Food Policy Council (FPC) Meeting on Mon, February 15, 2016 - 6:30 PM

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Meeting Information

I. Optional @ 6:00pm: Carla Wiederholt—Overview of LMH Dining Service and recent changes

II. Administrative items

a. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval

b. Approval of January meeting minutes

c. New member updates:

i. At-Large Appointee by Commissioner Gaughan—being finalized

ii. Sustainability Advisory Board Liaison—Michael Steinle

d. Distribution of DCFPC binders

e. Funding request: $800 for Food Hub National Conference for Fresh Farm HQ

III. Update on the Downtown Grocery Initiative

a. Background/introduction from Eileen Horn

b. Presentation from Dave Crawford

c. Discussion of FPC involvement

IV. Urban Agriculture Text Amendment with Mary Miller, LDC Planner

a. Update on proposed language changes

b. Approve staff to draft a memo and review with DCFPC leadership, City Subcommittee

c. **Key language will be included with agendas at the meeting

V. Subcommittee Reports

• City (Crystal Hammerschmidt)

i. Food Waste inroads with EPA

ii. Common Ground Applications

• County (TBD)

i. Farmers’ Market Promotion Program

ii. Culinary Commons

• Community (Carol Gilmore)

i. Communications Plan – Full Council Vote

VI. State Legislature Report

a. Procedure overview and role of Food Policy Council (Eileen Horn)

b. Overview of current legislation (Ashley Jones-Wisner)

VII. Public comments

VIII. FPC member updates

IX. Adjourn full council meeting

Present: William Vesecky, Jill Elmers, Ashley Jones-Wisner, Carol Gilmore, Marlin Bates, Crystal Hammerschmidt, Jen Humphrey, Russell Mullin, Chris Tilden, Carolyn Wulfkuhle, Scott Thellman, John Pendleton, Pattie Johnston, Elizabeth Burger, Aundrea Shafer, Rita York Hennecke, Joshua Falleaf

Absent: Tyra Kalman-Crouch, Brady Pollington, Jennifer Kongs, Jan Hornberger, Kim Criner, TK Peterson

Staff: Eileen Horn, Helen Schnoes

Public: Mary Miller, Dave Crawford, Charlie Bryan

Takeaways:

$800 approved to send Fresh Farm HQ staff to national food hub conference
Joshua Falleaf and Michael Steinle joined the FPC
New binders distributed to organize FPC information, including a new staff report from the Food Systems Coordinator with project updates.
Dave Crawford and Charlie Bryan shared about current conversations with grocers and building owners/developers in downtown to attract a grocery store. The community initiative group has collected surveys with the assistance of the Health Department, which is currently being analyzed. FPC awaiting news of future action or role.
Group voted to approve a Communications Plan and for staff to write a memo on the urban ag text amendment.
Ashley provided an overview of bills to watch: SB 372 / HB 2600, HB 2444, HB 2595
- Eileen shared that generally FPC and staff cannot advocate to the state legislature; individuals can
Market Match will become DoubleUp FoodBucks, in partnership with the national group Fair Food Network. The extra $25 “match” dollars can now only be spent on fruit and veggies, as funding comes as a health intervention
Rita York Hennecke, General Manager, will replace Tyra Kalman-Crouch on the FPC as Tyra has stepped down from her role at The Merc.

