CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Members Nikuyah Walker, Mayor November 1, 2021 Sena Magill, Vice Mayor Heather D. Hill Michael K. Payne J. Lloyd Snook, III Kyna Thomas, Clerk CANCELED Closed session as provided by Sections 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712 of the Virginia Code (Personnel) Closed meeting has been canceled. 6:30 PM Regular Meeting Register at www.charlottesville.gov/zoom. Virtual/electronic meeting in accordance with a local ordinance amended and re-enacted October 4, 2021, to ensure continuity of government and prevent the spread of disease during a declared State of Emergency. Individuals with disabilities who require assistance or special arrangements to participate in the public meeting may call (434) 970-3182 or submit a request via email to ada@charlottesville.gov. The City of Charlottesville requests that you provide a 48 hour notice so that proper arrangements may be made. CALL TO ORDER MOMENT OF SILENCE ROLL CALL AGENDA APPROVAL ANNOUNCEMENTS (and Update from Blue Ridge Health Department) RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS • Proclamation: Nurse Practitioners Week, November 7-13, 2021 • Proclamation: Rotary Club of Charlottesville 100th Anniversary CONSENT AGENDA* 1. Minutes: September 20 work session 2. Resolution: Appropriating General Assembly One-time Bonus Funding-for the City Sheriff’s Office $35,525.00 (2nd reading) 3. Resolution: Appropriating Fiscal Year 2022 Fire Programs Aid to Locality Funding (Firefund) - $175,965.00 (2nd reading) 4. Resolution: Amending the FY 2021-2022 Substantial Action Plan and appropriating HOME-ARP (American Rescue Plan) funding (2nd reading) 5. Resolution: Appropriating American Rescue Plan funds - $1,192,836 (2nd reading) 6. Resolution: Appropriating funds for the Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program Child and Adult Care Food Program - $50,000 (1st of 2 readings) 7. Resolution: Appropriating funds for Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) Non- Infrastructure Grants - $39,000 (1st of 2 readings) 8. Resolution: Establishing interim hearing procedures for the Police Civilian Review Board (1 reading) CITY MANAGER RESPONSE TO COMMUNITY MATTERS and to COUNCILORS COMMUNITY MATTERS Public comment for up to 16 speakers (limit 3 minutes per speaker). Preregistration available for first 8 spaces; speakers announced by Noon on meeting day (9:00 a.m. sign-up deadline). Page 1 of 84 Additional public comment at end of meeting. Public comment will be conducted through electronic participation while City Hall is closed to the public. Participants can register in advance at www.charlottesville.gov/zoom. ACTION ITEMS 9. Public Closing, vacating and discontinuing a portion (0.038 acre) of the public Hearing/Ord.: street right-of-way for Seminole Court (1st of 2 readings) 10. Resolution*: Food Equity Initiative annual report and resolution of support (1 reading) GENERAL BUSINESS OTHER BUSINESS MATTERS BY THE PUBLIC *Action Needed Page 2 of 84 CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING September 20, 2021 Virtual/electronic meeting via Zoom 4:00 PM WORK SESSION Pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-3712, the Charlottesville City Council met in work session on Monday, September 20, 2021, to hear reports. The meeting was held electronically pursuant to a local ordinance amended and re-enacted on April 19, 2021, to ensure the continuity of government and prevent the spread of disease during the coronavirus State of Emergency. Mayor Walker called to order at 4:01 p.m. and Clerk of Council Kyna Thomas called the roll, noting the following members present: Mayor Nikuyah Walker, Vice Mayor Sena Magill, and Councilors Heather Hill, Michael Payne, and Lloyd Snook. REPORTS 1. Charlottesville Fire Department Update Fire Chief Hezedean Smith introduced Dr. George Lindbeck, Medical Director, and Deputy Fire Chief Mike Rogers. Chief Smith acknowledged having been with the Charlottesville Fire Department for less than 10 months and he shared the department’s vision, core values and new strategic plan through 2023. Deputy Chief Rogers provided an update on renovations at Ridge Street Station and the Bypass Station. Chief Smith continued with information about programs to address workforce equity, inclusion, diversity, demographics, cultural change, professional standards, communications and accountability, and training. Regarding the Neighborhood Risk Reduction Program, Chief Smith demonstrated the data dashboard and other data sources. Dr. Lindbeck shared background information about a study conducted by the Matrix Group in years ago that looked at fire and rescue services in the County and City, and about his participating on an inter-agency committee to address concerns expressed in the study. The inter- agency group, which made recommendations to City Council, also included residents. He noted that the recommendations were not implemented. A City of Charlottesville Efficiency Study was done in 2017. Since then, opportunities for improvement have been evaluated. Chief Smith reviewed benchmarks for various emergency Page 3 of 84 responses and gave scenarios. He stressed the need for implementation of recommended programs, and he shared benefits of the Proximity Dispatch System and data regarding improvement in services and response times. He advised of the need for a comprehensive and collaborative system to address other community needs and showed a video. After reviewing next steps, Chief Smith addressed follow-up questions from City Council. PUBLIC COMMENT Mayor Walker opened the floor for public comment. 1. Forrest Calland, a local doctor and volunteer with the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS), proposed several questions to Chief Smith related to Advance Life Support (ALS) care, paramedic response, the Emergency Medical Response (EMS) system, staffing, and response from the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS). 2. Shawn Tevendale, Vice President of CARS, spoke of a letter sent to City Council regarding the need for a committee or board to examine fire and emergency services. Chief Smith provided a response indicating a desire to provide the most appropriate level of care for the community. On motion by Councilor Hill, seconded by Vice Mayor Magill, Council voted 5-0 (Ayes: Hill, Magill, Payne, Snook, Walker. Noes: none) to meet in closed session as authorized by Virginia Code Sections 2.2-3711 and 2.2-3712, specifically: - Section 2.2-3711(A)(1), for the purpose of discussion of the appointment of individuals to fill vacancies that exist on sixteen (16) city boards or commissions. The work session adjourned at 6:02 p.m. and Council convened in closed session. BY Order of City Council BY Kyna Thomas, Clerk of Council Page 4 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: October 18, 2021 Action Required: Appropriation of Funding Presenter: Sheriff James E. Brown, III Staff Contacts: Sheriff James E. Brown, III Kara C. Thomas, Administrative Assistant Charlottesville Sheriff’s Office Title: General Assembly One-Time Bonus Funding-for the City Sheriff’s Office - $35,525 Background During the 2021 General Assembly Special Session II, a one-time bonus of $3,000 was approved to be paid to all sworn Sheriffs, sheriffs’ deputies and regional jail officers currently funded through the Virginia Compensation Board. The legislative intent was to provide this funding as a one-time bonus to these employees and can not be used to supplant local salary supplement funds. Discussion During the 2021 General Assembly Special Session II, the General Assembly approved the allocation of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the Compensation Board to provide a $3,000 one-time bonus in FY22 for Compensation Board-funded sworn Sheriffs, sheriffs’ deputies and regional jail officers. In many localities, the Compensation Board does not adequately fund the total amount of staffing needed for most Sheriffs’ Offices to function. This is true for the Charlottesville Sheriff’s Office. The Charlottesville Sheriff’s Office has three (3) otherwise qualifying positions that would be eligible for the bonus but because those positions are not funded by the Compensation Board, City funds would be need to cover the bonus payout for those three deputies. The funds from the Compensation board will be reimbursed to the City once documentation of the bonus payment has been provided. In order to qualify for reimbursement, the bonuses must be paid out by November 30, 2021. The City Sheriff’s has eleven (11) employees who are eligible to receive the bonus: seven (7) which are reimbursable and four (4) which will need to be covered using City funds. A total of $12,918 (4 bonus payments and FICA taxes) in City funds is being requested to cover the four (4) positions which would not be reimbursed by the Compensation board. