REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2025, AT 6:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER, ROOM 1406 6310 WILHELMINO 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, contact Amanda Rohlich, (512) 974-1364, Amanda.Rohlich@austintexas.gov. CURRENT AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEMBERS: Joi Chevalier, Chair Lisa Barden, Vice-Chair Andrea Abel Marissa Bell Beth Corbett Nitza Cuevas Hilda Gutiérrez Kacey Hanson Seanna Marceaux Erin McDonald Natalie Poulos Matt Simon Andrew Smith AGENDA CALL TO ORDER Board Member roll call and introduction of new and existing board members. 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 on Monday, October 20, 2025. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding Austin-Travis County Food Plan Implementation. Presentation by Edwin Marty, Food Policy Manager, Austin Climate Action & Resilience and Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director of Environmental Programs, Travis County. 3. Staff briefing regarding SNAP Emergency Food Access Coordination Call. Presentation by Amanda Rohlich, Food Policy Advisor, Austin Climate Action & Resilience. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Presentation from Central Texas Food Bank on the Local Coalition Collaborative and Regional Food Systems Council. Presentation by Tracy Ayrhart, Vice President of Research and Strategic Partnerships. Discussion of Board Member Strategic Planning Activities. Report out from Joint Sustainability Committee on October 22, 2025. Report out from presentation to Bond Election Advisory Taskforce on Open Space. Review Board Member Assignments. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. 10. 11. Approve the creation of a working group to expand access to nutritious foods through improvement to existing materials an resources and explore alternate or expanded hours for existing resources. Approve the creation of a working group to participate in the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) application for funding for conservation easements as a regional partnership. Approve …
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB November 2025 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Award! City of Austin ACAR will use this award to launch a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) in early 2026 to fund two community-based, shovel-ready projects that support a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient local food system. Austin will host the MUFPP North American Regional Gathering Cities from across North America will gather in Austin to share best practices and developed a regional work plan March 10th and 11th 2026 City Staff Report Back to Council ● City staff provided another Memo to Council in November 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) ● City staff released an RFP for support of an implementation collaborative. The RFP has closed and staff have evaluated the proposals and selected a consultant. ● The contract will be on the December 11th City Council agenda for approval. ● Consultant should be on-board in winter of 2025. Food Plan Implementation Convening ● First Food Plan Implementation Convening occurred on May 9th ● Food Plan webinar occurred on August 7th ● Next Convening in winter of 2026. Let us know if you have suggestions on format. Food Plan - Relevant Budget Events ● Due to defeat of Proposition Q, the City is revising the FY26 budget (base & amendments) that was approved by Council in September. ● The Proposed Amended FY26 Budget Timeline: ○ Tuesday, Nov. 18: City Council Work Session and Budget briefing. ○ Wednesday, Nov. 19: City Council Work Session and public hearing on the Proposed FY26 Amended Budget. ○ Thursday, Nov. 20: City Council to consider action on Proposed FY26 Amended Budget. City of Austin 2026 Bond Travis County Food Plan Updates: None at this time. Thank You! www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB November 2025 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Award! City of Austin ACAR will use this award to launch a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) in early 2026 to fund two community-based, shovel-ready projects that support a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient local food system. Austin will host the MUFPP North American Regional Gathering Cities from across North America will gather in Austin to share best practices and developed a regional work plan March 10th and 11th 2026 City Staff Report Back to Council ● City staff provided another Memo to Council in November 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) ● City