[00:00:03]
I'M THE MAYOR PRO TEM, AND I WILL, I AM, LET'S SEE.
IT'S JULY 16TH, 2024, 9:02 AM I WILL CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION FOR TODAY.
MAYOR WATSON IS OFF THE DIOCESE MORNING, BUT WE ANTICIPATE HE WILL JOIN US WITHIN THE HOUR.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER KELLY IS AWAY AT A TRAINING SESSION AND WILL NOT JOIN US TODAY.
[A. Pre-Selected Agenda Items]
IS TO CALL WORK SESSION TO ORDER.THEN WE WILL RECESS AND CONVENE THE AUSTIN ENERGY OVERSIGHT, UH, COMMITTEE.
WE WILL HAVE THAT MEETING AND, UH, WE WILL HAVE EXECUTIVE SESSION WHEN WE COME BACK FROM, UH, AUSTIN ENERGY OVERSIGHT.
WHEN WE RECONVENE, WE WILL RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AND THEN HAVE THE BRIEFING AS OUR LAST ITEM.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT ORDER? I DID WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE A NEW FACE ON THE DIOCESE TODAY, AND THAT IS OUR DEPUTY CITY MANAGER, JOHN FORTUNE, WHO HAS RECENTLY JOINED US ABOUT FIVE WEEKS AGO.
AND I JOKED WITH YOU YESTERDAY THAT A SPEECH WAS GOING TO BE REQUIRED AT THIS POINT.
IT WAS A JOKE, SO DON'T TAKE US SERIOUSLY, BUT WELCOME, WELCOME DEPUTY CITY MANAGER.
WE'RE REALLY GLAD THAT YOU'RE HERE.
UM, WE WILL RECESS THE WORK SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL, AND I WILL, AND TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
I'LL CALL BACK TO ORDER OF THE ME THE WORK SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL ON SEVEN 16.
IT'S 10 32 MEMBERS, AS YOU KNOW.
WE HAVE, UH, REALLY THREE ITEMS, ONE'S RELATED TO A BRIEFING AND THEN TWO EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE WILL GO TO THE EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEMS. WE WILL COME BACK, RECESS, THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING, THE WORK SESSION, GO BACK TO THE AUSTIN ENERGY BRIEFINGS, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK FOR THE FINAL BRIEFING.
UH, SO WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL WILL
[E. Executive Session]
NOW GO INTO A CLOSED SESSION TO TAKE UP TWO ITEMS PURSUANT TO SECTION 5 5 1 0 71 OF THE GOVERNMENT CODE.THE CITY COUNCIL WILL DISCUSS LEGAL ISSUES RELATED TO ITEM E ONE, SAVE OUR SPRINGS ALLIANCE INC.
VERSUS CITY OF AUSTIN, ED AL, CAUSE NUMBER D ONE GN 24 0 0 3 2 0 IN THE 345TH DISTRICT COURT OF TRAVIS COUNTY, TEXAS.
AND ITEM E TWO, WHICH IS BALLOT LANGUAGE AND OTHER LEGAL MATTERS CONCERNING A NOVEMBER, 2024 CHARTER AMENDMENT ELECTION AS INDICATED.
IF THERE'S NO OBJECTION TO GOING INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION, WE WILL GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION.
HEARING NONE, THE COUNCIL WILL NOW GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WITHOUT OBJECTION AT 10:33 AM ORDER OF THE ALSO CITY COUNCIL.
IT'S 11:29 AM ON SEVEN, UH, JULY 16TH, UH, 2024.
AND IN CLOSED SESSION WE DISCUSSED LEGAL ISSUES RELATED ITEMS, E ONE AND E TWO, WITHOUT OBJECTION.
UH, I WILL RECESS THE ME THE WORK SESSION OF THE AUSTIN CITY COUNCIL SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL CAN GO BACK INTO SESSION ON THE AUSTIN ENERGY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT IS CHAIRED BY THE MAYOR PRO TIM.
UH, WITHOUT OBJECTION, THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION IS RECESSED AT 11:30 AM UH, MAYOR PRO TIM, IT'S ALL YOURS, A COMMITTEE AND RECONVENE OUR WORK SESSION.
I UNDERSTAND WITH THE MAYOR OFF THE DAIS THAT WE HAVE ONE
[B1. Food Plan for Austin-Travis County.]
BRIEFING ON OUR, UM, CITY MANAGER.WOULD YOU LIKE TO TEE THAT UP FOR US? YES.
UM, SO AS THE STAFF IS MAKING THEIR WAY TO, UM, THE PODIUM HERE FOR THE PRESENTATION, LET ME JUST, UH, SAY THAT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, CITY STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH TRAVIS COUNTY AND THE O ON THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD, PROJECT CONSULTANTS, THE COMMUNITY, UM, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY COMMITTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CREATE A DRAFT PLAN.
THIS DRAFT FOOD PLAN SETS A VISION FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS, OUTLINING GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR PRESERVING FARMLAND, SUPPORTING LOCAL AGRICULTURE, ENSURING FAIR WAGES FOR FOOD WORKERS, IMPROVING FOOD DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, ENHANCING FOOD ACCESS, AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRACTICES.
A MEMO IS BEING DISTRIBUTED, DISTRIBUTED TO ALL OF YOU FOLLOWING THIS PRESENTATION THAT WILL OFFER A LINK TO THE DRAFT OF THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD PLAN IN ITS ENTIRETY.
SO PRIOR TO THIS ITEM, COMING BACK TO THE COUNCIL IN AUGUST FOR, UM,
[00:05:01]
APPROVAL, STAFF WILL BE CONTACTING EACH OF YOU FOR ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL FEEDBACK THAT YOU MAY HAVE.BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO OUR TEAM, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT WERE KEY IN THE CREATION OF THIS PLAN.
THAT'S, UM, THOSE WERE THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK FARM SHIRE, AUSTIN, FRUITFUL COMMONS.
GOOD WORK, AUSTIN KEEP, AUSTIN FED SUSTAINABLE FOOD CENTER AND URBAN ROOTS.
SO NOW LET ME TURN THIS OVER, UM, FOR THE PRESENTATION FROM EDWIN MARTY, WHO'S THE FOOD POLICY MANAGER WITH THE CITY'S OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND RACHEL KAUF, WHO'S THE PLANNING MANAGER, AND RE FROM THEIR RESEARCH AND PLANNING DIVISION WITH TRAVIS COUNTY'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
UM, EDWIN MARTY, FOOD POLICY MANAGER, CITY OF AUSTIN, OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY, AND GOOD AFTERNOON, MAYOR PRO TEM AND COUNCIL.
UH, I AM EXCITED TO SHARE MANY YEARS OF WORK THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING, UH, COMMUNITY LED PROCESS TO CREATE THE CITY COUNTY'S FIRST COMPREHENSIVE FOOD SYSTEM PLAN.
AND I'M DELIGHTED TO BE SHARING THE PODIUM TODAY WITH MY COLLEAGUE, RACHEL.
RACHEL KAUF, TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PLANNING MANAGER WITH THE RESEARCH AND PLANNING DIVISION.
SO THIS AFTERNOON I'M GONNA SHARE A COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS, A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON WHAT A FOOD SYSTEM IS AND WHAT A FOOD PLAN IS, AND WHY WE CREATED A FOOD PLAN, HOW WE CREATED THE FOOD PLAN, AND WHO WAS INVOLVED WITH CREATING THE FOOD PLAN.
AND VERY BRIEFLY, WE'LL SHARE THE VISION THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS CREATED AROUND OUR FOOD SYSTEM, THE OBJECTIVES, THE GOALS, AND THE STRATEGIES.
AND THEN WE'LL END UP VERY QUICKLY WITH SOME NEXT STEPS ON WHERE WE WANT TO GO AFTER THIS.
SO LEMME PUT A LITTLE CONTEXT IN.
UH, WHEN I TALK ABOUT FOOD SYSTEMS, THESE ARE THE ISSUES.
SOME OF THE METRICS THAT WE TRACK.
WE KNOW METRICS ARE ONLY PART OF A STORY, UM, BUT CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE PRODUCE VERY LITTLE OF OUR OWN FOOD HERE IN AUSTIN.
TRAVIS COUNTY, 0.06% OF THE FOOD CONSUMED LOCALLY IS PRODUCED LOCALLY.
WE FEEL LIKE THAT'S A TREMENDOUS CONCERN.
THAT NUMBER IS GOING DOWN, THAT NUMBER IS GOING DOWN IN PART BECAUSE WE'RE USING FARMLAND TO DEVELOP NEW HOUSING, NEW RETAIL, ET CETERA.
YES, OUR COMMUNITY DESPERATELY NEEDS AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND MORE RETAIL, BUT WE'RE DOING THAT IN A WAY CURRENTLY AT THE EXPENSE OF LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION.
ON TOP OF THAT, WE'RE THROWING AWAY A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OUR FOOD.
OVER A MILLION POUNDS A DAY OF, UH, FOOD GOES INTO THE LANDFILL, AND THAT FOOD CONTRIBUTES DIRECTLY TO THE THINGS THAT WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS MORNING.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, 20, OVER 20% OF THE TOTAL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS FOOTPRINT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS DIRECTLY TIED TO OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
AND ON TOP OF ALL THAT, WE'VE GOT A DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH AMOUNT OF FOOD INSECURITY IN AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY, OVER 14% COMPARED TO OVER 12%, UH, NATIONALLY.