Optional @ 6:00pm: Carla Wiederholt—Overview of LMH Dining Service and recent changes
1. 785-505-3321; cwiederholt@unidine.com (www.unidine.com)
Administrative items
1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval (Johnston, Elmers)
2. Approval of January meeting minutes (Johnston, Elmers)
3. New member updates:
  1. At-Large Appointee by Commissioner Gaughan—Joshua Falleaf
  2. Sustainability Advisory Board Liaison—Michael Steinle
4. Distribution of DCFPC binders
  1. Helen provided an overview of a new binder that includes key background information about the council and places for agendas, etc.
    1. Helen introduced a new “coordinator report” with updates that will be sent with each agenda, to minimize time “reporting” during monthly meetings.
  2. Marlin commended staff and DCFPC leadership for the presentation to the Board of County Commissioners
5. Funding request: $800 for Food Hub National Conference for Fresh Farm HQ
  1. Director and farmer or employee will be attending; FPC had previously discussed potentially doing this
  2. Jill described the conference agenda as “absolutely fabulous”
  3. Johnston moves to approve, Burger seconds—all in favor: Motion passes
Update on the Downtown Grocery Initiative
1. Background/introduction from Eileen Horn
  1. FPC had been looking at how to address food deserts. Others have done “Request For Information” to grocers to identify stores interested in locating in these areas. RFI was going to go to City Commission, but a local grocer (Checkers) indicated their interest. Dave Crawford and the community group “Downtown Grocery Initiative” took over leadership of the effort.
2. Presentation from Dave Crawford
  1. Grocery location map distributed. NE quarter of Lawrence is a food desert. Grocers generally don’t see it advantageous to locate in a food desert. Local group approached Checkers and owner JR Lewis as the initial RFI was in development. Now downtown is also a very highly sought after place to develop (hadn’t been in the past). Local developer decided they wanted to buy the former Borders building at 7th and New Hampshire—now Doug Compton and Mike Treanor own that building, which the committee is targeting for a grocery store. (The building owners are looking at lofts above the first floor. The committee wants to see lofts with affordable housing. Dave indicated this could be a point of tension.)
  2. Lewis Family, owners of Checkers, are still interested; Executive Director of AWG Grocers (distributor coop in KC) also interested—owns some Price Choppers, some are in small, low-income communities. There are positive thoughts about Price Chopper, also owns Cosentinos . AWG has done feasibility studies for this property, and a third-party study through Dakota Studies that show that a grocery store could work at the former Border’s location—and build on current densification of residence in downtown.
  3. Mike Treanor has hired a third party lawyer to talk with the neighbors downtown about the project idea. Dave reports they are looking at something between low-price and high-end store. The developers want to see more than a grocery store, additional floors for multi-use.
  4. There is the concern about parking downtown. About 130 spots now, but more likely needed if building use expands.
    1. In particular, there is interest in one-time incentives from the City to help with improvements/adaptations with infrastructure (middle of block crossings)
    2. City commissioners are aware of the effort
    3. Grocers wanted to know the community’s needs and wants. Committee issued a survey in collaboration with North Lawrence Improvement Association and LDC Health Department. Dave shared that community support is key. They have had close to 700 respondents. Results still being worked out by Kait Perry at Health Department. Report will be shared with the potential grocery operator, then distributed to the community.
      1. Charlie Bryan, Community Health Planner, spoke about the community survey.
  5. Dave is here to build support, let the Council how far the project has come. Dave sees the future hinged on community support.
3. Discussion of FPC involvement
  1. Are there two community visions? (Dining and gathering space, or a bare-bones low-cost store?)
    1. Dave shared that often there’s tension about what is stocked. There are significant changes in downtown residents, who occupy upscale lofts. Developers would like something to fit this image—yet it’s still within the food desert to the North and East. Can there be affordable food, for food stamp users? Dave pointed out that used clothes stores are located next to boutiques and fine dining on Mass Street. Can the same type of melding be reached? Is a downtown grocery store even less feasible if we can’t combine these elements and reach a fuller population.
  2. The Merc isn’t on the map Dave distributed—it would account for some of the Old West Lawrence coverage
  3. Eileen shared that some communities have utilized zoning to help deal with food deserts, so DCFPC should consider land use policies that incentivize grocery stores. Currently proposed legislation in KS could limit options (more below).
  4. How is best for DCFPC to stay engaged? Dave invited folks to attend their Thursday meetings in the morning. Helen and Eileen will receive Dave’s updates and keep the DCFPC appraised.
  5. Timeline?
    1. Agent for the grocer said that something needs to happen within a month
    2. Dave looking at how forward momentum to sign a lease, identify a grocer
Urban Agriculture Text Amendment with Mary Miller, LDC Planner
1. Update on proposed language changes (handout)
  1. Mary shared that the DCFPC has been helpful throughout the process.
  2. Memo from FPC to Planning Commission in December guided Mary to make the text amendment more minimal
  3. Key issues
    1. Slaughter allowed for all small animal agriculture with personal use (20 ft from property line)
    2. On-site ag sales
      1. Currently only allowed at 10 customers a day for HOA—where we started; looked to mimic a garage sale, but season wouldn’t suit. Now based on 20 ft back from the road (images included). Formula developed to determine size of the sales—based on lot size. Smallest is 100 sq ft area for sales.
      2. As a new use, urban farm now further defined. There was lack of clarity before. Now definition is only that which goes beyond the various uses established in the text amendment. If you wanted a larger sale area, this would make you an urban farm.
      3. Processing allowed with urban farm—can go beyond home use.
    3. Weed regulations
      1. Development code and city code will likely clarify that crops are not weeds and exempt from the weed ordinance
    4. Property Maintenance
      1. A particular property raised concern in June 2015 about how urban ag use
      2. Items actively in use now will not require storage. Language updates will go into the development code. Mary still talking with Development Services.
    5. Bees
      1. No registration required. Name and phone number only required if a hive is not on your property.
    6. Urban Farm
      1. Only if you exceed what is already allowed by various urban ag standards
      2. All current urban farms OK without going through SUP purpose—need to alert Planning Dept. by 2017
      3. Any key updates would need to go through the process. Aerial photo can be drawn on—does not have to be professional. Planning would have to define what a “significant” change is…neighbors would be notified.
      4. Planning Department is trying to balance what could be a nuisance to a neighbor, but not pose a burden on current urban farms.
    7. Process—plans are always sent to outside organizations. A small business facilitator with Planning Dept. helps people learn the rules and advocate for them within Planning Commission to find a way to make it work. We could do a process similarly with DCFPC, Food Systems Coordinator’s role.
  4. City of Lawrence also put questions about urban ag policy changes on Lawrence Listens. Still not finding many negative perspectives, even with slaughter.
  5. Marlin thanked the City Subcommittee and Mary for their efforts on this project. It is a good accomplishment for the DCFPC, given our involvement and Mary’s openness.
  6. Joshua Falleaf highlighted that the issues included are of interest to the Native American community, who do processing of animals for ceremony, communal and family gatherings—very honorable tradition and process. Student clubs at Haskell have struggled to find places to bring in animals for appropriate and honorable processing. This looks like steps in a positive direction.
  7. Planning Commission Feb 22 @ 6:30pm will hopefully vote to approve at meeting, then goes onto the City Commission (maybe people wake up at that point with negative concerns?)
  8. Talk with Helen if you have notes before Friday!
2. Approve staff to draft a memo and review with DCFPC leadership, City Subcommittee
  1. Elmers moved to have FPC send a letter, Humphrey seconded—all approved
Subcommittee Reports
- City (Crystal Hammerschmidt)—will meet right before the Planning Commission on Feb 22.
  1. Food Waste inroads with EPA—will begin working on this in March.
    1. Crystal attended a meeting at the regional EPA Headquarters in Lenexa last week. Wanted information about waste audits. She has made a variety of contacts to follow up about.
  2. Common Ground Applications – Today was the deadline. Subcommittee will review next Monday.
    1. Two applications received. Eileen has also had 10 calls today, may look at how the application process can be more flexible—we can prioritize those who got in on-time.
- County (TBD)
  1. Farmers’ Market Promotion Program
    1. First meeting with SCALE was productive. Helen has followed up with each markets, some managers attended County Subcommittee meeting. Looking at June for first visit. Currently looking to identify key contacts for SCALE to follow-up with or include in focus groups, interviews, survey. Also looking at policies for consultants to review.
  2. Culinary Commons
    1. Great progress on branding—postcard printed. Sam (new intern) working on interviews of entrepreneurs to feature on website. Helen working with Douglas County website staff to create new webpage. Likely to go live in next month. News contacts are interested.
- Community (Carol Gilmore)
  1. Communications Plan – Full Council Vote
    1. We wanted to make sure that the Communications Plan aligns with the bylaws. Need to focus on “internal” and “external” communications. Aligned with current projects. Community Subcommittee still working on elevator pitch and talking points.
    2. Communications will be a standing item on the Staff Report.
    3. Asking approval of the 5 goals outlined in the Communications Plan. (Tilden moves, Seconded by Elmers—all approved)
      1. This is the framework through which we look back—will be dynamic, updated