staff released an RFP for support of an implementation collaborative. The RFP has closed and staff have evaluated the proposals and selected a consultant. ● The contract will be on the December 11th City Council agenda for approval. ● Consultant should be on-board in winter of 2025. Food Plan Implementation Convening ● First Food Plan Implementation Convening occurred on May 9th ● Food Plan webinar occurred on August 7th ● Next Convening in winter of 2026. Let us know if you have suggestions on format. Food Plan - Relevant Budget Events ● Due to defeat of Proposition Q, the City is revising the FY26 budget (base & amendments) that was approved by Council in September. ● The Proposed Amended FY26 Budget Timeline: ○ Tuesday, Nov. 18: City Council Work Session and Budget briefing. ○ Wednesday, Nov. 19: City Council Work Session and public hearing on the Proposed FY26 Amended Budget. ○ Thursday, Nov. 20: City Council to consider action on Proposed FY26 Amended Budget. City of Austin 2026 Bond Travis County Food Plan Updates: None at this time. Thank You! www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
Impacts on Food Access due to Federal Government Shutdown Austin Climate Action & Resilience | November 17, 2025 Current Status Starting from where we are today As of November 17, 2025 ▪ SNAP benefits were not distributed Nov. 1 due to Federal Government shutdown. ▪ SNAP benefits resumed in full November 14. ▪ SNAP participants who receive benefits on or after the 14th of the month will receive their full benefits on their normal issuance date. ▪ SNAP participants who already received partial benefits will receive the rest of their monthly amount on or after November 14. ▪ Many Central Texans were struggling to put food on the table before the federal shutdown and this disruption exacerbated the issue. ▪ Last year, United Way’s Navigation Center received more than 30,000 requests for food – our community’s top requested need. 3 City of Austin Response Actions taken by City of Austin to address the impacts Coordination Efforts ▪ Austin Climate Action & Resilience alerted key COA officials of issue and potential impacts and held coordination calls ▪ Austin Emergency Management not activated; Emergency Declaration not made ▪ Intergovernmental Relations Office provided timely updates to Mayor & Council on shutdown impacts ▪ Austin Climate Action & Resilience met with ConnectCTX, Central Texas Food Bank, and other key partners to discuss messaging to community ▪ Directed people to Central Texas Foodbank website, call 2-1-1, or go to ConnectCTX.org to find nearby food pantries, meal sites, and emergency assistance programs. ▪ Press release and conference held October 31 ▪ Austin Mayor Kirk Watson and Travis County Judge Andy Brown were joined by leadership from Central Texas Food Bank and United Way for Greater Austin to share information about available resources in light of impact to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the government shutdown. 5 Additional Actions ▪ Austin Climate Action & Resilience reconvened the weekly Emergency Food Access Calls on October 31. Last call slated for Friday, November 21 ▪ Partner agencies leading efforts to expand access and meet demand to bridge gap ▪ Partners noted increased demand across food distributions (i.e., Central Texas Food Bank has distributed 50% more food than this time last year) ▪ City of Austin participated in food drive collecting shelf-stable items to donate to Central Texas Food Bank ▪ Extended City of Austin Combined Charities Campaign to encourage additional giving to food access related …
Central Texas Regional Food System Council: Updates and Opportunities Prepared for: ATCFPB By: Dr. Tracy Ayrhart, Vice President of Research + Strategic Partnerships Monday, November 17, 2025 CTFB | Roadmap Roadmap • Context and Council Development • Regional Food System Council • Mission and Vision • High-Level Structure • Timeline • Opportunities Council Development CTFB | Council Development Central Texas Food Bank’s Approach We believe every Central Texan should have immediate and equitable access to nutritious food. This can be done one of two ways: • Providing direct access to nutritious food. • Providing the resources necessary for all Central Texans to access nutritious food on their own. CTFB | Members Council Development Group Members Expansion and Assessment County Food System Business Backbone Organization Central Texas Food Bank Sukanya Romyanon, Director of Food System Planning Bastrop County Bastrop County Cares – Economic Stability Coalition Norma Mercado, Executive Director Supply chain logistics, large-scale