LAS FLORES CG EXPERIENCE RE INSURANCE AND LOCAL GOVT

**C*@aol.com**

JENIFER,
FIRST OF ALL, THE LAS FLORES COMMUNITY GARDEN IN THOUSAND OAKS, CALIFORNIA  
HAS INVOLVED A LONG, DRAWN OUT SEARCH FOR A PIECE OF FREE LAND THAT INCLUDED 
PRIVATELY HELD , CHURCH OWNED AND, FINALLY, LAND CONTROLLED BY OUR AUTONOMOUS 
PARK DISTRICT WHICH RECEIVES A PORTION OF LOCAL PROPERTY TAX.

AFTER A NINE MONTH LONG MASTER PLAN REVIEW, IN WHICH
WE BECAME ENTANGLED, WE RECEIVED APPROVAL FOR THE USE OF ONE ACRE (OF WHICH 
WE AS YET ONLY HAVE HALF OF THAT) AND SIGNED A FIVE YEAR AGREEMENT IN 1999.
iT PROVIDES THAT THE PARK DISTRICT BUILD A SIX FOOT HIGH CHAIN LINK FENCE 
WITH GATES, LAY A PRIMARY WATER LINE, PAY FOR WATER AND REQUIRE OUR GROUP TO 
CARRY INSURANCE INDEMNIFYING THE PARK DISTRCT IN THE AMOUNT OF ONE MILLION 
DOLLARS (IN FACT, THE MINIMUM COVERAGE WE COULD OBTAIN WAS FOR TWO MILLION 
DOLLARS THROUGH THE CHUBB GROUP. IN 2002 IT COST US 950 DOLLARS AND THIS YEAR 
THE PREMIUM ROSE TO 1,025!

BECAUSE THE PARK DISTRICT DELAYED INSTALLING THE FENCE AND GATES UNTIL JULY 
OF LAST YEAR, WE PAID FOUR MONTHS FOR NOTHING!

ALTHOUGH MUCH OF THIS SOUNDS NEGATIVE, WE ARE GROWING BOTH IN MEMBERS AND 
PRODUCE- FLOWERS, VEGETABLES, HERBS AND ESPECIALLY DONATIONS TO OUR LOCAL 
FOOD BANK.

I HOPE THIS HELPS TO GIVE YOU A PERSPECTIVE ON ONE COMMUNITY GARDENS HISTORY. 

______________________________________________________
The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org

To post an e-mail to the list:  community_garden@mallorn.com

To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription:  https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden