All members participating in the Parking Community Garden are required to read the following bylaws and sign an acknowledgement receipt stating the intent to comply with all the rules and regulations of the garden specified within the bylaws.
Article I: Establishment
The Parking Community Garden administered by the City of Tampa Parking Division has been established for the following reasons:
- Encourage the increase of time spent outdoors by city staff and residents,
- Foster healthy eating habits among city staff and residents,
- Foster community inclusion through engagement in a common hobby,
- Activate underutilized space on City property for a community benefit,
- Provide educational opportunities for community members focusing on water reclamation, recycling, and composting.
Article II: Mission
The mission of the Parking Community Garden is to provide equitable access to gardening space that encourages healthy nutritional and environmental habits while bolstering civic culture and community. The Parking Division seeks to provide an amicable environment and welcomes all residents who seek membership— no matter the individual’s age, race, gender, ability, sexual orientation, class, religion, and ethnicity. The Parking Community Garden is just one step in our commitment to sustainability.
Article III: Garden Hours & Access
The Parking Community Garden will be open from sunrise to sunset. There shall be no access to the garden after these hours except for designated Parking Division and Community Garden Staff. To gain access to the Parking Community Garden as well as the tool shed Primary Gardeners must utilize a Bluetooth enabled smartphone and download the required app. Primary Gardeners will be provided access to both locks upon award of a garden bed(s) within the garden.
Article IV: Garden Administration
The Parking Community Garden is fully governed by the Parking Division within the City of Tampa Mobility Department. The maintenance of garden equipment as well as garden operations are under the complete jurisdiction of the Parking Division. All garden related operation, maintenance, and leadership decisions will be made by Parking Division staff assigned to oversee the Parking Community Garden. Input on such decisions may be sought from current and prospective Parking Community Garden members, but the final decision shall remain at the discretion of the Parking Division.
Article V: Membership
Section 1. Eligibility Requirements
Any individual that wishes to participate in the Parking Community Garden as a primary gardener must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Be a resident (or current employee) of the City of Tampa
- Be in good standing with the Parking Community Garden Site Rules (Attachment A) and bylaws
- Sign a copy of the Parking Community Garden Bylaws and site rules stating the individual will abide by these rules
A Parking Community Garden Member can be defined as any individual that has been awarded a garden bed within the Parking Community Garden. A maximum of two garden beds may be awarded per household, but there shall only be one primary gardener per household.
Section 2. Primary and Secondary Gardeners
Primary gardeners at the Parking Community Garden must be approved Parking Community Garden members as defined by the Parking Community Garden Bylaws, which require 1) signing a membership contract and participation waiver for each growing season, 2) being assigned to a garden bed, 3) being 18 years of age or older, 4) residing within the City of Tampa or being a current City of Tampa employee, 5) being in good standing with the Parking Community Garden Site Rules and Bylaws. Secondary gardeners are guests of the primary gardener.
2.1 Primary Gardeners
The primary gardener is the individual designated in the membership contract as the garden bed owner, and is the main point of contact for all correspondence related to the assigned garden bed. All members on the contract are collectively and severally bound by the contract. The primary gardener shall maintain a current email, phone number, and address on file with PCG administration. Primary gardeners are expected to tend to their garden bed at a minimum of once (1) per week, and may ONLY work in the garden bed assigned to them.
2.2 Secondary Gardeners
The secondary gardeners are guests of the primary gardener that have been identified and approved in the contract. They may be individuals that fall outside the requirements for primary gardener (i.e. they do not need to be 18 years or older, sign a membership contract, etc.). Secondary gardeners are the sole responsibility of the primary gardener who they attended the garden with. The primary gardener will be liable for any actions done by their secondary gardener(s). Secondary gardeners may ONLY work in garden beds assigned to their primary gardener. ALL secondary gardeners that the primary gardener plans to bring, must be approved by Parking Community Garden staff ahead of time and must sign a participation waiver prior to entering the garden area.
