Food Policy Council (FPC) Meeting on Mon, April 18, 2016 - 6:30 PM

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Meeting Information

  1. Optional @ 6:00pm: Discussion of USD497 Farm to School activities in Lawrence

 

  1. Administrative items 
    1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval
    2. Approval of March meeting minutes

 

  1. Food Assessment Key Findings
    1. Presentation from Barb LeClair on data
    2. Discussion

 

  1. Food Plan
    1. Process overview (Marlin)
    2. Presentation from Trudy Rice, K-State Research & Extension Community Development
    3. Review of community events—groups members already identified
      1. Identify gaps
    4. Begin thinking about questions

 

  1. Subcommittee Reports
    • City (Crystal Hammerschmidt)
      1. April 26 City Commission vote on urban ag
        1. Public information materials developed
      2. Food waste: Met with City of Lawrence Solid Waste
    • County (TBD)
    • Community (Carol Gilmore)
      1. FPC member info gathering

 

  1. Public comments

 

  1. FPC member updates

 

  1. Adjourn full council meeting

Monday, April 18, 2016

6:30PM—8:30PM

@ Hillcrest Elementary School

1045 Hilltop Dr, Lawrence, KS 66044

 

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

Absent: Jennifer Kongs, Joshua Falleaf, Chris Tilden, TK Peterson, Brady Pollington

Staff: Eileen Horn, Helen Schnoes

Public: Jason Hering, Emily Hampton, Trudy Rice, Barb LeClair, Logan Isaman

 

 

  1. Optional @ 6:00pm: Discussion of USD497 Farm to School activities in Lawrence

 

  1. Administrative items 
    1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval
    2. Approval of March meeting minutes (Gilmore, Hammerschmidt—all approved)

 

  1. Food Assessment Key Findings
    1. Presentation from Barb LeClair on data
      1. See attached PDF of PowerPoint Presentation.
      2. Barb shared that there is a mountain of data out there, which we narrowed for the report draft, and narrowed even more for the presentation. We want to now share drafts with FPC members, area experts, to refine to share with the public.

Questions to consider while reviewing:

What’s missing?

What are the key takeaways to share?

What findings are misinterpreted?  How so?

Is anything unclear? How could we clarify the idea or language?

 

  1. Next steps:
    1. April 22 Helen sends drafts to FPC members
    2.  Members review and share input with Helen by May 9
    3.  Staff conduct additional analysis with local and topical experts
    4.  Helen integrates comments by June 6
    5.  Key findings become info graphics and contribute to an informational booklet for public input events
  2. Discussion
    1. Eileen pointed out that the estimated economic value of food waste in the county is about equal to our total agricultural production
    2. Marlin suggested that the pie chart on consumer food expenditures by product category could relate to $1
    3. Trudy noted the need to include irrigated land in land value analysis
    4. Jill asked that the PPTs be shared

 

