Food Policy Council (FPC) Meeting Mon, Aug 20 2018 1:30 PM

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Meeting Information

  1. Action Item: Administrative Items 
    1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval
    2. Approval of July meeting minutes
    3. Budget overview
  2. Public Comment
  3. Report: Urban Food Systems Symposium, Minneapolis, MN (Ashley Jones-Wisner, Marlin Bates)
  4. Action Items: Food System Plan, 2018 Full Council Policy Priorities

Goal 4, Objective 2 (Expand City- and County-led initiatives to make food more affordable)

4.2.1: Reduce and eliminate the sales tax on groceries

  • Presentation of next steps

Goal 1, Objective 3 (Increase local food purchasing)

1.3.1: Invest in signage, shared infrastructure, and coordinated marketing to support Douglas County farmers markets

  • Final Farmers Market Scan report
  1. Action Item: Consider for approval, Scope of Work and Timeline for FPC Bylaw Update Process
  2. Action Item: Consider appointment of FPC member to Single-Use Plastic Subcommittee of City of Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board (Michael Steinle)
  3. Discussion Item: Working Groups
  4. FPC Member Updates
  5. Adjourn


For questions, contact Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Director, Jasmin Moore, at jasminmoore@dgcoks.gov

**Next Meeting: September 17, 2018 – Just Food – 1000 E. 11th St. Lawrence, KS 66046

6:00pm pre-meeting discussion – Learn about the work of Sunrise Project, a community-driven non-profit focused on building community empowerment through food! https://sunriseprojectks.org/   

 

In attendance: Marlin Bates, Elizabeth Burger, Tamara Cash, Kim Criner, Christine Ebert, Jill Elmers, Connie Fitzpatrick, Inti Hirt, Ashley Jones-Wisner, Jennifer Kongs, John Pendleton, Aundrea Shafer, Scott Thellman, William Vesecky

 

Absent: Lee Broyles, Jason Champagne, Michele Dillon, Camille Eichorn, Joshua Falleaf, TK Peterson, Michael Steinle, Olivia Taylor-Puckett

 

Staff: Jasmin Moore, Bryson Risley

 

Public: Tyler Lindquist

 

Meeting called to order: 6:39 p.m.

 

  1. Report: Urban Food Systems Symposium, Minneapolis, MN (Ashley Jones-Wisner, Marlin Bates)
    1. Ashley Jones-Wisner, Marlin Bates, and Helen Schnoes attended and presented at the Symposium. Ashley and Marlin shared some highlights:
    2. In an effort to increase healthy food options at licensed grocery stores, Minneapolis adopted a Staple Food Ordinance. It requires licensed grocery stores (including corner stores, gas stations, dollar stores, and pharmacies) to sell a certain amount of basic food items including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, eggs, and low-fat dairy. In 2016 the Health Department trained store owners and they now monitor compliance.  A $200 fine can be issued if a store is out of compliance.  
    3. Homegrown Minneapolis - an initiative that combines the three largest city entities: city, university and school district.  They operate many things, including a farmers market collaborative and the food policy council. 
    4. Dr. Anu Ramaswami spoke about her research investigating the capacity of metropolitan statistical areas to produce their own food. 21% of US MSAs are capable of local self-sufficiency for effs- and milk-equivalents. 12% and 16% of MSAs are capable of being self-sufficient in fruits and vegetables, respectively. However, by expanding just outside of these geographic MSA boundaries and by focusing strictly on the fresh/direct demand, “even greater numbers of metropolitan areas already would have capacity for self-reliance.” This led her to conclude in her keynote that if we seek to enhance local supply and self-reliance, production, per se, is not so much a limiting factor, but rather the supply chains that match local production with local demand. She also indicated that HOW we manage food waste is of utmost importance.
    5. A breakout session focused on the need to develop near-peer populations to serve as mentors in agricultural careers.
    6. Marlin recommended FPC members should all read the text of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact
    7. Social justice was a theme at the Symposium – we will do well to consider how we can work toward a more just food system.