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan This funding will support Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan to be a safe, equitable, thriving, and beautiful community. It specifically supports Goal 2.1, to provide an effective and equitable public safety system. Page 5 of 84 Community Engagement N/A Budgetary Impact Budgetary savings realized through attrition will be used to fund the $12,918 being requested to payout bonuses for the four (4) deputies not covered by the state funding. Recommendation Staff recommends approval and appropriation of the funding. Alternatives The appropriation to approve funding for the non-Compensation Board positions could be denied resulting in not being equitable for members of the Sheriff’s Office and not acknowledging and supporting the work of some members based solely on their funding source. Attachments Resolution Page 6 of 84 RESOLUTION TO APPROPRIATE General Assembly One-Time Bonus Funding-for the City Sheriff’s Office $35,525.00 WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville will receive a total of $22,607.00 from the State Compensation Board (SCB) as reimbursement for the General Assembly approved the allocation of Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to the State Compensation Board to provide a $3,000.00 one-time bonus in FY22 for Compensation Board-funded sworn Sheriffs, sheriffs’ deputies and regional jail officers; WHEREAS, the Charlottesville Sheriff’s Office has a total of eleven (11) sworn positions that meet the qualifications for the one-time $3,000.00 bonus. Seven (7) are funded with Compensation Board funds and four (4) are fully funded by the City; who also qualify for the $3,000.00 bonus, $12,918.00 in City funds will be used to cover the four otherwise approved deputies to be fair and equitable for sworn members of the Sheriff’s Office. We are requesting an additional $12,918.00 to cover these positions. NOW, THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, that the sum of $22,607.00 will be reimbursed by the Compensation board and $12,918.00 in City funds will hereby be appropriated as follows: Revenues - $35,525.00 $22,607.00 Fund: 105 Cost Center: 1501001000 G/L Account: 430030 $12,918.00 Fund: 105 Cost Center: 1501001000 G/L Account: 498010 Expenditures - $35,525.00 $35,525.00 Fund: 105 Cost Center: 1501001000 G/L Account: 510150 Page 7 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: October 18, 2021 Action Required: Appropriation Presenter: Mike Rogers, Deputy Chief – Business Services, Charlottesville Fire Dept. Staff Contacts: Mike Rogers, Deputy Chief – Business Services, Charlottesville Fire Dept. Fiscal Year 2022 Fire Programs Aid to Locality Funding (Firefund) Title: - $175,965.00 Background: The Code of Virginia provides for the collection of an annual levy each fiscal period from the insurance industry. Such levy is collected by the State Corporation Commission, and the amounts collected are then transferred into the Fire Program Fund (Firefund). These aid to locality monies are then distributed to the jurisdictions to supplement the localities funding for fire service based training, training supplies, training equipment, prevention activities, and some response equipment. This is an annual allotment of funding. All usage and any carryovers are reported out to the Department of Fire Programs at the end of the fiscal period before the next fiscal period monies are granted. The City of Charlottesville has been awarded $175,965.00 in these funds for FY 2022. Discussion: The Aid to Locality monies are distributed annually to aid departments in their training, prevention, and equipment efforts. While the monies cannot be used to directly/indirectly supplant or replace other locality funds, they help us to provide for additional firefighting training resources, logistics, courses, and equipment as outlined in the Department of Fire Programs Aid to Locality allowable uses chart. Alignment with Council Vision Areas and Strategic Plan: The Aid to Locality/Firefund allocation supports the City’s mission “We provide services that promote equity and an excellent quality of life in our community” by providing supplemental training and equipment funding for fire prevention, firefighting, hazardous materials, and technical rescue. With this additional funding being put towards these purposes we are better able to prepare our responders to deliver emergency services and/or information to the citizens, students, business community members, and guests of the City. Page 8 of 84 The assistance from this annual funding allotment also aligns with Goal 2.1, Reduce adverse impact from sudden injury and illness and the effects of chronic disease, as well as the elements within Goal 5 - A Well-managed and Responsive Organization. Community Engagement: N/A Budgetary Impact: There is no impact to the General Fund, as these funds do not require a City match. The FY 2022 funds will be budgeted and expensed in the City’s grant fund. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval and appropriation of grant funds. Alternatives: If Aid to Locality funding is not appropriated, the Fire Department will not be able to utilize this supplemental funding to help support its training, prevention, and equipment efforts. Attachments: Resolution Page 9 of 84 RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING FUNDS for Fiscal Year 2022 Fire Programs Aid to Locality Funding (Firefund) $175,965.00 WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs has awarded a grant to the Fire Department, through the City of Charlottesville, specifically for fire service applications; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia, that a total of $175,965.00 be appropriated in the following manner: Revenues - $175,965 $175,965 Fund: 209 I/O: 1900010 G/L Account: 430110 Expenditures - $175,965 $175,965 Fund: 209 I/O: 1900010 G/L Account: 599999 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appropriation is conditioned upon the receipt of $175,965.00 from the Virginia Department of Fire Programs. Page 10 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: October 18, 2021 Action Required: Public Hearing and Substantial Action Plan Amendment Presenter: Erin Atak, Grants Coordinator Staff Contacts: Erin Atak, Grants Coordinator Title: Public Hearing of the FY 2021-2022 Substantial Action Plan Amendment and Appropriation of HOME-ARP Funding Background: The City of Charlottesville has been authorized to receive a special allocation of HOME Investment Partnership Program American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funding from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Funds are aimed at providing housing, services, and shelter to individuals experiencing homeless and other vulnerable populations, to be allocated by formula to jurisdictions that qualified for HOME Investment Partnerships Program allocations in Fiscal Year 2021. Given the immediate needs faced by the Charlottesville community, HUD has announced an allocation of $2,452,270 to the City of Charlottesville. Discussion: HOME-ARP funding is separate from the regular, annual HOME entitlement funds that the City receives every year. HOME-ARP funds are available for expenditure until September 2030. These funds can be used for four eligible activities including the production or preservation of affordable housing; tenant-based rental assistance; supportive services, including homeless prevention services and housing counseling; and the purchase or development of non-congregate shelter for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. HOME-ARP funds must be used for individuals or families from the following qualifying populations: homeless; at risk of homelessness; fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking; other