FOOD SECURITY, HOPEFULLY YOU ARE AWARE, IS WHEN A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNITY DOESN'T KNOW WHERE THEIR NEXT MEAL MIGHT COME FROM.
WE THINK THAT'S AN UNACCEPTABLE STATISTIC IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE WORKING ON A FOOD PLAN THAT CAN ADDRESS THAT CENTRALLY.
SO I TALK ABOUT FOOD SYSTEMS A LOT.
LET ME JUST TAKE ONE SECOND TO DEFINE WHAT THAT MEANS.
ESSENTIALLY, WHEN YOU HEAR FOOD SYSTEMS THINK, WHERE DOES YOUR FOOD COME FROM? GROWING, SELLING, EATING, AND RECOVERING FOOD.
SO WE'LL USE THAT FRAMING A LOT.
WE BROKE DOWN THE FOOD SYSTEM INTO THESE FIVE BASIC SYSTEMS, AND THEN WE CENTERED THE FOOD SYSTEM IN WHAT WE CALL FOOD JUSTICE.
FOOD JUSTICE IS A RECOGNITION THAT NOT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES THE FOOD SYSTEM THE SAME.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? WE RECOGNIZE RACIAL, HISTORICAL, UH, INJUSTICES THAT HAVE OCCURRED, THAT CREATE A DISPROPORTIONATE ACCESS TO BENEFITS IN OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
WE, AS A COMMUNITY HAVE TRIED TO CENTER THAT THOUGHT IN THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE PLAN UNTIL TODAY HERE AS WE SHARE OUT WHAT THE FOOD SYSTEM IS ALL ABOUT.
SO, UH, WHAT IS A FOOD PLAN? FOOD PLANNING IS A FAIRLY NEW PART OF THE PLANNING WORLD.
10 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE VIRTUALLY NO FOOD PLANS AT A MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY LEVEL.
TODAY, THERE'S PROBABLY 10 OR 12 FOOD PLANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE ON THE LEADING EDGE OF THE CREATION OF THESE VISIONARY COMMUNITY DRIVEN DOCUMENTS.
SO, LIKE MANY PLANS, A FOOD PLAN IS SIMPLY A VISION.
WHERE DOES THE COMMUNITY WANT US TO GO? WE CREATE SOME GOALS, WE CREATE VERY SPECIFIC STRATEGIES.
WHAT'S THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY? WHAT'S THE COUNTY'S RESPONSIBILITY? WHAT ARE NONPROFITS, PRIVATE SECTOR, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION'S RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP US ACHIEVE THAT COMMUNITY VISION? SO UP UNTIL TODAY, ESSENTIALLY WE HAVE AS A COMMUNITY NOT HAD A SHARED COMMON VISION FOR WHERE WE WANT TO GO AS, UH, THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BETTER FOOD SYSTEM.
SO DELIGHTED TODAY TO SHARE THIS COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY DRIVEN VISION FOR A FOOD SYSTEM.
AGAIN, CENTERED ON THE RECOGNITION, THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT, THAT NOT EVERYBODY EXPERIENCES THE FOOD SYSTEM.
THE SAME IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS FOOD PLAN IS BUILDING ON MANY, MANY OTHER PLANS.
WE'VE ANALYZED OVER 20 CITY AND COUNTY PLANS, EVERYTHING FROM IMAGINE AUSTIN TO AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERIES COMP PLAN.
WE'VE INTEGRATED THE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED IN EXISTING PLANS ABOUT THE FOOD SYSTEM INTO THIS PLAN.
OVER 60 DIFFERENT STRATEGIES FROM OTHER PLANS WERE BROUGHT FORWARD, RECOGNIZED.
SO IN SOME WAYS, THIS PLAN, THIS COMPREHENSIVE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY
[00:10:01]
FOOD PLAN IS A PLAN OF PLANS.AND WE'RE DELIGHTED TO SHOW HOW THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN WOVEN TOGETHER.
SO WHERE DID THIS PLAN START? THE ORIGINS FOR THE FOOD PLAN CAN BE FOUND IN COVID-19 WINTER STORM URI AND WINTER STORM MARA.
THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC EXACERBATED IN STARK RELIEF, THE EXISTING HEALTH AND SOCIAL INEQUITIES AMONG ALREADY DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED POPULATIONS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
MEANWHILE, SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS IN RECENT YEARS HAVE SHOWN A SPOTLIGHT ON THE FRAGILITY OF OUR LOCAL SUPPLY CHAINS.
THESE DISRUPTIONS ELEVATED CONCERNS ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD BE BETTER PREPARED FOR FUTURE DISRUPTIONS AND SPARKED DISCUSSIONS ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE MORE RESILIENCY IN THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM AND WHAT ROLE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SHOULD AND COULD PLAY IN PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE.
CITY COUNCIL PROVIDED DIRECTION TO CREATE THE FOOD PLAN IN 2021, AND TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT PROVIDED DIRECTION FOR THE COUNTY'S PARTICIPATION IN 2022.
THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHICH WE'LL TALK ABOUT MORE IN A FEW SLIDES, HAS APPROVED THE DRAFT PLAN.
SO A QUICK SUMMARY OF, UH, HOW WE GOT HERE.
STARTING AFTER THE COUNCIL AND, UH, COMMISSIONER'S COURT RESOLUTIONS.
UH, WE STARTED WORKING DIRECTLY WITH THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD.
SO CITY COUNTY STAFF MEETING WITH THE FOOD POLICY BOARD, UM, DEVELOPING ESSENTIALLY THE PLAN FOR THE PLAN.
HOW WOULD WE CREATE A PLAN? HOW WOULD WE CREATE A COMMUNITY DRIVEN MULTILINGUAL, UH, COMPREHENSIVE FOOD PLAN? WE SPENT MANY MONTHS IN DIRECT CONVERSATION WITH FOOD POLICY BOARD MEMBERS TO DEVELOP A VISION FOR THE CREATION OF A COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UH, WE SPENT, UH, QUITE A BIT OF TIME AND ENERGY CANVASSING THE COMMUNITY.
WE GOT HUNDREDS OF APPLICANTS TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
UH, EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE NOW HAVE A 25 MEMBER COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT REPRESENTS A GEOGRAPHICALLY DIVERSE AND ETHNICALLY DIVERSE AND, UH, SKILLSET DIVERSE, UH, GROUP OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
THOSE COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN MEETING ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF.
THE FIRST STEP IN PHASE ONE WAS TO DEVELOP THE VISION THAT WE JUST MENTIONED.
UM, THEY THEN DEVELOPED OBJECTIVES TO PROVIDE GUARDRAILS AND SET OF GUIDELINES, UH, FOR THAT VISION.
AND THEN THEY HELPED RECRUIT ISSUE AREA GROUPS.
SO WE DEVELOPED FIVE ISSUE AREA GROUPS TO DIVE INTO THE REAL GIST OF THE FOOD PLAN.
UH, WE SPENT ABOUT SIX MONTHS IN ISSUE AREA GROUPS DEVELOPING GOALS AND STRATEGIES, AND NOW WE'RE HERE AT THE END IN PHASE THREE, BASICALLY GROUND TRUTHING, WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY, GROUND TRUTHING, THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES THAT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED BY THE COMMUNITY.
AND NOW HERE, PRESENTING THE PLAN TO YOU.
THE PLAN WAS CREATED IN A VERY BROAD, COMPREHENSIVE WAY.
UH, THE PLANNING TEAM, AS WE CALL IT, MADE UP OF CITY AND COUNTY STAFF.
WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT WHO EXACTLY WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT GROUP.
UH, WE HIRED A CONSULTING GROUP, WE NICHOLS AND TORRES, UH, TO HELP US DEVELOP THE PLAN, PROVIDE SUPPORT IN WRITING THE PLAN.
UH, WE'VE HIRED EQUITY CONSULTANTS TO PROVIDE EQUITY GROUNDING WORKSHOPS TO EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD POLICY BOARD HAS BEEN WALKING LOCKSTEP WITH US ALONG THE WAY.
AND THEN THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM.
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO PROVIDE BRIEFINGS TO BOTH CITY AND COUNTY EXECUTIVES ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS FOOD PLAN, TO PROVIDE SUGGESTIONS AND, UH, INTEGRATED WAYS TO MAKE SURE THE PLAN IS ALIGNED WITH EXISTING CITY AND COUNTY PLANS.
UH, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL TOUCH ON IN MORE DETAIL.
AGAIN, IT'S THE ADVISORY BODY, ESSENTIALLY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS ISSUE AREA GROUPS, HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMING OUT AND SPENDING HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS WITH US TO HELP US DEVELOP OUR GOALS AND STRATEGIES.
WE DEVELOPED COMMUNITY FOOD AMBASSADOR PROGRAM TO HELP BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN COMMUNITIES THAT ARE OFTEN UNDERSERVED OR UNDERREPRESENTED IN MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY FOOD PLANNING PROCESSES.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HEARD FROM THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS DIRECTLY ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO SEE HAPPEN WITHIN THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, VERY EXCITED TO SAY WE RECRUITED THIS GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE, ABOUT 25 FOLKS.
