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SR-05-08-2012-3DCity Council Meeting: May 8, 2012 Agenda Item: 3,p To: Mayor and City Council From: Dean Kubani, Director, Office of Sustainability and the Environment Subject: Resolution in Support of Sustainable Farms and Food Systems Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached resolution to support the Seattle Farm Bill Principles and call upon elected federal representatives to work toward a Farm Bill in 2012 that is consistent with these Principles. Executive Summary Green Cities California (GCC), an organization that was co- founded by the City of Santa Monica, has requested member cities adopt a resolution recommending that the 2012 Farm Bill be developed consistent with the Seattle Farm Bill Principles and designed to promote sustainable farms and food systems. The attached resolution was prepared by staff based on initial work done by GCC. The Task Force on the Environment has reviewed the resolution and unanimously passed a motion recommending City Council adoption. There are no direct budget impacts related to taking this action. Background The "farm bill' is an omnibus bill approved by the U.S Congress that establishes federal agricultural and food policy and provides funding for nutrition programs, conservation programs, agricultural research, rural development, farmer loans and subsidy programs. Since 1965 new farm bills have been adopted approximately every five years. The current farm bill, known as the Food, Conservation and Energy Act was adopted by the U.S. Congress on June 18, 2008. The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the House Committee on Agriculture are in the process of conducting 1 hearings on the 2012 Farm Bill with a vote on reauthorization of the bill expected by the end of the calendar year. Green Cities California (GCC) is a group of California local governments working together to accelerate local, regional national and international efforts to achieve sustainability. Santa Monica became a founding member of GCC on November 27 2007 when Council adopted the Green Cities California Sustainability Resolution. Food sustainability has been a priority of GCC during the past year, and in support of that effort GCC has prepared a draft resolution advocating that the 2012 Farm Bill be designed to support sustainable food and agricultural practices. Discussion The attached resolution includes a statement of support for the Seattle Farm Bill Principles. Creation of these Principles was initiated by Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin as part of the Seattle Local Food Action Initiative to provide guidance for the development of the 2012 Farm Bill. The six Seattle Farm Bill Principles are summarized below and included as attachment 2 to this report. 1. The driving principle of the Farm Bill must be the relationship of food and ecologically sound agriculture to public health. 2. The Farm Bill should promote farming systems and agricultural techniques that prioritize the protection of the environment so that the soil, air and water will be able to continue producing food long into the future. 3. The Farm Bill should enhance food security by strengthening the viability of small and mid -scale farms and related distribution networks; promote resiliency and community development; and create fair wage jobs. 4. The Farm Bill should promote equitable access to healthy food. 5. The Farm Bill should include policies, programs and strategies that support social justice, workers' rights, equal opportunity, and promote community self - reliance. 6. In development of the Farm Bill policy decisions should be made by assessing their impact on all aspects of the food system including production, processing, distribution, marketing, consumption, and waste management to achieve a comprehensive health focused food system. E The resolution also calls upon Santa Monica's elected federal representatives to support programs in the Farm Bill that: • Rebuild local and regional food infrastructure • Support small and mid -sized producers and ensure that they are fairly compensated by buyers • Promote sustainable and urban agriculture • Increase access to healthy food • Connect local residents with local farmers through direct sales from farmers to consumers The resolution also asks Santa Monica's elected federal representatives to protect funding in the 2012 budget for the programs listed above, to remove federal subsidies that support industrial farming, and to ensure that family farmers are paid and treated fairly by the companies that purchase their products, as stipulated by current law. On February 27, 2012 the Task Force on the Environment discussed the draft resolution and unanimously adopted the following motion: "The Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment recommends City Council support the Farm Bill resolution. Additionally, the Task Force recommends that the City specifically adopt the Seattle Farm Bill Principles as they apply to the City itself. Finally the Task Force requests for the second time that funding be identified to develop a comprehensive sustainable food policy for Santa Monica and that this money be included in the City's ongoing budget." In regard to the Task Force recommendation about adoption of the Seattle Farm Bill Principles, staff has determined that they are consistent with the Guiding Principles of the Sustainable City Plan (SCP) and plan to incorporate appropriate elements of them into the update of SCP which will be presented to Council in September 2012. In regard to the Task Force recommendation regarding funding for development of a comprehensive sustainable food policy, staff has determined that this can be completed in -house with additional staff and budget resources. This would involve: 3 1. Creating a Sustainable Food Policy for municipal operations 2. Addressing municipal food purchases 3. Coordinating education and outreach campaigns 4. Enhancing existing sustainable food programs Staff estimates that approximately $25,000 for campaign development, design and production of outreach materials, and production of community stakeholder events, and a half -time Administrative Analyst position for two years at a cost of $55,000 per year would be required for development and implementation of this policy. Total costs for development and implementation over two years would be $135,000. Staff will evaluate this request for possible inclusion in the Office of Sustainability and the Environment's budget proposal for FY 2013 -15. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions There are no financial impacts or budget actions associated with the adoption of this resolution. Prepared by: Dean Kubani, Director, Office of Sustainability and the Environment Approved: Dean Cubani Director, Office of Sustainability and the Environment Attachments: Forwarded to Council: Rod Gould City Manager 1. Resolution in Support of Sustainable Farms and Food Systems 2. Seattle Farm Bill Principles 11 Attachment 2 Seattle Farm Bill Principles •. ARMIJUT Guidance for the,2012 Farm Bill 1 Health- centered Food System The driving principle of the Farm Bill must be the relationship of food and ecologically sound agriculture to public health. Food that promotes health includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, dairy, and lean protein. Improving the health of the nation's residents must be a priority in developing policies, programs, and funding. 2 Sustainable Agricultural Practices Promote farming systems and agricultural techniques that prioritize the protection of the environment so that the soil, air, and water will be able to continue producing food long into the future. Integral to both domestic and global agricultural policies should be agricultural techniques and farming practices that enhance environmental quality, build soil and soil fertility, protect natural resources and ecosystem diversity, improve food safety, and increase the quality of life of communities, farmers and farm workers. 3 Community and Regional Prosperity and Resilience Enhance food security by strengthening the viability of small and mid -scale farms, and increasing appropriately scaled processing facilities, distribution networks, and direct marketing. Develop strategies that foster resiliency, local innovation, interdependence, and community development in both rural and urban economies. Opportunities that create fair wage jobs are key to a strong economy. 4Equitable Access to Healthy Food Identify opportunities and reduce barriers by developing policies and programs that increase the availability of and improve the proximity of healthy, affordable, and culturally - relevant food to urban, suburban, and rural populations. Protect the nation's core programs that fight food insecurity and hunger while promoting vibrant, sustainable agriculture. 5 Social Justice and Equity The policies reflected in the Farm Bill impact the lives and livelihoods of many people, both in the U.S. as well as abroad. Develop policies, programs, and strategies that support social justice, worker's rights, equal opportunity, and promote community self - reliance. 6 Systems Approach to Policymaking It is essential to reduce compartmentalization of policies and programs, and to approach policy decisions by assessing their impact on all aspects of the food system including production, processing, distribution, marketing, consumption, and waste management. Consider the interrelated effects of policies and align expected outcomes to meet the goal of a comprehensive health focused food system. The Seattle Farm Bill Principles were initiated by Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin as part of the Seattle Local Food Action Initiative. www .SeattleFarmBillPrinciples.org. Reference Resolution No. 10676 (CCS).