populations where helping would prevent the family’s homelessness would serve those with the greatest risk of housing instability; and veterans and families that include a veteran member that meet one of the preceding criteria. Under the Cooperation Agreement of the HOME Investment Partnership Program, the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission members and the City of Charlottesville will begin consulting with homeless service providers, domestic violence service organizations, public housing agencies, and other organizations and agencies before undertaking activities using HOME-ARP funds. Members of the Consortium agree to cooperate to undertake or assist in undertaking housing assistance activities for the HOME Investment Partnership Program, and 1 Page 11 of 84 members per the Cooperation agreement agree to affirmatively further fair housing within the Consortium. Staff will ask that City Council review and approve the HOME-ARP final activity list once the HOME Consortium members have reviewed all project recommendations. Community Engagement: Members of the public were given the opportunity to voice their opinions during the HUD authorized expedited 15-day public comment period between September 29, 2021 through October 13, 2021 and at the public hearing on October 18, 2021. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: Approval of this agenda item aligns directly with Council’s vision for Charlottesville to have Economic Sustainability, A Center for Lifelong Learning, Quality Housing Opportunities for All, and A Connected Community. It contributes to variety of Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives including: Goal 1: Inclusive, Self-sufficient Community; Goal 3: Beautiful Environment; Goal 4: Strong, Diversified Economy; and Goal 5: Responsive Organization. Budgetary Impact: None Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the proposed HOME-ARP Substantial Action Plan Amendment. Funds included in this budget will not be spent until after HUD authorizes the approved FY 2021 amended Substantial Action Plan Amendment. Alternatives: None Attachments: Resolution: Substantial Action Plan Amendment & Appropriation for HOME-ARP funds 2 Page 12 of 84 RESOLUTION Amending the FY2021-2022 Substantial Action Plan and Appropriating HOME- American Rescue Plan Funding BE IT RESOLVED, that the Charlottesville City Council hereby approves the FY2021-2022 Substantial Action Plan Amendment for the 2018-2022 Consolidated Plan as presented on the October 18, 2021 City Council Meeting. All HOME-ARP funding of $2,452,270 shall be included into the City of Charlottesville Annual 2021-2022 Action Plan. Approved by Council October 18, 2021 Kyna Thomas Clerk of Council, MMC 3 Page 13 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. Agenda Date: November 1, 2021. Actions Required: Approval of Resolution to Appropriate Funds (2nd of 2 readings). Presenter: Chris Cullinan, Director of Finance. Staff Contacts: Chris Cullinan, Director of Finance. Chip Boyles, City Manager. Title: Resolution Appropriating Funds from the American Rescue Plan for Eligible Local Activities - $1,192,836. Background: On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (the Act) to provide additional relief for individuals and businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The Act includes funding for state, local, and tribal governments as well as education and COVID-19-related testing, vaccination support, and research. The City of Charlottesville will receive direct funding from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) in two tranches: $9,804,854 already received in May 2021 and $9,804,854 to be received in May 2022 for a total of $19,609,708. These funds must be obligated by December 31, 2024. City Council appropriated $1,986,100 of ARP funds in July 2021 to address urgent community and organizational needs arising from the impacts of COVID-19. City staff continues the process of identifying needs resulting from the impacts of the COVID-19 virus. This appropriation request includes requests to “support the public health response” and “address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency”. Discussion: The specific funding requests are detailed below. These requests are eligible for ARP funds per the guidance provided by US Treasury in their May 17, 2021 Interim Final Rule. 1 Page 14 of 84 Request: Information Technology Department. Amount Requested: $175,904. ARP Eligibility: Supporting the public health response. Description: Unbudgeted technology items required to continue to support remote operations securely. Specifically; (1) Adobe Sign for business digital e-signature solution (2) Bluebeam digital markup and editing solution for engineers/planners (3) DUO multi-factor verification for VPN, and (4) Varonis ransomware, information & insider threat protection Request: Upfit of space at Market Street Parking Garage. Amount Requested: $400,000. ARP Eligibility: Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency. Description: Funding is requested to ensure that staff and community members have a safe location to work for and directly with the community. As of August 2021, while the United States has more than enough COVID-19 vaccines a racial gap persisted presenting a grave danger to communities of color. As of August, while Black people make up 12% of the U.S. population, but only account for 9% of people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Further, the socioeconomic divide is clear as well - from a July survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly 7 million people who have a household income of less than $25,000 had not received the vaccine, and over 8 million people who have a household income between $25,000-$49,999 have not received the vaccine. The City of Charlottesville's Office of Human Rights, Home to Hope Program, and Jobs Center (via Economic Development) work directly with the community at-large yet are currently in locations where social distancing is difficult as well as locations that have high community foot-traffic. Further, each of those departments and programs provide critical services to our neighbors who happen to be on a low income, or may be a part of a marginalized community. The proposed update to a city-owned location will provide safe and welcoming office space for staff and citizens to engage safely in service provision program support during the time of COVID-19 and beyond. Further, if approved, this move will allow our PCRB staff to relocate from a temporary office space to the current Office of Human Rights for that programs permanent location. This location will also provide the PCRB the ability to safely socially distance versus their temporary office space, as the office currently has a staff of one. While this is also a one-time funding request to immediately provide safe spaces for three community- focused critical departments/programs, the plans have been created where the space could easily flex to another department or program if needed in the future. Request: Department of Social Services – Emergency Shelter. Amount Requested: $15,000. ARP Eligibility: Supporting the public health response. Description: In the state of Virginia, local departments of social services are mandated to provide emergency shelters for residents during emergency operations. Shelters are primarily opened due to 2 Page 15 of 84 weather emergencies; but can be opened for other reasons depending on the emergency situation. To mitigate potential Covid exposure for residents and department employees, the department plans to implement non-congregate shelters if the need arises, using single room hotels for placement. These funds would be used to pay for hotels, meals, transportation, and other associated resident needs. Funding may also be used for staff overtime when needed to coordinate placements. The department plans to incorporate this funding request into its FY23 budget submission; but would be open to accessing ongoing ARPA funds if available. Request: COVID testing for City employees. Amount Requested: $500,000. ARP Eligibility: Supporting the public health response. Description: These funds would cover approximately 6 months of COVID testing for City employees. Request: Human Services request for one full time long-term temporary employee for one year to support Community Resource Hotline/Housing Navigation needs. Amount Requested: $80,751. ARP Eligibility: Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency. Description: Salary, plus benefits (not retirement) and IT phone system/software to address call volume into the Community Resource Hotline, one year of service. Request: Communications Department – annual Zoom renewal. Amount Requested: $1,181. ARP Eligibility: Supporting the public health response. Description: Two Zoom webinar accounts for virtual public meetings required by the state of emergency and the continuity of government ordinance. Request: Treasurer’s Office- continuation of the Ambassador’s Program. Amount Requested: $20,000. ARP Eligibility: Supporting the public health response. Description: This staffing request would continue for the provision of temporary staff to service customers through an appointment system for the lobby area of City Hall to maintain social distancing and capacity limits. Budgetary Impact: This request in addition to the previous ARP appropriation totals $3,178,936. If Council approves this second appropriation, the remaining balance of ARP funds totals $6,625,918. . Alignment with Council Vision Areas and Strategic Plan: This resolution contributes to Goal 1 of the Strategic Plan, to be an inclusive community of self-sufficient residents; Goal 2 to be a healthy and safe City; and Goal 5 to be a well-managed and responsive organization. 3 Page 16 of 84 Recommendation: Staff recommend that Council approve the attached resolution. Alternatives: City Council may elect not to appropriate funding for these purposes at this time or may elect other ARP eligible program expenditures. Attachments: 1. Appropriation Resolution. 4 Page 17 of 84 RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING FUNDING FOR American Rescue Plan for Eligible Local Activities $1,192,836 BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the sum of $1,192,836 from American Rescue Plan funding is hereby designated to be available for expenditure for costs associated with following eligible purposes and amounts: Information Technology Department. $175,904. Upfit of Market Street Parking Garage Space. $400,000. Department of Social Services – Emergency Shelter. $15,000. COVID testing for City Employees. $500,000. Human Services Support for Community Resource Hotline and Housing Navigation. $80,751. Communications Department – Zoom Renewal. $1,181. Treasurer’s Office – Continuation of Ambassador Program. $20,000. TOTAL. $1,192,836. Revenues - $1,192,836 Fund: 207 Cost Center: 9900000000 G/L Account: 430120 Expenditures - $1,192,836 Fund: 207 I/O: 1900437 G/L Account: 599999 $177,085 Fund: 207 I/O: 1900438 G/L Account: 599999 $400,000 Fund: 207 I/O: 1900439 G/L Account: 599999 $15,000 Fund: 207 I/O: 1900440 G/L Account: 599999 $500,000 Fund: 207 I/O: 1900441 G/L Account: 599999 $80,751 Fund: 207 I/O: 1900442 G/L Account: 599999 $20,000 5 Page 18 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: November 1, 2022 Action Required: Appropriation Presenter: Riaan Anthony, Park and Recreation Management Specialist II Staff Contacts: Riaan Anthony, Park and Recreation Management Specialist II Vic Garber, Interim Director, Parks and Recreation Title: Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program Child and Adult Care Food Program - $50,000 Background: The City of Charlottesville, through Parks and Recreation, has received approval for a reimbursement of up to $50,000 from the Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program to provide free dinner to children 18 and under attending our drop-in afterschool programs through their Child and Adult Care Food Program. Discussion: Charlottesville Parks and Recreation will operate an afterschool meals program for 36 weeks, during the course of the regular school year. There are currently 4 locations, Friendship Court, Greenstone on 5th, South First Street, and Westhaven Community Centers that serve children 18 years and under. The reimbursement will cover the costs of a nutritious dinner at these locations, which also have an educational/enrichment component. Dinner will be served from 4-8 pm at the various community centers. Most of the children served receive free or reduced meals during the school year. Over 400 children will be served each week during the school year. The dinners are purchased through the City of Charlottesville School Food Service. The Parks and Recreation Department pays the bills to the City of Charlottesville Food Service and is then reimbursed by the Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Programs. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: Approval of this agenda item aligns directly with Council’s vision for Charlottesville to be America’s Healthiest City and it contributes to Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan - Healthy and Safe City. Children will receive a nutritious dinner, hopefully replacing a meal that did not exist or providing a healthier balanced option for them. Page 19 of 84 Community Engagement: N/A Budgetary Impact: There is no impact to the General Fund. The funds will be appropriated, expensed and reimbursed to a Grants Fund. There is no required local match for this program. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval and appropriation of funds, Alternatives: If money is not appropriated, the free dinner program will not be offered to youth, most of whom receive free or reduced meals during the school year. Attachments: Resolution Page 20 of 84 RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING FUNDS for Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program Child and Adult Care Food Program $50,000 WHEREAS, the City of Charlottesville, through Parks and Recreation, has received approval for reimbursement up to $50,000 from the Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program to provide free dinner to children attending select drop-in afterschool centers; and WHEREAS, the grant award covers the period from period October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the sum of $50,000, received from the Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program is hereby appropriated in the following manner: Revenue – $ 50,000 Fund: 209 Internal Order: 1900436 G/L Account: 430120 Expenditures - $50,000 Fund: 209 Internal Order: 1900436 G/L Account: 530670 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appropriation is conditioned upon the receipt of $50,000 from the Virginia Department of Education Special Nutrition Program. Page 21 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCILAGENDA Agenda Date: November 1, 2021 Appropriation of Grant Funds Action Required: Presenter: Amanda Poncy, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Amanda Poncy, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator; Staff Contacts: Kyle Rodland, Safe Routes to School Coordinator Title: Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure Grant Award - $39,000 Background: This is the 6th year that the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has awarded the City of Charlottesville with a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Non-Infrastructure (Activities and Programs) Grant. This $23,600 grant will be used to fund education, encouragement, evaluation and enforcement programs related to Safe Routes to School. The Non-Infrastructure Grant will also be used to fund a SRTS coordinator who works within the school division to promote and facilitate Safe Routes to School activities. Last year, the city received a non-infrastructure grant in the amount of $76,000 to fund a full- time coordinator and associated program budget to manage, train, and expand Safe Routes to School programming city-wide. The grant provides for a dedicated champion to work within schools to provide education, encouragement and evaluation activities needed to support active transportation for K-8 students. Discussion: As part of the grant application, the City was required to update the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Activities and Programs Plan (APP), a written document that outlines a community’s intentions for enabling and encouraging students to engage in active transportation (i.e. walking or bicycling) as they travel to and from school. The plan details the number of students living within ¼ to 2 miles of their school and demonstrates the potential benefits that can be accrued from a coordinate SRTS program (nearly 30% of students live within ½ mile of school and nearly 70% live within 1 mile of school). The SRTS APP was originally created through a team-based approach that involved key community stakeholders and members of the public in both identifying key behavior-related to barriers to active transportation and, using the four non- infrastructure related E’s (education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation) to address them. Page 22 of 84 The APP update reflects minimal changes from last year’s plan, but emphasizes lessons learned since our Coordinator was hired in October 2016. The following short-term recommendations were developed to enhance the program:  Institute bike riding, repair, and safety curriculum (Education)  Develop a division-wide SRTS website and newsletter (Education)  Facilitate biking and walking incentive program (Encouragement)  Regularly host walk- and bike-to-school days (Encouragement)  Consistently host annual Bicycle Rodeos (Encouragement)  Conduct bike safety checks (Enforcement)  Expand the bike helmet give-away program (Enforcement)  Administer student travel tallies (Evaluation)  Keep records of participation in workshops, biking and walking trains, bike rodeos, afterschool clubs, and other events (Evaluation) The SRTS Activities and Programs Plan will continue to serve as a guiding document to assist in promoting, encouraging, and enabling walking and bicycling to school. The grant will allow the City to continue to fund a Safe Routes to School Coordinator and the supplies needed to implement the recommendations included in the APP. The grant requires a 20% match. The city has already budgeted $15,400 from the Public Works Engineering Operating Budget for benefits. We anticipate receiving in-kind donations from the Charlottesville Area Mountain Bike Club for bicycle fleet maintenance. As a reimbursable grant, costs will be incurred by Public Works and reimbursed by VDOT. Due to the impacts of COVID, VDOT is allowing localities to carryover unused funds from the previous grant cycle. VDOT will carryover $ 24,119.85 in addition to the 2021-2022 grant award. The City also has carryover funds in the amount of $11,318.93 (from the previous unused local match) that will be applied to the overall program budget. Below is a breakdown of the funding that will be applied to the budget for FY 22: VDOT share - $24,119.85 (20/21 carryover*) + $23,600 (FY 22 grant award) = $47,719.85 City match - $11,318.93 (20/21 carryover*) + $15,400 (FY22 contributions) = $26,718.93 In-Kind donations = $5,900 Total Project Cost = $80,338.78 *Note Carryover funds were previously appropriated. Page 23 of 84 Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: This initiative supports Council’s Vision to be a “Connected Community” (“the City of Charlottesville is part of a comprehensive, regional transportation system that enables citizens of all ages and incomes to easily navigate our community”) and “America’s Healthiest City (“we have a community-wide commitment to personal fitness and wellness, and all residents enjoy our outstanding recreational facilities, walking trails, and safe routes to schools”). In addition, the project contributes to Goals 1 and 3 of the Strategic Plan, to be an inclusive, self- sufficient community and a healthy and safe city. The initiative further implements recommendations within the Comprehensive Plan (2013), Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (2015) and supports the City's Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Resolution. Community Engagement: This grant application implements one of the programming recommendations included in the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (adopted 2015), which included significant public involvement. Further, city staff from Neighborhood Development Services worked with staff from the Thomas Jefferson Health District and Charlottesville City Schools (Physical Education and Pupil Transportation) to create a Safe Routes to School Task Force in 2016 that was responsible for outlining elements of a city-wide Safe Routes to School Activities and Programs Plan (APP). The task force included representatives from city schools, community organizations, multiple city departments (NDS, Public Works, Parks and Recreation), as well as health and enforcement disciplines. The APP was developed by the task force with input from parents (via Parent Survey) and further discussed/refined at public meeting in February 2016. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee provided feedback on the APP annually. A parent survey will be conducted in the 2020-2021 school year to better understand some of the barriers and challenges of walking and biking school. Budgetary Impact: There is no impact to the General Fund. The total appropriation is $ 39,000, which will be recorded and expensed from a grant fund, with $23,600 coming from VDOT and $15,400 from funds previously appropriated as part of the FY 2022 PW Operating Budget. Funds remaining from last year’s grant appropriation will carryover to FY 22. This includes $ 24,119.85 from VDOT and $11,318.93 from the City’s previous local contribution. The grant requires a 20% match (cash or in-kind donations are acceptable). Staff anticipates in- kind donations for bicycle maintenance. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval and appropriation of the grant funds. Page 24 of 84 Alternatives: If grants funds are not appropriated, Safe Routes to School programming will continue in an ad- hoc fashion with assistance from community partners and parent volunteers. Attachments: Safe Routes to School Activities and Programs Plan http://www.charlottesville.org/departments- and-services/departments-h-z/neighborhood- development-services/transportation/bicycle-and- pedestrian/safe-routes-to-school Appropriation Resolution Page 25 of 84 RESOLUTION APPROPRIATING FUNDS for Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) Non-Infrastructure Grants $ 39,000 WHEREAS, the Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) non-infrastructure grant, providing Federal payments for education, encouragement, evaluation and enforcement programs to promote safe walking and bicycling to school has been awarded the City of Charlottesville, in the amount of $23,600; WHEREAS, the SRTS program is a 80% reimbursement program requiring a 20% match from the City, of which $5,900 will come from in-kind contributions; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the following is hereby appropriated in the following manner: REVENUE $23,600 Fund: 209 Cost Center: 3901008000 G/L Account: 430120 $15,400 Fund: 209 Cost Center: 3901008000 G/L Account: 498010 EXPENDITURES $39,000 Fund: 209 Cost Center: 3901008000 G/L Account: 519999 TRANSFER FROM $15,400 Fund: 105 Cost Center: 2401003000 G/L Account: 561209 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this appropriation is conditioned upon the receipt of $23,600 from the Virginia Department of Transportation. Page 26 of 84 FOR SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL RESOLUTION APPROVING HEARING PROCEDURES FOR THE CHARLOTTESVILLE POLICE CIVILIAN REVIEW BOARD BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville THAT pursuant to Virginia Code Section 9.1-601(D) the following procedures are approved for the performance of the duties of the Charlottesville Police Civilian Review Board under the provisions of City Code §2-452(c) and §2-461: 1. Hearings and Meetings. a. The PCRB may, from time to time, hold meetings for such purposes as it deems advisable and consistent with the authority granted to it by ordinance of the City of Charlottesville ("the City"). Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order or such other procedures as the PCRB may adopt. Any PCRB-adopted procedures shall control. b. The PCRB may, from time to time, upon receipt of information relating to a Complaint, as defined herein, conduct a Hearing related to that Complaint, as authorized within Chapter 2, Article XVI of the City Code and these Procedures. The PCRB may receive information relating to a Complaint from any person or entity provided the information is submitted to the PCRB in writing and the person making the submission provides their name, address, and telephone number. c. For the purpose of these procedures: i. A “Complaint” shall mean a complaint from a civilian regarding the conduct of law- enforcement officers and civilian employees of a law-enforcement agency serving under the authority of the City (“Civilian Complaint”); or ii. “Information relating to a Complaint” shall mean (i) incidents, including the use of force by a law-enforcement officer, death or serious injury to any person held in custody, serious abuse of authority or misconduct, allegedly discriminatory stops, and other incidents regarding the conduct of law-enforcement officers or civilian employees of a law-enforcement agency serving under the authority of the City (“Police Conduct Complaint”); or iii. information related to an investigation conducted internally by law-enforcement agencies serving under the authority of the City, including internal investigations of the conduct or behavior of law- enforcement officers and of civilian employees of such law-enforcement agencies, and taking issue with the findings, accuracy, completeness, and impartiality of such investigations and the sufficiency of any discipline resulting from such investigations (“Internal Affairs Review”). d. Any Complaint shall set out with particularity any claim of misconduct by a law enforcement officer and/or a civilian employee under the authority of the City and shall Approved by PCRB for Recommendation – August 12, 2021 (revised 11/1/2021) - 1 Page 27 of 84 FOR SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL set forth facts or information sufficient for the PCRB to identify any law, policy, or procedure the misconduct may or is alleged to have violated. e. Upon receiving a Complaint or information relating to a Complaint, the PCRB shall determine whether (i) any applicable ordinance of the City permits or requires the PCRB to conduct a Hearing and (ii) whether, in the exercise of its discretion, it determines a Hearing is appropriate. f. The PCRB shall conduct Hearings in accordance with the procedures set forth herein which may be modified from time to time as circumstances concerning a particular Complaint may require, provided that (i) any such modifications are within the authority of the PCRB under City policy or ordinance; and (ii) no such modification shall operate to deprive any party to a Hearing of substantial justice. g. The parties to a Hearing shall include: i. Any person or entity who alleges they were the subject of or a direct witness to police officer/employee misconduct set forth in the Complaint that is the subject of the Hearing; ii. The Charlottesville Chief of Police ("the Chief of Police") or designated representative(s) of the Chief of Police appearing on behalf of the City Police Department; and iii. The police officers/employees who are the subject of the Complaint. h. Hearing examiner. Hearings that are convened to address complaint review requests under Section 2-461 of the Board’s enabling ordinance will be presided over by Hearing Examiners with professional experience in mediation, labor, civil rights law, police oversight, or other relevant area of jurisprudence. The City Manager will establish a list of hearing examiners who shall have qualifications and shall perform their duties in accordance with state standards for administrative hearing officers, consistent with the provisions of Va. Code 2.2-4024 through 2.2- 4024.2. 2. Advisors/Representatives. a. Right to advisor/representative of choice. Throughout the Hearing process, all parties may consult with and be represented by legal counsel or another individual advisor/representative of their choosing. b. Role of advisor/representative in meetings. The parties may be accompanied by their respective advisors at any meeting or proceeding related to the Hearing which right shall not include the right to be present during investigative interviews or be privy to other investigative efforts of PCRB related to the Complaint. While the advisors may provide support and advice to the parties at any meeting and/or proceeding, unless the advisor is also an attorney licensed by the Virginia State Bar, the nature of their participation in the proceedings on behalf of a party shall be determined by the Board. No advisor or representative may in any manner disrupt such meetings Approved by PCRB for Recommendation – August 12, 2021 (revised 11/1/2021) - 2 Page 28 of 84 FOR SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL and/or proceedings. Virginia licensed attorneys shall conduct themselves in any meeting or hearing proceeding held under these Procedures in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Virginia. 3. Investigation. a. Upon receipt of a Complaint, the PCRB shall compile or cause to be compiled a Written Record related to the Complaint. The Written Record shall include: (i) Material from the City Police Department which the PCRB shall request by notifying the Chief of Police of the Complaint. Within 10 (ten) business days of receipt of a request from the PCRB, the Chief of Police shall cause to be delivered to the PCRB: (A) a complete copy of any internal affairs investigation file regarding the conduct or matter that is the subject of the Complaint. The file shall be redacted to preserve the confidentiality of any information related to a juvenile pursuant to Virginia Code Section 16.1-301, as amended, and to protect other information required by law to be confidential; (B) the complete complaint history including any final disciplinary action taken against any officer or civilian employee who is the subject of the Complaint; and (C) any material or evidence utilized or collected by the Police Department during its internal affairs investigation related to the Complaint unless the Chief of Police, upon concurrence of the Charlottesville Commonwealth’s Attorney, determines that the material or evidence is the subject of an active criminal investigation, or the Chief of Police, upon concurrence of the City Attorney notifies the PCRB that the material or evidence is at issue in a pending civil action. In either such case, proceedings of the PCRB shall be suspended until notice of the conclusion of the criminal investigation or civil action or other basis to resume PCRB proceedings, (ii) any additional information provided by a party to the PCRB that the party believes to be relevant to a Complaint at any time prior to the commencement of the Hearing. b. Investigative material from the City Police Department and information provided by a party to the PCRB shall be presumptively confidential and may not be disclosed by the PCRB except upon a certification by vote of the PCRB that it is germane to a Hearing, serves the public interest to be disclosed in a Hearing, or, in the interest of fairness and due process, must be made available to the parties to the Hearing. Upon the PCRB’s receipt of a Virginia Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA") request for investigative information or records from the Charlottesville Police Department, or for personnel information or records of a police officer, the PCRB shall refer the request to the City’s FOIA Officer (foia@charlottesville.gov) and the Chief of Police shall have the Approved by PCRB for Recommendation – August 12, 2021 (revised 11/1/2021) - 3 Page 29 of 84 FOR SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL duty to respond to that request and the right to determine whether any discretionary exemption(s) will be asserted in accordance with applicable law. 4. Policies Governing Hearings. a. Presumption of Lawful Conduct. The Hearing and related investigation are neutral fact-gathering processes. All accused parties are presumed, until findings are made to the contrary, to have acted lawfully and in accordance with applicable policies and procedures. That presumption may be overcome only by a PCRB finding that that there is sufficient evidence, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the party acted unlawfully or in violation of applicable policies or procedures. b. Participation by the Parties and Witnesses. In the absence of a lawfully issued subpoena, no party or witness is required to participate in a Hearing but the PCRB may infer from a party’s or a witness’s voluntary absence from a Hearing, despite notice and a request to appear, that their truthful participation would have been adverse to the interests of such voluntarily absent party or witness. The application and/or weight of any such inference shall be determined by a standard of objective reasonableness under the circumstances. c. Prior or Subsequent Conduct. Prior or subsequent conduct of a party may be considered in determining pattern, knowledge, intent, motive, or absence of mistake. The determination of relevance of such conduct will be based on an assessment of whether the previous or subsequent conduct was substantially similar to the conduct under investigation or indicates a pattern of unlawful conduct or conduct that violates applicable policies or procedures. d. Relevance. The PCRB may determine in any Hearing the relevance of any proffered evidence and to include or exclude certain types of evidence from the Hearing or from consideration by the PCRB. e. Rules of Evidence. Virginia’s Rules of Evidence, contained in Part II of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia and in the Code of Virginia and in applicable case opinions are not binding in Hearings but may be the basis for arguments in support of the admission or exclusion of evidence which the PCRB may consider in determining, in its discretion, whether to admit evidence. f. Expert Consultation(s). The PCRB may consult disinterested medical, forensic, technological, or other experts, as defined by applicable law, when expertise on a topic is needed in order to achieve a fuller understanding of the issues presented by the Complaint. g. Virginia Freedom of Information Act. As a body empowered by the City Council to perform the functions set forth in Chapter 2, Article XVI of the City Code, the PCRB is subject to the requirements of FOIA , both as to access to PCRB records and as to requirements for open, public meetings. The PCRB shall exercise any discretion available to it under applicable FOIA provisions in the interest of transparency as dictated by the balance of public and private interests specific to any particular Complaint. Approved by PCRB for Recommendation – August 12, 2021 (revised 11/1/2021) - 4 Page 30 of 84 FOR SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL 5. Conduct of Hearings. a. Information Provided to Decision Maker. Prior to the Hearing, the PCRB shall review the Written Record. b. Purpose of the Hearing. The Hearing is an opportunity for the parties to address the PCRB about issues relevant to the Complaint. c. Order of Hearing. i. The PCRB shall hear any motions or requests of the parties regarding the conduct of the Hearing at the commencement of the Hearing and may rule on them or defer ruling upon them as the PCRB determines to be appropriate. ii. Each party may make an opening statement at the commencement of the Hearing subject to reasonable time limitations that the PCRB may impose. iii. The PCRB and the parties may call witnesses or seek to introduce documentary or other evidence not already part of the Written Record. The PCRB shall determine the order in which parties shall present evidence. iv. The parties may submit written questions to the PCRB to pose to witnesses, whether in the nature of "cross examination" or "direct examination" and the PCRB members may pose questions to any witnesses. The PCRB may permit examination, including cross examination, of witnesses by party representatives who are attorneys licensed by the Virginia State Bar. The PCRB shall determine whether any question is inappropriate for submission to a witness or rule on the propriety of questions allowed to be posed directly to witnesses. v. At the conclusion of the presentation of evidence, the parties may make closing arguments to the PCRB within any reasonable time limitation the PCRB may impose. d. Notice of Hearing. The PCRB shall provide written notice to the parties of no less than 14 days of the date, time, and location of the Hearing. The hearing may be continued by the PCRB from time to time until completed. e. Location of Hearing. A Hearing may be conducted with all parties physically present in the same geographic location or, at the discretion of the PCRB, any or all parties, witnesses, or other participants may appear at the Hearing virtually, with technology enabling participants simultaneously to see and hear each other. Members of the PCRB must be physically present in the same geographic location, except as may otherwise be authorized by FOIA or other provisions of state law. f. Pre-Hearing Conference. The PCRB may convene a Pre-Hearing Conference during which preliminary matters related to the Hearing are discussed and/or resolved. The parties will be provided advance written notice of the date, time, and location of the pre-hearing conference. Approved by PCRB for Recommendation – August 12, 2021 (revised 11/1/2021) - 5 Page 31 of 84 FOR SUBMISSION TO CITY COUNCIL FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL g. Recording of Hearing. The PCRB shall make arrangements to create either an audio or audiovisual recording of the Hearing, or a transcript of the Hearing prepared by a court reporter present at the Hearing. h. Determination by the PCRB. After the Hearing, the PCRB will objectively evaluate all relevant evidence, both from the Written Record and presented during the Hearing, and make a written finding within the time and in the form provided by the enabling Ordinance, for each allegation of misconduct in the Complaint: i. Whether there was a preponderance of evidence that the misconduct alleged in the Complaint occurred; ii. Whether the PCRB concurs with any finding by the Charlottesville Police Department concerning the misconduct; iii. Whether the PCRB finds that the Charlottesville Police Department’s investigation, if any, of the Complaint is incomplete or unsatisfactory and, if so, in what regard; iv. With respect to any Civilian Complaint or Police Conduct Complaint, to the extent permitted by City Ordinance, whether the PCRB wishes to consult with the Chief of Police and/or the supervisors of a police officer/employee whose conduct is a subject of the complaint, to make disciplinary recommendations, applying the Police Department Disciplinary Matrix, in cases that involve serious breaches of Police Department policies and professional standards, and other determinations as may be provided by City ordinance, any of which to be implemented by the City official/employee with ultimate supervisory authority over officers and employees of the Police Department. 6. Informal Resolution. At any time after receiving a Complaint and before issuance of the written findings required at the conclusion of a Hearing, the PCRB and any party may propose an informal resolution of the Complaint which may be adopted if all parties and the PCRB agree to such a resolution. Approved by PCRB for Recommendation – August 12, 2021 (revised 11/1/2021) - 6 Page 32 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: November 1, 2021 (Public Hearing and First Reading) Action Requested: Approval of Ordinance (City Council, November 15, 2021 (second reading) Presenter: Lisa Robertson, City Attorney Staff Contacts: Lauren Hildebrand, Director of Public Utilities Missy Creasy, NDS Planner Chris Sibold, Assistant City Engineer Title: Vacation of a Small portion (0.038 acre) of Seminole Court Background and Discussion: The Seminole Square Redevelopment project is moving forward and includes ROW construction. The purpose of the ROW Vacation is to modify the existing ROW line on Seminole Court to coincide with the ROW line work on the Hillsdale Drive Improvements. Discussion: Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: N/A Community Engagement: Notice of this vacation has been published in a newspaper per Va. Code §15.2-2006, and a public hearing is scheduled per Va. Code §15.2-1800(B) Budgetary Impact: none. Recommendations: Staff recommends approval of the street vacation. Alternatives: Council may amend the proposed Ordinance, or Council may, by motion, deny the request for ROW vacation Attachments: Plat, prep. By Meridian Planning Group, LLC (2/5/2020, rev. 9/15/2021) Proposed Ordinance 1 Page 33 of 84 AN ORDINANCE CLOSING, VACATING AND DISCONTINUING A PORTION (0.038 ACRE) OF THE PUBLIC STREET RIGHT OF WAY FOR SEMINOLE COURT WHEREAS, as permitted by Virginia Code Sec. 15.2-2006, Giant Sequel Investors, LLC (“Petitioner”) has requested the City Council to vacate a portion of the public street right-of-way for Seminole Court, identified as “Area A, a Portion of Right-of-Way to be Vacated 0.038 acre” on a plat dated February 5, 2020, rev. September 15, 2021, prepared by Meridian Planning Group, LLC (the “Subject Right-of-Way”); and, WHEREAS, the Petitioner is the only landowner who owns property adjacent to the Subject Right-of-Way; and, WHEREAS, following notice to the public pursuant to Virginia Code §15.2-2006, a public hearing was conducted by the City Council as required by Virginia Code §15.2-1800(B); and, WHEREAS, this Council finds and determines that the Petition should be granted; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia that the City hereby closes, vacates and discontinues the above-described Subject Right-of- Way. Upon approval of this Ordinance, the City Attorney shall prepare a Deed of Vacation for recordation in the land records of the Circuit Court for the City of Charlottesville. 