Food Policy Council (FPC) Meeting Mon, Jun 19 2017 1:30 PM

6pm pre-meeting presentation:  Jim Schilling, Assistant Director for Retail Dining, will give an overview of KU Dining’s sustainability initiatives and host a Q&A.

Click for PARKING MAP: Unrestricted lots are in green. The lots closest to Mrs. E's are (from closest to furthest): 101, 109, 103, 104, 105. If parking at the Lied Center is easier the Lied Center lots E, F, and G are permissible. For the purposes of this map Mrs. E's is denoted as EKD (Ekdahl Dining Center is its formal name). Yellow, red, blue, and gold lots are restricted as are any service vehicle only (or similar) spaces which are marked with signs.

1. Administrative Items 
   1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval
   2. Approval of May meeting minutes
   3. Kansas State of Wellness Award Video
   4. Retreat updates (July 17, 5-9pm, White Tail Run Winery near Baldwin City)
   5. Budget overview and approvals

      1. Request from Aundrea Shafer for registration request ($375)

          

2. Douglas County Food System Plan 
   1. Updates from June 14 County Commission Presentation
   2. Prioritization exercise  for Goals 3, 4, and 5

1. Conversation on Community-Driven Research
   1. FPC engagement with area researchers, September 8 at KU (The Commons)

      1. Hannah Britton and Dietrich Earnhart

          

2. State Policy Update (Ashley Jones-Wisner) 

    

3. Updates on past DCFPC Priorities 
   1. Regional Food Hub Update (Jill Elmers, Emily Miller)
   2. Farmers Markets of Kaw Valley (USDA FMPP grant)

1. Subcommittee Reports 
   1. City (Aundrea Shafer)
   2. Community (Kim Criner)

1. FPC Member Updates 

   1. FPC member sponsorship of 4-H livestock auction processing for Just Food?

       

2. Public Input

1. Adjourn

In attendance: Christine Ebert, Marlin Bates, Jill Elmers, Michael Steinle, John Pendleton, Michael Showalter, Jennifer Kongs, Jen Humphrey, Connie Fitzpatrick, Pattie Johnston, Ashley Jones-Wisner, Lee Broyles, Scott Thellman, Aundrea Shafer, Inti Hirt, William Vesecky, Elizabeth Burger

Absent: Jan Hornberger, Larry MacElwain, Joshua Falleaf, TK Peterson, Kim Criner, Brent Smith  

Public: Carol Gilmore, Hannah Britton, Dietrich Earnhart, Alicia Ellingsworth, Emily Miller, Isaac Remboldt

6pm pre-meeting presentation:  Jim Schilling, Assistant Director for Retail Dining, will give an overview of KU Dining’s sustainability initiatives and host a Q&A. 

1. Administrative Items 
   1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval (Elmers, Jones-Wisner—all approved)
   2. Approval of May meeting minutes (Humphrey, Johnston—all approved)
   3. Kansas State of Wellness Award Video
      1. Check it out! Thanks to all the FPC members and community partners who participated in the filming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RHt-VSP4dI
   4. Retreat updates (July 17, 5-9pm, White Tail Run Winery near Baldwin City)
      1. Marlin reminded the group that in May they discussed the idea of a panel presentation as part of the retreat. That idea evolved into bringing former FPC members for opening remarks, and then inviting some great out of town guests from NW Kansas with the Western Prairie Food, Farm, and Community Alliance, and Kamyar Enshayan from University of Northern Iowa.
   5. Budget overview and approvals
      1. Request from Aundrea Shafer and Rick Martin for registration request at the Closing the Hunger Gap conference. This is a very good conference that seeks empowering solutions to address hunger and improve food access. The group discussed that the registration would use up most of the Council’s remaining budget for the year. Helen commented that receipt of targeted FPC funding from Kansas Alliance for Wellness, in addition to other possible grants, could likely be applied for with a strong chance of receiving the award, to utilize in the coming months once the Council identifies its priorities. 
         1. (Burger, Elmers—All approved)
   6. Jen Humphrey announced she’s stepping down from the Council. This opens up the space for a current member to move into the Vice Chair position. Since Marlin Bates is in his second year serving as Chari, the replacement Vice Chair could consider moving into Chair in 2018. 
      1. Member recommendations for a new farmers market representative position requested. It would be great to identify potential replacements so they can be invited to the July retreat. Jen will still attend the retreat.
      2. Opens up an opportunity of new Vice Chair position. Interested members invited to reach out to Helen or Marlin.

1. Douglas County Food System Plan 
   1. Updates from June 14 County Commission Presentation 
      1. Helen shared that the presentation on June 14 seemed to be well received from the County Commission. Commissioner Thellman asked for more documentation in the primary plan of the Sunrise Project Community Coordinators.
      2. The plan will now be considered for adoption: 
         1. June 28: Douglas County Commission
         2. July 11: City of Lawrence Commission
   2. Prioritization exercise  for Goals 3, 4, and 5
      1. The group conducted an exercise to initiate prioritization of Food Plan Goals 3, 4, and 5.

