- REGULAR MEETING OF THE AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MONDAY, JULY 13, 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: Lisa Barden, Chair Andrea Abel Marissa Bell, Vice- Chair Beth Corbett Nitza Cuevas Kacey Hanson Seanna Marceaux Melody McClary Erin McDonald Natalie Poulos 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 Special Called Meeting on Monday, June 8, 2026. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. Staff briefing regarding community gardens on City-owned land. Presentation by Lindsay Loftin, Community Garden Program Manager, Austin Parks and Recreation. 3. 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. 10. Discuss the Annual Internal Review. Discuss advocacy points of contact for each board member, both at the City Council and County Commissioners Court level. 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. Discussion of future strategic planning – delay until vacancies are …
. RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: [2026-7-13] (XXX is the agenda item number): [Healthy Food Worker Incentive and Rebate Pilot Program] WHEREAS, the Austin food and beverage industry is a cornerstone of the local economy, culture, and tourism sector and is among the largest employment sectors in the city; and WHEREAS, food and beverage workers face significant economic challenges, including low wages, limited access to healthcare benefits, and workplace instability, while many locally owned businesses operate on narrow profit margins that make investments in workforce supports difficult; and WHEREAS, independent and locally owned food and beverage businesses contribute significantly to Austin's unique culture, economic vitality, and neighborhood character, yet often face greater challenges than larger corporate operators in providing workforce benefits and absorbing increases in labor-related costs; and WHEREAS, the Austin-Travis County Food Plan, adopted by Austin City Council, includes Strategy 3.4, which calls for supporting livable wages for food workers through incentives such as rebates, tax incentives, and wage supplements for food system employers who pay a livable wage; and WHEREAS, improving job quality through higher wages, healthcare access, paid leave, and workforce stability advances the City's goals related to economic mobility, public health, workforce development, small business resiliency, and equitable economic opportunity; and WHEREAS, Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government Code authorizes municipalities to establish economic development incentive programs that provide measurable public benefits and advance community priorities; and WHEREAS, a Healthy Food Worker Incentive and Rebate Pilot Program would provide an opportunity for the City of Austin to test and evaluate an innovative economic development tool that supports both food and beverage businesses and the workers who power Austin's local food economy; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board recommends that the Austin City Council direct the Economic Development Department, through its Business Incentives Division, to develop and implement a Chapter 380 Healthy Food Worker Incentive and Rebate Pilot Program for independent, locally owned food and beverage businesses operating within the City of Austin. . BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the pilot program should be designed to incentivize high-road employment practices, defined as business practices that invest in workers through quality jobs, competitive wages, benefits, opportunities for advancement, and safe, stable workplaces, in order to improve worker health, economic mobility, retention, and workplace stability, including but not limited to living wages, healthcare access, paid leave, workforce …
