Austin Travis County Food Policy Board - June 10, 2024
Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Regular Meeting of the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board - Regular Meeting of the Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board - June 10
REGULAR MEETING of the AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, JUNE 10th, 2024, FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 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/COMMISSIONERS: Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Marissa Bell Mark Bethell Joi Chevalier, Chair Larry Franklin Rosamaria Murillo Natalie Poulos AGENDA CALL TO ORDER 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 15, 2024 2. Final Approved Version of Food Plan, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager STAFF BRIEFING DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discuss the Community Investment Budget, Larry Franklin 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Discuss advocacy plan, talking points, and schedule for board member outreach to elected officials on food planning and board-approved budget recommendations. Update from Lisa Barden regarding Andrea Abel’s meeting on June 4, 2024 with D3 - CM Velasquez staff Jaelyn Valero Update from Marissa Bell on May 31, 2024, meeting with D8 - CM Paige Ellis Update from Marissa Bell on April 24, 2024, meeting with D7 - CM Leslie Pool staff Ashley Richardson Update on Board Appointments (Matt Simon, Andy Smith, Hilda Gutierrez, and reappointment of Kacey Hanson) Discussion of Joint Sustainability Committee meetings held on April 24 (Regular Meeting), April 30 (Special Called Meeting), May 22 (Regular Meeting), Larry Franklin and Dr. Rosamaria Murillo Discuss Annual Internal Review which is due July 31, 2024 Review Board Member Assignments (Note for Chair: take item out of order and discuss at end of meeting) DISCUSSION & ACTION ITEMS Discuss and approve amendments to bylaws including an adjustment to County appointee terms and number of City and County appointees Discuss and approve cancelling …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20240610-xxx (XXX is the agenda item number): Recommended Changes to Membership 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, 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; WHEREAS, the 7 Board positions that are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the City Council are all currently nominated by the mayor may not adequately represent the diverse needs and interests of all districts within the City of Austin. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board strongly encourages the Austin City Council to modify Section 2-1-170(A) in the City’s Code of Ordinances to increase ATCFPB membership to 17 members, and Section 2-1-170(A)(1) to read “The City Council shall consist of 11 members, nominated by each council member and the mayor and appointed by the city council.”; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the responsible party increase the terms for board members appointed by the Travis County Commissioners court to 4 years to correspond to their elected terms. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20240610-xxx (XXX is the agenda item number): Recommendation to approve the proposed Austin-Travis County Food Plan 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, in June 2021, the City Council passed resolution 20210610-039 directing the development of a five-year food plan for Austin-Travis County and in December 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to formally join the planning process to ensure the plan would be inclusive of all Travis County residents; and WHEREAS, the Food Plan was created by a deeply engaged community throughout the process, with 4,332 individuals engaged in planning meetings and events and 3,010 hours of committed community participation, with 34% of participants identified as struggling to meet basic needs, 87% of participants residing within City of Austin boundaries, and 11% multilingual engagement in a language other than English; and WHEREAS, the proposed Food Plan consists of strategies to address food security, public health, land access and local agriculture, sustainability, and economic growth; and WHEREAS, approving and implementing this Food Plan will create a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food system in Austin and Travis County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board strongly encourages the Austin City Council to approve the proposed Food Plan, and commit to its successful implementation by also approving Resolution Number 20240318-7 to hire a full-time employee dedicated to this purpose. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20240610-xxx (XXX is the agenda item number): Recommendation to approve the proposed Austin-Travis County Food Plan 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, in June 2021, the City Council passed resolution 20210610-039 directing the development of a five-year food plan for Austin-Travis County and in December 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to formally join the planning process to ensure the plan would be inclusive of all Travis County residents; and WHEREAS, the Food Plan was created by a deeply engaged community throughout the process, with 4,332 individuals engaged in planning events and 3,010 hours of committed community participation, with 34% of participants identified as struggling to meet basic needs, 13% of participants residing in areas of Travis County outside of the City of Austin boundaries, and 11% multilingual engagement in a language other than English; and WHEREAS, the proposed Food Plan consists of strategies to address food security, public health, land access and local agriculture, sustainability, and economic growth; and WHEREAS, approving and implementing this Food Plan will create a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food system in Austin and Travis county. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board strongly encourages the Travis County Commissioners Court to approve the proposed Food Plan, and commit to its successful implementation by also approving Resolution Number ??? (does the county resolution have a similar numbering system?) to hire a full-time employee dedicated to this purpose. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)
