- SPECIAL CALLED MEETING OF THE AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026, AT 5:00 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 Kacey Hanson Seanna Marceaux Erin McDonald Natalie Poulos 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, February 9, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding Women, Infant, and Children Program. Presentation by Clare Shellooe, Austin Public Health. 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. DISCUSSION ITEMS 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Presentation and discussion regarding the Food Plan Implementation Collaborative, Kelly Nichols, Woollard Nichols & Torres. Report out from Joint Sustainability Committee on February 25, 2026. Presentation and discussion regarding the working group to expand access to nutritious foods through improvement to existing materials and resources and explore alternate or expanded hours for existing resources. Presentation and discussion regarding the working group to participate in the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) application for funding for conservation easements as a regional partnership. Presentation and discussion regarding the working group to explore revenue generators such as sugar sweetened beverage tax, a surplus food donation requirement for events, and/or a percent conservation fund from all land purchases or new developments. Review Board Member Assignments. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. Discuss and take possible action …
Austin-Travis County Food Plan ATCFPB March 2026 – Staff Update City of Austin Food Plan Updates Milan Urban Food Policy Pact North American Regional Gathering City of Austin ACAR co-hosted the first ever North and Central American gathering in March 2026. City also hosted the inaugural convening of the Urban Agriculture Directors Alliance (UADA) Milan Urban Food Policy Pact North American Regional Gathering 40 cities from Canada, US, Mexico, Hondurus Reception dinner in partnership with Urban Roots and Good Work Austin, featuring City and County officials at Vuka Forum with panels, presentations, and workshops on best practices and challenges at Barr Mansion Keynote from Dr Patel and Dr Reese Output: Development of a Regional Roadmap Urban Agriculture Directors Alliance 25 US cities Convening took place st Zilker Botanical Gardens, with support from the Vermont Law School Output: Landscape Analysis of municipal work on urban ag City Staff Updates ● City staff provided another Memo to Council in November 2025 ● City staff will provide a next Memo in April 2026 ● City staff working to update the Food Plan Dashboard, to be completed in April 2026 Food Plan Implementation Convening ● First Food Plan Implementation Convening occurred on May 9th, 2025 ● Food Plan webinar occurred on August 7th, 2025 ● WNT will be presenting to the Food Policy Board in March 2026 ● Future Implementation work will be led by WNT ● ●Public launch for the Collaborative is being scheduled for Summer 2026 ● Funding from the MUFPP Award will be released via a RFA in fall 2026 City of Austin 2026 Bond Travis County Food Plan Updates General Updates 1. Update on County appointments and terms 2. Forecast for FY27 budget Thank You! www.austintexas.gov/food /austinsustainability
Q1 Update: Austin/Travis County Food Plan Implementation Collaborative Food Policy Board Meeting March 23rd, 2026 Overview 1. Background and Year 1 Goals 2. First Quarter Update • Actions taken so far • Proposed Liaison roles for the City, Travis County, and Food Policy Board • Requests for support from the City 3. Questions for the Food Policy Board Our Role The WNT team will serve as backbone support We will: • Design and facilitate inclusive processes • Support governance and structure development • Coordinate outreach, meetings, and reporting • Steward alignment with Food Plan goals and values We do not make decisions for the Collaborative - we support the Collaborative in making them. Our Team • WNT (Kelly Nichols, Kelley Abell, & Andrea Torres) • Blue Sky Partners (Matt Glazer & Audrey Sherman) • Dwyer Consulting (JC Dwyer) • Network Weavers • Black Lives Veggies the Nonprofit (Larry Franklin) • Cygnus Advisory Group (Joi Chevalier) • Joshua Collier • Good Work Austin (Nitza Cuevas and Kara Hanaoka) • Fruitful Commons (Angie Holliday) Year 1 Goals (At a Glance) Three core goals for Year 1: (1) Launch inclusive governance and leadership (2) Engage a broad, representative food system network (3) Establish clear ways of working and accountability Year 1 Goal #1: Governance Build a Collaborative people trust: • Establish an interim structure to operate quickly • Co-create a Collaborative Charter • Define leadership roles, participation tiers, and decision-making • Ensure power-sharing and equity guardrails Year 1 Goal #2: Engagement Bring the full food system to the table • Targeted outreach across all food system sectors • Network Weavers as trusted connectors • Meeting people where they are • Multiple ways to participate (deep + light touch) Year 1 Goal #3: Credibility & Alignment Build confidence with partners and the public • Regular check-ins with City, County, and Food Policy Board • Clear documentation and transparent communication • Early wins that demonstrate momentum and value Actions Taken So Far 1. Governance • Obtained federal EIN # for the Collaborative 2. Engagement • Informal Stakeholder conversations • Hosted Community Orientation Session 2/24 • Initiated signup form for Network updates • Convened Network Weavers to develop a food system stakeholder map and designate target networks 3. Credibility & Alignment • Convened Subcontractor Team and Established Year 1 Work Plan; monthly check-in meetings with City/County • Confirmed performance measures + reporting Next Up: Targeted Outreach …