UH, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE COMPENSATION TRANSLATION SUPPORT SERVICES, UH, TO THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TRYING TO ADDRESS THE TYPICAL CHALLENGES THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE IN PARTICIPATING IN MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY PLANNING PROCESSES.
UH, THIS GROUP HAS PROVIDED INCREDIBLE DIRECTION, GREAT SUPPORT, REALLY EXCITED TO SAY THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE FOLKS, UM, HAS COMMITTED HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS TO THIS PLANNING PROCESS, HAS PROVIDED DIRECTION, HAS PROVIDED DIRECT CONNECTION BACK TO THEIR COMMUNITY.
MANY OF THESE FOLKS, UH, REPRESENT WHAT WE CALL COMMUNITIES THAT EXPERIENCE THE NEGATIVE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF OUR EXISTING FOOD SYSTEM.
SO WE'VE GOT EXECUTIVES FROM FOOD SYSTEM ORGANIZATIONS ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FOLKS THAT WE CALL DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND FOOD WORKERS AND FARM WORKERS, ET CETERA.
SO A REALLY IMPRESSIVE BROAD SWATH OF OUR COMMUNITY.
UM, NEXT UP WE'VE GOT OUR CITY DEPARTMENTS.
WE'VE GOT ABOUT 14 DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, WE HAD CITY STAFF FROM EACH ONE OF THESE DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN OUR PROJECT PLAN TEAM PARTICIPATING IN ISSUE AREA GROUPS, PROVIDING, UH, TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.
[00:15:01]
HAD EXECUTIVES FROM EACH ONE OF THESE DEPARTMENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM TO ENSURE THAT THE PLAN ALIGNED WITH EXISTING CITY PLANS.SIMILARLY, THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE COUNTY DEPARTMENTS AND OFFICES THAT WERE INVOLVED WITH CREATING THIS PLAN.
UH, THEIR ACTIVITIES WERE VERY SIMILAR TO WHAT EDWIN JUST DESCRIBED ON THE CITY SIDE, AND INCLUDED, UM, DIRECT SUPPORT ON THE PROJECT TEAM STAFF CONTRIBUTIONS TO WORKING GROUPS, OR REVIEW AND FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT GOALS AND STRATEGIES.
ONE OF THE DEFINING FEATURES OF THIS PROCESS WAS THE DIVERSE MIX OF ORGANIZATIONS WHO RESPONDED TO THE INVITATION TO HELP CREATE THIS PLAN ALONGSIDE THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
THIS SLIDE ILLUSTRATES A CROSS SECTION OF THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PARTICIPATED.
YOU CAN SEE A MIX OF NON-PROFIT FOR-PROFIT AND PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES.
THIS DIVERSE PARTICIPATION WAS THE RESULT OF EXTENSIVE OUTREACH AND PARTNERSHIP BUILDING IN ORDER TO RECRUIT AS MANY STAKEHOLDERS AS POSSIBLE, DRAWING FROM ALL AREAS OF THE FOOD SYSTEM.
ADDITIONALLY, ALTHOUGH NOT PICTURED ON THE SLIDE, THE OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY ALSO CONDUCTED A SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT, WHICH WAS SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE PRIVATE SECTOR OF THE FOOD SYSTEM.
THIS ASSESSMENT INCLUDED SIX FOCUS GROUPS, 13 KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEWS, AND OVER 2000 SURVEY RESPONSES FROM FOOD AND FARM WORKERS.
THE RESULTS HELPED TO EXPAND OUR KNOWLEDGE BASE FOR THE PLAN FROM THE START.
WE INTENDED TO CO-CREATE THIS PLAN USING AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS.
BY THIS WE MEAN USING ENGAGEMENT METHODS THAT ARE ROOTED IN DEEP LISTENING, INVITING, SUSTAINED AND MEANINGFUL PARTICIPATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PLANNING PROCESS, REMOVING OR MITIGATING BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE WITH INTENTION, SEEKING TO HEAR FROM OUR RESIDENTS WHO EXPERIENCE THE DIRECT NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF THE CURRENT FOOD SYSTEM AND HONORING ALL OF OUR PARTICIPANTS' TIME AND LABOR BY ACTING AS STEWARDS OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PLAN.
OVER A 12 MONTH PERIOD, WE CONDUCTED MORE THAN 80 ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES WITH RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
APPROXIMATELY FOUR 1400 PARTICIPANTS WERE ENGAGED THROUGH LISTENING SESSIONS, WORLD CAFES, SURVEYS, WORKSHOPS, OR AS COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS OR COMMUNITY FOOD AMBASSADORS.
AND IN ESTIMATED 2200 PEOPLE PROVIDED FEEDBACK THROUGH TABLING AND PRESENTATIONS AT COMMUNITY EVENTS OF THOSE WHO CHOSE TO SHARE VOLUNTARY DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION.
ALMOST HALF OR 46% IDENTIFIED AS HAVING BEEN DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE FOOD SYSTEM, SUCH AS HAVING A CURRENT OR PAST EXPERIENCE OF HUNGER USING PUBLIC BENEFITS, OR STRUGGLING TO MEET BASIC NEEDS.
ADDITIONALLY, 19% WERE ENGAGED FROM TRAVIS COUNTY AREAS OUTSIDE CITY OF AUSTIN BOUNDARIES, AND 13% ENGAGED IN A LANGUAGE OTHER THAN ENGLISH.
WHILE THERE'S NO MEASURING STICK FOR INCLUSION, WE FEEL PROUD OF THE EXTENSIVE AND MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION THAT GROUNDED THIS PROCESS.
AND WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO SHARE WITH YOU A FINAL FOOD PLAN THAT CULMINATES FROM AUTHENTIC COLLABORATION AND CO-CREATION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
SO WHAT DID WE HEAR? UH, LOTS OF THINGS.
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS QUITE LITERALLY.
UH, WE SORTED THROUGH THOSE, UH, AND USED ALL OF THE PUBLIC INPUT TO HELP DRIVE THE DIRECTION OF THIS PLAN.
THAT SAID TWO THINGS FLOATED TO THE TOP CONSISTENTLY AT ALMOST EVERY SINGLE MEETING ENGAGEMENT PROCESS, UM, THAT WE TOOK PART IN, UH, WE HEARD ACCESS TO FOOD AND AFFORDABILITY OF THAT FOOD.
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE TO ANY OF YOU THAT WORK CLOSELY INSIDE THE CITY IN THE COUNTY, REALLY CHALLENGING FOR FAMILIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN AFFORD THE KIND OF FOOD THAT THEY NEED AND WANT TO PUT ON THEIR FAMILY'S PLATE.
BUT JUST AS MUCH LOCAL FOOD PRODUCTION AND AGRICULTURE.
I THINK OUR COMMUNITY RECOGNIZES THAT WE'RE AT A PIVOTAL MOMENT.
WE GET TO DECIDE RIGHT NOW WHAT OUR COMMUNITY'S GONNA LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT 10, 20 YEARS.
WE PROBABLY WON'T GET TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR VERY LONG FROM A LAND USE PERSPECTIVE.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO ENSURE THAT WE CAN PRODUCE FOOD, WE CAN HAVE FARMLAND IN OUR COMMUNITY, BUT PERHAPS THAT DECISION WON'T BE AVAILABLE FOR VERY LONG.
WE HEARD THAT MESSAGE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THESE TWO MAJOR THEMES, WE ALSO HEARD ONE OTHER CRITICAL PIECE, PRIMARILY DRIVEN FROM THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BUT REALLY ACROSS THE COMMUNITY, WE WANT A PLAN THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED.
WE THINK THE BEST WAY TO HAVE A PLAN THAT GETS IMPLEMENTED IS TO ENSURE THAT WE PUSH FORWARD A MOVEMENT TO CREATE A BETTER FOOD SYSTEM.
WE WANT A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO BE PART OF THIS PLAN, TO PARTICIPATE
[00:20:01]
IN THE IMPLEMENTATION.HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FOLKS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY ARE VERY EXCITED TO SEE THIS WORK GET ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AND TO DIVE INTO HOW WE GET THIS PLAN IMPLEMENTED.
SO A FOOD PLAN, MUCH LIKE MOST OTHER PLANS, SU STRUCTURED AROUND A BOLD VISION, SOME OBJECTIVES, SOME VERY SPECIFIC GOALS AND STRATEGIES.
AND ALL OF THAT LEADS TO A CLEAR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
YOU'LL SEE IN THE FOOD PLAN THAT'S NOW POSTED ON THE AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD PLAN WEBSITE THAT WE'VE GOT 130 PAGES OF DETAILS ABOUT THIS PLAN.
WE'RE EXCITED TO DIVE INTO THIS PLAN WITH YOU.
WE'RE ALSO EXCITED TO SAY THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION COMPONENT IS WELL DESCRIBED IN WHAT WE CALL IMPLEMENTATION TABLES.
EVERY SINGLE STRATEGY IN THE FOOD PLAN HAS A FAIRLY SPECIFIC SET OF IMPLEMENTATION TABLE DETAILS DESCRIBING WHO COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD THIS STRATEGY, UH, WHERE, WHEN, WHY THE STRATEGY COULD MOVE FORWARD, AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN NEXT TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
THE FOOD PLAN VISION STATEMENT CAME FROM ALL OF THE FEEDBACK COLLECTED DURING OUR VISIONING PHASE IN WHICH OUR RESIDENTS SHARED THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS ABOUT FOOD.