State Legislature Report
1. Procedure overview and role of Food Policy Council (Eileen Horn)
  1. FPC has weighed in only officially with one bill—that which created a Local Food and Farm Taskforce. Eileen testified why it would be good for the state and aligns with our work. Now there are more opportunities where issues may come up—which may hinder our work directly. Eileen will forward the bill drafts to City/County attorneys, and they’ll advise staff on actions. But, we can share information with DCFPC but can’t work on direct advocacy on most issues.
2. Overview of current legislation (Ashley Jones-Wisner)
  1. There are a couple committees exempt from deadlines (taxation and ways & means)—all other committees have to have a hearing on a bill by this Friday (2/19).
  2. Local Food & Farm Taskforce bill to extend—hearing tomorrow, everything is looking good. No one is in opposition to this.
  3. SB 372 / HB 2600: Adds more work requirements to the HOPE act of 2015 that adds more requirements to folks seeking to access food assistance. House hearing 2/16. Last year they put into affect a lifetime ban on food assistance if you have a drug felony (other states have not passed; it’s inconsistent: applies to drugs, not other felonies like murder)—would apply to families, children of those affected. Want KS Lottery Commission to run checks on lottery winners—testified that it would be cumbersome. Many legislatures wanting to run on welfare reform. Dept. of Children and Families are wanting to impose work restrictions; changes demands on new mothers. Kansas Appleseed, KC Healthy Kids, KS Action for Children, Harvesters—the agencies who testified against. DCF generally isn’t on the side of siding for harsher restrictions. Catholic Charities and Harvesters have seen their demand double in the last 6 months—many current barriers and this makes it harder. KC Healthy Kids is working to introduce amendments to mitigate the impact.
    1. Heard in the Senate, Hearing in the House 2/16.
    2. This is a bill that has come through a conservative legislative group of sample legislation (ALEC). There is a historically low number of bills getting out of committee—so they’re trying to not make it seem like there is a lack of action.
  4. Note on process: Wednesday evening ~7pm is when committee hearings are identified. You have to have testimony in 24 hours before. Need to get it in on Friday, within one day.
  5. HB 2595 re: nutrition policies
    1. Original intent is to ban what NYC tried to do in implementing a Soda Tax on large beverages. Chair of the committee didn’t think that the bill would have potentially overarching impact (he owns a pizza chain). Public Health Law Center from MN has worked on this bill in other states—gave some perspective. The biggest piece has to do with “addressing food-based disparities” – such as a food desert: attract a grocer, incentivize community gardens, etc. Good testimony has been received.
    2. Initial hearing postponed. Will hold 2/17. Could be kicked out on Thursday to the full body.
  6. HB 2444: Reduce sales tax to 2.6%, pay for by doing away with tax breaks
    1. Sales Tax on food exempt from deadline. Also a bill that looks at a sales tax holiday.
  7. SB 425 re: conservation easements & endangered species
    1. Helen forwarded an email about this. It may not go anywhere. We’ll see.
  8. Carol: do our own elected officials know what we’re doing? Are they sensitized to the implications of state legislation on what’s happening in Douglas County?
    1. Eileen: Our audience and appointment is to the City and County Commissions. We’ve never fully had the blessing from those boards to engage in state-level policy.
      1. City and County each submit a letter to the legislature at the beginning of session. FPC always included—we wrote about the Food and Farm Taskforce.
    2. Marlin: We could use the idea of a new Food/Farm Tour as in 2010 to engage state policy makers
    3. Michael: Can we see to fight anything that takes away local control?
    4. Scotty: Farm Bureau has a legislative dinner—get representatives and senators in state legislature together. Perhaps we could do something similarly?
Public comments
FPC member updates

