- 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 …
Who we are: The Austin/Travis County Food Plan is a five-year, comprehensive, community-driven vision and action plan requested by City Council to improve our local food system. The City- and County-adopted plan, which features nine goals and sixty-one practical strategies, won the 2025 Governance Award at the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact Global Forum. The Food Plan Implementation Collaborative is a large and diverse group of passionate professionals, volunteers and neighbors dedicated to bringing the Food Plan to life. Recent Wins: The Farm Incubator Collaborative has placed ten new farmers on land to implement regenerative farming practices (Goal 2). The Central Texas Farm to School Collaborative is advancing values-based food purchasing to improve student health and open markets for local and historically underserved farmers (Goal 5). The Central Texas Food System Dashboard, which tracks key Food Plan data and other indicators was developed by the Central Texas Food Bank with the support of City staff (Goal 9). The official Food Plan Progress Dashboard is publicly tracking all sixty-one Food Plan strategies, and a recent in-person convening gathered over eighty collaborators to share and coordinate (Goal 9). Our Next Steps: Food Plan collaborators have identified critical opportunities for action over the next 90 days, including: Growing local food (Goals 1,2) — Develop a map overlaying available, viable land for gardening with food access points, mobility routes and other relevant data. Supporting food workers (Goal 3) — Create a power-map of key food / beverage sector leaders and worker community leaders, then design an engagement process to surface the priorities of food service and farm workers. Buying & serving better food (Goal 5) — Create an outreach plan to connect more stakeholders to the Central Texas Farm to School Collaborative and develop a “Lunchbox Pepper Project” to test commitments between schools and local produce farmers. Getting food to people (Goals 4, 6) — Expand summer food access for families by disseminating information and referrals to Summer Meals Program sites; develop a shared directory of food access resources to inform a public resource map and hotline. Rescuing & reusing food (Goal 7) — Plan a mini-summit of food rescue actors to create shared network maps, develop messaging materials and a social media education campaign about the availability and value of food rescue. How Your Office Can Help: Review the adopted Food Plan and communicate your office’s priority strategies to your Food Policy Board …
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 BYLAWS OF THE Austin Travis County Food Policy Board ARTICLE 1. NAME. The name of the board is Austin Travis County Food Policy Board. ARTICLE 2. PURPOSE AND DUTIES. The purpose and duties of the board are as follows: to serve as an advisory body to the City Council and Travis County Commissioners Court concerning the need to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally, and sustainably-grown food at reasonable prices for all residents, particularly those in need, by coordinating the relevant activities of city and county government, as well as nonprofit organizations, and food and farming businesses. The Board shall: (1) monitor the availability, price and quality of food throughout the Austin and Travis County area; (2) collect data on the food security (i.e., access to an affordable, diversified local food supply) and the nutritional status of city residents; (3) inform city and county policy makers, administrators, and the public at large about the status of the region's food system and food security; (4) monitor and analyze the administration of city and county food and nutrition programs; (5) explore new means for the city and county to improve the local food economy, the availability, sustainability, accessibility, and quality of food and our environment, and assist city and county departments in the coordination of their efforts; (6) review availability and recommend measures to promote the preservation of agricultural land in the City of Austin and Travis County; and (7) recommend to the city and county adoption of measures that will improve existing local food production and add new programs, incentives, projects, regulations, or services. ARTICLE 3. MEMBERSHIP. (A) The board is composed of thirteen members. Seven members are appointed by the city council. Six members are appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court. (B) Seven members serve at the pleasure of the City Council; six members serve at the pleasure of the Travis County Commissioners Court. (C) City-appointed board members serve for a term of four years beginning March 1st on the year of 36 appointment. County-appointed board members serve for a term of two four years beginning in February March 1st …
Travis County Commissioners Court Voting Session Agenda Request Meeting Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Agenda Language: Consider and take appropriate action on extending the term length of Travis County appointees to the Austin/Travis County Food Policy Board and instituting new staggered terms. (Commissioner Shea) Prepared By/Phone Number: Yaira Robinson, Assistant Director, Environmental Programs, Elected/Appointed Official or Department Head: Cynthia McDonald Commissioners Court Sponsor(s): Commissioner Shea, Precinct Two Press Inquiries: Hector Nieto, PIO@traviscountytx.gov or (512) 854-8740 Background/Summary of Request: Purpose of the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board (Board) advises both the Austin City Council and the Travis County Commissioners Court about ways to improve the availability of safe, nutritious, locally-grown, affordable, and sustainable food for all residents, particularly those in need. The Board was officially established through a City of Austin Ordinance. A Travis County Commissioners Court ordinance was approved soon after. The board began meeting in the spring of 2009. The purpose of the Food Policy Board is to: • Address health disparities • Increase local sustainable food production • End food injustices • Ensure the community has a voice in policy decisions that support a healthy and equitable food system Travis County has one staff member who serves as County staff liaison to the Board. Right now, the County staff liaison is the Assistant Director-Sustainability, in the Transportation & Natural Resources Department (TNR). Board Recommendation to Extend the Term Length for County-appointed Board Members The Board is composed of thirteen members. Seven members are appointed by the Austin City Council. Six members are appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court. City-appointed board members serve for a term of four years beginning March 1 on the year of appointment, while according to the bylaws, County-appointed board members serve for a term of two years beginning in February of the year of appointment – although in practice, the Austin City Clerk’s office starts all terms on March 1. On July 14, 2025, the Board approved a recommendation to City Council that it approve a change to the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board bylaws to increase the term length for board members appointed by the Travis County Commissioners Court to four years. According to the Board bylaws, a bylaw amendment is not effective unless approved by the Council Audit and Finance Committee. The City Clerk’s office has outlined to TNR staff the following process for making …