THE VISION WAS THEN FURTHER CRAFTED AND FINALIZED BY OUR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND IT READS AS FOLLOWS.
WE ENVISION A JUST ACCESSIBLE AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE FOOD SYSTEM BUILT BY UNDOING INEQUITIES THAT SUPPORTS AND SUSTAINS INCLUSIVE, THRIVING COMMUNITIES, HEALTHY ECOSYSTEMS AND SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, WHERE EVERYONE CAN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL NOW AND FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
THIS IS A FAIRLY BIG AND EXPANSIVE VISION STATEMENT, AND THIS WAS INTENTIONAL SO THAT THE VISION COULD ENCOMPASS THE INTERCONNECTED NATURE OF THE FOOD SYSTEM ITSELF, AND SO THAT EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY COULD SEE THEMSELVES IN THIS VISION OF A BETTER FOOD FUTURE.
SO IN ADDITION TO THE VISION, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE ALSO DRAFTED THESE BOLD OBJECTIVES.
THE IDEA OF THESE OBJECTIVES WAS TO SHARE THE VISION AND SOME GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THAT VISION WITH THE ISSUE AREA GROUPS WHO WOULD BE DEVELOPING THE GOALS AND STRATEGIES.
SO I'M NOW EXCITED TO SPEND A COUPLE MINUTES SHARING OUT SOME OF THE DETAILS ABOUT THE NINE GOALS AND 62 STRATEGIES THAT WERE DEVELOPED BY OUR ISSUE AREA GROUPS.
AGAIN, WE HAD OVER 20 WORKSHOPS, THREE HOUR WORKSHOPS, BROKEN INTO FIVE PARTS OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING FOR HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS.
AND I WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS WAS A DEEP ENGAGEMENT.
UM, WE PROVIDED FOOD, WE PROVIDED TRANSLATION SERVICES, WE PROVIDED STIPENDS, UH, WE PROVIDED CHILDCARE SERVICES FOR ANYBODY WHO WANTED TO PARTICIPATE.
WE'VE SPENT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME AND THOUGHT AND ENERGY AND MONEY TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COMMUNITY DRIVEN PROCESS, UH, WOULD ENSURE WE COULD, UH, GET OVER TRADITIONAL BARRIERS TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE THAT FELT STRONGLY ABOUT THIS FOOD PLANNING PROCESS WERE ABLE TO SHOW UP AND HAVE THEIR VOICE INCLUDED.
SO I'M NOW GONNA SHARE OUT SOME OF THE SPECIFICS AROUND THIS FOOD PLAN.
SO IT'S, AGAIN, NINE STRATEGIES.
AND THE FIRST PLAN GOAL IS AROUND LANDS, UM, LAND, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, FARMLAND PRESERVATION.
AGAIN, WE PERHAPS HAVE, UH, A PIVOTAL MOMENT RIGHT NOW TO LOOK AT THE LAND THAT STILL EXISTS IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IS FARMED, UM, AND PRESERVED THAT LAND.
UH, THAT LAND IS BEING DEVELOPED AT AN UNPRECEDENTED RATE.
WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY VERY CLEARLY, WE NEED A CLEAR CUT STRATEGY FOR PRESERVING FARMLAND.
WE THINK THAT FARMLAND PROVIDES NOT JUST FOOD, BUT AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE BENEFITS, ECONOMIC BENEFITS, ET CETERA.
UH, WE ALSO HEARD CLEARLY THAT THERE SHOULD BE A TIE BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND HOUSING.
UH, THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO NOT HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AGRICULTURE AND HOUSING, BUT INSTEAD TO MARRY THE TWO TOGETHER TO CREATE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE BUILT AROUND AGRICULTURE AND INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT NOW ACROSS AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT IDEA.
AND IN ADDITION, WE FEEL LIKE THE TIME IS NOW TO CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE URBAN AGRICULTURE PLAN.
UH, THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING URBAN AGRICULTURE ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY, BUT THERE ARE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF BARRIERS.
RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS IN AUSTIN, NOT EASY TO DO.
THERE NEEDS TO BE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE BARRIERS TO HELP COMMUNITY MEMBERS MOVE FORWARD.
OWNERSHIP CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES TO OWNING SMALL BUSINESSES, SPECIFICALLY FOOD-BASED BUSINESSES IN, IN AUSTIN.
UM, I KNOW HOW HARD IT IS TO RUN A SMALL FOOD BUSINESS IN AUSTIN, DOZENS OF FRIENDS THAT ARE STRUGGLING EVERY SINGLE DAY TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESSES AFLOAT.
BUT WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THERE ARE VERY FEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOOD WORKERS AND FARM WORKERS TO MOVE UP THE CHAIN TO MOVE FROM A WORKER TO AN OWNER.
WE THINK IT'S ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL THAT WE DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS TO EASE THAT TRANSITION AND TO CREATE INCENTIVES AND STIMULANTS TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION TO OWNERSHIP ABSOLUTELY POSSIBLE.
UM, WE ALSO THINK IT'S CRITICALLY IMPORTANT TO CONNECT THE DOTS BETWEEN FOOD THAT'S GROWN LOCALLY AND LOCAL INSTITUTIONS.
WE ALSO THINK THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS THIS ENTIRE CONVERSATION AROUND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURE THAT ACTUALLY SEQUESTERS CARBON HEARD QUITE A BIT THIS MORNING ABOUT THE
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CHALLENGES AROUND US ADDRESSING AND, AND MEETING OUR CLIMATE GOALS.AGRICULTURE IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS.
WE HAVE THINGS CALLED CARBON FARM PLANS WE CAN MOVE FORWARD ON, UH, SEQUESTERING CARBON THROUGH AGRICULTURE.
THE COMMUNITY HAS SPOKEN CLEARLY.
THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS HAPPEN ON BOTH PUBLIC LAND AND PRIVATE LAND LIVELIHOODS.
ONE OF THE REAL CHALLENGES IN AUSTIN, AS PERHAPS YOU WELL KNOW, IS THAT IF YOU WORK IN THE FOOD SYSTEM, IF YOU'RE A SERVER, IF YOU'RE A FOOD DISTRIBUTOR, IT'S REAL HARD TO AFFORD TO LIVE IN AUSTIN.
WE'RE BECOMING THAT COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE BASIC SERVICES TO OUR COMMUNITY CAN'T LIVE IN AUSTIN.
WE THINK THAT IT'S CRITICAL RIGHT NOW TO UNDERSTAND THE CHALLENGES THAT PEOPLE THAT WORK IN THE FOOD AND FARMING INDUSTRY FACE TO SURVIVE AND LIVE AND PROSPER.
IN AUSTIN, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SAY THERE'S SOME BOLD STRATEGIES IN GOAL THREE THAT FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON UNDERSTANDING THE COMPLEXITY OF THAT ENVIRONMENT.
UM, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO LEAN INTO THAT WORK.
UM, ESSENTIALLY THE ENTIRE PURPOSE OF THIS PLAN, I THINK FROM CITY COUNCIL'S DIRECTION, WAS TO UNDERSTAND HOW DO WE CREATE A MORE RESILIENT FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN.
UH, WE'VE READ THROUGH EVERY SINGLE AFTER ACTION REPORT IN HOT WASH OF RECENT DISASTERS WHERE COMMUNITY SPOKE VERY CLEARLY AND ARTICULATELY.
WE NEED A SUPPLY CHAIN FOR OUR FOOD SYSTEM THAT CAN WITHSTAND DISASTERS THAT WE'RE SEEING TODAY AND RECOGNIZE THAT IN THE FUTURE, IN THE COMING YEARS, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE HEAT, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE COLD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE FLOODS, AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE MORE DROUGHT.
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT OUR FOOD SYSTEM? IT IS NOT GOING TO WORK CORRECTLY UNLESS WE PLAN IT TO WORK BETTER.
AND SO ALL OF THE SEVEN STRATEGIES UNDERNEATH GOAL FOUR, FOCUS ON CREATING A MORE RESILIENT SUPPLY CHAIN, CREATING A A BETTER SYSTEM, A BETTER NETWORK, MAKING SURE THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS ARE TALKING TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND CREATING A BOLD AND CLEAR PLAN FOR ACTION.
GOAL FIVE INSTITUTIONS MAKING SURE THAT OUR INSTITUTIONS, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE GOT TWO KIDS AT A ISD.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY, HOPEFULLY, AND EAT FOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I AM DEEPLY INTERESTED IN THE KIND OF FOOD THAT THEY AND THEIR CLASSMATES EAT EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD THROUGH INSTITUTIONS.
OUR INSTITUTIONS ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO CREATE THE BEST POSSIBLE EATING ENVIRONMENTS FOR OUR STUDENTS, AND THEY NEED MORE SUPPORT.
IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO FEED KIDS FOR $2 A DAY, WHICH IS THE GENERAL NUMBER THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
WE THINK THAT THERE'S FOUR STRATEGIES UNDERNEATH GOAL FIVE, THAT POINT DIRECTLY TO HOW TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BETTER FOOD FOR OUR INSTITUTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO EAT GOOD FOOD.
