Item 15. Draft Recommendation for County to Adopt Food Plan — original pdf

Backup

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)