Eileen shared an update about Market Match. Douglas County is collaborating with Cultivate KC, other MO groups, and Fair Food Network to receive a $5 million FINI grant for 3 years. Market Match will rebrand as Double Up Kansas. This will give us access to online tracking tools for markets, branding and communications tools, paid media (billboards!). The one big change with the program—with Market Match, the “double up” funds could be any SNAP-eligible foods. The Federal Food & Nutrition Service will limit the “double up” to fruits and vegetables only as a healthy food focus. Goal of the funding is a nutrition intervention. Eileen and Tresa met with market managers last week to give an overview of the update. The first $25 can still be spent on any SNAP-eligible funding—only the “double” can be on F&V—there will be visually-distinguished wooden and silver coins for the two pots of money and rules. There will be three coins now at market: $5 for credit cards, $1 (SNAP), $1 (double up). They are considering delaying the rebranding launch in June/July? Won’t hear about the grant award until March/April. Considering not promoting until everything is set for a large regional launch--concerned with confusion right after funding announcement. Eileen will get to hire a full time coordinator for this program with funding—long term benefits, shorter term. 80% expenditures already at F&V vendors.

Pattie: Jawhawk Area Agency on Aging has put out a RFP for CHAMPS—right now Hy-Vee and Dillons—want it to just be one vendor for program. In most areas it is one, but it’s difficult in Douglas County. At Baker in Baldwin City. They’re also looking for a host in Eudora. Allows seniors (62+) to sign up and get a debit card for 2 meals a day, $3 per meal, with a limited menu. Healthy and nice—very social. Federally-funded program.

Rita: The Merc’s representation will be changing. Rita had previously served for 5 years. Tyra represented for a year—she’s resigning on Friday. She will stay in Lawrence but write a book and home school her son. She will still engage with FPC and Community Subcommittee.

Jen: KS Senior Nutrition Farmers’ Market Coupon—only issued May through October, meaning people don’t have access to the benefit year-round—even though farmers are producing and some winter markets operate. This is a state-policy issue. You have to take a mandatory class by KDA every year to be able to accept them as a farmer.
Adjourn full council meeting (Elmers, Johnston, all approved!)

Time and Date

Monday, 2/15/16 12:30 pm

Location

Lawrence Memorial Hospital--Auditorium

325 Maine St, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA