Healthy Sustainable Food Systems Initiative — Portland, ME
Date: 2015-07-17

Agenda
 Mayor’s Initiative for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems
 July 17, 2015
 10:00 – 11:30, City Hall, Room 209


1. Welcome and Introductions

2. Community Food Forum Wrap-up/Action Plan – Stephanie 10 min.

3. Mayor's Initiative Funding Opportunity – Ben 10 min.

4. Policy Recommendations – Mary-Elizabeth 15 min.

5. UNESCO- The application to UNESCO for Portland to be recognized as a Creative
City in the area of Gastronomy is on track to be submitted for the July 15 deadline. One
committee member just received commitment of a letter of support from the Deputy
Mayor of Chengdu, China, a city that has the UNESCO designation: http://www.nytimes.com
/video/travel/100000003743398/36-hours-in-
chengdu.html?emc=edit_th_20150702&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=20801049


6. National League of Cities site visit; Summer Success Picnic – Stephanie 5 min.

11:00-11:30 City Manager Jon Jennings joins us

7. Project and Subcommittee updates

 - Policy

 - Food Security

 - Enterprise and Infrastructure

 - Urban Agriculture

8. Announcements

9. Adjourn - Next Meeting - Steering Committee meeting August 28, 10:00 AM;
 Mayor's Initiative full committee meeting September 25, 10:00 AM

Minutes
 Mayor’s Initiative for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems
 July 17, 2015
 10:00 – 11:30, City Hall, Room 209

1. Welcome and introductions of meeting attendees

In attendance: Tim Fuller, Jeremy Bloom, Jim Hanna, Mary-Elizabeth Simms, Phyllis
Reames, Mary Alice Scott, Susan McCleskey, Olivia Dooley, John Naylor, Shannon
Brenner, Maeve Mcinnis, Mayor Michael Brennan, Stephanie Gagne, Craig Lapine, Ben
Tettlebaum, Laura Hartz and Tina Fischer.


2. Food Forum Wrap-up: Findings and Action Steps

 Stephanie distributed a document containing findings from the June 26 Steering
 committee meeting and asked that subcommittees identify 1, 2 or 3 action steps that
 address at least one finding from the document to work on in the coming year. Most
 subcommittees are already addressing at least one topic area and they will continue the
 work that is already happening.

3. Policy Recommendations

 Mary Elizabeth distributed a document with her findings and recommendations based on
 the food policy assessment. One recommendation was to establish a procurement
 subcommittee, another to revise the zoning code to better address agriculture and the food
 system, specifically small livestock and beekeeping. Actions to improve our STAR
 (Sustainable Tools for Assessing and Rating Communities) rating system are identified in
 the document a well and can be supported by City involvement.

 Additionally, Laura discussed the beginnings of her research into Food Policy Councils
 nationwide. The group discussed initiatives versus councils and it was suggested that at
 the August Steering Committee meeting the group establish how to get the food initiative
 out of City Hall while maintaining City representation.


4. Mayor’s Initiative Funding Opportunity
 Ben shared the MNCFC Phase 2 Proposal with the group. The document summarized the
 use of last year’s funding to: (1) conduct greater public outreach and community
 engagement; and (2) conduct a food policy assessment of Portland. The proposal for this
 year builds off this work and will broaden community engagement to include (1) food-
 related business in the private sector; (2) non-governmental organizations working to
 strengthen our food systems; (3) City employees; and (4) the public at large, including
 diverse communities.

 The proposed initiative to form a separate Portland Food Policy Council is based on
 findings from ongoing discussions. The funding will support an intern for 18hrs/week for
 14 weeks. Conservation Law Foundation will serve as the fiscal agent.

5. UNESCO Update

 Jim notified the group that the UNESCO application was completed and turned in on July
 15, 2015. The application is being reviewed and status will be announced at a later date.

6. National League of Cities Site Visit

 Stephanie summarized the site visit from the National League of Cities representatives
 with Mayor Brennan. The representatives attended the Summer Success Picnic which had
 nearly 300 attendees and were impressed at Portland’s creativity in combining summer
 meal sites with enrichment activities. Much of this was made possible through the
 CHAMPS grant which ends in October. There is the potential for the funding to continue
 in a different format.

7. Confirm date for next meeting: The next Steering Committee meeting is scheduled
 August 21 at 10:00am.

8. Adjourn.