SPEAKING OF GOAL SIX, ACCESS, ESSENTIALLY, HOW DO WE ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY? IT'S A COMPLEX EQUATION.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT INEQUITABLE ACCESS TO FOOD IS ESSENTIALLY ROOTED IN POVERTY.
HOWEVER, THE 11 STRATEGIES RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S MORE TO DO IN ADDITION TO TACKLING POVERTY, TO ADDRESS FOOD INSECURITY, FOOD RETAIL, INEQUITABLE.
ACCESS TO FOOD RETAIL IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE ALL TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS.
MANY PARTS OF OUR COMMUNITY DON'T HAVE SUFFICIENT FOOD RETAIL FOR LOTS OF REASONS.
WE THINK THAT THE CITY AND COUNTY CAN BE INVOLVED IN A MORE PROACTIVE WAY TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO GOOD RETAIL.
AND WE CAN WORK DIRECTLY WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO IMPROVE FOOD RETAIL.
THERE'S ALSO A HALF DOZEN OTHER STRATEGIES THAT POINT TO SUPPORT FOR LOCAL INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO ADDRESS THOSE ACCESS AND AFFORDABILITY ISSUES.
THE LAST THREE GOALS, GOAL SEVEN, FOOD RECOVERY.
WE MENTIONED A MILLION POUNDS A DAY.
OVER A MILLION POUNDS A DAY BEING THROWN AWAY OF FOOD IN OUR LANDFILLS DIRECTLY CAUSING, UH, GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.
WE WANNA RECOVER ALL THE FOOD.
WE DON'T WANNA SEE ANY FOOD THROWN AWAY.
WE THINK THAT'S AN ACHIEVABLE GOAL.
WE THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST HAVE TO LEAN HARDER INTO.
WE HAVE A REALLY IMPRESSIVE AUSTIN RESOURCE RECOVERY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT POINTS TO A LOT OF THESE THINGS.
WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THIS GOAL, THE SEVEN STRATEGIES UNDERNEATH GOAL SEVEN IS AMPLIFY THE THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY IN THAT COMP PLAN AND SAY, WE NEED TO DO THOSE NOW.
WE NEED TO PUSH AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD ENDING UP IN OUR LANDFILLS.
AND EVERY BIT OF RECOVERABLE FOOD THAT'S STILL EDIBLE EITHER GOES TO HUNGRY PEOPLE OR TO ANIMALS.
GOAL EIGHT, PRO CLIMATE PROHEALTH FOODS.
WE'VE ALREADY HEARD A LOT ABOUT CLIMATE TODAY.
THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY TO ENCOURAGE OUR COMMUNITY TO MAKE CHOICES ABOUT THEIR DIET THAT WILL ABSOLUTELY REDUCE THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM IN AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY.
AND THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT WE CAN DO JUST SIMPLY TO MAKE IT EASIER.
WE WANNA MAKE IT AS SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS, FOR FAMILY, TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE IN TERMS OF THE FOOD THAT THEY WANT TO FOOD FEED THEIR FAMILIES WITH, AND THAT WILL REDUCE CLIMATE CHANGE.
LASTLY, GOAL NUMBER NINE, EMPOWER.
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT THAT I REPEAT, THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS STRESSED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
WE WANT A PLAN THAT'S IMPLEMENTABLE STRATEGY 9.1 FOCUSES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COALITION THAT WILL BRING ORGANIZATIONS NON-PROFITS, GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS
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TOGETHER TO THE SAME TABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TRACK PROGRESS ON ALL OF THESE 62 STRATEGIES.STRATEGY 9.2 POINTS TO THE REGION.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR FOOD SYSTEM DOESN'T STOP AT THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES OF THE CITY OR THE COUNTY AT THE ABSOLUTE MINIMUM.
WE LIVE IN A REGIONAL FOOD SYSTEM AND WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION IN THE FIVE COUNTY REGION OF THE AUSTIN MSA.
WE WANT TO HAVE A COALITION ACROSS THE REGION LED BY GREAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK TO HELP US CREATE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON, WHAT DO WE NEED TO WORK ON AS A REGION, AND HOW DO WE MOVE THAT FORWARD? SO NEXT STEPS.
UH, I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT, UH, AUSTIN'S TRAVIS COUNTY FOOD PLAN WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TRAVIS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT AT A WORK SESSION MEETING ON AUGUST 8TH.
MY COLLEAGUE HERE, RACHEL AND HER TEAM WILL BE PRESENTING THAT.
UH, IF ALL GOES WELL, THERE'LL BE A VOTING ITEM TO FOLLOW LATER IN AUGUST, UH, TO POTENTIALLY MOVE FORWARD ON, UH, THAT PLAN.
WE'RE HOPING TO BRING FORWARD A REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION BACK TO YOU TO MOVE FORWARD ON POTENTIAL ADOPTION OF THIS FOOD PLAN.
IN THE MEANTIME, I INVITE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US.
I WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO SPEND SOME TIME, UH, WALKING YOU THROUGH THE ENTIRE FOOD PLAN, HOW WE DID IT, WHAT WE DID IT, WHAT DO WE THINK IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, HOW SHOULD WE MOVE FORWARD ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PLAN.
THAT SAID, THAT'S ALL I GOT TIME FOR.
I DON'T WANNA HOLD YOU ALL BACK FROM FOOD FROM LUNCH.
SO, UH, HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, BUT ALSO JUST REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION.
WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS DO WE HAVE? YES.
UH, LET'S START WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, AND THEN COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS GO.
THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR US AND I WANNA THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM AND ALL OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR'S LONG PROCESS TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
I ESPECIALLY LOVE, THIS IS AN AUSTIN TRAVIS COUNTY PLAN.
I THINK THAT REALLY SPEAKS TO THE COLLABORATION THAT HAS, UM, INCREASED AND IMPROVED BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
AND ESPECIALLY ON A TOPIC AS FOOD ACCESS.
IT'S SO IMPORTANT THAT WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER WITH OUR COUNTY PARTNERS IN ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE.
UM, IN THE OBJECTIVES THAT YOU LAID OUT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHICH PARTICULAR AREAS DID THE COMMUNITY IN THEIR FEEDBACK, UM, SUGGEST AS HIGH PRIORITY AREAS? YOU KNOW, KNOWING THAT FUNDING'S ALWAYS GONNA BE AN ISSUE FOR US MOVING FORWARD, WE HAVE MANY PLANS THAT THE CITY HAS.
UM, WHAT IF YOU CAN HIGHLIGHT ONE OR TWO AREAS THAT YOU MIGHT RECOMMEND AS WHERE US AS, UH, CITY POLICY MAKERS WHERE WE SHOULD BE INVESTING IN TO REALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE AND IMPROVING FOOD SECURITY? YEAH, HAPPY TO, UM, TOUCH ON THAT QUESTION.
THE FRAMEWORK FOR THE FOOD PLAN.
WE TRIED TO ESSENTIALLY PRIORITIZE WHAT WE HEARD THE COMMUNITY SAY WAS MOST IMPORTANT IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE GONNA TAKE A LOT LONGER THAN THAT TO IMPROVE IN TERMS OF OUR FOOD SYSTEM.
OUT OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD IN TERMS OF PRIORITIES, LAND, ABSOLUTELY THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN TERMS OF THE TEMPORALNESS OF THAT.
WE WILL NOT TO GET, TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT LAND ACCESS, ABOUT LAND PRESERVATION IN YEARS TO COME.
THAT LAND WILL BE COVERED WITH CONCRETE.
THE NEXT MOST IMPORTANT THING, FOOD, RETAIL, CERTAINLY IN D TWO, YOU'VE HEARD IT FOR YEARS.
UM, BUT THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO QUESTION THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS, UH, EASTERN TRAVIS COUNTY, EAST AUSTIN, SOUTHEAST AUSTIN, EAST AUSTIN, NORTHEAST AUSTIN, AND FOR THE RECORD NORTHWEST TRAVIS COUNTY JUST AS MUCH, UH, DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO GOOD FOOD RETAIL.
AND IT PERHAPS ISN'T GOING TO CHANGE ANYTIME SOON WITHOUT IN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION DEDICATED TO IT.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT GROCERY STORES ARE BUILDING AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAN IN PLACES THAT THEY THINK THEY WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.
CAN WE DO MORE? I THINK WE CAN.
IT'S GONNA REQUIRE INVESTMENTS.
IT'S GONNA REQUIRE SOME OUT OF THE BOX THINKING.
THERE ARE SOME GREAT MODELS ACROSS THE COMMUNITY.
THE FOOD PLAN IS CHOCKED FULL OF SOME OF THOSE GOOD EXAMPLES.
UM, AND WE'D LOVE TO GET WORKING ON THOSE TWO ITEMS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
I'M SO GLAD THAT WE ARE GETTING TO WORK ON THIS.
I'M GLAD THAT THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEND THEIR VOICES TO THIS PROCESS OVER THE PAST, UH, COUPLE OF YEARS, UM, IN HOUSING AND PLANNING.
UM, CHAIR HARPER MADISON HAD BROUGHT UP THE CONVERSATION AROUNDS.