retail Amazon Josh Hirschland, Principal Product Manager Funder Episcopal Health Foundation C. J. Hager, VP Grants Bell County Helping Hands Belton - Bell County Hunger Coalition Alicia Jallah, Executive Director Agricultural landscape Texas Farmers Market Laura McDonald, Executive Director Hunger Free Community Coalition development Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty Katie Nye, Director of Hunger Free Community Coalitions Data and Assessment University of Texas at Austin – Dept. of Nutrition Sciences Natalie Poulos, Assistant Professor Government Local government Texas Association of Regional Councils Ginny Lewis Ford, Executive Director Hays County Hays County Health Department Healthy Hays Coalition Matthew Gonzales Director McLennan County Prosper Waco – McLennan County Hunger Free Community Coalition Jeremy Rhodes, Senior Director of Data & Research Travis County Travis County Health and Human Services Leslie Gaines, Family Support Services Division Director Williamson County United Way for Greater Austin – Food at Every Table Initiative Dorothy Light, Community Health Connect Director Community Member Candace Rhodes, Community Representative Subject Matter Expertise (On-Call As Needed) Small-scale retail and distribution Greater Austin Merchants Cooperative Association (GAMA) Shane Walker, COO Additional Staff Support: Tracy Ayrhart, VP of Research + Strategic Partnerships Mia Burger, Research Manager, Central Texas Food Bank CTFB | Council Development Council Development Timeline Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Clarifying Intentions Developing Charter Transitioning to Council Relationship building and establishing shared understanding and expectations Establishing charter/structure for Regional Food System Council Recruit council members and work through remaining charter needs Council Official Launch: …
Investing in Farmland Preservation & Access in Central Texas Austin-Travis Couty Food Policy Board Commissioners Andy Smith, Matt Simon, Marissa Bell Food Access & Resilience Crisis Less than 1% of food consumed in Travis County is produced locally. More demand than supply - Central Texas’ production cannot realistically meet its total demand for food. When prices rise, local food becomes inaccessible for families and small businesses COVID-19 showed our fragile supply chain Local producers were more resilient and quick to respond. Sources: 2022, City of Austin, State of the Food System Report; Central Texas Food Bank, Central TX Food System Dashboard Farmland Access Crisis 2017 Total Acres 2022 Total Acres 5 year loss 2017-2022 Decrease Years until farmland is completed developed Travis 212,782 193,523 19,259 9.10% 50 Williamson 541,344 368,663 172,681 31.90% Hays 254,999 129,788 125,211 49.10% Bastrop 321,934 247,205 74,729 23.20% Caldwell 269,665 229,140 40,525 15.00% 11 5 17 28 Region 1,600,724 1,168,319 432,405 27.00% 13.5 Source: Central Texas Food Bank, Food Systems Dashboard Now is the cheapest and easiest time to break the cycle. Ripple Effects of Losing Farmland: Food System Resilience Less local food production capacity Water & Flooding Increased runoff, reduced aquifer recharge Remaining land becomes more valuable Climate Lost carbon sinks, more emissions from development Biodiversity Habitat loss and ecosystem function decline Local Economy Fewer viable farms, lost green jobs Farmland Preservation Supports Many City Priorities and Goals City Goal Area Alignment / Impact Reference (Plan & Goal #) Food Security Climate Action Preserves agricultural lands and expands regenerative food production, building local food system capacity. Austin-Travis County Food Plan — Goal 1 Protects carbon-rich soils and supports carbon sequestration on working lands. City Strategic Plan — CH3. Austin Climate Equity Plan — Natural Systems Goal 1 (Needs Support). Farmland Protection Advances target to protect 500,000 acres of farmland in 5-county region; currently off track. Austin Climate Equity Plan — Natural Systems Goal 2 (Off-Track) Watershed Protection Regenerative farmland increases infiltration, reduces runoff, and supports aquifer recharge. City Strategic Plan — CH3.2, CH3.3.2; Watershed Protection Master Plan Biodiversity Maintains wildlife habitat and soil biodiversity Resolution 20230126-054 — UN Biodiversity Framework Targets 1 & 3 Emergency Preparedness Strengthens local food supply and reduces reliance on distant supply chains during crises. City Strategic Plan — Resilience goals CH4 Open Spaces / Parks Supports parkland use for community agriculture, nature-based education, and food-based business incubators; aligns with parkland …
