FPC Meeting Minutes - Monday, October 19, 2026

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Monday, October 19, 2026 6:30PM
Dreher Family 4-H Building, South Room, Douglas County Fairgrounds
2110 Harper Street, Lawrence, KS 66046

Meeting Minutes

Members Present: Christina Haswood, Natalya Lowther, Mackie Moore, Robert Hickerson, Quinlan Carttar, Muriah Carlsen, Hazlett Henderson

Members Absent: Ben Sikes, Tyler Lindquist, Aundrea Walker

Community Members: Lisa Njoroge, Wulfe Wulfemeyer, Sajal Sthapit

Presenters: Jessica Kejr, Miranda Miller-Klugesherz

Staff: Connie Fitzpatrick

A. Consent Agenda

  1. Approval of agenda.
  2. Approval of minutes.
  3. Membership update: Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has identified a liaison soon. Nataly Lowther will not seek reappointment for her term ending December 2026.
    1. Action: Consider approval of the agenda and the previous meeting minutes.
      1. The agenda was reviewed.
      2. A motion was made by Tyler Lindquist to approve the agenda and minutes, noting that a Culinary Commons Kitchen tour will not take place and a general update on the item will be shared instead of Agenda Item C.4. The motion was seconded by Robert Hickerson. The motion passed unanimously.

B. General Public Comment

  1. Public comment: General public comment accepted (3-minute limit) for items not on the agenda.
    1. Lisa Njoroge introduced herself as the candidate to serve as the Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health liaison to the Douglas County Food Policy Council.
    2. Wulfe Wulfemeyer, a reporter with the Lawrence Times, informed the council that they will be attending future council meetings.
    3. Sajal Sthapit, a community member, expressed interest in learning more about the council's legislative recommendations.

C. Regular Agenda Items

  1. Kansas Appleseed, Jessica Kejr

    1. Presentation on legislative outlook and advocacy.
    2. Kansas Appleseed is a statewide advocacy organization dedicated to the belief that Kansas, working together, can build a more thriving, inclusive, and just Kansas.
      1. Thriving: All Kansas deserve access to affordable food, safe and secure housing, and hopeful future.
      2. Inclusive: All Kansans should be able to participate fully in their communities.
      3. Just: All Kansans should benefit from fair and effective systems of justice.
    3. Policy Priorities:
      1. SNAP
        1. Protecting Strengthen SNAP
        2. Invest in Smarter SNAP Eligibility Systems
          1. Improve accuracy
          2. Reduce unnecessary burdens for families and seniors
      2. Child Nutrition Programs
        1. Eliminate copays for reduced-price meals
        2. Adoption of Community Eligibility Provision
        3. End lunch shaming (unpaid meals fees polices)
    4. Food Insecurity in Kansas
      1. Food insecurity is the lack of consistent access to food to live a healthy, active life.
      2. 1 in 7 Kansas adults are food insecure
      3. 1 in 5 Kansas kids are food insecure
        1. In some regions 1 in 4 kids
      4. 50% of Kansas students participate in the free and reduced process meal program
      5. 1 in 15 Kansans utilize SNAP
      6. 68% of Kansans who participate in SNAP are families with children
      7. Since HR1 was signed into law:
        1. 49,000 fewer Kansans using SNAP, including 21, 000 children since July 2025
        2. Nearly 7,000 Kansan lost SNAP in September
        3. Nearly 9,00 Kansans lost SNAP in August
      8. SNAP is the Primary Tool to Fight Hunger
        1. The charitable sector is critical but cannot fill gat if SNAP is cut of befits are lost. For every one meal provided by a food bank, SNAP provides nine.
      9. School Meals Opportunities
        1. Eliminate copays for reduced-price meals
        2. End lunch shaming (unpaid mail fee policies)
        3. Alternative Breakfast Models
      10. Council membership comments:
        1. Robert Hickerson stated that an elderly customer and SNAP user who has visited his farm stand for several years was directly impacted by SNAP losses and can no longer purchase fresh food at Cottin's Farmers Market.
    5. Action: None necessary

