Int. No. 109

By Council Members Avilés, Krishnan, Restler, Won, Brewer, Hanif, Hudson, Nurse, Ayala, Gennaro, Cabán, Sanchez, Ossé, Williams, Menin and Salaam

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring the department of parks and recreation to collect and report data regarding community gardens and permitting the sale of agriculture within community gardens

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 18 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to add new sections 18-158 and 18-159 to read as follows:

§ 18-158 Community garden data collection and reporting. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the term “community garden” means a garden authorized by the department of parks and recreation that is located on city-owned property and is appropriate for the cultivation of herbs, fruit, flowers, nuts, honey, poultry for egg production, maple syrup or vegetables.

b. Data collection and reporting. Not later than January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the department shall submit to the speaker of the council and publish on its website a report containing the following information about each community garden authorized by the department:

1. Number of garden members;

2. Number of trees in the garden;

3. Pounds of compost produced;

4. Pounds of produce grown in the garden;

5. Pounds of produce donated by each garden;

6. Number of bee hives maintained in each garden;

7. Number of chicken coops maintained in each garden;

8. Dollar amount of supplemental nutritional assistance program funds used to purchase produce from each garden;

9. Dollar amount of special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children farmers’ market nutrition program funds used to purchase produce from each garden;

10. Dollar amount of seniors farmers’ market nutrition program funds used to purchase produce from each garden;

11. Dollar amount of health bucks used to purchase produce from each garden;

12. Annual revenue generated by each garden, including source of revenue;

13. Annual costs incurred by each garden;

14. Number of urban agricultural education events conducted by each garden, including number of participants;

15. Number of arts and cultural events sponsored by each garden;

16. Hours of agricultural workforce development training provided by each garden;

17. Number of full-time and part-time positions funded by community gardening groups, or any nonprofit, botanical garden, or other organization that relates to the support of community gardening; and

18. Number of hours per week each garden is accessible to the general public.

c. Ecological impacts study. No later than one year after the effective date of the local law that added this section, the department shall conduct and submit to the speaker of the city council and post on its website a study of the citywide ecological impacts of community gardens. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. The amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere;

2. Storm water runoff and storm water management systems; and

3. The urban heat island effect.

§ 18-159 Community garden farmer’s markets. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

Community gardener. The term “community gardener” means a registered member of a community garden, as defined in section 18-157.

Farmers market. The term “farmers market” means a market operated on city-owned property wherein farmers can sell produce directly to consumers.

b. The department shall establish a program to permit community gardeners to operate farmers markets for the sale of produce cultivated within community gardens. 

§ 2.  This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law.

Session 13

LS # 8882

1/19/2024

Session 11

ARP

LS # 8882

5/4/2022