 

  1. Action Item: Administrative Items 
    1. Determine quorum of members, agenda approval. Motion by Kongs, second by Bates. Motion passed.
    2. Approval of July meeting minutes. Motion by Burger, second by Elmers. Motion passed.
  2. Public Comment: A KU Community Health student interning with Christine was in attendance.
  3. Action Items: Food System Plan, 2018 Full Council Policy Priorities 
    1. Review 90:90

Goal 4, Objective 2 (Expand City- and County-led initiatives to make food more affordable)

 

Champions: Health Equity, Marlin, Kim

4.2.1: Reduce and eliminate the sales tax on groceries

  • Kansas Alliance for Wellness Grant – Research for Policy Implementation application withdrawn based on clarification of funding guidelines. Staff is working with KAW and FPC to revise. There may be other avenues for research resources.
  • Champions update: Group decided that given lead on state-level sales tax advocacy, the Council would not actively pursue at this time, unless asked. It was decided that the Health Equity working group will take the lead on this priority. The Health Equity Working Group will continue to explore the role of the FPC in the food sale tax conversation and opportunities for policy recommendations.
  • Because this full council priority is now a part of the Health Equity Working Group, there was some discussion regarding the need to reprioritize full council priorities.

Goal 1, Objective 3 (Increase local food purchasing)

Champions: Jill, Ashely, Michael, Tyler, John, Olivia (Elizabeth, Tamara)

1.3.1: Invest in signage, shared infrastructure, and coordinated marketing to support Douglas County farmers markets

  • The Sustainability Office shared the Farmers Market Scan report, developed by Bryson Risley. The purpose of the report is to inform members of the Lawrence community and City staff about conditions that create a space conducive to a permanent farmers market. Key themes, findings, and case studies were picked to help explain how the information included in the scan can be used in a local context and the Downtown Lawrence Master Plan process, which will begin this fall.
  • Motion by Bates: FPC will submit comment to the Planning  Dept and Planning Commission regarding the Comprehensive Plan to call for stronger language for farmers market permanence, using the FM Scan and SCALE report.  Cash seconds and motion passed.
  • Next steps for Champions: Identify organizations who need to hear this information. Stay informed regarding the Downtown Master Plan engagement schedule and identify opportunities for FPC members to participate.
  • Next steps for FPC members: FPC members are encouraged to share this report with other stakeholders in the community.

 

  1. Action Item: Consider for approval, Scope of Work and Timeline for FPC Bylaw Update Process 
    1.  
      1. Meeting Format: Retreat format for one meeting instead of 3 separate meetings with pre-work required. The October FPC meeting will start at 5:30 and include two hours of facilitated discussion regarding FPC purpose and structure.
      2. Next steps for Champions: Meet in September to provide initial questions, distill the challenges that need to be worked through as the full FPC, report back to the full FPC at the September meeting, engage a facilitator for the October FPC meeting.
      3. Next steps for FPC members: Self-identify members interested in participating in the discussions in September with the champions, review the Joint Ordinance and Resolution—Sections to Review and Propose Edits (page 11 of the August FPC agenda packet), come prepared to engage in the October FPC meeting.
      4. Motion by Kongs: Allocate up to $900 for facilitation of FPC purpose and bylaw alignment.  Second by Bates. Motion passed.

 

  1. Action Item: Consider appointment of FPC member to Single-Use Plastic Subcommittee of City of Lawrence Sustainability Advisory Board (Michael Steinle) 
    1. Motion by Burger: FPC appointments the following members to participate in the SUP subcommittee as needed: Aundrea Shafer, Kim Criner, Jill Elmers, Christine Ebert. Second by Kongs. Motion passed.

 

  1. Action Item: Budget overview ($4,703.35 remaining). Motion by Bates to approve all 3 budget requests. Second by Kongs. Motion passed.
    1.  
      1. FoRWARD: $950 for community member conference travel
      2. FoRWARD: $100 for dinner at 2-3 hour work planning meeting
      3. Staff: $200 for other working groups’ meal support for extending planning meetings

 

  1. Discussion Item: Working Groups  

 

  1. FPC Member Updates
    1. Shafer: Adoption is almost final!
    2. Pendleton: This is Olivia’s final year as market manager. FM Board will be looking for a new market manager. Jennifer will send the job announcement out to this group.
    3. Criner: KU hosted faculty sustainability curriculum development. Food Systems panel provided input to faculty.
    4. Kongs: Taking a leave from FPC January-March. Looking for a FPC member to serve as a third executive position and who can step in as vice-chair during the first quarter of 2019.
    5. Fitzpatrick: The Womxn of Color mural at the Library has begun, expected to be complete in September.

 

  1. Adjourn 8:22

Time and Date

Location

Sunrise Project
1501 Learnard Ave, Lawrence, KS 66044, USA