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HomeMy WebLinkAbout60-13 RESOLUTIONRESOLUTION NO. 60-13 A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST CITY STAFF REVIEW THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND PREPARE AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO RAISE FARM ANIMALS AND SELL CROPS, ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN NON -AGRICULTURALLY ZONED AREAS TO PROVIDE GREATER FOOD SECURITY FOR FAYETTEVILLE RESIDENTS WHEREAS, 15% of Washington County's population is food insecure, which means lacking consistent access to enough food for active healthy living, and Arkansas ranks number nine in the nation in child food insecurity at 28%, while only 0.1 % of Arkansas's food is sold in state directly to consumers; and WHEREAS, expanding access to healthy food, reducing hunger, and encouraging healthier diets are of critical importance to our community's health and the reduction of our food insecurity rate; and WHEREAS, a sustainable local food system requires community support for buying local and promoting sustainable agriculture, and working together through partnerships is important and necessary to reach the goal of a strong and sustainable local food system; and WHEREAS, the many recent community programs and initiatives including Fayetteville Public Schools Farm to School program, the Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition, the creation of the Nation's first SNAP garden and the success of and demand for more Fayetteville Farmers' Market locations from citizens and farmers alike, all illustrate Fayetteville's support for local agriculture; and WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Forward Local Food Group and Feed Fayetteville conducted community surveys gathering information on food priorities for Fayetteville; and WHEREAS, the Unified Development Code should be studied to possibly authorize residents to practice animal husbandry and to sell crops, animals and animal products in non - agriculturally zoned areas. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby recognizes that a robust local food system will provide accessible, affordable nutrition for our citizens and economic stability for our community, and hereby requests the Sustainability and Strategic Planning Division work with local stakeholders to study Fayetteville's Unified Development Code and recommend changes that will promote citizens' ability to raise farm animals and sell crops, animals and animal products in non -agriculturally zoned areas to provide greater food security for Fayetteville residents. Page 2 Resolution No. 60-13 PASSED and APPROVED this 19th day of March, 2013. APPROVED: ATTEST: �--� By:X')v'1t4' SONDRA E. SMITH, City Cleric/Treasurer K)ResolutionsMesolutions in WORD\60-13 ADM 13-4331 Local Foods Ordinance Review.doc2 City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form City Council Agenda Items and Contracts, Leases or Agreements A,P,� 3-11-13 City Council Meeting Date Agenda Items Only Kristina Jones Sustainability & Strategic Planning Submitted By Division Department N/A N/A N/A Cost of this request Category / Project Budget Program Category / Project Name N/A N/A N/A Account Number Funds Used to Date Program / Project Category Name N/A N/A N/A Project Number Remaining Balance Fund Name Budgeted Item L� Budget Adjustment Attached L. Vfrk —3 f Previous Ordinance or Resolution # Depart ent it ctor Ddie Original Contract Date: Original Contract Number: City Attorney Date Finance and Internal Services Director Date Received in City Clerk's Office ` - A/4,-, ----- 3-1-1-3- Chief of S Date �« Received in Mayor's Office �� fy maysr Date Revised January 15, 2009 Z '0' ay'l-liee CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMO To: Mayor Lioneld Jordan and City Council Thru: Don Marr, Chief of Staff THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT CORRESPONDENCE Jeremy Pate, Development Services Director Peter Nierengarten, Sustainability & Strategic Planning Director From: Kristina Jones, Sustainability & Strategic Planning Project Designer and Coordinator Date: March 1, 2013 Subject: ADM 13-4331 Local Foods Ordinance Review PURPOSE Mayor Lioneld Jordan is sponsoring a resolution requesting City Council support for his request to have city staff examine the Unified Development Code and recommend amendments for City Council consideration that will make it easier for residents to grow and sell plant and animal based food products. This item has Alderman Matthew Petty's endorsement. BACKGROUND Along with timber resources and wild game, the grasslands of this region initially attracted settlers to Washington County who grew wheat, oats, corn, hay, strawberries, beans, tomatoes, tobacco, and eventually apples and other fruit crops, as well as chickens, pigs, oxen and dairy cattle. This began to change however, starting with Great Depression of the 1930s and the subsequent decline in rural population, coupled with the advent of modern-day conveniences and rising land costs. Today much of the agricultural tradition that sustained families in this area in the past has disappeared. However, the last few decades have seen a rebirth of interest in locally produced foods and products. A local foods movement strives