Section 3. Membership and Compliance
All garden beds will be monitored by Parking Community Garden staff for compliance with the Site Rules (Attachment A). In the case of non-compliance, an email, phone call, or personal contact shall be made to the Primary Gardener acknowledging the evidence of non-compliance and seeking a plan for compliance. The primary gardener shall have seven (7) days from the date of the notice of non-compliance to bring their garden bed into compliance with Parking Community Garden Bylaws and Site Rules. In the event that the primary gardener cannot bring their garden bed into compliance within their allotted seven (7) day grace period:
- Membership with the Parking Community Garden will be terminated.
- All plants shall be removed or tilled into the soil at the discretion of the Parking Community Garden staff.
- Any personal items left in the garden bed following termination shall become property of the Parking Community Garden
- The primary gardener will be ineligible to apply for Parking Community Garden membership for two (2) calendar years from the date of termination from the program.
- The garden bed may be reassigned at the discretion of the Parking Community Garden staff.
Repeated documented instances of non-compliance (defined as three instances in one season or at least one instance in three consecutive seasons) shall be grounds for the termination of Parking Community Garden membership.
Section 4. Assignment of Garden Beds
Garden beds are to be awarded and assigned through a lottery selection system, where eligible members are picked through a drawing. Drawings will be separated by category— General City of Tampa resident, ADA accessible, and City of Tampa staff. Garden bed number and location preferences will not be considered during the assignment process.
Article VI: Garden Policies and Expectations
Section 1. Member Expectations
As an inclusive neighborhood space, the Parking Community Garden is committed to providing a safe and welcoming space for all members wanting to partake in the garden. Garden participants are expected to confront any language or behavior that conflicts with this policy in a constructive and respectful manner.
Section 2. Garden Policies
a. The consumption of alcohol and tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is strictly prohibited on the Parking Community Garden premises.
b. All garden beds within the garden are individually managed by the assigned gardener. Only the primary and secondary gardener(s) can work on their assigned garden bed.
c. The Parking Community Garden adheres to organic growing practices; all chemical pesticides and fertilizers are PROHIBITED from being used within the garden. This extends to any materials that can leach toxic substances into the garden, such as chemically treated wood.
d. Pets, with the exception of certified service animals, are prohibited from entering the garden.
e. All Parking Community Garden gardeners shall be bound to by garden expectations and rules as outlined in the Parking Community Garden Site Rules (Attachment A)
Article VII: Grievances
Members are expected to be respectful of each other and are encouraged to resolve disagreements through dialogue with each other. In the case that a garden member wants to raise a formal grievance, they may submit one to Parking Community Garden staff in writing at the Parking Executive Office on the 3rd floor of Ft. Brooke Garage (107 N Franklin St) directly above the YMCA and Streetcar Station. Parking Community Garden staff will review the grievance and issue a recommendation within 30 days.
Article VIII: Indemnification & Hold Harmless
By signing below and submitting an application for membership with the Parking Community Garden, the individual hereby acknowledges and agrees that participation in the Parking Community Garden, the individual assumes all risk of injury or harm relating to the Parking Community Garden, which may be caused by the action, inaction or negligence of the individual, or the action, inaction, negligence of others, including the City of Tampa.
The individual agrees to assume all risk of injury or harm relating to the Parking Community Garden and agrees to release, indemnify, defend, and forever discharge the City of Tampa, its officers, agents, or successors and assigns, from all liability, claims, demands, damages, losses, costs, expenses, and the causes of action due to death, injury, loss, or damage to the individual.
The individual hereby releases the City of Tampa and its employees, agents, contractors, successors and assigns, of and from any and all claims for injury, loss, damages, actions and causes of action, claims and demands whatsoever, whether known or unknown, and whether or not founded in law, and of and from any and all manner of suits, liabilities, losses, covenants, agreement, promises, damages, claims and demands, including but not limited to, those arising out of or in any way connected to the Parking Community Garden, and all acts or omissions related thereto, whether or not caused in whole or part by the negligence or other misconduct by the City of Tampa.