5a. City_ATCFPB Recommendation_Land Acquisition-01.21.25 — original pdf

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BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board Recommendation Number: (YYYYMMDD-XXX) (XXX is the agenda item number): Support for Agricultural Land Acquisition and Preservation in Austin, Texas WHEREAS, the 2022 City of Austin State of the Food System Report indicates that less than 0.6% of the food consumed in Travis County is produced locally, and that approximately 16.8 acres of farmland are lost daily to development pressures, underscoring the critical need for dedicated agricultural land preservation efforts; and WHEREAS, land in the Capital Region is continuing to increase in value and decrease in quantity, it is imperative to act quickly as the cost of action will only increase over time; and WHEREAS, agricultural lands are vital to local food security, environmental sustainability, emergency preparedness, and climate resilience; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan, approved by the Austin City Council in October 2024, includes strategic, measurable, and time-bound goals and strategies to strengthen food security, promote environmental sustainability, and address climate change; and WHEREAS, the Austin/Travis County Food Plan’s Goal 1 prioritizes expanding community food production, preserving agricultural lands, and increasing the amount of farmland dedicated to regenerative food production long-term in Austin and Travis County; and WHEREAS, Strategy 1.1 of the Food Plan calls for the preservation of land for food production in Central Texas through conservation easements, fee-simple purchases, and land-banking, ensuring that farmland remains dedicated to agricultural use; and WHEREAS, Strategy 1.2 directs the City of Austin and Travis County to pursue capital funding sources to finance the conservation of land for agricultural use through conservation easements or direct purchases; and WHEREAS, preserving agricultural land also supports the goals of the Austin Climate Equity Plan by promoting sustainable land use, strengthening local food systems, and reducing carbon footprints through localized food production; and  WHEREAS, Natural Systems Goal 2 of the Austin Climate Equity Plan aims to protect 500,000 acres of farmland across the five-county region through legal conservation or regenerative agriculture programs by 2030; and WHEREAS, the City of Austin currently lacks a dedicated mechanism to effectively manage and prioritize the preservation of agricultural lands; WHEREAS, the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board’s Recommendation Number 20240318-7 urged the City of Austin to allocate funds and create a full-time equivalent (FTE) position to support the implementation of the Food Plan; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board encourages the Austin City Council to allocate funds and explore all available means in order to establish a dedicated management mechanism, such as a dedicated City department or full-time equivalent staff (FTE), to oversee and coordinate agricultural land preservation and management efforts; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board recommends that Austin City Council allocate seed funding for a revolving loan fund from the general fund to preserve agricultural land. The city should build on this initial investment through future general obligation bonds to ensure long-term sustainability and scalability. This fund will preserve agricultural land in perpetuity through either simple fee purchase or conservation easements. The City’s leadership in helping create a working lands fund will also attract private and philanthropic investments, helping to scale the impact of the City’s investments. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Austin-Travis County Food Policy Board encourages Austin City Council to direct City staff to undertake an inventory of land that could be targeted for acquisition, preservation, and used for agricultural purposes. Acquired lands should be protected in perpetuity through conservation easements and then sold or leased to farmers or organizations producing food for the community. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Board recommends identifying existing City-owned lands that could be converted to agriculture. This land could include public right of way, floodplain buyout, or land that is slated for long term development. Date of Approval: _____________________________ Record of the vote: (Unanimous on a 7-0 vote, 4-3 vote with names of those voting no listed) Attest: _____________________________________________ (Staff or board member can sign)