to build a locally based, sustainable food economy where production, processing and distribution are integrated with an emphasis on social health benefits and environmentally sustainable local food crops and products. Additionally, supporting a strong local foods system is essential to addressing the issues of hunger and nutrition. When an individual or family can easily grow food, more residents have access to affordable, high -quality nutrition. Nationally, one in six Americans is fighting hunger; in Fayetteville, the statistic is one in four, and Arkansas leads the nation with 19% of our population who are "food insecure," lacking consistent access to enough food for active healthy living. Feeding America has determined that 15% of Washington County's residents are food insecure, and according to the Arkansas Department of Human Services, Washington County also has the second highest SNAP (food stamp) enrollment rate in Arkansas. And these problems appear to be increasing. A 2009 study by the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance shows that the number of people in Northwest Arkansas served weekly by the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank rose from 6,200 in 2005 to 25,900 in 2009 - - a 318% increase in families receiving food assistance in only four years. Recent activity and interest in the realm of local foods has been demonstrated by local organizations, programs, and initiatives including the following: THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS • Apple Seeds Inc., established in 2007, provides outreach and programs that help students and their families establish sustainable, lifelong, healthy eating habits. • SNAP -Ed, a program administered through the Washington County Extension Service in partnership with Arkansas DHS and the U of A, is focused on educating food stamp recipients and low income families about healthy diet and exercise choices. • The Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition was founded in 2009. Fayetteville currently boasts 20 community and school gardens and urban farms. • Fayetteville Public Schools (FPS) educational gardens at ten schools demonstrate a local commitment to food and agriculture knowledge from the ground up. FPS is also currently introducing students to local foods and agriculture through their newly formed Farm to School program, with emphasis on local food procurement and healthy food education. • Feed Fayetteville, formed in 2011, is an organization committed to alleviating hunger and cultivating a sustainable food network through strategic partnerships and making connections between organizations working on opposite ends of food issues to extend their reach and amplify their effectiveness. • University of Arkansas Community Design Center was awarded $15,000 in seed money in 2012 from the American Institute of Arkansas to begin developing "Fayetteville: 2030 Food City Scenario," a plan for "healthy and safe food systems at a local scale ... to build agrarian urbanism, where everything is designed around food production and how people live." The plan is one response to Fayetteville's increasing population, subsequent sprawl and the strain it places on the land, as well as a disconnect from food sources and a need for access to nutritious, sustainable food. In the fall of 2009 Alderman Matthew Petty requested that the City begin looking at Fayetteville's capacity for growing food in publicly owned open space. He met with the Sustainability Department in the spring of 2011, and staff began researching local foods movements in other cities and how city governments can have effective involvement. In October 2012, Feed Fayetteville solicited a community food survey including a question soliciting suggestions for Mayor Jordan about how to improve Fayetteville's community food system, urban agriculture, and access to fresh food. The following are the most frequent comments that the Sustainability and Strategic Planning Department felt could be evaluated through City policy: • use leftover space, such as in parks and excess rights -of -way, to plant food bearing vegetation; • establish more community gardens and expand the animals and fowl ordinance; • modify the zoning code to ease restrictions on farming and selling produce in town; • provide and/or expand food composting services; and • secure more partnerships with and support for local organizations and non -profits. Through a second survey, the Fayetteville Forward Local Foods group ranked these priorities, the top three being: 1) Unified Development Code review and modification; 2) expanded ability to sell food onsite where grown; and 3) review of the Animals and Fowl ordinance for possible expansion. Mayor Jordan has requested that staff assemble a group of stakeholders to review these priorities. Staff will meet with a small group consisting of farmers, agricultural law students, and food security professionals to study Fayetteville's Unified Development Code and recommend amendments that will promote residents' ability to grow and sell locally produced plant and animal based food products. BUDGET IMPACT None. RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION TO REQUEST CITY STAFF REVIEW THE UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE AND PREPARE AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW RESIDENTS TO RAISE FARM ANIMALS AND SELL CROPS, ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS IN NON -AGRICULTURALLY ZONED AREAS TO PROVIDE GREATER FOOD SECURITY FOR FAYETTEVILLE RESIDENTS WHEREAS, 15% of Washington County's population is food insecure, which means lacking consistent access to enough food for active healthy living, and Arkansas ranks number nine in the nation in child food insecurity at 28%, while only 0.1 % of Arkansas's food is sold in state directly to consumers; and WHEREAS, expanding access to healthy food, reducing hunger, and encouraging healthier diets are of critical importance to our community's health and the reduction of our food insecurity rate; and WHEREAS, a sustainable local food system requires community support for buying local and promoting sustainable agriculture, and working together through partnerships is important and necessary to reach the goal of a strong and sustainable local food system; and WHEREAS, the many recent community programs and initiatives including Fayetteville Public Schools Farm to School program, the Fayetteville Community Garden Coalition, the creation of the Nation's first SNAP garden and the success of and demand for more Fayetteville Farmers' Market locations from citizens and farmers alike, all illustrate Fayetteville's support for local agriculture; and WHEREAS, the Fayetteville Forward Local Food Group and Feed Fayetteville conducted community surveys gathering information on food priorities for Fayetteville; and WHEREAS, the Unified Development Code should be studied to possibly authorize residents to practice animal husbandry and to sell crops, animals and animal products in non - agriculturally zoned areas. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby recognizes that a robust local food system will provide accessible, affordable nutrition for our citizens and economic stability for our community, and hereby requests the Sustainability and Strategic Planning Division work with local stakeholders to study Fayetteville's Unified Development Code and recommend changes that will promote citizens' ability to raise farm animals and sell crops, animals and animal products in non -agriculturally zoned areas to provide greater food security for Fayetteville residents. PASSED and APPROVED this 19th day of March, 2013. APPROVED: IN ATTEST: By: LIONELD JORDAN, Mayor SONDRA E. SMITH, City Clerk/Treasurer JAI at qtr cc mtgs 2013\cc mtg 3-19-13\Res for use of local foods 2-28-13 doc Fayetteville Community Food Survey: What suggestions do you have for Mayor Jordan about how to improve our community food system, urban agriculture, and access to fresh food? Gardens/Public Space Use leftovers ace (Ci!y Lands/ Parks/ROW/Schools/POA properties) to plant food bearing vegetation in, accessible to all. 14 More Community Gardens and promotion of 8 ,Ci!y encourage/require planting food bearina landscape plants & trees as part of landscape re s/miti ation 3 ,City position dedicated to Community Gardens 2 Make community gardens easier to establish and access. 1 Offer SNAP in all community gardens 1 City Ordinances/Policies/Programs Amend chicken ordinance to allow for more and expand to goats and other animals. J Create/modifyCreate/modify zoning for Urban A riculture/Conservation- make it easier to farm in town $ 'Tax incentives for donated garden land/ sustainable garden set ups 2 City Composting 1 Overturn POA rules stating that residents cannot grow vegetables in front flower beds 1 Research and implement a more wholistic local food shed scenario. 1 Carbon tax on non local foods 1 •Encoura a and make rooftop gardens the norm 1 Farmers' Market (More, easily accessible(pedestrians and outskirts of town), and larger Farmers' Markets, at different times of day 8 Support Local: Local Farmers and local food in restaurants/grocery stores 7 Support/Promote Farmers' Market 3 More evening markets 2 More education on SNAP Benefits at Market and follow through on program 2 Market at U of A 1 Farmers' market vouchers for City employees 1 More value added products at Farmers' Market 1 ,Create opportunities for selling of food outside of Farmers' Market- difficult to get in 1 Support partnerships btwn Farmer's market and local stores 1 Education Cam ai n/educate promoting the benefits of local foods/ ardenin - make it poeular 8 Local food & gardening education in school 4 Food Preservation Classes/Canning programs 3 Encourage healthy good food in schools 2 Seed saving /food growing classes 2 ,Gardenin,q assistance/ garden planning education 1 Organizations & Partnerships Partnerships- University, Fayetteville Schools, Surrounding area 5 'Sup2ort local food non profits 1 ;Su ort/Promote Botanical Garden 1 Online Resources 'Nebsite with local foods resources 1 Create a space to advertise available gardening land 1 !Provide links to gardening resources and provide garden related donations 1 Community exchange program for oods- produce,compost etc. 1 Food & Local Food- General More local/health foods stores- need lower pdces 4 Encourage City facilities and businesses to source food locally 2 Push for accurate food labeling 1 Encouracie local restaurants to donate leftover foods 1 Facilitate food