  1. Food Plan
    1. Process overview (Marlin)
      1. Marlin reminded the group that the FPC has been tasked to create a food plan, to guide local food policy and development within the comprehensive plan. To collect input from the community, FPC members have been asked to think about “Who is it that would be easy for you to meet with?” and then snag 15-20 minutes to get people’s ideas to inform food plan, in order to have excellent representation.
      2. The next few meetings will help get the FPC to the point where everyone in this room is equipped with what they need to get this done
      3. To accomplish this, we invited Trudy Rice—a founding FPC member now working in the state-wide community development office for K-State Research and Extension, and a former Douglas County director. Trudy will:
        1.  Help us get everyone up to speed
        2. Empower the FPC to get the information we need to put the food plan together
      4. Marlin also provided an overview of the next few months
        1. In May, we will bring back questions to possibly ask citizens. Our opportunity to figure out what the information is to gather. What do we want to leave these meetings with?
        2. In June, we will do a facilitated discussion, for us as FPC members to share input and learn the process
        3. In July and August—go off and do the group engagement, bring the information back
      5. Eileen shared that this is a great time for the FPC to get at what the FPC is, what Community Subcommittee has been working on. Each member can be an ambassador.
    2. Presentation from Trudy Rice, K-State Research & Extension Community Development
      1. Trudy shared a handout (attached with email) from a project about food system planning. Based upon past work of Trudy’s focused on interviewing food policy councils in the region, she learned that an effective model for guiding development was called “community capitals.” Trudy suggested that we try to look at the 7 community capitals and plug them in
      2. Research has shown (in Iowa State) this is good framework for community development
        1. Cultural capital—The things and organizations that make up the cultural identifies in the community, including what is part of the history, heritage, across ethnicities.
        2. Human capital—who will “do” the work in the food system
        3. Social capital—Most difficult in most pieces, relates to how different organizations want to work together. Representation in decision making from different groups around the community.
        4. Political capital—We are well situated—city and county have interest and investment in supporting this work
        5. Financial capital—The money to do what you do. LiveWell Lawrence, Farm Bureau on education
        6. Built capital—When we talk about food hub, that would fall under this. Roads, too.
        7. The capitals allow us to be broader than the sectors of the food system or elements of the supply chain when gathering public input.
    3. Review of community events—groups members already identified
      1. Trudy then led the group in a brainstorm about “Who would we want to have a mini focus session with?” She asked members to think about “What is the primary purpose of the group?” and relate that to the community capitals. Then, also think about as individual members, who do you have some connections with and could reach out to?
      2. Financial
        1. Chambers (Lawrence, Baldwin)
        2. Frontier Farm Credit
        3. NE KS Slow Money
        4. Douglas Co. Bankers
          1. US Bank
        5. Kansas Health Foundation
        6. USDA Rural Development
        7. School Foundations
        8. Douglas County
        9. Douglas County Health Department
        10. USDA Rural Development
        11. Douglas County Community Foundation
      3. Built
        1. Downtown Lawrence, Inc.
        2. Township Boards
        3. FM boards
        4. Parks and Rec (all cities)
        5. Media
        6. Developers
        7. Realtor Board
        8. Builders Association
      4. Political
        1. Board of County Commissioners
        2. Chamber Board
        3. Commissions/Councils of towns
        4. News media
        5. Justice Matters
        6. State Reps/Senators
        7. School Boards
        8. Sustainability Action Network
      5. Social
        1. Master Gardeners
        2. Master Food Volunteers
        3. Sunrise Project
        4. Rotary
        5. Community Conversations of a Group of Friends
          1. If you can get people who aren’t on boards, not doing community service, can have important input
        6. LiveWell Lawrence
        7. Merc Co-op / Foundation
        8. Willow Project
        9. Tenants to Homeowners—lots of bankers
        10. Mothers of preschoolers
        11. KU Center for Sustainability
        12. Senior Center
        13. Farm Bureau
        14. Kansas Women’s Environmental Network
        15. Neighborhood Associations
      6. Human
        1. Small Business Development Center
        2. Library
        3. JAAA
        4. DCSC
        5. Food Bank
        6. MG & MFV
        7. School District
        8. Site Council
        9. PTA
        10. KU
        11. Baker
        12. Haskell
        13. Lawrence Community Shelter
        14. LMH
        15. Churches
      7. Cultural
        1. Watkins
        2. Natural History Center
        3. LeCompton/Eudora/Baldwin/Clinton Historical Societies
        4. Farmers Markets
        5. Centro Hispano
        6. Churches
        7. KU/Haskell/Baker
        8. Lawrence Arts Center
        9. Cultural Arts Commission
        10. Spencer Museum of Art
      8. Natural
        1. Parks and Rec
        2. Growing Lawrence
        3. Kansas Rural Center
        4. Conservation District
        5. Extension
        6. NE KS Beekeepers Association
        7. Douglas County Livestock Association
        8. Farm Bureau
        9. Producer groups
        10. Farmers’ Union
        11. Audubon
        12. Sierra Club
    4. Then, Trudy asked the group to reflect upon “Why are you having these meetings/conversations?”
      1. Perspective of what community understands
      2. Marketing
      3. Public discourse about food issues
      4. Help develop a comprehensive food plan
      5. Develop consensus
      6. Awareness of current programs
      7. Create a vision for the future
      8. Inform food policy in the future
    5. Then she asked “What do you want as a result of these meetings/conversations?”
      1. Increased knowledge about food plan
      2. Partnerships
      3. Wider perspectives
      4. Standing room only at FPC meetings from heightened citizen interest
      5. Fair plan
      6. Increase in Douglas County farm products
      7. Expanded local food movement
      8. Increased access to healthy, local food
      9. Present data and perception
      10. Reaction to recommendations
      11. Listen
      12. A plan to support healthy living
      13. Be invited back to continue working with the groups we engage
      14. Adoption of the food plan by City and County Commissioners
    6. The group then began discussing how to format meetings.
      1. Trudy shared that you can go at the organizations, and have a couple questions for each capital. Or, you can ask the same questions (3-6) of all groups. The conversations are easier if you have a separate set. The data/input is cleaner if you have the same questions. Pick 2-4 questions at each from the list of 6.
      2. First, they discussed formats for collecting input
        1. Lawrence listens survey
        2. Other online survey
        3. Surveys at retailers
        4. Social media
        5. Radio & TV
        6. Old fashioned meeting
        7. Town hall meeting
        8. Time on an existing agenda to present
      3. John mentioned that it might be hard to get on the agenda of a board—would be able to do digital/paper question answering. Helen shared that if we make the ask/invitation in advance, hopefully groups can make the time without too much a shift or burden. Eileen shared that, likely, people won’t want to be left out of sharing input.
      4. Trudy reminded that when asking input, make sure it’s clear what you’re asking them, and what you’ll do with the information they provide.
    7. Using post-it notes, the group began jotting down questions. Helen will compile and we will drill down into this subject next month.
    8. Members were asked to give a post-it to Helen with the groups they had connections with and wanted to reach out to for a future meeting/conversation.  

