REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2025, 6:00 PM CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Amanda Rohlich, 512-974-1364, Amanda.Rohlich@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Andrea Abel Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Marissa Bell Mark Bethell Joi Chevalier, Chair Beth Corbett CALL TO ORDER Board member roll call. Nitza Cuevas Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, May 12, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing on Austin-Travis County Food Plan Implementation, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager at City of Austin and Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs at Travis County DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Discuss Agriculture Valuations, Ian Dill Graduate Student at UT LBJ School of Public Affairs Discuss Board Member Advocacy Efforts Annual Internal Review Reminder Board discussion of Strategic Planning for next fiscal year Review Board Member Assignments FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion and scheduling of future agenda items. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Amanda Rohlich at Office of Sustainability, at 512-974-1364, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board, please contact Amanda Rohlich at Office of Sustainability, at 512-974-1364.
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB June 2025 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Food Plan Dashboard Now LIVE City Staff Report Back to Council ● City staff will provide another Memo to Council in October 2025 ● City staff will provide a summary of the Food Plan Memo to the CWEP (Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks) Council Committee in fall 2025 Implementation Collaborative ● City and County staff developed an Interlocal Agreement to support a Food Plan implementation collaborative (Strategy 9.1) ● On May 8th, City Council approved an RCA to negotiate a contract with the County ● On May 13th, Travis County Commissioners Court approved the ILA with the City ● City staff are developing an RFP for support of an implementation collaborative. Will be released in mid-2025. ● Consultant should be on-board in fall of 2025. Food Plan Implementation Convening ● First Food Plan Implementation Convening occurred on May 9th ● Considering additional options for summer 2025 ● Next Convening in fall of 2025 Travis County Food Plan Updates Nothing new to report Thank You! Travis County Environmental Quality: Sustainability Programs www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
AGRICULTURAL VALUATIONS IN AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY Ian Dill - COA Office of Climate Action and Resilience Background Travis Central Appraisal District (TCAD) creates the criteria for Agricultural Valuations based on primary use and property history. The State Comptroller releases guidelines for all Texas counties based on 1966 and 1978 Constitutional Amendments. Properties must pass 3 tests to qualify: “Principal Use” Test “Degree of Intensity” Test Time Period Test TCAD Structure TCAD has a big Board of Directors which is elected and run by a Chief Appraiser The Director appoints the Agricultural Appraisal Advisory Board, at least 2 of which are recipients of an Agricultural Exemption This has no decision-making authority over Exemptions! They advise on intensity standards Any issues with specific appraisals are handled by the Appraisal Review Board Appraisal Review Board members are private citizens appointed by TCAD Defining the Problem 3 main problems with Agricultural Valuations in Travis County: Agricultural Valuations ought to help stop the loss of Travis County Farmland. 1. Farmers in Austin/Travis County have trouble getting an exemption. 2. Not well aligned with goals in the Food Systems Plan. 3. Conspicuous properties are receiving valuations for land on or around large developments. Travis County has lost 11% of its farmland acreage and 21% of its farms since 2017. Average farm size has grown by 13% since 2017. Properties receiving a 1-d-1 exemption in the City of Austin (2023) 1-d-1 --- Open Space Agricultural Use (Dry Cropland, Pasture) 1-d-1B --- Beekeeping 1-d-1E --- Ecological Lab 1-d-1W --- Wildlife Conservation Barriers to Farmer Accesss The guidelines offer no way to measure intensity for a huge share of our crop mix! As of 2022, $14 million in crop sales out of the total $63 million are vegetables, melons, potatoes, sweet potatoes, nurseries, greenhouses, floriculture, or sod. Negotiations and challenges to appraisal process are complex and time-consuming. Food Systems Plan Alignment Stated Goals The Food Systems Plan (2024) aims for a diverse food inventory (Goal 4) and support regenerative food production (Goal 1). Assessment Process Assessors seem to take a snapshot of farms which misleads them about the intensity and farming techniques being used. Program-Wide Trends Even if only farms or conservation lands get exempted, the fact that the largest exempted properties are attached to a new factory and a racetrack indicate that the program is currently a development incentive. Recommendations - TCAD 1. Update and clarify intensity and size …
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, MAY 12, 2025, 6:00 PM CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Amanda Rohlich, 512-974-1364, Amanda.Rohlich@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Andrea Abel Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Marissa Bell Mark Bethell Joi Chevalier, Chair Beth Corbett CALL TO ORDER Board member roll call. Nitza Cuevas Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, April 14, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing on Austin-Travis County Food Plan Implementation, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager at City of Austin and Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs at Travis County 3. Briefing on Integrated Bond Task Force, Edwin Marty DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Discuss Austin/Travis County Food Plan qualitative research coding as compared to AI coding, Natalie Poulos DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. 6. Report out from the April 23rd Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, Marissa Bell. Review Board Member Assignments. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion and scheduling of future agenda items. ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Amanda Rohlich at Office of Sustainability, at 512-974-1364, for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board, please contact Amanda Rohlich at Office of Sustainability, at 512-974-1364.
