garden. The purpose of this agreement is to formalize and clarify expectations and relationships between both parties. RCC is the agency providing services to manage community participation and education as it relates to the community garden, which is located on City property. The City’s role is limited to providing the land and a water spigot for the garden.
NOW THEREFORE THE PARTIES AGREE:
The City grants to RCC, a license to maintain, repair, and operate the real property commonly known as the Point Arena Community Garden, more specifically identified as the Garden.
The City of Point Arena will be responsible for:
Providing water access to the Garden via the designated spigot for the use of RCC programs. The Garden shall be responsible for any hoses, attachments, or usage beyond the point of access. The City bears no further responsibility for garden infrastructure, grounds, or facilities.
RCC, the Service Provider, will provide:
• Responsibility for the fence, all maintenance, equipment, and activities within the fenced garden area.
• Management of the community participation in the Garden. • Provide educational workshops and events for the community on composting, gardening, and other garden related activities. • A staff member to manage and facilitate education and event workshops and oversee the management duties of the garden.
• Information about garden-related education and events with the City, as appropriate.
Both RCC and the City of Point Arena will:
• Share resources and information about community garden education and events.
• Hold an annual check-in and coordination meeting to review the Garden’s use, successes, and any needed updates.
Liability
RCC (Contractor) shall procure and maintain for the duration of the contract, insurance against claims for injuries to persons or damages to property which may arise from or in connection with the performance of the work hereunder by the Contractor, their agents, representatives, employees, or subcontractors.
MINIMUM SCOPE AND LIMIT OF INSURANCE
Coverage shall be at least as broad as:
1. Commercial General Liability (CGL): Insurance Services Office (ISO) Form CG 00 01 covering CGL on an “occurrence” basis, including products and completed operations, property damage, bodily injury and personal & advertising injury with limits no less than $1,000,000 per occurrence. If a general aggregate limit applies, either the general aggregate limit shall apply separately to this project/location (ISO CG 25 03 or 25 04) or the general aggregate limit shall be twice the required occurrence limit.
2. Automobile Liability: Insurance Services Office Form CA 0001 covering Code 1 (any auto), with limits no less than $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury and property damage.
3. Workers’ Compensation insurance as required by the State of California, with Statutory Limits, and Employers’ Liability insurance with a limit of no less than $1,000,000 per accident for bodily injury or disease.
Self-Insured Retentions
Self-insured retentions must be declared to and approved by the City. At the option of the City, either: the Contractor shall cause the insurer shall to reduce or eliminate such self-insured retentions as respects the City, its officers, officials, employees, and volunteers; or the Contractor shall provide a financial guarantee satisfactory to the City guaranteeing payment of losses and related investigations, claim administration, and defense expenses. The policy language shall provide, or be endorsed to provide, that the self-insured retention may be satisfied by either the named insured or City.
Other Insurance Provisions:
Additional Insured
The City, its officers, officials, employees, and volunteers are to be covered as additional insureds on the CGL policy with respect to liability arising out of work or operations performed by or on behalf of the Contractor including materials, parts, or equipment furnished in connection with such work or operations and automobiles owned, leased, hired, or borrowed by or on behalf of the Contractor.
General liability coverage can be provided in the form of an endorsement to the Contractor’s insurance at least as broad as one of the following ISO ongoing operations Forms: CG 20 10 or CG 20 26 or CG 20 33 (not allowed from subcontractors), or CG 20 38; and one of the following ISO completed operations Forms: CG 20 37, 2039 (not allowed from subcontractors), or CG 20 40.
Primary Insurance
For any claims related to this project, the Contractor’s insurance coverage shall be primary insurance coverage at least as broad as ISO CG 20 01 04 13 as respects the City, its officers, officials, employees, and volunteers. Any insurance or selfinsurance maintained by the City, its officers, officials, employees, or volunteers shall be excess of the Contractor’s insurance and shall not contribute with it.
Notice of Cancellation
Contractor shall provide immediate written notice if (1) any of the required insurance policies is terminated; (2) the limits of any of the required polices are reduced; (3) or the deductible or self-insured retention is increased. In the event of any cancellation or reduction in coverage or limits of any insurance, Contractor shall forthwith obtain and submit proof of substitute insurance.
Acceptability of Insurers
Insurance is to be placed with insurers authorized to conduct business in the state with a current A.M. Best rating of no less than A: VII, unless otherwise acceptable to the Entity.