donations and distribution 1 Other Community building - neighborhood community kitchens/block parties 2 Create a lace that houses emergency food stores for those in need. 1 Hire a group to condauct a regional local food assessment 1 [Open a food reservation center 1 Short Term, City of Fayetteville Sustainability & Strategic Planning Department feed fayetteville LongTerm, Other City of Fayetteville Departments L 1 V 1 FAYETTEVILLE FORWARD LOCAL FOOD GROUP FOOD POLICY SURVEY Based upon Community Food Survey results and Local Foods Action Group replies, the following preferences have been chosen to represent citizens input. Please rank these priorities with 1 being most important to you in the City's commitment to local foods and community food security and 94 being least important. most New planning policies 8 important zoning changes to eamrincream._ Allow the selling of food on-sile where grown Expansion of chicken ordinance and exploration - Municipal food wasb composting program Facilitab promotion of and bederacoess_ Policy for local food at City events Inoenfivize local food production_ Have City staff dedicated to food _ Animals allowed at educational facilities Least Grow more farmers Important by offering scholarships.. - a 2 4 6 8 CITY OF FAYETERM ACTION feed fatte, e SHORT TEti6t ACTION u.�.—m — 3(f q(l 3 Gi� Co+� March 19, 2013 Dear Fayetteville City Council, I would like to offer my support to the Local Foods Ordinance Review or The Development of an Agrarian Urbanism Code and Framework. Consider this; fifty percent of Fayetteville's built environment projected to exist by 2030 has not yet been built. Fayetteville will essentially reproduce another Fayetteville —approximately 100 million square feet including 28,000 housing units (currently Fayetteville has an estimated 32,000 housing units) —within its boundaries over the next 20 years. What if we envisioned a Fayetteville Food City that is based on food security, linking local food production to urban development? There was once a strong relationship between cities and their surrounding agricultural lands; many preindustrial cities even had developed agricultural landscapes within their urban cores (e.g., Mormon, New England, and Mediterranean cities). Local land once reserved for agriculture has been replaced with suburban development while food products produced by a global industrialized system now travel more than an average 1,500 miles to local markets and can lose up to 80% of their nutritional value. Michael Pollan notes that before 1920 one calorie of energy expended by agricultural production generated two calories of food energy. Today, chemical -dependent industrial agriculture uses more than 10 calories of fossil fuel energy to produce just one calorie of food. Industrial agriculture has diminished access to locally -available food and generated a host of unintended environmental problems, while erasing local agricultural heritages. We have forgotten from where food comes, how to grow it, when to harvest it, and how to preserve it. Compared to our parents and grandparents we are agriculturally illiterate. Most cities generally have a three-day supply of food sourced from a global supply chain, what they call the "nine meals from anarchy" dilemma. The replacement of locally based food chains by global and centralized systems dependent on intensive transportation and energy inputs creates vulnerability to supply disruptions. If Fayetteville provides public services through potable water, police and fire protection, sewage treatment, waste management, and transportation infrastructure, how might a sustainable "food utility" become an ecological amenity scaled to the community rather than to an industrial economy? While pragmatic reasoning favors location of agriculture outside of the city, there are compelling economic, environmental, and social reasons to integrate agriculture within the city. First, the convenience provided by proximity to growing systems demystifies farming and positions it to be a tool for local economic development and jobs creation. Second, urban land costs promote development of high -quality, intensive farming economy with higher yields per acre (in both volume and nutritional content) that makes farming feasible at a small scale once again. Third, well -designed agricultural systems can be used to advance delivery of community -wide ecosystem services, including conservation of urban ecosystems like riparian corridors, legacy prairies or meadows, and urban tree canopies. Fourth, productive landscapes contribute to cities' open space systems requirements, enhancing livability and access to outdoor activities otherwise unavailable. Keep in mind, when the bike trails were originally proposed they were not popular, now it seems we cannot live without them. Code retooling approaches should consider more than shifting from "four hens to six" they should change the development game. I am hopeful that the city could reassert its design role of traditional urban services offered by street networks, urban fabrics, open space systems, neighborhoods, and buildings around the production of food. A city designed like that would be unlike any other and I am intrigued. RespectF Ily Submitted, Jeffrey Huber, Ward 4, 3691 Tower Circle