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB May 2025 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Food Plan Dashboard Now LIVE City Staff Report Back to Council ● City staff will provide another Memo to Council in October 2025 ● City staff will provide a summary of the Food Plan Memo to the CWEP (Climate, Water, Environment, and Parks) Council Committee in fall 2025 Implementation Collaborative ● City and County staff are developing an Interlocal Agreement to support a Food Plan implementation collaborative (Strategy 9.1) ● On May 8th, City Council approved an RCA to negotiate a contract with the County ● On May 13th, Travis County Commissioners Court will vote on negotiating a contract with the City ● Once both the City and County have approval to negotiate a contract, we will negotiate a contract ● RFP for support of an implementation collaborative will be released in mid-2025 Food Plan Implementation Convening ● First Food Plan Implementation Convening occurred on May 9th ● Next Convening in fall of 2025 Travis County Food Plan Updates Travis County Parks Comprehensive Planning More community engagement opportunities open now - please participate! ● Second round of community engagement started April 12th and ends May 19th ● Public Workshops coming soon: ○ April 29th 12:00-1:00 p.m. ○ April 30th 6:00-7:00 p.m. ● https://outdoorengage.mysocialpinpoint.com/travis Communicating with Court Members Board Members appointed by Travis County Commissioners Court: It’s always a good time to communicate with the Court member (and/or their staff) who appointed you! ● Have final versions of Board-approved letters been shared with Court members? ● Please let me know how I can support you. Thank You! Travis County Environmental Quality: Sustainability Programs www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
Capital Delivery Services Public Improvement Bond Program Integrated Bond Program Development and Delivery Plan Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Update Marcus Hammer, Assistant Director Capital Delivery Services May 12, 2025 “Effectively and Efficiently Deliver Quality Projects with the Concept of Speed” 1 AGENDA • CDS Overview • What is a General Obligation Bond Program? • Improved Bond Development Process • Staff Work Completed to Date • Guiding Principles, Technical Criteria, & Scoring Matrices • Progress to Date & Upcoming Milestones “Effectively and Efficiently Deliver Quality Projects with the Concept of Speed” 2 Created in 2023 with the goal of reducing project delivery time Who we are • Engineers • Architects • Project managers • Community Engagement Our partners • Consultants • Contracting teams • City asset owners • Community members • Mayor & Council Role in 2026 Bond Program One City – One Team – One Approach to effectively and efficiently deliver quality public projects. • Convene asset owner departments to develop needs assessment • Guide the process to ensure projects are vetted and scopes/schedules/budgets are accurate and realistic • Coordinate projects across departments to achieve mutual benefits What is a General Obligation Bond Program? Typical Bond Projects: • Flood and Erosion Control Improvements • New or Replacement City Facilities • Rehabilitation of Existing Facilities • Housing Infrastructure/Housing Projects • Street and Thoroughfare Improvements o Sidewalks o Traffic Signals • Park and Recreation Facilities • Public Safety Facilities (Fire/EMS/Police) • Land Purchase 4 What is a General Obligation Bond Program? Types of work NOT included: • Routine operations and maintenance activities o Potholes o Minor street repair o Landscaping maintenance o General building maintenance Improvements for short term leased space • • Code enforcement initiatives • Employee salaries (including police & fire) • AE/AW Capital Projects typically funded by using debt are funded via AE and AW revenue bonds, not General Obligation debt and thus are not for the 2026 GO Bond Program City of Austin | Capital Delivery Services Department | One City, One Team, One Approach to Capital Delivery 5 Improved Bond Delivery Process for 2026 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 Council calls for Bond Election (Aug) Bond Election (Nov) BEATF Meetings, Council, and Public Engagement HOW WE’VE DONE BONDS IN THE PAST: Project Proposals RFP’s/RFQ’s Project Planning to develop scope, schedule, budget Design Construction WHAT WE’RE DOING NOW: Needs Assessment and Project …
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & THE AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD PLAN 1. Describing the community engagement 2. Comparing AI-Assisted Coding and Traditional Qualitative Analysis NATALIE POULOS, PHD, RD, LD Assistant Professor, The University of Texas at Austin Why this study? • Qualitative researcher • Engaged in community food systems • Food Access Issue Area Working Group Research Aims: 1. Identify key food system concerns as described by community members 2. Compare AI-assisted qualitative coding and traditional content analysis Community Engagement Data • Public events included: – Community events – City-organized events – Online surveys • Two questions 1. What are your hopes & dreams for the Austin/Travis County food system? 