ARE THERE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL AND PLANNING ABOUT WHAT, HOW COULD THESE PROGRAMS WORK TOGETHER? WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE SOME LAND THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR RESIDENTS NEARBY TO, YOU KNOW, HAVE THEIR HANDS IN THE DIRT AND TO BE ABLE TO HELP FACILITATE THAT PROCESS AND ALSO FOR THE FAMILIES THERE TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT FROM THE FOOD.
IS THAT CONVERSATION HAPPENING, UM, AT THAT LEVEL WITH FOLKS THAT ARE INTO PLANNING? OR ARE THERE ANY IDEAS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED ALONG THOSE LINES? ABSOLUTELY.
AND THERE IS A STRATEGY SPECIFICALLY THAT POINTS TO, UH, THE NEED TO
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EXPLORE IN MORE DETAIL THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR, FOR MARRYING AGRICULTURE AND HOUSING.UM, THERE ARE EASILY DOZENS OF EXAMPLES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE COULD POINT TO THAT ARE VERY GOOD AND SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLES.
UM, THEY'RE EXAMPLE THAT I CAN THINK OF OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, UM, SENIORS AND VETERANS HOUSING WAS BUILT AROUND A FARM.
UM, AND THAT FARM IS BEING VERY WELL PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED, AND THAT FOOD IS AVAILABLE TO THE SENIORS AND TO THE VETERANS IN THAT COMMUNITY.
REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE OF CHECKING A WHOLE LOT OF BOXES AND FIGURING OUT WHERE FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS CAN COME IN TO PROVIDE INCENTIVES.
AND THAT, UNFORTUNATELY IS THE REAL KEY.
UM, IF IT WAS EASY AND IF IT WAS JUST PROFITABLE ON ITS OWN, WE WOULD BE SURROUNDED BY NEIGHBORHOODS WITH FARMS. UM, BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
IT'S GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPLICATED.
SO WE'VE GOTTA FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE PERMITS THAT, UM, ARE GONNA POTENTIALLY HOLD SOMETHING UP.
ARE THERE CODES AND ORDINANCES THAT NEED TO GET SHIFTED AND ARE THERE INCENTIVES, UM, THAT WE CAN PROVIDE? AND WE THINK THAT THERE ARE.
SO, UM, I'M EXCITED TO SAY THAT WE'VE JUST, UH, STARTED THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT PROCESS.
UM, THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITIES TO USE THAT NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT, UH, GROUP TO REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT ARE THE CODES AND ORDINANCES THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON, UM, TO MAKE IT EASIER TO MOVE THESE KIND OF THINGS FORWARD.
WITHOUT QUESTION, THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF FARMLAND IN NORTHEAST, UH, AUSTIN AND TRAVIS COUNTY, BUT NOT FOR LONG.
UM, EVERY SINGLE FARM THAT, UH, I HAVE, I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT EVERY SINGLE FARM IN TRAVIS COUNTY IS ESSENTIALLY FOR SALE.
UM, AND SO, UM, THE TIME IS NOW TO MOVE FORWARD AND HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS WE'LL BRING BACK SOME IDEAS FROM THE NORTHEAST PLANNING DISTRICT SPECIFICALLY AROUND HOW TO REDUCE THOSE BARRIERS TO TAP INTO THE INCENTIVES TO TAP INTO FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP MOVE THOSE KIND OF PROJECTS FORWARD QUICKLY.
I KNOW THERE'S A NUMBER OF FARMS THAT ARE KIND OF CENTRAL EAST THAT HAVE CLOSED THEIR DOORS OVER THE PAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS AND THEY KEEP MOVING FURTHER OUT.
UM, SO I KNOW THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
ARE THERE ALSO IDEAS ABOUT COMMUNITY GARDENS? I KNOW WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL ONES THAT ARE ALREADY HERE IN AUSTIN.
I'VE HAD SOME FOLKS IN DISTRICT EIGHT ASK FOR THEM, BUT WE KNOW THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN JUST POINTING TO A SPOT ON A MAP AND SAYING, LET'S PUT A COMMUNITY GARDEN HERE.
IT REALLY TAKES LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND VOLUNTEER HOURS AND OTHER SORTS OF ASSISTANCE.
IS COMMUNITY GARDENS PART OF THIS PICTURE? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
UM, BEEN A LONG TIME ADVOCATE OF COMMUNITY GARDENS AS PRIMARILY A WAY TO CREATE REALLY GOOD COMMUNITY AND TO CREATE ACCESS TO REALLY GOOD FOOD.
UH, WE'VE GOT 50 OR SO COMMUNITY GARDENS ON PUBLIC LAND.
WE HAVE A FULL-TIME STAFFER IN PARKS AND REC THAT WORKS ON THAT.
UM, WE'VE DONE SOME ANALYSIS AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN IS PERHAPS ON THE BEHIND THE CURVE COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR CITIES IN TERMS OF THE SUPPORT THAT THEY PROVIDE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW COMMUNITY GARDENS.
I ALSO WANT TO THROW INTO THE MIX OF COMMUNITY GARDENS FOOD FOR US AND SCHOOL GARDENS.
UM, ALL OF THOSE PLACES ARE ESSENTIALLY WAYS THAT COMMUNITY CAN ACCESS LAND TO GROW FOOD.
UM, I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO, TO INCREASE THE RESOURCES THAT WE DEDICATE TO SUPPORT.
COMMUNITY GARDENS ARE NOT EASY TO BUILD, WELL, SORRY, THEY'RE EASIER TO BUILD THAN THEY ARE TO CONTINUE AND TO MAINTAIN.
BUT EVEN THEN THEY'RE NOT EASY TO BUILD.
WE'VE GOT SOME BARRIERS, I THINK, AT THE, UM, STRUCTURAL LEVEL THAT WE COULD ADDRESS WITH ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD, STATE OF SEATTLE I THINK HAS ABOUT 15 STAFF WORKING ON COMMUNITY GARDENS, AND THE CITY OF AUSTIN HAS ONE.
UM, SO, YOU KNOW, COMPARISONS ARE ODIOUS IN SOME WAYS, BUT THAT'S A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD ONE.
UM, WE THINK THAT WE, IF WE DECIDE THAT THAT IS A PRIORITY, CAN MOVE FORWARD.
I KNOW THAT THE STAFF IN PARKS AND REC WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO HELP MOVE THAT FORWARD AS WOULD THE COMMUNITY APPRECIATE THE ABILITY TO GET FROM, HEY, THIS IS THE VISION FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN IN MY COMMUNITY, TO WE'RE ACTUALLY BREAKING GROUND AND GROWING FOOD.
UM, WE'VE HEARD THAT IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO GO FROM, HEY, WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT TO ACTUALLY BREAKING GROUND? SO WE THINK WE COULD PROBABLY DO BETTER, UM, ON THAT PROCESS.
THERE'S PROBABLY SOME PROCESS IMPROVEMENT THINGS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT.
UH, BUT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES WOULD BE INCREDIBLE.
AND THEN MY LAST QUESTION IS ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF RESTAURANTS.
I KNOW THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE HAD A, A NUMBER OF OUR LOCAL RESTAURANTS JOIN TOGETHER AND CREATE INITIATIVES TO HELP MAKE SURE PEOPLE HAD ACCESS TO FRESH FOOD.
UM, ARE THEY INCLUDED IN THIS CONVERSATION SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE, UH, FOOD ROTTING THINGS SPOILING AND NOT ABLE TO BE USED? OR IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN ENHANCE THE PIPELINE OF LOCALLY GROWN FOOD THAT'S HEALTHY AND ORGANIC AND ALSO MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS WHO MAY NOT COOK THEMSELVES BUT WANNA GO TO A RESTAURANT NEARBY, UM, THAT WE'RE KIND OF SUPPORTING, THEY'RE, THEY'RE SUPPORTING EACH OTHER, THE COMMUNITY IS ABLE TO GROW FOOD AND THAT THE RESTAURANTS ARE ABLE TO HAVE FRESH LOCAL FOOD THAT IS PURCHASED FROM A NEARBY FARM.
IS HOW IS THAT CONVERSATION MOVING FORWARD? YEAH, GREAT QUESTION.
UM, THE RESTAURANT COMMUNITY, UM, HAS REALLY FACED SOME SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES.
UM, COVID WAS BRUTAL, RIGHT? UM, I'M NOT SURE OUR RESTAURANT COMMUNITY
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WILL EVER BE THE SAME AFTER COVID, BUT THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT UNIQUE IN THAT.THAT'S A NATIONAL CHALLENGE, A GLOBAL CHALLENGE.
UM, POST COVID, UH, THE RESTAURANT COMMUNITY HAS PUSHED REAL HARD.
GREAT ORGANIZATIONS LIKE GOOD WORK AUSTIN HAVE BEEN LEADING THE CONVERSATION.
WHAT CAN LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANTS DO TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER? WHAT CAN LOCALLY OWNED RESTAURANTS DO TO COME TOGETHER AND SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY? I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SAY THAT THE CHAIR OF THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS A STAFFER WITH GOOD WORK AUSTIN.
UM, SO WE'VE CERTAINLY HAD A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF, UH, OF INVOLVEMENT FROM THAT ORGANIZATION AS WELL AS DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OTHER RESTAURANTS.
UH, BUT TO YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION REGARDING, UM, RESTAURANTS COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS, UH, FOOD NEEDS, ESPECIALLY DURING DISASTERS, THERE'S TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST ON THAT FRONT.