A Food Plan for Austin-Travis County Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Briefing June 10th, 2024 Agenda ● Introductions ● What is a Food System? ● What is a Food Plan and why are we doing it? ● How did we create the Plan? ● Who participated in the Planning Process? ● Overview of Vision and Objectives ● Overview of the Goals and Strategies ● Next Steps 2 2 Some Food for Thought Food Production: Where our food comes from, including everything from farming to ranching Food Processing & Distribution: What happens to food from where it is grown to when it reaches your plate, including how food is moved and processed. Food Markets & Retails: Where food is sold, purchased, or provided cost-free. Food Consumption & Access: How we eat our food, who struggles to get enough food, and what impact our consumption has on our health. Post-Consumption & Food Waste: What happens to the parts of food we don’t eat and the impact of food waste on the environment. Food Justice: How systemic racism & colonization impact how the food system works — or doesn’t work — for each member of our community. 4 Creating a Food Plan What is a Food Plan & why do we need one? ● A Food Plan sets clear Goals and Strategies to move toward a more equitable, sustainable & resilient food system ● The Food Plan builds on several other initiatives made by the County, City, and communities to tackle key food system issues. ● The Food Plan centers equity and the lived expertise of those most impacted by the current food system 6 6 Background and Authority ● 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 7 7 Project Timeline Phase 0: Planning for the Plan Phase 1: Vision Development Phase 2: Goal & Strategy Development We are here Phase 3: Review and Ground truthing September 2021 - January 2023 March - August 2023 September 2023 - February 2024 February - Summer/Fall 2024 ● ● ● ● Building Community Awareness 📰 Release of State of the Food System Report 📚 Onboarding Planning Consultant⭐ Recruitment of Community Teams🚀 ● Website launch 📶 ● World Cafes ☕ ● ● ● ● Listening Sessions & Tabling at events …
Community Investment Budget The City’s budget is a reflection of our values. Austin is a progressive city, but budget processes are by nature conservative. Each budget is built on the prior one, and such a process makes the city resistant to change, regardless of the priorities expressed by voters and those they elect to address the urgent needs of today. Austin’s budget process even fails to account for predictable expansion of important programs due to population growth (e.g. more parks require more park services.) Incrementally, we demand that city departments address housing, health and safety in new ways where the old ways have failed, and prioritize population appropriate service expansion guided by equity and sustainability across all departments. The undersigned organizations jointly urge the following priority investments in community health, housing, affordability, sustainability and safety for FY24 totaling $76.3 million or 5.5% of this year’s roughly $1.4 billion General Revenue budget. We further ask that items marked “ ongoing ” be funded in the baseline budget to be released by the City Manager. In recognition of the need for equitable resource support we ask that BIPOC led & served organizations be prioritized. ● Parent Support Specialists [$2.4M] ongoing ● Tenant Relocation Assistance Program [$1M] ongoing ● Emergency Rental Assistance, Eviction Defense, and Tenant Legal and Support Services [$10M] ● Forensic Nursing, Austin Health Department [$328k] ongoing ● Mental Health 1st Response [$4M] ongoing ● Library books/materials [$900k] ● Reentry navigators for jobs/housing formerly incarcerated [$1.4M] ongoing ● Workforce Development [$3.46M ] ● Office of Violence Prevention [$500k] ● Implementation of the Austin Climate Equity Plan [$1.335M] ● Improve rebates for residential and commercial landscape conversions [$400,000, Austin Water Utility Revenue] ● Increase Leak Detection Programs [$2.28M, Austin Water Utility Revenue] ● Park Maintenance and Safety [$2M] ongoing ● Tenant Education, Stabilization Support, and Community-based Agreement Support [$300k] ongoing ● Displacement Prevention Navigators [$1M] ongoing ● Fair Housing Education, Support, and Testing [$350k] ● Emergency Supplemental Assistance for Low Income Residents [$300k] ● Inclement Weather Response [$4.5M] ongoing ● Community Crisis Response [$2.3M] ongoing ● Street Outreach Services, Case Managers, and Peer Support Specialists [$4M] ● Strengthen Rapid Rehousing (RRH) and create a bridge to Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) [$8M] ● Service funding for Permanent Supportive Housing [$4M] ● Early Childhood Education and Development [$1.575M] ongoing ● Resilience Hubs [$15M] ● Harm Reduction Services and Infrastructure [$1M] ongoing ● Immigration Legal …