2. What are your challenges & concerns with the Austin/Travis County food system? • 2,820 unique responses were documented – – 43 community events 27 zip codes Method & Analysis Comparison AI-Based Analysis Traditional Qualitative Analysis • • Public health practitioner based in local government GPT-4 + GPT for Sheets – Map comments to preidentified codes (issue areas) • • Define terms Set confidence – Asked AI to identify ‘themes’ (generative) based on community comments • • • “Analyze the following comments and provide me with the top themes related to food” Refined themes to 12 themes Expert review and discussion (3 themes added) – Map comments to ‘themes’ • GPT_MAP(Search_keys, Data, Confidence level, Top Results) • • • • Trained research team of at least two on reflexive content analysis Creation of codebook using preidentified content areas Testing reliability – Add in additional codes to highlight comments that did not fit original codes Manual coding – Issue areas + reflexive content codes Issue Area Code Comparison Food System Code Definition of Code1 Example of Key Terms2 • Direct comparison Markets & Retail of methods • Issue area codes Processing & Distribution How food is sold and purchased. What happens to food from where it is grown to when it reaches your plate, including how food is moved and processed. • Definitions and key terms based on City of Austin State of Food System Report (2022) Access & Consumption How we eat our food who struggles to get enough food, and what impact our consumption has on our health Food Production Where our food comes from, including everything from farming to ranching to backyard gardening Grocery Stores, Bodegas, Farmers Markets, Food Jobs, restaurants, Food Apps, Workers Rights, Selling Food Food Processing Facilities, Food …
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, APRIL 14, 2025, 6:00 PM CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Amanda Rohlich, 512-974-1364, Amanda.Rohlich@austintexas.gov. CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Andrea Abel Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Marissa Bell Mark Bethell Joi Chevalier, Chair Beth Corbett Nitza Cuevas CALL TO ORDER Board member roll call. Larry Franklin Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith AGENDA PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, March 10, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing on Austin-Travis County Food Plan Implementation, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager at City of Austin and Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs at Travis County DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. 4. Discuss the impact of current executive orders and federal funding to Central Texas Food Bank, Board Member Beth Corbett Discuss the recommendation to support Goal 4 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan: Establish and fund a resilient, inclusive, and accessible emergency food provision system that ensures all community members, regardless of cultural background or medical needs, have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally relevant food during disasters and emergencies, Board Member Joi Chevalier 5. Reminder of tasks needed for reappointments. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 6. 7. 8. 9. Discuss and take possible action on appointing a representative and alternate from the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board to serve as a liaison to the Joint Sustainability Committee liaison. Discuss and take possible action on appointing a Chair and Vice Chair to the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board. Report out from the March 26th Joint Sustainability Committee Meeting, Marissa Bell. Review Board Member Assignments. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Discussion and scheduling …
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB April 2025 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Report back to Council in Spring 2025 ● City staff provided a Memo to Council in March 2025 ○ Updates on Strategy progress including defined leadership roles and responsibilities for implementation of the various strategies within the Plan ○ Funding needs in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for investment in and implementation of the Plan and to identify strategy priorities to be included as part of the next bond package ○ Updates on a Food Plan Dashboard ○ Updates on an Implementation Collaborative Climate,Water, Environment, Parks Committee (Austin City Council) ● City staff provided a summary of the Food Plan Memo to the CWEP Council Committee on April 1st 2025 ○ What is being done to start food production on Public Land ■ We are working on Asset Maps and will share those when complete ■ We are working with Watershed to explore farming on floodplain property and PARD to support development of John Trevino Park ○ What is being done to coordinate work between the City and the County ■ We are working on a contract and will have more info to Council shortly (ILA) ○ What is being done to coordinate inter-departmental work to implement the Food Plan ■ While there is no Department of Food, we are looking to the Climate Implementation Plan structure to explore how a similar structure could be created. Dashboard Preview - Now LIVE Implementation Collaborative ● City and County staff are developing an Interlocal Agreement to support a Food Plan implementation collaborative (Strategy 9.1) ● Staff are scoping and negotiating specifics and hope to have an Interlocal Agreement complete in spring 2025 ● RFP for support of an implementation collaborative will be released in mid-2025 Food Plan Implementation Convening ● May 9th at PDC ● Tentative Agenda: ○ Office of Climate Action & Resilience Updates: Memo & Dashboard, Budget, Food Policy Board Recommendations Implementation Collaborative Request for Proposals Food and Climate and Equity Grants Question & Answers Partner Updates ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ Next Steps: ■ ■ Fall meeting to introduce contractor Dashboard updates Travis County Food Plan Updates Travis County Parks Comprehensive Planning More community engagement opportunities open now - please participate! ● Second round of community engagement started April 12th and ends May 19th ● Public Workshops coming soon: ○ April 29th 12:00-1:00 …
Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board MINUTES MEETING April 14, 2025 The Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) convened on Monday, April 142 at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Room 1406, Austin, TX 78752. Board Members in Attendance: Andrea Abel, Lisa Barden, Marissa Bell, Mark Bethell, Beth Corbett, Nitza Cuevas, Larry Franklin, Natalie Poulos, Matt Simon, Andy Smith Board Members Absent: Joi Chevalier, Hilda Gutierrez, Kacey Hanson Staff in Attendance: Edwin Marty (City of Austin), Amanda Rohlich (City of Austin), Angela Baucom (City of Austin), Yaira Robinson (Travis County) CALL TO ORDER Vice-Chair Lisa Barden called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Aliya Amanzholova – Promoting Eat for Impact APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Board Member Andy Smith motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Meeting on March 10, 2025, with Board Member Marissa Bell, seconding the motion. Minutes passed on an 10-0 vote. Mark Bethell joined the dais at 6:10 pm. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing on Austin-Travis County Food Plan Implementation, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager at City of Austin and Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs at Travis County (see back-up materials for presentation). DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discuss the impact of current executive orders and federal funding to Central Texas Food Bank, Board Member Beth Corbett a. Federal program authorized in the Farm Bill that provides commodity products to food banks across the Feeding America network. The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is administered through state agencies. Cancellations led to 40 FTLs which is about one million pounds of food. Partners can expect fewer items on the shopping list for now. If these cuts continue this could mean less food for partners. Central Texas Food Bank is spending $1m per month to make up shortfall. Retailers are also becoming more efficient leading to less donations. Budget reconciliation package, some of the cost burden is shifting to states and you may expect a rise in demand from the charitable food network. Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program was created under previous administration and allowed the food bank to purchase from producers directly. CTFB purchased about 600,000 pounds of produce in FY 23 and over 1 million pounds in FY 24. Local Food for Schools funding was local food purchasing incentives that allowed schools to purchase food from producers and this funding has also been lost. Opportunity to …
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, MARCH 10, 2025, 6:00 PM CITY OF AUSTIN PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Amanda Rohlich, 512-974-1364, Amanda.Rohlich@austintexas.gov. Larry Franklin Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Andrea Abel Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Marissa Bell Mark Bethell Joi Chevalier, Chair Beth Corbett Nitza Cuevas AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Board member roll call. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first 10 speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, February 10, 2025. STAFF BRIEFING 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Briefing on Austin-Travis County Food Plan Implementation, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager at City of Austin and Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs at Travis County DISCUSSION ITEMS Discuss structure of working groups to align with Board’s overall goals and advocacy efforts. 4. Discuss City of Austin budget engagement process. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and take possible action on appointing a representative and alternate from the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board to serve as a liaison to the Joint Sustainability Committee liaison. Discuss and take possible action on the recommendation to support Goal 1 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan: Expand community food production, preserve agricultural lands, and increase the amount of farmland dedicated to regenerative food production long-term in Austin/Travis County, Marissa Bell (land acquisition) and Board Member Matt Simon (regenerative agriculture). Discuss and take possible action on the recommendation to support Goal 3 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan: Improve farm worker and food worker livelihoods by ensuring training opportunities, and a safety net, defining career pathways, expanding strengthening opportunities for advancement for workers across the local …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20250210-04C: Support for Agricultural Land Acquisition and Preservation in Austin, Texas WHEREAS, the 2022 City of Austin State of the Food System Report indicates that less than 0.6% of the food consumed in Travis County is produced locally, and that approximately 16.8 acres of farmland are lost daily to development pressures, underscoring the critical need for dedicated agricultural land preservation efforts; and WHEREAS, land in Austin-Travis County is continuing to increase in value and decrease in quantity, it is imperative to act quickly as the cost of action will only increase over time; and WHEREAS, agricultural lands are vital to local food security, environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, approved by the Austin City Council in October 2024, includes strategic, measurable, and time-bound goals and strategies to strengthen food security, promote