 

  1. Subcommittee Reports
    • City (Crystal Hammerschmidt)
      1. April 26 City Commission vote on urban ag, likely later in the agenda. Staff anticipates that there will likely be a ton of public comment. Helen will send out an announcement when the agenda is released.
        1. Eileen asked the FPC members to come to Commission meeting to demonstrate the demonstrate depth of the FPC knowledge and effort. This is the first thing in 6 years we’ve brought to the Commission. We want members to stand up and be acknowledged so the City Commissioners understand the effort of the group and the future roles they can play. This is important for Food Plan.
        2. Marlin echoed that the supports should come
        3. The meeting will start at 5:45. Staff can be in communication if members want to be dining on Mass before the agenda item.
        4. Helen shared drafts of the public information materials developed.
      2. The subcommittee also began discussing food waste, including a meeting with City of Lawrence Solid Waste.
    • County (TBD)
      1. Jen reminded the group that the Council runs on subcommittees, we all need to do our part of the work. She acknowledged that there are new members, mostly farmers, and that the focus of the group had been shifting. Let’s be guided by what’s important.
      2. Jen will guide the group until December. Group will explore re-arranging the time.
    • Community (Carol Gilmore)
      1. Helen will do a presentation with the Library on June 21 from 6pm and 8pm, likely on urban ag. Hoping FPC members will help and we can use the opportunity for the food plan. More will emerge in May.
      2. Subcommittee will divide FPC members, come to each, and get information to contribute to the elevator speech and possibly some social media.
        1. Why are you on the FPC?
        2. What does it mean to you?
        3. Photo of you in your element – may end up in promotional material
        4. Elizabeth suggested the question “What fruit or veg you most identify with?”
      3. We are working on the directory—targeting restaurants and institutional buyers
        1. Will be going out in the next week or so to collect new/updated data

 

  1. Public comments

 

  1. FPC member updates

 

                Pattie—This Saturday, the Library is having the Food & Nutrition Carnival. They’re doing a “healthy carnival food” – they need a judge! Saturday, 11-1, need 1-2 judges. Be there around 11:30—no grand judging. Announcement around 12:30pm. Helen, Russell, and Crystal expressed interest.

 

                John—The Tuesday downtown Lawrence Farmers’ Market will be moving to the Library—vendors are excited. It will be a great location and move—starting first Tuesday in May.

 

                Helen—Reminded that SCALE, the consultants on the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program grant are planning visits June 7-11. There will likely be one or two FPC open houses where members can come meet and chat with them about the project and other local food topics.

 

                Kim—The KU bulb sale will be soon: 10/$1---often a long line. At warehouse on Bob Billings—Wednesday or Thursday. Kim will send out information.

 

                Scott—Farm Bureau hosting Zest and Zing on Thursday. The Culinary program in Eudora is going to compete, $ to Just food. May 1—Kansas Land Trust celebrating 25 years, catered by Raven, silent/live auction, $50 tickets.

 

                Eileen—Eileen and Marlin are working on the Fairgrounds Renovation, will likely have some exciting tie-ins to food systems efforts. They will keep the group updated as things progress.

 

 

  1. Adjourn full council meeting (York Hennecke, Hammerschmidt—all approved)

Time and Date

Location

Hillcrest Elementary
1045 Hilltop Dr, Lawrence, KS 66044