REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, JANUARY 13, 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 Larry Franklin Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith 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 Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, December 12, 2024. 1. 2. STAFF BRIEFING 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. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Presentation from Drew De Los Santos, Executive Director at Austin Cooperative Business Association on the Del Valle Food Co-op. Discuss the draft recommendation to support Goal 1, Strategy 1.12 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan: Fully fund City and County park plans that include strategies to support community agriculture (such as the Vision Plan at John Trevino Jr. Metropolitan Park) and include support for staff to implement community agriculture programs in these locations and distribute food grown to surrounding communities. Board Member Andrea Abel and Board Member Lisa Barden. Discuss draft recommendation(s) 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, Board Member Marissa Bell (land acquisition) and Board Member Matt Simon (regenerative agriculture). Discuss draft recommendation(s) to support Goal 4 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan: Establish and …
This template is a guide for liaisons. TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Farmland Acquisition and Preservation 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 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 the Capital Region 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, 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, agricultural lands are vital to local food security, environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience; and WHEREAS, the goals and strategies in the Austin/Travis County Food Plan prioritize expanding community food production and preserving farmland for regenerative agriculture through strategies such as conservation easements, land purchases, and land banking; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan also recommends pursuing funding sources, including general obligation bonds, to conserve agricultural land; and WHEREAS, the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board’s Recommendation Number 20240318-7 urged the City of Austin to allocate funds and create a full-time equivalent (FTE) position to support the implementation of the Food Plan; 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 This template is a guide for liaisons. WHEREAS, 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, WHEREAS, the City of Austin currently lacks a dedicated mechanism to effectively manage and prioritize the preservation of agricultural lands; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board encourages the Austin City Council to allocate funds and explore all available means in order to establish a dedicated management mechanism, such as a dedicated …
This template is a guide for liaisons. TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Farmland Acquisition and Preservation 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 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 the Capital Region 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, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, approved by the Travis County Commissioner’s Court in October 2024, includes strategies to address local food security and environmental sustainability; and WHEREAS, agricultural lands are vital to local food security, environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience; and WHEREAS, the goals and strategies in the Austin/Travis County Food Plan prioritize expanding community food production and preserving farmland for regenerative agriculture through strategies such as conservation easements, land purchases, and land-banking; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan also recommends pursuing funding sources, including general obligation bonds, to conserve agricultural land; and WHEREAS, the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board’s Recommendation Number 20240318-8 urged Travis County to allocate funds and create a full-time equivalent (FTE) position to support the implementation of the Food Plan; and WHEREAS, Travis County has a history of successfully managing agricultural leases through the Land stewardship program; and This template is a guide for liaisons. WHEREAS, Travis County currently operates a Conservation Easement Program that allows landowners to preserve agricultural, natural, or cultural resources while retaining ownership of their property. This program, funded by voter-approved bond funds and supplemented by donations, has successfully preserved significant tracts of land and helps protect vital resources such as watersheds, wildlife habitats, and agricultural lands; and WHEREAS, the Conservation Easement Program has been a key tool for Travis County in its efforts to protect land from development, with more than $24.9 million approved by voters in 2011 and 2017 for the purchase of easements. The program prioritizes properties in conservation corridors and those with significant environmental or agricultural value, aligning …
TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board) Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Preparing Culturally and Medically Appropriate Supply Side Nutrition, Provision and Distribution Access During Disasters, Disruptions, and Emergencies WHEREAS, food insecurity already disproportionately affects vulnerable populations in Austin/Travis County, creating significant barriers to nutritious food access for individuals and households with limited resources and most acutely during emergencies, significant weather events, or disasters; and WHEREAS, the Austin Travis County Food Plan, adopted by City Council in October 2024, includes the goal of establishing and funding a resilient, inclusive, and accessible emergency food provision system that ensure all community members, regardless of cultural background or medical needs, have access to safe, nutritious, and culturally relevant food during disasters and emergencies (Goal 4); and WHEREAS, it is essential to develop and fund a coordinated emergency food access response plan that ensures that City and County community centers and resilience networks have access to water, culturally and medically appropriate food, proper storage, and inventory management practices (Strategy 4.3); and WHEREAS, having preparedness teams and partners be able to meet dietary needs during emergencies, including culturally relevant and medically appropriate food preparation, and for emergency staff and volunteers to have training in such (Strategy 4.4); and WHEREAS, it will be necessary, as part of the preparedness ecosystem, to work with community partners to have a real-time inventory management system to track emergency food availability, expiration dates, and replenishment needs to ensure a steady supply during emergencies while minimizing food waste (Strategy 4.5) and WHEREAS, it is essential and critical to create a diverse and reliable food supply by establishing partnerships with a wide range of local suppliers and develop contingency plans for food supply chain disruptions, including alternative sourcing strategies (Strategy 4.6); and Commented [1]: See above comment for "Whereas." Need to add "Resolved" pertaining to 6.1 Food Retail and 6.6 school meal and summer food service programs. WHEREAS, there is a significant need to create mechanism that improves emergency response and preparedness for major power outages that impact the food supply at all stages of the food system (Strategy 4.7). NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board recommends the following actions: 1. Establish Pre-Existing, Prepared Trusted Community Partners o Build upon Mass Care’s ecosystem survey, identify key partners to establish preexisting procurement relationships through Austin Finance Online o Prioritize …
TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board) Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Support for new and existing central aggregation, processing, and distribution facilities (Food Hubs) 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 to support regional food systems; WHERAS, schools in the Austin-Travis County region currently source a significant portion of their food from mainline distributors, who, in turn, source their products from large-scale farms located outside of Texas, contributing to long supply chains and increasing the carbon footprint of food procurement; 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 calls for the development and support of central aggregation, processing, and distribution facilities (food hubs) to supply regional institutional purchasers with local agricultural goods, ensuring the stability and resilience of the food system in Austin/Travis County; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan emphasizes the importance of building a community-driven food system that prioritizes regenerative agriculture to achieve climate and equity goals by 2030; and WHEREAS, the Austin Climate Equity Plan calls for supporting institutions and developing supply-chain infrastructure and regional food networks to facilitate large-scale pro-climate, pro-health food procurement, supporting regenerative agricultural producers and increasing access to sustainable, healthy food options; and WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic, Winter Storm Uri, and other disruptive events have exposed vulnerabilities in long, centralized food supply chains, emphasizing the importance of resilient local food systems that prioritize local procurement, climate adaptation, and equity-driven food access; and WHEREAS, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), such as the Farm to School Program and the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Program, provide funding to support local food systems and school meal programs, benefiting farmers and communities; WHEREAS, local purchasing incentives for schools, such as the Local Food for Schools (LFS) Program, remain underutilized due to insufficient local food production and regional distribution capacity to meet the demand for school markets, and small, Central Texas farmers need technical assistance to scale …
TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION (Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board) Recommendation Goal 6.1, 6.5, 6.6: • Actively establish culturally relevant, affordable, community-backed or -driven retail options in areas experiencing food insecurity or facing barriers to food access, including replication and expansion of existing food retail initiatives in the City and County • 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 Increase utilization of publicly administered programs that improve food access, such as SNAP, WIC, the national school breakfast/lunch program, and summer food service program. • 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 like Double Up Food Bucks and The Happy Kitchen 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 following actions: 1. Expand and Enhance Nutrition Incentive Programs: o Build upon the successful value purchasing models to create a locally funded nutrition incentive program o Develop more flexible eligibility criteria that complement existing federal/state/local assistance programs o Provide additional purchasing power for nutritious foods, particularly fresh produce and local agricultural products o Create mechanisms to support both farmers and food-insecure households 2. Strengthen Nutrition Education and Skill-Building: o Expand programs that provide culturally relevant food and cooking/nutrition education Multilingual cooking classes Nutrition education workshops Skill-building for affordable, healthy meal preparation o Develop technology-integrated education modules …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Support for community agriculture on City park land WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan was approved by City Council in October 2024; and WHEREAS, Goal 1 of the Food Plan is to expand community food production, preserve agricultural lands, and increase the amount of farmland dedicated to regenerative food production long-term in Austin/Travis County; and WHEREAS, the John Treviño Jr. Metropolitan Park Vision Plan was adopted by the Austin City Council on October 15, 2020 with one of the defined values to adapt the heritage of the site by carrying the site’s productive agricultural heritage into the present and future by exploring possibilities for food production and agricultural education, and includes “The Farm” in the design of the park to to connect local food production and education with opportunities for multi-generational participation; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin already has a Community Gardens Program (started in 2009 when the Austin City Council passed the Urban Farm Ordinance) to establish a single point of contact and streamline the process for establishing community gardens on city land; and WHEREAS, the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board’s Recommendation Number 20240318-7 urged the City of Austin to allocate funds and create a full-time equivalent (FTE) position to support the implementation of the Food Plan; and WHEREAS, 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, community agriculture on City park land provides vital opportunities for community-based food access, culturally-relevant food production, community-led food access solutions, emergency preparedness, climate resilience. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board encourages the Austin City Council to fully fund City park plans that include strategies to support community agriculture and include financial support for staff or an external entity to implement community agriculture programs in these locations and distribute food grown to surrounding communities, including full funding for the implementation of the Vision Plan at John Treviño Jr Metropolitan Park Commented [1]: Was 2009 the first time that Parks dedicated staff/time to community gardens? BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board encourages the Austin City Council to allocate funds and explore all available means in order to establish a dedicated management mechanism, such as …
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB January 2024 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Response to Council IFC ● City Staff lead by Office of Sustainability ○ developing asset map of physical infrastructure in the food system ○ collaborating with the Central Texas Food Bank to develop social network analysis of stakeholder groups ○ identifying strategies within the Plan that can be led by City Departments ○ Identifying strategies that can be led by external organizations ○ Identifying funding needs to move Strategies forward, both internal City Department need and external organization needs ○ developing an on-line dashboard to track progress on all 61 Food Plan Strategies Implementation Coalition ● City and County staff are exploring a funding opportunity to support a Food Plan implementation coalition (Strategy 9.1) ● Staff are scoping and negotiating specifics and hope to have an Inter Local Agrement complete in spring 2025 ● RFP for support of an implementation coalition will be released in mid-2025 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 Thank You! www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
1 Austin Community Owned Food Retail Initiative Del Valle Food Co-op Update Drew De Los Santos Executive Director drew@acba.coop 512-222-7032 ACBA ● Co-op Economic Development ● Technical Assistance/Coaching ● Advocacy ● Community Building ● Solidarity Economy Work ● Sister Organization: Austin Cooperative Business Foundation ● Non-Extractive Financing for Worker-owned, democratically managed businesses Initiative History 3 Katie Novak: Cooperative Coaching Outreach Steering Committee Formed steering committee ● ● GAVA conducted door knocking and house meetings across eastern crescent Surveys were distributed ● ● Represented across eastern crescent ● 3 languages ● Met monthly ● ● ● Created business plan Reviewed Market Study Created Membership Benefits plan Developed pilot plan ● Capital Campaign Committee ● Meets monthly ● ● Identifies grants Develops partnerships with Foundations, Institutions Reports to Steering committee/Board ● 4 4 What is a co-op? ● ● ● ● People centered business Owned by the people that need the business Democratically controlled : 1 member, 1 vote Need profit to fulfill mission Co-op values: self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity What is a Food Co-op? 5 ● A business focused on accessing food and other groceries, household goods; ● All profits go back into services or making co-op more affordable, or can be given to owners; ● Anyone can shop at the co-op. Ownership means: ● Investing in the business by buying a share ● Voting on your representative for the board of directors ● Access to owner-deals ● Access to financials of the business ● ● Open to all regardless of immigration Profit sharing status Membership Membership Role: Membership Benefits: ● Invest in the business through buying a 1 time share for $50 (required to vote but not to shop) ● Shop regularly at the co-op ● Vote for the Board of Directors ● Attend membership meetings ● Vote on who represents you on the Board of Directors ● Run for the Board of Directors ● Attend Members-only Meetings ● Special discounts/coupons ● Ownership in a local food retail ● co-op that meets and ensures food access to the local community Unique to our co-op: Product Development & Skill building classes and access to selling your product at the co-op 2025 Timeline 1. 2. October - November : November - December: 3. 4. 5. January - March: March - April: April - December: 7 ACBA and GAVA conducted a board election. 7 Board members elected! ● ● ● …
