Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD REGULAR MEETING MINUTES MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 The Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board (ATCFPB) convened on Monday, April 13, 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, Melody McClary, Nitza Cuevas, Kacey Hanson, Seanna Marceaux, Erin McDonald, Natalie Poulos Board Members Absent: Beth Corbett, Andy Smith 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 Lisa Barden called the meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Laura Rodriguez provided public comment in support for the Del Valle Food Co-op rezoning process. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Board Member Andrea Abel motioned to approve the meeting minutes from the Special Called Meeting on March 23, 2026, with Joi Chevalier seconding the motion. Minutes passed on a 10-0. DISCUSSION ITEMS 2. Presentation and discussion regarding Agricultural Evaluations, Nickolas Fritz, Land & Special Valuation Manager, Travis Central Appraisal District (see back-up materials for presentation). STAFF BRIEFINGS 2. 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 AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Report from Joint Sustainability Committee on March 25, 2026. No update. 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. Natalie Poulos provided an update that the group has met and are working to establish priorities. 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. Marissa Bell provided and update that the meetings have been moved to Wednesdays at 4 PM, once per month and all are welcome. They are developing two documents to collect signatures and demonstrate momentum: farmers interested in placing conservation easements on their property to protect food production use in perpetuity (and # of acres); and partner organizations interested in collaborating on an RCPP application (in hopes of eventually finding a lead applicant). 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. Lisa Barden provided updates. There are some potential changes to the landscape which may impact feasibility of a sugar sweetened beverage tax. Review Board Member Assignments. a. Joi Chevalier and Nitza Cuevas to connect on the Food Plan Implementation Collaborative liaison position. b. Marissa Bell to make edits to the Urban Ag Coordination and Festival Beach Restoration recommendation to add reference to additional recommendation from Food Policy Board for similar position and reference Goals 1, 6, & 9. c. Marissa Bell to make edits to the Support for Del Valle Food Co-op recommendation in the whereas statements and adjust to reference the Food Plan goals recommendation without a specific zone use but rather focus on function of use. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Discuss and take possible action on the Joint Sustainability Committee liaison appointment. No action. Discuss and take possible action on the Food Plan Implementation Collaborative liaison appointment. No action. Presentation and discussion regarding Festival Beach Food Forest Restoration, Aly Tharp, Festival Beach Food Forest Interim Executive Director (see back-up materials for presentation) Discuss and take possible action on the Recommendation to Support Food Plan Implementation through Urban Agriculture Coordination and Festival Beach Food Forest Restoration. Joi Chevalier made a motion to discuss and approve the recommendation with Nitza Cuevas seconding. Friendly amendments were suggested to add reference to additional recommendation from Food Policy Board for similar position and reference Goals 1, 6, & 9. Joi Chevalier accepted the friendly amendments. The recommendation was approved in a 10-0 vote. Discuss and take possible action on the Recommendation: Support for Del Valle Food Coop Rezoning and Fee Relief. Joi Chevalier made a motion to accept this recommendation with Kacey Hanson seconding. Friendly amendment to add reference to Food Plan goals in the whereas statements and adjust recommendation without a specific zone use but rather focus on function of use. Conduct officer elections for Chair and Vice Chair. Joi Chevalier nominated Lisa Barden for the role of serving as Chair and Kacey Hanson to serve as Vice-Chair. Kacey Hanson declined the nomination. Kacey Hanson nominated Marissa Bell to serve as Vice-Chair. Joi AUSTIN-TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD MEETING MINUTES APRIL 13, 2026 Chevalier made a motion to elect Lisa Barden as Chair and Marissa Bell as Vice-Chair. The motion passed on a 10-0 vote. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 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 Community Garden Coordinator Position - July ADJOURNMENT Lisa Barden adjourned the meeting at 6:21 p.m. Minutes were approved at the May 11, 2026 regular meeting on Board Member Marissa Bell’s motion with Board Member Natalie Poulos seconding. Minutes passed on a 7-0 vote with Board Member Kacey Hanson abstaining.