Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 23, 2026 AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2026 The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) convened on Monday, March 23, 2026 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, Seanna Marceaux, Natalie Poulos, Andrew Smith Board Members Absent: Nitza Cuevas, Erin McDonald Staff in Attendance: Edwin Marty (City of Austin), 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 5:06 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Board Member Andy Smith motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the Regular Meeting on February 9, 2026, with Andrea Abel seconding the motion. Minutes passed on a 8-0. STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 3. Staff briefing regarding Women, Infant, and Children Program. Presentation by Clare Shellooe, Austin Public Health. - TABLED Staff briefing 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 4. 5. Presentation and discussion regarding the Food Plan Implementation Collaborative, Kelly Nichols, Woollard Nichols & Torres (see back-up materials for presentation). Report out from Joint Sustainability Committee on February 25, 2026. Andy Smith was unable to attend the meeting and is looking for a liaison replacement. AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 23, 2026 6. 7. 8. 9. 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. Natalie Poulos reported out. The group has been meeting every other week to discuss different strategies to improve access. They are also identifying existing strategies to create a landscape assessment to ensure we are leveraging what already exists. 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. Andy Smith reported out. The group met on March 23rd to discuss groups that are interested in participating and which organization may serve as the hub to structure this work. They are also looking to create some early momentum to identify landowners that would be interested in developing easements. A few people have signed up to speak at the Bond Election Advisory Task Force to advocate for farmland acquisition and preservation. 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 and share a draft resolution for a potential SSB tax. Review Board Member Assignments. a. Andrea Abel to connect with Kelly Nichols on land-based contacts. b. Marissa Bell to share script from Bond Election Advisory Task Force public comment c. Amanda Rohlich to share Lisa Barden’s draft resolution language for supporting a SSB tax to advance equity and food access along with the d. Lisa Barden to add an additional whereas in the draft recommendation that references the Harvard Food Policy Toolkit e. Edwin Marty to connect Lisa Barden to City Legal or Government Relations staff to f. help advise on the draft resolution Joi Chevalier to reach out to Nitza to discuss the liaison role for the Food Policy Implementation Collaborative g. Marissa Bell to forward Amanda draft recommendation for Urban Ag Coordinator position DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 10. Discuss and take possible action on the Joint Sustainability Committee liaison appointment. No action was taken. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Travis County Appraisal District on Ag Evaluations Capital Services Delivery Update on Food Forest and Remediation and Reimbursements to Food Forest for lost plantings Del-Valle Food Co-op Board Chair to present on progress Review and approve draft recommendation for Urban Ag Coordinator position ADJOURNMENT AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES MARCH 23, 2026 Joi Chevalier adjourned the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Minutes were approved at the April 13, 2026 regular meeting on Board Member Andrea Abel’s motion with Board Member Joi Chevalier seconding. Minutes passed on a 10-0 vote.