Council unanimously passed Councilor’s Bill No. 34 on first reading authorizing the city manager to enter into a one-year lease, renewable automatically on an annual basis for four additional one-year terms, for dry-land farming of the Strasburg Natural Resource Farm in return for one third of the gross annual crop sale revenues. The city will also pay up to $50,000 a year on weed control at the farm.
The city owns approximately 3,000 acres of farmland for the purpose of applying the biosolids generated by the city’s wastewater treatment process to agricultural crops. The biosolids are rich in nutrients and are used as fertilizer for crops grown as part of the city’s wastewater biosolids application program. Two farmers currently lease property on the Strasburg Natural Resource Farm and coordinate with staff in the selection and timing of the crops planted on the property.
The next council meeting is at 7 p.m. on Nov. 10 at City Hall, 4800 W. 92nd Ave. in Westminster.