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 also 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, Regenerative Agriculture is defined in the food plan as an approach to farming that works to restore soil and ecosystem health, address inequity, and improve land, water, and climate for the future; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan also states that a more specific definition of Regenerative food production may need to be developed to implement strategies under Goal 1, which pertain to agricultural land use; 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 aligns with national standard parameters for climate smart, conservation focused, regenerative practices; and WHEREAS, the Resilient Farm Planning process utilizes COMET-farm modeling technology to quantify greenhouse gas sequestration potential from practice implementation, creating an avenue for measuring implementation predictions vs. results; 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, establishing a precedent of city support for plan implementation; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin currently lacks a dedicated mechanism to assist with the writing and implementation …
This template is a guide for liaisons. TEMPLATE FOR BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS 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 2020 Travis County Climate Action Plan prioritizes a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 2005 levels by 2030; and WHEREAS, the goals and strategies in the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, passed through a Resolution of Support by the Travis County Commissioner’s Court 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 includes strategic, measurable, and time-bound goals and strategies to strengthen food security, promote environmental sustainability, and address climate change; and WHEREAS, Regenerative Agriculture is defined in the food plan as an approach to farming that works to restore soil and ecosystem health, address inequity, and improve land, water, and climate for the future; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan also states that a more specific definition of Regenerative food production may need to be developed to implement strategies under Goal 1, which pertain to agricultural land use; 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 aligns with national standard parameters for climate smart, conservation focused, regenerative practices; and This template is a guide for liaisons. WHEREAS, the Resilient Farm Planning process utilizes COMET-farm modeling technology to quantify greenhouse gas sequestration potential from practice implementation, creating an avenue for measuring implementation predictions vs. results; 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 Marin Carbon Project provides an example of County Government collaborating with Resource Conservation Districts, the equivalent of Soil and Water Conservation Districts in Texas, to implement regenerative agricultural practices; and WHEREAS, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board offers funding for Regenerative Agriculture through its Texas Climate-Smart Initiative; and WHEREAS, Travis County has previously allocated funds for cheaper and longer leases on county owned agricultural lands if producers …
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2024, 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 Larry Franklin Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith 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 Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, November 18, 2024. 1. 2. DISCUSSION ITEMS Update form the Land Acquisition Working Group meeting on December 2, 2024, Marissa Bell. Update from Joint Sustainability Committee meeting on November 20, 2024, Marissa Bell. 3. 4. 5. 6. Discuss upcoming term limits and renewals. Review Board Member Assignments. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and take action on the recommendation to adjust the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Bylaws as it relates to County board terms. 7. Discuss and take action on the Board’s 2025 meeting schedule. Proposed dates below: January 13 February 10 March 10 April 14 May 12 June 9 July 7 August 11 September 8 October 20 (bumped for Indigenous Peoples Day) November 17 (bumped for Veteran’s Day Holiday) December 8 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; …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20241209-x06: Recommended Changes to County Membership Terms in Bylaws WHEREAS, the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) was formed to serve as an advisory body to the City Council and Travis County Commissioner's Court concerning the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably-grown food at reasonable prices for all residents; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin is committed to ensuring that every voice within the city is heard and valued and that all residents have equitable representation in their local government; and WHEREAS, according to the bylaws, board members appointed by the City Council serve four- year terms, while board members appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court serve two-year terms, even though both City Council members and County Commissioners are elected for four-year terms; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that City Council approve a change to the Austin- Travis County Food Policy Board bylaws to increase the terms for board members appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court to 4 years beginning February 1 of their appointed year. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024, 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 AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 1. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Board member roll call. 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 Approve the minutes of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting from Monday, October 21, 2024. 2. 3. STAFF BRIEFINGS Briefing on Strategy 9.1 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan (Launch an inclusive, community-based food collaborative or network that brings together businesses, community-based organizations, educational institutions, government, funders, and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, prioritizing community involvement on a regular basis.), Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager, City of Austin. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. Continue conversation from September and October Strategic Planning meetings and discuss Board Members’ priority strategies from the Austin/Travis County Food Plan. 5. 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.