Update Community Gardens Austin Parks & Recreation | July 13, 2026 Staffing Update New Community Garden Coordinator Hiring Education Specialist, adding a 30-hour position to our team. Agenda What is a City-Supported Community Garden? New Community Gardens Program Map on City Website The Three Categories of City-Supported Community Gardens Water Tap Plan Process Improvements Composting Effectiveness Improvements Water Conservation Funding Pollinator Education Time for Questions Defining Community Gardens We have two different categories of Community Gardens in Austin. 18 Traditional Community Gardens 12 Program Gardens Some for seniors only (55+) Gardens Matter Community Gardens are valuable to Austin residents. Volunteers, staff, and program participants add beauty and grow food in neighborhoods. 6,110 Volunteer Hours (Communal Areas) 688 Active Gardeners 590 Garden Plots 75 Orchard Trees 9+ Languages Supported We welcomed a new Community Garden Coordinator to lead the program and provide dedicated oversight. Additionally, we arreparing to hire a Culture & Arts Education Specialist who will directly support community gardens, adding a 30-hour position to our team. Map of Community Gardens https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/programs/join-community-garden We welcomed a new Community Garden Coordinator to lead the program and provide dedicated oversight. Additionally, we arreparing to hire a Culture & Arts Education Specialist who will directly support community gardens, adding a 30-hour position to our team. Map of Community Gardens There are 3 different color-coded categories to help you find a fit for your needs. Water Taps Process Improvements Through collaboration with Austin Capital Delivery Services and a formalized partnership with Austin Water we have streamlined the process for developing engineered water tap plans for community gardens. Community Gardens Budget The Austin Parks & Recreation Community Gardens Program has a newly allocated budget of $30,000 per fiscal year. The Annual Budget Includes: - 1 Engineered water tap plan - 1 Water tap install - Educational program materials - Brush pickup pilot program - Garden entrance signage - Emergency water access support - Annual potluck gathering event - Language access services Composting Best Practices To address challenges with ineffective and unused composting systems, we organized gardeners to visit sites with successful composting operations. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we plan to conduct follow- up site visits in summer of 2027 to evaluate progress and share best practices. Water Conservation Funding Discussions are underway with Austin Water’s Water Conservation team to establish best practices for cistern maintenance and identify funding opportunities for installing new cisterns, adding …
Update Community Gardens Austin Parks & Recreation | July 13, 2026 Staffing Update New Community Garden Coordinator Hiring Education Specialist, adding a 30-hour position to our team. Agenda What is a City-Supported Community Garden? New Community Gardens Program Map on City Website The Three Categories of City-Supported Community Gardens Water Tap Plan Process Improvements Composting Effectiveness Improvements Water Conservation Funding Pollinator Education Time for Questions Defining Community Gardens We have two different categories of Community Gardens in Austin. 18 Traditional Community Gardens 12 Program Gardens Some for seniors only (55+) Gardens Matter Community Gardens are valuable to Austin residents. Volunteers, staff, and program participants add beauty and grow food in neighborhoods. 6,110 Volunteer Hours (Communal Areas) 688 Active Gardeners 590 Garden Plots 75 Orchard Trees 9+ Languages Supported We welcomed a new Community Garden Coordinator to lead the program and provide dedicated oversight. Additionally, we arreparing to hire a Culture & Arts Education Specialist who will directly support community gardens, adding a 30-hour position to our team. Map of Community Gardens https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/programs/join-community-garden We welcomed a new Community Garden Coordinator to lead the program and provide dedicated oversight. Additionally, we arreparing to hire a Culture & Arts Education Specialist who will directly support community gardens, adding a 30-hour position to our team. Map of Community Gardens There are 3 different color-coded categories to help you find a fit for your needs. Water Taps Process Improvements Through collaboration with Austin Capital Delivery Services and a formalized partnership with Austin Water we have streamlined the process for developing engineered water tap plans for community gardens. Community Gardens Budget The Austin Parks & Recreation Community Gardens Program has a newly allocated budget of $30,000 per fiscal year. The Annual Budget Includes: - 1 Engineered water tap plan - 1 Water tap install - Educational program materials - Brush pickup pilot program - Garden entrance signage - Emergency water access support - Annual potluck gathering event - Language access services Composting Best Practices To address challenges with ineffective and unused composting systems, we organized gardeners to visit sites with successful composting operations. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we plan to conduct follow- up site visits in summer of 2027 to evaluate progress and share best practices. Water Conservation Funding Discussions are underway with Austin Water’s Water Conservation team to establish best practices for cistern maintenance and identify funding opportunities for installing new cisterns, adding …