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20240610‐014: Recommendation to approve the proposed Austin‐Travis County Food Plan 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, in June 2021, the City Council passed resolution 20210610‐039 directing the development of a five‐year food plan for Austin‐Travis County and in December 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to formally join the planning process to ensure the plan would be inclusive of all Travis County residents; and WHEREAS, the Food Plan was created by a deeply engaged community throughout the process, with 4,332 individuals engaged in planning meetings and events and 3,010 hours of committed community participation, with 34% of participants identified as struggling to meet basic needs, 87% of participants residing within City of Austin boundaries, and 11% multilingual engagement in a language other than English; and WHEREAS, the proposed Food Plan consists of strategies to address food security, public health, land access and local agriculture, sustainability, and economic growth; and WHEREAS, approving and implementing this Food Plan will create a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food system in Austin and Travis County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board strongly encourages the Austin City Council to approve the proposed Food Plan and commit to its successful implementation by also approving Resolution Number 20240318‐7 to hire a full‐time employee dedicated to this purpose. Date of Approval: June 10th, 2024 Record of the vote: 7 in favor, none opposed, none abstained. For: Lisa Barden, Mark Bethell, Joi Chevalier, Marissa Bell, Larry Franklin, Rosamaria Murillo, Natalie Poulos Abstentions: None Off Dais: None Absences: None Attest: City of Austin, Office of Sustainability, Food Policy Manager/ ATCFPB Staff Liaison
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: 20240610‐015: Recommendation to approve the proposed Austin‐Travis County Food Plan 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, in June 2021, the City Council passed resolution 20210610‐039 directing the development of a five‐year food plan for Austin‐Travis County and in December 2022, the Travis County Commissioners Court voted to formally join the planning process to ensure the plan would be inclusive of all Travis County residents; and WHEREAS, the Food Plan was created by a deeply engaged community throughout the process, with 4,332 individuals engaged in planning events and 3,010 hours of committed community participation, with 34% of participants identified as struggling to meet basic needs, 13% of participants residing in areas of Travis County outside of the City of Austin boundaries, and 11% multilingual engagement in a language other than English; and WHEREAS, the proposed Food Plan consists of strategies to address food security, public health, land access and local agriculture, sustainability, and economic growth; and WHEREAS, approving and implementing this Food Plan will create a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food system in Austin and Travis County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin Travis County Food Policy Board strongly encourages the Travis County Commissioners Court to approve the proposed Food Plan and commit to its successful implementation by also approving Resolution Number 20240318‐7 to hire a full‐time employee dedicated to this purpose. Date of Approval: June 10th, 2024 Record of the vote: 7 in favor, none opposed, none abstained. For: Lisa Barden, Mark Bethell, Joi Chevalier, Marissa Bell, Larry Franklin, Rosamaria Murillo, Natalie Poulos Abstentions: None Off Dais: None Absences: None Attest: City of Austin, Office of Sustainability, Food Policy Manager/ ATCFPB Staff Liaison
MEETING MINUTES June 10, 2024 Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board The Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) convened on Monday, June 10th at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr, Room 1406, Austin, TX 78752. Board Members in Attendance: Lisa Barden, Mark Bethell, Marissa Bell, Joi Chevalier, Larry Franklin, Larry Franklin, Rosamaria Murillo, Natalie Poulos Board Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Edwin Marty (City of Austin), Amanda Rohlich (City of Austin) CALL TO ORDER Chair Joi Chevalier called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Board Member Lisa Barden motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Meeting on April 15th, with Board Member Marissa Bell, seconding the motion. Minutes passed on an 7-0 vote. 2. Final Approved Version of Food Plan, Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager (see back-up STAFF BRIEFING materials for presentation) DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Discuss the Community Investment Budget, Larry Franklin and Kathy Mitchell of Equity Action (see back up for Community Investment Budget document). Includes visionary alternatives on public safety. Food related investments to help with the implementation of food planning include: Capacity Building Grant for small, local neighborhood organizations addressing food insecurity and accessibility at $220,000; Food Plan Project Manager (FTE) with Office of Sustainability $150,000; Food Plan Coordinator (FTE) Austin Resource Recovery $120,000; Food Plan Coordinator (FTE) with Austin Public Health $120,000; Food Plan Coordinator (FTE) with Economic Development $120,000. 4. Discuss advocacy plan, talking points, and schedule for board member outreach to elected officials on food planning and board-approved budget recommendations. 5. Update form Lisa Barden regarding Andrea Abel’s meeting on June 4, 2024 with D3 – CM Velasquez staff Jaelyn Valero. Jaelyn covers environment, food insecurity and public health and has a personal interest in sustainable agriculture. They had a 20-minute conversation where Andrea Abel introduced her to the ATCFPB and the Food Plan. Abel shared that the hope was for the Food Plan to be reviewed by City Council in July. Abel also shared that CM Fuentes would most likely sponsor the resolution to support the ATCFPB recommendation to fund an FTE for food plan implementation with backup from CM A. Alter and CM R. Alter. Jaelyn indicated that we could anticipate CM Velasquez's support as well. Jaelyn asked if there was a dollar amount to implement the food plan but Abel let her know that was …
