City of ColumbiaFood Policy Committee Lauren HarperAdvisor, Policy & CommunicationsStaff Liaison to Food Policy Committee

So…how’d we get here?

• Reached out to SC Food Policy Committee - Oct. 2016

• Midlands Food Alliance offered support – Nov. 2016

• Convened with a group of food policy experts/leaders to discuss first steps – Jan. 2017

• Wrote memo outlining objectives/goals/focus areas of a Columbia FPC – Jan. 2017

• Mayor Benjamin announced plans for creation of a Food Policy Council in his 2017 State of the City address – Jan. 2017

So…how’d we get here? (cont.)

• Convened for a follow-up meeting on next steps –March 2017

• Drafted bylaws of FPC – April 2017

• Presented concept of FPC to City Council – April 2017

• Made some modifications to the memo highlighting that the FPC would not require extensive work additional hires on behalf of City staff + Columbia-specific reasons for need– April 2017

April 18, 2017 – it became a THING

So…how’d we get here? (cont.)

• FPC members appointed by Council – June 2017

• First FPC meeting held on July 12

What do they do?

Food Policy Committees convene citizens and

government officials to provide a comprehensive

examination of a local food system. This

nonpartisan form of civic engagement brings

together a diverse array of food system

stakeholders to develop food environment and

agriculture policy recommendations. They help generate information

on a community’s food system and offer advice

on business development, institutional

and emergency food programs in addition to neighborhood, city and regional comprehensive

plans.

Who’s involved?

• University of South Carolina• IT-oLogy• Bourbon• Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles• Richland School District One• Harvest Hope• EdVenture• City Roots• Senn Brothers Produce• End Child Hunger SC• Richland Library• Lexington Medical Center• DHEC• The Oak Table• FoodShare Columbia

What are their focus areas?

5 subcommittees:

• Zoning• Food Equity• Procurement + Sourcing• Marketing + Communication• Evaluation + Research

What are their focus areas?

• ZoningThe goal of the zoning subcommittee is to look at City of Columbia’s new zoning ordinances and animal control to remove impediments for the local food chain and to promote and enhance the local food chain.

• Food EquityThough Food Equity is a subcommittee in itself, an overarching mission of the FPC is to ensure equity for a variety of groups and in a variety of sectors.

This committee aims to be the ears of the FPC to ensure the group knows about the needs of the community.

• Procurement + SourcingThis subcommittee aims to recommend policies to increase local procurement in Columbia, create solutions on preventing waste such as composting initiatives + better systems for donation efforts and find effective ways to get local produce into schools, restaurants and the community.

• Marketing + CommunicationThis subcommittee aims to ensure the transparency of the FPC and keep the community abreast of its efforts and achievements.

• Evaluation + ResearchThis subcommittee keeps the integrity of the FPC by keeping track of its efforts as well as evaluating its effects on the community. It also presents information to the full FPC for consideration.

Tips for other municipalities

• Provide extensive background

• Be prepared to answer (a lot of) questions

• Persist• Recognize the value• Be excited