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Regular Council Meeting January 13, 2014 Page 5 Mr. Godwin said the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial Association desired to expand the current site leased from the City by another full acre. Council heard from former Chairman Doug Weiberg and Chairman George Wood, who depicted a slide show of the memorial from the beginning stages and possible additions in the future. Mr. Godwin recommended Council approve this request. It was a consensus of City Council to approve the request and that staff bring back to Council an action item. 19. Discuss Kristy Foster's request to assist with development of a community garden program and provide direction to city staff. Mr. Godwin said he met with Ms. Foster, Charlotte Ertelt, Edna Clegg and Carol King on December 10 to discuss their goals for Seeds of Hope. He explained they had asked the City to allow them to use vacant properties around the City as small garden areas, which in turn food would be given away for free and vacant lots would be improved. Mr. Godwin said this program would be good for the community and recommended approval. It was a consensus of City Council to assist with a community garden program and that staff bring back to Council an action item. 20. Discuss and act on securing additional private contractors to assist with storm cleanup and authorize possible expenditures from undesignated reserves. Mayor Hashmi said he had contacted the Corp of Engineers about assisting with the cleanup and would be contacting the warden of the Bonham prison as well. He asked if getting private contractors would prolong the cleanup due to writing a request for proposals and the bidding process. Mr. Godwin said they could spend less than $50,000 and start tomorrow while in the process of writing proposals and bidding. Mayor Hashmi inquired about temporary help. Mr. Godwin said more people and equipment were needed in order to get this done in a timely manner. He said the City needed to bring in additional people, rent equipment and hire temps. Mr. Godwin also said he would like permission to waive the City's policy for allowing only those residents who could produce a water bill to drop off trash or debris at the drop -off sites and City compost site. In addition, he said he would like to allow any local person acting on behalf of a resident to drop off trailer loads or pickup loads until the end of January. Council Member Drake inquired about the schedule. Mr. Godwin said they started in the middle of town and had been moving east and west, citing part of the problem with cleanup was the staff would clean up a street and within a few days there would be more debris to pick up on that street. Council Member Drake inquired from which account would the funds be taken and Mr. Godwin replied there were unbudgeted reserves that could be used. Council Member Drake asked how that would work with the policy of replenishing reserves. Mr. Godwin said accordingly to policy, the reserves would have to be replenished within eighteen months. Finance Director Gene Anderson said they would need to plan how they were going to replace