  2. Kansas Food Action Network, Miranda Miller-Klugesherz

    1. Presentation on the KFAN legislative statement and advocacy by Miranda Miller-Klugesherz.
      1. The Kansas Food Action Network connects and equips Kansans to shape decisions that affect their food system. Through education, policy, advocacy, and grassroots leadership, they build community power to turn shared priorities into action and create resilient, equitable food systems.
      2. Local Food and Farm Councils in Kansas:
        1. 73% of Kansas counties are represented by a local food council.
        2. Over 30 food and farm councils operate across Kansas.
        3. Representation spans 44 counties.
      3. KFAN Current Legislative Priority Areas:
        1. Agricultural Opportunity & Land Use: Strong food systems start with farmers. KFAN supports equitable land access, fair markets, and responsible land use policies that sustain producers and protect working lands for future generations.
        2. Food Access & Security: Every Kansan deserves reliable access to affordable, healthy food. KFAN advances policies that reduce hunger, strengthen nutrition programs, and invest in local food systems so all communities can thrive.
        3. Water Stewardship: Water is essential to Kansas agriculture and community well-being. KFAN promotes policies that conserve water, protect water quality, and ensure long-term sustainability for our farms, ecosystems, and communities.
      4. KFAN Legislative Priorities Process:
        1. A survey is sent out to all food and farm councils to assess community needs, establish a policy agenda, and reflect findings back to the councils at the first statewide convening. A vote on final priorities is held during the annual KFAN convening.
        2. Previous work advanced by KFAN includes:
          1. Supporting the elimination of the state food sales tax.
          2. Securing a proclamation declaring September as Hunger Action Month in Kansas.
          3. Providing testimony on bills aligned with organizational priorities.
      5. Current Legislative Priorities Process:
        1. At KFAN's 2026 statewide convening, KFAN members will work together to select at least one state food system policy to collectively pursue over the next three years. A survey was sent out to KFAN membership to gather community experiences, explore potential solutions, and identify where KFAN membership can take action together. KFAN will use responses to develop policy options for discussion at the convening held on November 4th and 5th of 2026.

    2. Surveillance Pricing in Kansas

      Surveillance Pricing: Businesses use personal information to tailor prices offered to individual shoppers or groups. Dynamic pricing adjusts costs based on market conditions, often facilitated by electronic shelf labels.

      1. Dillons and Walmart plan to transition to electronic shelf labels in all Kansas stores by the end of 2026, which could introduce surveillance pricing on groceries in Kansas.
      2. KFAN is currently drafting legislation regarding grocery surveillance pricing in Kansas.
    3. Action: None necessary

  3. Public Comment C.1 and C.2

    General public comment accepted (3-minute limit).

    1. A general public comment period was held for items C.1 and C.2.

  4. Special Meeting

    1. Special Meeting to review and consider recommending the Kansas Food Action Network's legislative statement to be included in the Douglas County Legislative Statement 2027.
      1. Tentative date: Thursday November 5, 2026 6:30pm virtually.
      2. Following discussion, the Council agreed to use a poll to determine the date and time of the Special Meeting later in the week. The meeting will be announced to the public upon finalizing the meeting schedule.
    2. Public Comment: General public comment accepted (3-minute limit).
      1. A general public comment period was held.

  5. Douglas County Culinary Commons Update

    1. The Culinary Commons is a community incubator kitchen located in Building 21 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The DCFPC Economic Development working group is considering a user accessibility assessment. A presentation on the proposed assessment will be shared with the Council during the next full council meeting on Monday, November 16, 2026, at the Land Institute.
    2. Public Comment: General public comment accepted (3-minute limit).
      1. A general public comment period was held.
    3. Action: None necessary

  6. Adjournment

    1. Meeting adjournment.