environmental sustainability, and address climate change; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan’s Goal 1 prioritizes expanding community food production, preserving agricultural lands, and increasing the amount of farmland dedicated to regenerative food production long-term in Austin and Travis County; and WHEREAS, Strategy 1.1 of the Food Plan calls for the preservation of land for food production in Central Texas through conservation easements, fee-simple purchases, and land-banking, ensuring that farmland remains dedicated to agricultural use; and WHEREAS, Strategy 1.2 directs the City of Austin and Travis County to pursue capital funding sources to finance the conservation of land for agricultural use through conservation easements or direct purchases; and WHEREAS, preserving agricultural land also supports the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan by promoting sustainable land use, strengthening local food systems, and reducing carbon footprints through localized food production; and WHEREAS, Natural Systems Goal 2 of the Austin Climate Equity Plan aims to protect 500,000 acres of farmland across the five-county region through legal conservation or regenerative agriculture programs by 2030; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin currently lacks a dedicated mechanism to effectively manage and prioritize the preservation of agricultural lands; and WHEREAS, there is a lack of coordination among City departments acquiring land for various purposes, such as water quality, flood control, and green space development, undermining the potential to support the City’s food and climate resilience goals, including agricultural production and carbon sequestration; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board encourages the Austin City …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Defining and Supporting Regenerative Agriculture NOTE: The “WHEREAS”s should give the background and the “NOW, THEREFORE,” should state what the board is requesting Council to do. WHEREAS, the 2022 City of Austin State of the Food System Report indicates that 21% of all greenhouse gas emissions in our community are related to the food supply chain; and WHEREAS, implementing Regenerative Agriculture supports the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan, which aims to ensure that by 2030, 100% of Austinites, especially those who are food insecure, can access a pro-climate, pro-health food systems that prioritize regenerative agriculture; and WHEREAS, the goals and strategies in the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, approved by the Austin City Council in October 2024, prioritize regenerative agriculture implementation, with reference to “regenerative agriculture” and food systems occurring 44 times throughout the document; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan states that a specific definition of Regenerative food production may need to be adopted to implement strategies under Goal 1, which pertain to agricultural land use (1.1,1.2) and community food systems support (1.6,1.12); and WHEREAS, a more specific definition is contained within the Resilient Farm Planning framework, which utilizes Conservation Practice Standards codified by the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and quantifies the resulting greenhouse gas benefits; and WHEREAS, the Resilient Farm Planning process has seen wide adoption and proof of concept in California for over a decade, with 137 Resilient Farm Plans (called Carbon Farm Plans in California) encompassing 71,440 acres; and WHEREAS, the Resilient Farm Planning process can be also be applied to outdoor spaces such as parks, flood plain, and greenbelts; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Office of Sustainability has previously allocated funds for Texas’ First Resilient Farm plan at the Refugee Collective Farm, written and implemented with technical assistance from National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and Carbon Cycle Institute (CCI). This establishes a precedent of city support for collaborative plan implementation; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin currently lacks a dedicated mechanism to assist with the writing and implementation of Resilient Farm Plans; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin Food and Climate Equity (FACE) Grant is a current funding mechanism available to farmers that supports a more just and resilient Austin by providing direct funding for community-led solutions that enable transformative change in the …
Austin and Travis County Food Policy Board BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Recommendation Number: : Recommended Support for Food Plan Goal 3 Implementation WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed RESOLUTION NO. 20210610-039, which directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process for an Austin Food Plan in June 2021 to support a more resilient, equitable food system for the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan was developed through comprehensive and collaborative community workgroups across five identified issue areas, including 1.) Food Access and Consumption, 2.) Food Markets and Retail, 3.) Food Production, 4.) Post- Consumption and Food Waste, and 5.) Food Processing and Distribution, as well as input from a Community Advisory Committee, Community Food Ambassadors, planning teams across both City and County offices, and broad public engagement; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan outlines strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable objectives, goals, and strategies to be accomplished within the next five years to create a more just, accessible, and