UM, THERE ARE SOME REALLY EXCITING CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMMERCIAL KITCHENS AND SHARING COMMERCIAL KITCHENS.
MM-HMM,
I CAN ALSO SAY THAT, UM, THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK HAS LEANED HARD INTO THE IDEA OF BEING A CENTRALIZED HUB FOR DISASTER RESPONSE.
UM, THAT'S A BIT OF A SHIFT FROM A MISSION PERSPECTIVE FROM A COUPLE YEARS AGO.
THEY DO HAVE AN EXPANSIVE, UH, COMMUNITY KITCHEN, UM, THANKS TO CITY COUNCIL.
THAT BUILDING WAS BUILT ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO, SO JUST A QUICK ODE TO YOU ALL FOR HELPING MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, BUT IT'S AN INCREDIBLE FACILITY AND IT REALLY CAN PROVIDE A REALLY INCREDIBLE CENTRALIZED SPACE.
UM, AND THERE'S THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF RESTAURANTS THAT WANT TO BE PART OF THAT CONVERSATION.
AND WE NEED TO LOOK CAREFULLY AT HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THE, THE, THE INFRASTRUCTURE, THE LOGISTICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS IN PLACE AND THE PLANS ARE IN PLACE AND THE COMMUNICATIONS IN PLACE.
AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE RELATIONSHIPS ARE IN PLACE TO MAKE ALL THAT HAPPEN.
I'LL QUICKLY SAY I'M DELIGHTED THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, AS WELL AS TRAVIS COUNTY, UH, OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS FOOD PLAN.
AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SEEING SOME REALLY GOOD WORK OUT OF HESSAM IN TERMS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR MASS CARE BRANCH.
VERY SPECIFICALLY UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE WENT THROUGH DURING COVID DURING WINTER STORM YURI DURING WINTER STORM MARA, NOT EVERYTHING WENT GREAT.
THERE WERE SOME PROCESS IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PERMANENT MASS CARE BRANCH COORDINATOR AT SEM WAS ONE OF THE ABSOLUTELY CLEAREST THINGS THAT THE COMMUNITY SAID.
WE WANT TO HAVE A SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT.
SO ALL THOSE RESTAURANTS AND ALL THE COMMUNITY GROUPS KNEW EXACTLY WHO TO TALK TO DURING THESE KIND OF EVENTS AND ALREADY HAD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THAT PERSON.
SO, GREAT WORK ALREADY HAPPENING.
GOAL FOUR IN THE FOOD PLAN AND THE SUBSEQUENT SEVEN OR EIGHT EIGHT STRATEGIES, UM, REALLY DO FOCUS ON THAT.
SO DELIGHTED TO SAY, UM, THE FOOD PLAN SHOULD HELP SUPPORT ALL THAT, SHOULD AMPLIFY ALL THAT, AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL BE IN A BETTER PLACE, UH, WHEN THE NEXT DISASTER STRIKES.
AND I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO TOUR THE CENTRAL TEXAS FOOD BANK RECENTLY.
UM, SO I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR OPERATIONS AND I WAS GLAD TO SEE THEM ON THE SLIDE AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER.
'CAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE GONNA BE REALLY PIVOTAL IN THIS CONVERSATION, SO I'M, I'M GLAD THAT THAT IS TAKING PLACE.
I'D ALSO MENTIONED, BEFORE I CALL ON COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER THAT IF YOU WANNA TALK WITH ANYONE WITH, UM, EXCUSE ME, GOOD WORK, AUSTIN.
THAT WAS AN EFFORT THAT WAS SPEARHEADED BY ADAM ORMAN.
UM, AND THAT GROUP CAME TOGETHER DURING THE PANDEMIC AND, UM, THEY REALLY HAVE DONE SOME GROUNDBREAKING ORGANIZING AND FOOD PROVISION WORK HERE IN OUR CITY THAT HAS REALLY MADE A HUGE, HUGE DIFFERENCE.
SO RECOMMEND HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH ADAM IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY AND, AND MAYBE YOU ALREADY HAVE.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WANNA JUST, UM, CONGRATULATE, UH, MR. MARTY ON YOUR LEADERSHIP FROM THE VERY BEGINNING ON THIS PROCESS.
AND THANK YOU, UM, AS WELL, RACHEL, I'M SORRY I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR LAST NAME.
I THINK, UM, THANK YOU ALSO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
AND I, I TOTALLY AGREE WITH COUNCIL MEMBER FUENTES, THAT THIS IS A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE COUNTY AND THE CITY WORKING TOGETHER.
AND IT REALLY IS GONNA TAKE NOT JUST OUR ENTITIES, BUT THE PURCHASING POWER OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND, AND, AND EVERYONE WITHIN OUR, IN OUR SYSTEM TO BE ABLE TO, TO ENACT THIS VISION.
I THINK IT, UM, REALLY HELPS US RECOGNIZE HOW COMPLEX THE FOOD SYSTEM IS AND HOW DEEPLY CONNECTED WE ARE.
I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY I WAS GETTING A LITTLE BIT OF PTSD BACK TO THE PANDEMIC AND, AND SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE FACED.
UM, AND I KNOW THAT WHEN WE ORIGINALLY, UM, LAUNCHED THIS PROCESS, UM, OUT OF WHAT WE WERE SEEING THEN WE USED SOME ARPA DOLLARS, UM, FOR THAT.
UM, HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY IS LEFT AND, AND WHERE WOULD I BEGIN, AT LEAST ON THE CITY SIDE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE ARE SAYING THAT WE'RE GONNA DO FOR FUNDING
[00:45:01]
FOR THIS? EXCELLENT QUESTION.UM, I'LL START FROM THE TOP THOUGH.
AND JUST AGAIN, RECOGNIZE MY COLLEAGUE RACHEL KAUF.
UM, AND THE COLLABORATION WITH THE COUNTY, IT HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE TO WORK SO CLOSELY WITH THE COUNTY, UM, THROUGH COUNCIL DIRECTION.
WE REACHED OUT TO COUNTY STAFF AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PROCESS AND STARTED MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY MEETINGS.
HOW COULD WE WORK TOGETHER? HOW DOES THE CITY FUNCTION VERSUS HOW THE COUNTY FUNCTIONS AND VICE VERSA, HOW WOULD THESE THINGS WORK TOGETHER? THERE'S NOT A LOT OF PRECEDENCE FOR IT.
WE ONLY FOUND, I THINK TWO OR THREE OTHER PLANS, UM, THAT HAVE THIS KIND OF COLLABORATION.
SO HOPEFULLY THE GOOD WORK, UM, FROM RACHEL AND HER COLLEAGUES AND THE ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE COUNTY, UM, WILL MAYBE SET THE STAGE FOR FUTURE WORK LIKE THIS.
I THINK AS WE GROW AS A COMMUNITY, IT'S CRITICAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITHOUT GOING OVER THE JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES.
UM, AND MAYBE JUST THE LAST THING I'LL SAY ON THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PAINFULLY AWARE THAT SOMETIMES WHEN WE TRACK DATA, LIKE FOOD INSECURITY RATES, UM, WE CAN ACTUALLY SEE FOOD INSECURITY RATES GO DOWN IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH MIGHT BE A GREAT THING.
WE CAN SAY, HEY, THAT'S A SUCCESS METRIC.
FOOD INSECURITY RATES ARE GOING DOWN.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN YOU PEEL BACK THAT METRIC AND UNDERSTAND IT AT A DEEPER LEVEL, WE START TO SEE THAT ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE DOING IS EXPORTING POVERTY FROM THE CITY OF AUSTIN MOVING INTO TRAVIS COUNTY, UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF TRAVIS COUNTY, DOUBLING DOWN ON THE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE REGION IN TERMS OF HOW WE ADDRESS THESE CHALLENGES.
UM, IF WE'RE GONNA TRACK PROGRESS, WE NEED TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF SORT OF THOSE METRICS.
AND SO, AGAIN, JUST REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE THE COLLABORATIVE WORK.
UM, THAT SAID FUNDING, GREAT QUESTION.
UM, SO, UH, WE HAVE SPENT, UH, THE BULK OF THE ARPA DOLLARS THAT WERE DEDICATED TO THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, WE HAVE PAID OUR CONSULTANT, UM, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE DOLLARS FRANKLY, HAVE GONE TOWARDS COMPENSATING COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SAY, UH, WE HAVE PUT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND TIME INTO MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS WERE OFFERED COMPENSATION.
UM, SO A LOT OF THOSE DOLLARS WENT DIRECTLY BACK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO PAY FOR THEIR TIME.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT OFTEN WE ASK PEOPLE TO VOLUNTEER, AND THAT IS AN INEQUITABLE, UH, FRAMEWORK, AND THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE MOST IMPACTED BY THINGS LIKE FOOD INSECURITY AREN'T GONNA HAVE THE, THE LEISURE OF FREE TIME TO GO AND VOLUNTEER AND SHOW UP AT THE PERMITTING DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ANOTHER THREE HOUR PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION ISSUE AREA GROUP.
UH, BUT IF WE PROVIDE STIPENDS AND WE PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION STIPENDS, WE PROVIDE FOOD, UM, WE'RE MORE LIKELY TO GET THOSE PEOPLE TO ATTEND, WHICH MEANS THAT THE THINGS IN THE PLANT ACTUALLY REFLECT THE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE.