Waiver of Subrogation
The Contractor hereby grants to the Entity a waiver of any right to subrogation which any insurer of the Contractor may acquire against the Entity by virtue of the payment of any loss under such insurance. Contractor agrees to obtain any endorsement that may be necessary to affect this waiver of subrogation, but this provision applies regardless of whether the Entity has received a waiver of subrogation endorsement from the insurer. However, the Workers’ Compensation policy shall be endorsed with a waiver of subrogation in favor of the Entity for all work performed by the Contractor, its employees, agents and subcontractors.
Verification of Coverage
Contractor shall furnish the City with original Certificates of Insurance including all required amendatory endorsements (or copies of the applicable policy language effecting coverage required by this clause) and a copy of the Declarations and Endorsement Page of the CGL policy listing all policy endorsements to City before work begins. However, failure to obtain the required documents prior to the work beginning shall not waive the Contractor’s obligation to provide them. The City reserves the right to require complete, certified copies of all required insurance policies, including endorsements, required by these specifications, at any time.
Subcontractors
Contractor shall require and verify that all subcontractors maintain insurance meeting all the requirements stated herein, and Contractor shall ensure that City is an additional insured on insurance required from subcontractors. For CGL coverage subcontractors shall provide coverage with a form at least as broad as CG 20 38 04 13.
Special Risks or Circumstances
Entity reserves the right to modify these requirements, including limits, based on the nature of the risk, prior experience, insurer, coverage, or other circumstances.
Utilities
• The City will maintain water access to the gardens via the existing well up to the spigot in the garden. RCC shall be responsible for all other utilities.
Support
• The City bears no responsibility or liability for the maintenance, condition, or use of the garden, aside from providing water access via the spigot. RCC shall maintain and repair the garden in good condition at all times.
Dispute Resolution & Termination
• In the event of disagreement or conflict, both parties will commit to good faith efforts to resolve disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding. • The relationship is indefinite unless either party seeks to end the agreement.
This MOU shall be effective as of the date of execution by both signatories and shall remain in effect unless otherwise amended or terminated. Either party may terminate this MOU upon thirty (30) days’ written notice to the other party. _________________________________________________________________ City of Point Arena, Molly C. Haviland, City Manager Date __________________________________________________________________
Revival Community Church, Name & Title Date
RESOLUTION NO. 2026-15
A RESOLUTION APPROVING A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH REVIVAL
COMMUNITY CHURCH FOR MANAGEMENT OF THE POINT ARENA COMMUNITY
GARDEN AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the City of Point Arena owns the property commonly known as the Point Arena Community Garden; and
WHEREAS, Revival Community Church ("RCC") has expressed its desire to manage, maintain, and facilitate community participation, educational programming, and outreach activities related to the Point Arena Community Garden; and WHEREAS, the City and RCC share a common interest in promoting community engagement, food security, sustainability, environmental stewardship, and educational opportunities through the operation of a community garden; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") establishes the roles and responsibilities of each party, including the City's provision of access to water through an existing spigot and RCC's responsibility for maintenance, operations, programming, and insurance requirements associated with the garden; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that entering into the MOU will provide a public benefit by supporting community gardening activities, educational workshops, volunteer participation, and the continued use and improvement of the Point Arena Community Garden; and WHEREAS, the fiscal impact to the City is anticipated to be minimal, consisting primarily of approximately $80 annually for coordination activities and an estimated $100 to $200 annually for waterline maintenance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Point Arena as follows:
1. The City Council hereby approves the Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Point Arena and Revival Community Church regarding management of the Point Arena Community Garden.
2. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to execute the Memorandum of Understanding in substantially the form presented to the City Council and to make such non-substantive revisions as may be necessary to carry out the intent of this Resolution.
3. The City Manager is further authorized to administer the agreement and execute any documents necessary to implement its provisions, provided that such documents do not materially alter the rights or obligations approved by the City Council.
4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED The foregoing Resolution No. 2026-15 was passed and adopted at a Regular meeting of the Point Arena City Council on the 21st day of July, 2026 by the following vote. Motion by _______, Seconded by ________.
Ayes:
Noes:
Absent:
Abstain:
Barbara Burkey
Mayor
ATTEST:
Paul Andersen
City Clerk