culturally diverse food system for Austin and Travis County that supports and sustains thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and solutions to climate change where all individuals can reach their full potential; and WHEREAS, Goal 3 of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, "Livelihoods," seeks to improve farm worker and food worker livelihoods by ensuring a safety net, defining career pathways, expanding training opportunities, and strengthening opportunities for advancement across the local food system; and WHEREAS, over 65,000 people are employed in the food sector across Travis County, many of whom earn some of the lowest wages in our local economy, making the implementation of Goal 3 essential to supporting economic stability, worker well-being, and a thriving regional food economy; and WHEREAS, successful implementation of Goal 3 requires specific actions, including: Defining criteria for a livable wage in the food service industry using nationally recognized frameworks, paired with business engagement and data analysis to create a regionally appropriate standard; Conducting regular, culturally appropriate worker surveys and focus groups to assess needs, work environments, and career opportunities to inform responsive policy and program development; Establishing a commission or working group under the Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board to address food and farm worker rights, including benefits, unfair labor practices, and workplace safety; Researching and recommending incentives such as tax rebates and wage supplements to support food system employers who provide livable wages and fair labor practices; Expanding workforce training …
TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board) Food Plan Goal: • 6.5: Expand benefits and access to nutritious foods through programs that amplify and supplement the purchasing power of individuals and households facing food and nutrition insecurity and explore the feasibility of creating a locally funded nutrition incentive program with less restrictive eligibility criteria than SNAP/WIC WHEREAS, food insecurity disproportionately affects vulnerable populations in Austin/Travis County, creating significant barriers to nutritious food access for individuals and households with limited resources; WHEREAS, where value multiplying programs are an effective model of extending purchasing power for nutritious foods, allowing SNAP recipients to double their spending on fruits and vegetables at local farmers markets; WHEREAS, the need for culturally relevant nutrition education and cooking skills training, can empower community members to make healthy, affordable food choices; WHEREAS, current food assistance programs often have restrictive eligibility criteria that exclude many community members experiencing economic hardship; WHEREAS, technological barriers and limited digital literacy can further complicate access to food assistance resources and online food shopping options; WHEREAS, language and disability barriers continue to create additional challenges for individuals seeking food assistance and nutrition support; WHEREAS, existing successful local programs that provide valuable frameworks for expanding food access and nutrition education; new programs can and need to be created; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board recommends the City of Austin expand and enhance Nutrition Incentive Programs, building upon the successful value purchasing models to create a locally funded nutrition incentive program with more flexible eligibility criteria that complement existing federal/state/local assistance programs. These efforts could provide additional purchasing power for nutritious foods, particularly fresh produce and local agricultural products and create mechanisms to support both farmers and food-insecure households. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board encourages Austin City Council to provide funding for Nutrition Education and Skill-Building initiatives to increase utilization and health among vulnerable populations. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board recommends the City Council reduce Barriers to Food Assistance through accessible digital and in-person application processes, where application materials and support services are provided in multiple languages and create accessible accommodates for individuals with disabilities. in all food assistance program communications BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that these recommendations align with the city's commitment to the food plan, equity, health, and community support, recognizing that …
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB March 2024 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Report back to Council in Spring 2025 ● City staff will provide a Memo to Council in spring 2025 ○ Updates on Strategy progress including defined leadership roles and responsibilities for implementation of the various strategies within the Plan ○ Funding needs in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for investment in and implementation of the Plan and to identify strategy priorities to be included as part of the next bond package ○ Updates on a Food Plan Dashboard ○ Updates on an Implementation Coalition Dashboard Preview - Now LIVE Implementation Coalition ● City and County staff are developing an Interlocal Agreement to support a Food Plan implementation coalition (Strategy 9.1) ● Staff are scoping and negotiating specifics and hope to have an Interlocal Agreement complete in spring 2025 ● RFP for support of an implementation coalition will be released in mid-2025 Travis County Food Plan Updates Exploring Departmental Alignment ● Travis County Staff Food Plan Team Updates ○ Current step: outreach to departmental staff leaders to explore Food Plan goal & strategy alignment with departmental goals ○ Goal: share top-aligned goals & strategies with Commissioners Court members, Spring 2025 Thank You! Travis County Environmental Quality: Sustainability Programs www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
Addressing Unmet Needs for Goal 3 Strategies in the Austin-Travis County Food Plan Good Work Austin (GWA) is committed to advancing the strategies outlined under Goal 3 of the Austin-Travis County Food Plan: Improving farm worker and food worker livelihoods by ensuring a safety net, defining career pathways, expanding training opportunities, and strengthening opportunities for advancement across the local food system. This proposal outlines the unmet needs required to address these strategies and the resources needed to achieve meaningful progress in FY 2025-2026. Strategy 3.1: Define the criteria for a livable wage in the food service industry to enhance the participation of restaurants and other food businesses in incentive programs using frameworks such as One Fair Wage, MIT Living Wage Calculator, or United Way's ALICE. Unmet Needs: 1. Staffing: $13,000 to fund GWA staff to utilize their evaluation expertise and data management tools to develop and adapt a livable wage framework specific to the local food system, leveraging models like One Fair Wage, Chicago’s One Fair Wage ordinance, and the MIT Living Wage Calculator. Impact: These efforts will directly benefit the over 65,000 food workers in Travis County by making it easier for businesses to begin the path to increasing wages and ensuring fair compensation practices. Phase 1 (2025-2026): 1. Research and Framework Development (30 hours): Study and adapt existing models like One Fair Wage, Chicago’s One Fair Wage ordinance, and the MIT Living Wage Calculator to the local food system. 2. Business Engagement, Data Collection and Analysis (70 hours): Engage with 50 local food businesses (with an emphasis on small businesses), and city and community partners, through meetings, interviews, and workshops to gather feedback. Gather and analyze regional data on cost of living and wages to inform the framework. 3. Documentation and Reporting (30 hours): Compile findings, feedback, and the finalized framework into a report for stakeholders. Total Estimated Hours: 130 hours. Phase 2: Implement adoption through targeted campaigns and resources for businesses to adopt living wage criteria. Provide consultation (a part of strategy 3.6) to support businesses to adopt liveable wage models and education for consumers. Strategy 3.2: Conduct a regular survey to assess needs, work environment, and career outlook to inform programs and policies affecting food and farm workers. Unmet Needs: 1. Staffing: $23,000 to fund GWA staff to utilize their evaluation expertise and data management tools to research and develop, implement, and report findings of a …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number 20250310-07: Improve Conditions for Food System Workers WHEREAS, the Austin City Council passed RESOLUTION NO. 20210610-039, which directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process for an Austin Food Plan in June 2021 to support a more resilient, equitable food system for the City of Austin; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan was developed through comprehensive and collaborative community workgroups across five identified issue areas, including 1.) Food Access and Consumption, 2.) Food Markets and Retail, 3.) Food Production, 4.) Post-Consumption and Food Waste, and 5.) Food Processing and Distribution, as well as input from a Community Advisory Committee, Community Food Ambassadors, planning teams across both City and County offices, and broad public engagement; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, approved by the Austin City Council in October 2024, outlines strategic, measurable, ambitious, realistic, time-bound, inclusive, and equitable objectives, goals, and strategies to be accomplished within the next five years to create a more just, accessible, and culturally diverse food system for Austin and Travis County that supports and sustains thriving communities, healthy ecosystems, and solutions to climate change where all individuals can reach their full potential; and WHEREAS, Goal 3 of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, "Livelihoods," seeks to improve farm worker and food worker livelihoods by ensuring a safety net, defining career pathways, expanding training opportunities, and strengthening opportunities for advancement across the local food system; and WHEREAS, over 65,000 people (7.5% of residents) are employed in the food sector across Travis County, many of whom earn some of the lowest wages in our local economy1, making the implementation of Goal 3 essential to supporting economic stability, worker well-being, and a thriving regional food economy; and WHEREAS, successful implementation of Goal 3 requires specific actions based on the strategies listed in the food plan, including: 1 City of Austin (2022), State of the Food System Report. ● 3.1 Defining criteria for a livable wage in the food service industry using nationally recognized frameworks, paired with business engagement and data analysis to create a regionally appropriate standard; ● 3.2 Conducting regular, culturally appropriate worker surveys and focus groups to assess needs, work environments, and career opportunities to inform responsive policy and program development; ● 3.3 Establishing a commission or working group under the Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board to address food and farm worker rights, including benefits, …