SO, UM, WE'VE SPENT THE BULK OF THE DOLLARS FROM ARPA ON THE FOOD PLANNING PROCESS.
UM, WE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE FEDERAL DOLLARS THAT ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE THROUGH THINGS LIKE THE USDA, THINGS LIKE THE USDA'S URBAN AGRICULTURE AND INNOVATION PROGRAM.
WE THINK THAT PROBABLY THE, THE BEST MOVE FORWARD WOULD BE TO LOOK AT USE OF LOCAL DOLLARS FOR MATCHING FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS. AND THERE ARE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF OPPORTUNITIES WHEN WE HAVE A SHARED VISION.
WHEN WE HAVE AN ADOPTED PLAN, HOPEFULLY AT ONE POINT, UM, WE THEN CAN HAVE COLLECTIVE GRANT WRITING DONE FAIRLY QUICKLY AND FAIRLY EASY AND SWIFTLY WE CAN BE RESPONSIVE TO NEW RFPS THAT APPEAR FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE.
UM, AND COMMUNITY GROUPS HAVE ALREADY EXPRESSED INTEREST.
WE ALREADY HAVE ESSENTIALLY THESE THINGS LAID OUT THAT WE'VE AGREED NEED TO GET DONE.
UM, SO IDEALLY USING LOCAL DOLLARS TO MATCH, UH, FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS IS GONNA BE GREAT.
WE ALSO HAVE A FAIRLY GENEROUS COMMUNITY AND WE THINK THAT WE CAN LEAN INTO THE PHILANTHROPY IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE GENEROSITY OF OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY TO HELP SUPPORT LOCAL NONPROFITS TO MOVE FORWARD ON IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THESE PROJECTS.
SO IT'S GONNA BE AN AND TO ALL OF IT, UM, BUT IT'S GONNA BE A CHALLENGE.
UM, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, UH, WE'RE ENTERING INTO A SOMEWHAT UNPRECEDENTED TIME IN OUR CITY BUDGET AND THERE'S LOTS OF COMPETING NEEDS.
UM, BUT WE THINK WITH A LITTLE BIT OF SUPPORT, WE CAN REALLY LEVERAGE THAT FOR, UH, FEDERAL AND STATE DOLLARS.
RICHARD, DO YOU WANNA, SO HOW MUCH MONEY IS THERE IN THE BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN? AND THERE ARE NO DOLLARS IN THE BUDGET FOR IMPLEMENTING.
UM, AND SO THERE'S NO DOLLARS FOR LAND ACQUISITION FROM THE CITY.
I KNOW THE COUNTY HAS HAD SOME, BUT UM, IN TERMS OF CITY DOLLARS THAT HAVE BEEN ALLOCATED FOR PRESERVING FARMLAND THAT I AM AWARE OF, THERE IS NOT ANY MONEY.
UM, SO THANK YOU, UM, COLLEAGUES.
I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, DEMONSTRATE THIS, HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS PLAN.
I HAVE STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN INTIMATELY INVOLVED FROM THE TIME THAT THIS CAME THROUGH, COUNCIL MEMBER TOGA'S OFFICE.
UM, SO WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS AND, AND WATCHING IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK, UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE MAYOR IS OFF THE DAIS RIGHT NOW.
UM, BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ASK WAS TO ADD THIS PLAN TO THE COMPREHENSIVE BOND, YOU KNOW, THERE, AND THERE'S A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER PLANS THAT WE HAVE, UM,
[00:50:01]
NOT INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT THAT'S THERE THAT WE NEED TO INCLUDE.UM, BUT I REALLY, YOU KNOW, AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT THIS MORE ON THURSDAY WHEN THE MAYOR'S THERE FEEL KIND OF UNCOMFORTABLE DOING THIS WITH HIM, NOT ON THE DAIS, BUT I REALLY WISH WE WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A YES AND CONVERSATION.
UM, THE LAND IS GOING TO GO AWAY IF WE DON'T BUY IT, AND WE HAVE NO DOLLARS.
AND SO WE ARE GOING TO REALLY HAVE TO HAVE A SERIOUS CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE ARE GOING TO FIND THE MONEY FOR THIS LAND.
AND WILL, I APPRECIATE THAT THERE MAY BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES, UM, TO BRING DOWN SOME FEDERAL DOLLARS.
THEY'RE STILL GONNA REQUIRE, YOU KNOW, LOCAL MATCHES THAT WE DON'T HAVE AND WE DON'T HAVE THAT MONEY SET ASIDE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE IS A WAY FORWARD, THERE WAS A WAY FORWARD WHERE WE COULD HAVE DONE A SMALL AMOUNT OF LAND ACQUISITION THAT WOULD'VE GOTTEN US, AT LEAST THROUGH THIS PERIOD, AND TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE.
AND, AND I, UM, I'M SORRY THAT WE ARE NOT HAVING THAT CONVERSATION AND MAYBE WE CAN HAVE MORE OF THAT CONVERSATION, UM, ON THURSDAY.
UM, BUT I'LL BE BRINGING AN AMENDMENT TO ADD SEVERAL OTHER PLANS, UM, THAT I THINK NEED TO BE THROUGH OUR DISCUSSION.
I THINK THEY'RE PROBABLY INTENDED IN THE, THE OVERALL FRAMEWORK, BUT I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THIS PLAN WHO NEED TO HEAR FROM US, FROM COUNCIL, THAT WE ARE AFFIRMING, UM, THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE AND THAT WE VALUE THIS.
AND, YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT PHILANTHROPY TO DO STUFF, IF WE WANT THE FEDS, IF WE WANT THE STATE TO STEP UP, WE CAN'T JUST DO A PLAN.
WE HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, MOVING FORWARD WITH IT, UM, IN PARTICULAR WAYS.
I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO READING THE FINAL VERSION OF THE PLAN, UM, YOU KNOW, IN MORE SPECIFICS.
UM, BUT I THINK AS WE GO INTO BUDGET, AS WE, YOU KNOW, GO INTO LAUNCHING THIS BOND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T JUST ACCEPT PLANS AND THEN NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND, AND THINK THAT WE'VE, WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED OUR, OUR TASKS AND GOING BACK TO HOW WE FELT DURING COVID WHEN WE REALLY SAW THE FOOD INSECURITY, THE LACK OF SUPPLY, ALL OF THAT.
WE CAN'T MOVE THE NEEDLE UNLESS WE MAKE THE INVESTMENTS, UM, THAT THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH TIME, UM, INVESTING IN.
SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR BRINGING IT FORWARD.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE? THANK YOU, MR. MARTY.
DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE FOR US DEPUTIES THAT YOU MANAGER? NO MA'AM.
WE, WE HAVE NO OTHER ITEMS FOR YOUR ACTION OR YOUR CONSIDERATION TODAY.
THEN COLLEAGUES AT, I, I APOLOGIZE.
I, BEFORE WE DO COUNCIL MEMBER, I, I DON'T HAVE A, A FORMAL POLL THAT I WANTED TO JUST HIGHLIGHT.
UM, I, FOR ITEM 93, THAT COUNCIL ALLISON ALTER IS JUST TALKING ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE BOND PACKAGE.
OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN LOOKING AT JUST SOME TECHNICAL LANGUAGE THAT'S INCLUDED LAST TIME ABOUT WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO SERVE, YOU KNOW, THE, THE ETHICAL RULES THAT, UH, APPLY TO SOME OF OUR OTHER BOARDS.
AND SO, UM, I, I PROBABLY PUT UP SOMETHING ON THE MESSAGE BOARD.
JUST WANTED TO GIVE EVERYBODY A, A QUICK HEADS UP.
[C. Council Items of Interest]
COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER.UM, JUST WANNA FLAG THAT I'M GONNA HAVE SOME DIRECTION FOR THE AUSTIN WATER, UH, PURCHASE, UM, RELATED TO THE SOLAR POWER STUFF FOR THAT PURCHASE.
AND, AND WE'LL BE PROVIDING THAT ON THE MESSAGE BOARD AND COUNCIL MEMBER ELLIS, I KNOW YOU'RE TRYING TO WRAP UP THE MEETING.
UM, I WANTED TO FLAG, I WAS GONNA POST ON THE MESSAGE BOARD, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER ALLISON ALTER HAS AN ITEM ABOUT STREET IMPACT FEE AND CHILDCARE.
AND SO I WOULD LOVE TO BE ADDED AS A CO-SPONSOR.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, WORK THAT, UM, YOU'VE HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING Q AND A WITH FOR A LONG TIME ON THAT.
UM, IT WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE PROCESS TO APPROVE STREET IMPACT FEES BACK WHEN CHAIR KITCHEN, UM, WAS LEADING THE MOBILITY COMMITTEE.
UM, SO I'M WELL VERSED IN THE WORK AND JUST WANTED TO, UM, SHOW MY SUPPORT.
I KNOW I WAS NOT AVAILABLE WHEN YOU WERE PUTTING IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT I WANTED TO BE SHOWN AS A CO-SPONSOR.
SEEING NOTHING MORE, I WILL CALL OUR WORK SESSION ADJOURNED AT 12:59 PM THANK YOU EVERYBODY.