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
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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.
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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:
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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
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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).