Title
To recognize the partnership between the City of Columbus and Franklin County in the development of a food action plan.
Body
WHEREAS, food is a basic human need and all residents of Columbus and Franklin County should have access to nutritious and affordable food; and
WHEREAS, there are communities in Columbus and Franklin County with limited food availability, and access to nutritious food; and
WHEREAS, the regional food system significantly affects public health, land use, economy, and quality of life in our community, locally grown and sustainable food should be prioritized and offered to all residents when such food sources are available; and
WHEREAS, the food sector is critical to the economy of Columbus and Franklin County, and a strong local system of food production, processing, distribution, storage, access, and reuse protects our natural resources and contributes significantly to the environmental and economic well-being of the region; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council and Franklin County Board of Commissioners recognize that as a part of its health and sustainability mission we have a vital role in ensuring that the regional food system is robust and equitable; and
WHEREAS, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners approved Resolution No. 0809-13 on October 22, 2013 solidifying Franklin County's commitment to a strong and resilient local food system; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council has shown strong support for public health and local food initiatives through the support of community garden grants, the Mid-Ohio Food Hub, and other important food access programs; and
WHEREAS, there is currently no plan addressing the needs of the local food system for the City of Columbus and Franklin County, now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS
That this Council does hereby agree that Columbus Public Health, Franklin County Commissioners, and the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department shall jointly undertake a planning effort to develop a Local Food Action Plan. Columbus Public Health and Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department each agrees to assign a representative to act as the project lead for their respective agency. Each party further agrees to collaborate and work in good faith to carry out the tasks needed to complete the planning effort and develop a Local Food Action Plan.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the purpose of this planning effort is to identify methods of strengthening the local food economy with an interest in social justice, through qualitative and quantitative analysis of local food supply and demand. In addition, the planning effort will identify methods of improving healthy food access in areas with limited access. The findings will be used to create linkages between consumers and producers as a long-term, economic development and public health strategy. The Food Action Plan will include data gathering and analysis of local food supply and demand in Columbus and Franklin County, analysis of common themes present in local food stakeholder groups, and recommendations to strengthen healthy local food access and the local economy. Over the course of 18-24 months, the parties will research census and economic conditions relating to the local food industry, research existing local food policies and documents, conduct stakeholder interviews, survey stakeholders, and develop recommendations to strengthen the local food system.
The project will be completed as a cooperative effort with one assigned project lead from each party, which is to be Matthew Brown from the Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department and Autumn Trombetta from Columbus Public Health. Columbus Public Health will focus primarily on engaging residents and gathering and analyzing local food access information. The Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department will focus primarily on engaging producer, commercial buyer, distributor, and processor stakeholders, developing stakeholder surveys, and gathering and analyzing said surveys. The Franklin County Economic Development and Planning Department will also be responsible for developing the final document layout, with creative input from Columbus Public Health. Both parties will actively contribute to developing content for inclusion in the final document.