Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026 The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) convened on Monday, January 12, at the City of Austin Permitting and Development Center, 6310 Wilhelmina Delco Dr., Room 1406, Austin, TX 78752. Board Members in Attendance: 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 Board Members Absent: None Staff in Attendance: Edwin Marty (City of Austin - remote), Angela Baucom (City of Austin), Amanda Rohlich (City of Austin), Yaira Robinson (Travis County) CALL TO ORDER Joi Chevalier called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Kelly Nichols – APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Board Member Andy Smith motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Meeting on November 17, 2025, with Marissa Bell seconding the motion. Minutes passed on a 13-0. 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 (see back-up materials for presentation). DISCUSSION ITEMS 3. Report out from Joint Sustainability Committee on November 19, 2025. Presented recommendation to support farmland acquisition and preservation to the JSC and it was approved with one minor clarification of language. There were other presentations and discussion regarding solar on City facilities, Commercial Landscape Survey, and Austin Resource Recovery Fleet Electrification. AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Discuss the Regional Food System Council Local Collaborative Coalition and opportunities to participate. Report out from 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. Meeting on Friday to determine meeting cadence and SPOC to serve in Hilda’s absence. Report out from the working group to participate in the USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) application for funding for conservation easements as a regional partnership. Took presentation to Bond Election Advisory Task Force working group for potential inclusion in bond election. They wanted to know details about implementation. Report out from the working group to explore revenue generators such a sugar sweetened beverage tax, a surplus food donation requirement for events, and/or a percent conservation fund from all land purchases or new developments. Lisa Barden reported out on research on revenue generators to fund food plan implementation. Lisa explored Real Estate Excise Tax and Sweetened Beverage Tax. Texas has a prohibition on the real estate excise tax. Sweetened beverage tax in seven U.S. cities bringing in an average of 1% of general fund. Review Board Member Assignments. a. Natalie Poulos to let Amanda Rohlich know if there are any Regional Food System Council updates that should be added to the Board agenda. b. Andy Smith and Andrea Abel to meet to discuss participation in the Regional Food System Council. c. Andy Smith to resend recommendation, talking points, and invite all board members to upcoming Bond Election Advisory Task Force for public comment. d. Amanda Rohlich to send sign up for BEATF public comment. e. Farmland Preservation WG to share relevant research with Seanna Marceaux. f. Lisa Barden to include Kacey Hanson and Joi Chevalier in future revenue generators working group conversations. g. All to consider JSC liaison position. h. All consider potential candidates board vacancies (anyone involved in selling food to the public). i. WG members to prepare for FY27 Budget Season j. Amanda Rohlich to share out communications about 2 year budget planning process. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 9. Discuss and take possible action on the Joint Sustainability Committee liaison appointment. No action was taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 10. 11. Presentation from Austin Economic Development on Del Valle Co-op slated for February 2026. Presentation from WIC Program at Austin Public Health. ADJOURNMENT AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 12, 2026 Joi Chevalier adjourned the meeting at 6:51 p.m. Minutes were approved at the February 9, 2026 full board meeting on Board Member Lisa Barden’s motion with Board Member Andrea Abel seconding. Minutes passed on a 10-0 vote.