1. Conversation on Community-Driven Research
   1. FPC engagement with area researchers, September 8 at KU (The Commons)
      1. Hannah Britton and Dietrich Earnhart, on faculty at KU, presented a summary of the shared research summit. They both work with the Institute for Social Policy Research and are working to support interdisciplinary facilitation for faculty, staff, and students to work on food studies.
      2. Through this event, they are looking to find champions to help move forward with a project that draws upon the food system plan and advances a community interest through a KU collaborative project. Ideally, after the event individualized, deeper conversations would take place.
      3. The FPC created an ad hoc working group: Marlin Bates, Elizabeth Burger, Connie Fitzpatrick, Michael Showalter, Kim Criner
      4. The group discussed advantages and disadvantages of including other university contacts for this initial gathering. Dietrich shared that as the University hots they are planning to have pre-event packages with faculty background information to share with FPC and community attendees. 
         1. Group decided that FPC would lead other university partner invitations. The goal would not be to have board, comprehensive representation, but identify interested partners.
      5. Group discussed opportunity to extend event to noon, to take place over a full morning and allow more flexibility for discussion and ideas to develop during the event.
      6. FPC ad hoc group will reconvene with Hannah and Dietrich to further planning.

1. State Policy Update (Ashley Jones-Wisner) 
   1. Legislative session adjourned. One bill passed this session that makes it easier for individuals accessing food assistance to sign up via a voice signature—saves about 10 days and a lot of money for non-profits supporting enrollment.
   2. No final progress in lowering food sales tax. Many hearings during the session, including until the end, which was a positive sign of interest.
   3. Good news: Cautious optimism to actually get food sales tax lowered in the future. Conversations already underway about next year.

1. Updates on past DCFPC Priorities 
   1. Regional Food Hub Update (Jill Elmers, Emily Miller)
      1. Jill Elmers introduced Emily Miller as the new Food Hub director. Emily was engaged with the KC food hub study that happened at the same time as the Douglas County / NE Kansas study in 2013. The two studies included more than thirty organizations in the region. Sales are growing since Emily came on board.
      2. Emily Miller also introduced Alicia Ellingsworth who works in Kansas City as Farm to Institution manager with KC Healthy Kids. Alicia shared that she was in attendance to learn and is also excited to talk with anyone.
   2. Farmers Markets of Kaw Valley (USDA FMPP grant) 
      1. Helen and Marlin have been working with the 5 markets in the area every two weeks since the final SCALE report came out in January. Working on implementation of the recommendations that can be used to support increasing sales at markets. eXplore Lawrence is providing a new, key partnership to support marketing and promotion. A new identity for Farmers Markets of Kaw Valley with campaign launching end of June to build up promotion for National Farmers Market Week in August. Three videos also being produced by Matty D Media—social media promotion and off-season promotion. Focused on increasing shoppers at markets and the amount they spend. 
         1. FPC members encouraged Helen and Marlin work with the markets’ leadership to engage vendors in the process as it develops going forward.   

1. Subcommittee Reports 
   1. City (Aundrea Shafer) 
      1. Bus stop garden at 12th and Haskell in development. Will be managed by existing community garden manager with strong partnership with City of Lawrence Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Lawrence Transit. Subcommittee developing signs and Transit will support communications.
   2. Community (Kim Criner)
      1. Close to launching CSA Toolkit update in collaboration with Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department.

1. FPC Member Updates 
   1. FPC sponsorship of 4-H livestock auction and processing for Just Food—Helen and Marlin shared that this had been a quasi-annual tradition informally organized by the FPC in years past. 
      1. Former FPC member Daniel Poull led raising funds through this event at the County Fair to buy a hog. $150 for the market price, plus a premium (unpredictable), Aaron Krigby at Santa Fe Trails in Overbrook said he’d help with processing costs for the Just Food donation. In past years, it cost: 2011 (~$600), 2012 ($920), 2014 ($805)
      2. Scotty Thellman offered to bid for FPC and front the money, to then collect. No formal vote was needed but group was generally supportive. They discussed the value of participating in the 4-H auction, versus buying other livestock auction meat without the premium, but determined that it was the joint benefit for 4-H and Just Food clients that was of interest.
   2. Michael Steinle 
      1. Helen presented to his Rotary Club on June 14. Michael shared that his fellow members complemented the presentation and he’s receiving follow-ups of interest for how to support.
      2. Michael has been giving updates on Food System Plan to the City of Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board, as the liaison between the two groups. They’re wanting to know what way to go forward, especially concerning Food Waste. He and Helen will follow-up directly with SAB to better understand their interests, and then determine the best course of action after the FPC retreat and identification of priorities.
   3. Connie Fitzpatrick is receiving interest on following through with the Community Coordinator interviews she conducted with other groups for the Food System Plan, and how they can support implementation. KU-Haskell Women of Color Collective is interested in Goal #4. Helen and Connie will follow up with them and then determine the best course of action after the FPC retreat and identification of priorities. 
      1. Helen shared with the FPC a reminder that part of the retreat and following FPC meeting in August will really help clarify what next steps look like, how to best engage the public and other organizations.

1. Public Input

Isaac Remboldt, a KU senior undergraduate, introduced himself. He is completing the Sustainability Certificate and learning more about the FPC to see if he can support an initiative as part of this work.

1. Adjourn (Elmers, Shafer—all approved)