A Food Plan for Austin-Travis County ATCFPB November 2024 Austin/Travis County Food Planning Process Planning Team Coordinating and Project Managing the Planning Process ● ● ● ● ● ● City of Austin staff Travis County staff Consultant Team Equity Consultants Austin Travis Food Policy Board Executive Leadership Team Issue Area Groups Goal and Strategy Development Community Food Ambassadors Community Connections Community Advisory Committee ( CAC ) Advisory body overseeing the planning process Public Engagement General Public and Community Input The Public Engagement Phases We are here IFC from Austin City Council ● Develop an asset map of available resources and current food ● Create a roadmap with actionable steps for the City to prioritize and ● Identify ongoing funding and partnership opportunities to implement system conditions lead Plan strategies ● Continue to engage and support community-based organizations, school districts and higher education entities, small and large businesses, faith communities, grassroots initiatives, and individual community members to collaboratively achieve all goals within the Plan ● Identify and clearly define leadership roles and responsibilities for implementation of the various strategies within the Plan, including defining metrics and measurements of success, to return to Council with an update by March 2025, and to thereafter provide biannual updates on the implementation of the Plan ● Identify and prioritize the strategies within the Plan that address racial inequities and have a large impact on displacement, food access and insecurity, food workers, emergency food preparedness and response, and agricultural land ● Identify funding 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 ● Before the end of the Plan’s initial five-year time frame, the City Manager is directed to work with the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board and Plan partners to assess the state of the Plan and provide a recommendation to update the Plan accordingly Insert IFC Gant Chart Strategy 9.1 Launch an inclusive, community-based food collaborative or network that brings together businesses, community-based organizations, educational institutions, government, funders, and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, prioritizing community involvement on a regular basis Approach ● City and County staff are exploring a funding opportunity for an implementation coalition ● Staff are scoping and negotiating specifics and hope to have more detail before the end of the year ● …
Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board MEETING MINUTES November 18, 2024 The Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) convened on Monday, November 18, 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, Joi Chevalier, Beth Corbett, Larry Franklin, Hilda Gutierrez, Kacey Hanson, Natalie Poulos, Matt Simon, Andy Smith Board Members Absent: None 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 Chair Joi Chevalier called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION Elysa Hammond – Speaking to making all food solutions a climate solution. Treat energy like an ingredient in our food system. Beth Taylor – Tempeh producer. In support of Texas VegFest Tara Notvest – Vegan food festival coming to Austin in 2025, Seed Food and Wine Festival. Adrienne Wesk – Works with Texas VegFest and looking for City support especially around permitting and fees. APPROVAL OF MINUTES STAFF BRIEFINGS 1. Board Member Mark Bethell motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Meeting on October 21, 2024, with Board Member Matt Simon, seconding the motion. Minutes passed on an 12-0 vote. 2. Briefing on Strategy 9.1 of the Austin Travis County Food Plan (Launch an inclusive, community-based food collaborative or network that brings together businesses, community-based organizations, educational institutions, government, funders, and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, prioritizing community involvement on a regular basis.), Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager, City of Austin. [See back-up materials for presentation.] DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Continue conversation from September and October Strategic Planning meetings and discuss Board Members’ priority strategies from the Austin/Travis County Food Plan. Larry Franklin left the dais at 7:03 pm 4. Review Board Member Assignments a. Staff to share information of what departments are already doing related to the food plan (likely available in December/January). County to work towards this in early 2025. b. Staff to ask City Clerk about the process of how the City Manager reviews and incorporates Board and Commission Budget Recommendations that are submitted in March. c. Board Member Lead on various priority strategies to set meetings with relevant board members to get recommendations started. d. Board Members to bring recommendations to full board in January. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS …
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024, 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. Hilda Gutierrez Kacey Hanson Rosamaria Murillo Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS: Andrea Abel Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Marissa Bell Mark Bethell Joi Chevalier, Chair Beth Corbett Larry Franklin 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, August 12, 2024. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. 4. 6. Briefing on the Austin City Council Meeting on October 10th, Food Plan Adoption and Food Plan Implementation Resolution, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager in the Office of Sustainability DISCUSSION ITEMS Strategic planning for upcoming year to include the following objectives. Continue conversation from September meeting and discuss Board Members’ priority strategies from the Austin/Travis County Food Plan. Presentation from Joint Sustainability Committee on Austin Climate Equity Plan Implementation Lessons Learned, Charlotte Davis, Commissioner on Joint Sustainability Committee 5. Review Board Member Assignments DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS Discuss and elect a board member representative to serve as the liaison from Austin Travis County Food Policy Board to the Joint Sustainability Committee. 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 …
A Food Plan for Austin-Travis County ATCFPB October 2024 Developing a Food Plan What is a Food Plan & why do we need one? ● A Food Plan will set clear Goals and Strategies to move toward a more equitable, sustainable & resilient food system ● The Food Plan will build on several other initiatives made by the County, City, and Communities to tackle key food system issues. ● The Food Plan will center equity and the lived expertise of those most impacted by the current food system Authority for developing the Food Plan ● On June 2021 Austin City Council directed the City Manager to initiate a planning process ● Travis County Commissioners Court approved formal participation in the plan in fall 2022 Link to full resolution Austin/Travis County Food Planning Process Planning Team Coordinating and Project Managing the Planning Process ● ● ● ● ● ● City of Austin staff Travis County staff Consultant Team Equity Consultants Austin Travis Food Policy Board Executive Leadership Team Issue Area Groups Goal and Strategy Development Community Food Ambassadors Community Connections Community Advisory Committee ( CAC ) Advisory body overseeing the planning process Public Engagement General Public and Community Input The Public Engagement Phases We are here Plan Adoption ● Plan adoped by Austin City Council on October 10th 2024 ● Unanimous vote from Council ● 20 speakers in favor of the Plan IFC from City Council ● Develop an asset map of available resources and current food ● Create a roadmap with actionable steps for the City to prioritize and ● Identify ongoing funding and partnership opportunities to implement system conditions lead Plan strategies ● Continue to engage and support community-based organizations, school districts and higher education entities, small and large businesses, faith communities, grassroots initiatives, and individual community members to collaboratively achieve all goals within the Plan ● Identify and clearly define leadership roles and responsibilities for implementation of the various strategies within the Plan, including defining metrics and measurements of success, to return to Council with an update by March 2025, and to thereafter provide biannual updates on the implementation of the Plan ● Identify and prioritize the strategies within the Plan that address racial inequities and have a large impact on displacement, food access and insecurity, food workers, emergency food preparedness and response, and agricultural land ● Identify funding in the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget for investment in …