2 Page 34 of 84 CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA CITY COUNCIL AGENDA Agenda Date: November 1, 2021 Action Required: Report Resolution of Support Presenter: Bria Williams, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Program Director Richard Morris, Cultivate Charlottesville Farm & Foodroots Executive Director Jeanette Abi-Nader, Cultivate Charlottesville Advocacy & Systems Executive Director Staff Contacts: Misty Graves, Interim Director, Department of Human Services Title: End of Fiscal Year 2021 Report and Recommendations Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative Background: The Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative (FEI) brings together public, private, and non-profit partners working in unique and complementary ways to build a healthy and just community food system for all Charlottesville residents. The Initiative is cultivating community driven processes, resident leadership, and city partnerships to improve access to and quality of nutritious and affordable foods, addressing food equity barriers. City Council passed the Food Equity Initiative for the first time in 2018 beginning a course of systemic efforts to reshape community health, wealth, and belonging through our food system. Currently in year three, the Food Equity Initiative work is designed to support implementation of citywide strategies outlined in the initial FY19 proposal and updated for FY21 in November 2021. These strategies align with goals established in the MAPP2Health Community Action Plan, the Local Food, Local Places Action Plan, and the specific City Departments food equity action plans. Additional focus areas this year include continuation and adaptation of emergency food responses due to COVID-19 and rising food insecurity, update of the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform that summarizes the recommendations emerging from city department and community engagement conversations over the past two years, and the results of efforts to integrate community food equity priorities into the City Comprehensive Plan update. The attached report encompasses the activities, accomplishments, and progress made during year two of the Food Equity Initiative. In addition, supplemental information is provided on recommendations for year three and the strategies for sustainability for future Food Equity Initiative work. Page 35 of 84 Discussion: While food insecurity remains a prevalent issue in our city (16% for Charlottesville; 9.8% for Virginia), views of a healthy and just food system are in sight. During the second year (October 2020 – September 2021, the Food Equity Initiative as directed by the Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network provides the attached information that includes a report on objectives and goals established at the inception. Advancing systemic change requires close partnerships with city departments, community members and Food Justice Network partner organizations. With intention and sustainability, the Food Equity Initiative will continue to walk out City Council’s Vision for this community. Alignment with City Council’s Vision and Strategic Plan: The Food Equity Initiative supports City Council’s “Community of Mutual Respect” vision. It contributes to Goal 2 of the Strategic Plan: a healthy and safe city and Goal 1: an inclusive community of self-sufficient residents specifically objective 1.5 intentionally address issues of race and equity. Community Engagement: Overall, the City Council’s Food Equity Initiative has leveraged community engagement, collaboration, and collective problem solving to respond to COVID-19 and to advance food equity initiatives defined as community priorities. During this report period (October 2020 – September 2021), a collection of highlights that demonstrate their values of community engagement and communications are detailed in their Report against Objectives, Appendix II and III. The methods of the Food Equity Initiative intentionally incorporate and amplify community voice and leadership. Most notable are the recent participation in the City’s Comprehensive planning process and the Climate Action Plans. Additionally, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network developed, in partnership with community feedback, a food security text line that launched in January 2021. On April 29, 2021 they hosted “A Seat at the Table” to review the Food Equity Policy Platform which included engagements from 85 people. Most recently, staff shared the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform with 10 City departments, the City Manager, Mayor Walker, Deputy City Managers, Charlottesville City School Board, and City Council including youth and community advocates sharing their perspectives on their priorities. Budgetary Impact: Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative is already included in the City’s FY 2023 Proposed Budget. Should Council wish to continue support, this funding will be considered through the regular budget process for inclusion in the final FY 2023 Adopted Budget. Recommendation: Staff recommends resolution of support that funding will continue to be in the City Manager’s proposed budget for FY 23, 24, 25 at $155,00 for each year. Page 36 of 84 Staff recommends Council discuss and consider setting up a Food Equity Fund similar to the Affordable Housing Fund by diverting 2% of the meals tax every year to go to this fund. Staff recommends that Council discuss and consider the Washington Park Urban Garden as a formal City program submitted by Parks and Recreation in the formal Capital Improvement Project proposal process for FY 24. Alternatives: N/A Attachments:  PROPOSED RESOLUTION  Overview letter to Council  Report against objectives  COVID Report  FY 21 Budget to Actual  FY22 Goals and FY22 Proposed Budget  Appendix I: FEI Policy Platform  Appendix II. FEI Policy Platform Engagement Summary  Appendix III: Text Messaging Service engagement  Appendix IV: Comprehensive Plan Food Equity Recommendations & Wins Page 37 of 84 RESOLUTION EXPRESSING CITY COUNCIL SUPPORT FOR THE FOOD EQUITY INITIATIVES BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEARS 2022-23, 2023-24 AND 2024-25 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE THAT the Food Equity Initiative, which has been funded by City Council for each of the past three fiscal years, has served the Charlottesville community well and remains an important initiative. Therefore, this Council hereby expresses its support of continued funding in the amount of $155,000 per year for the next three fiscal years, and Council hereby directs that the amount of $155,000 be included within the City Manager’s Proposed FY23 general fund budget. Page 38 of 84 DATE November 1, 2021 TO Charlottesville City Council FROM Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network SUBJECT Food Equity Initiative End of FY21 Report Dear City Councilors, Thank you for your partnership in implementing year two of the Food Equity Initiative (FEI), first passed by City th Council on October 18 , 2018. Enclosed is our end of year report against objectives for October 2020—September 2021. The report is organized by the objectives outlined in the Food Equity Initiative proposal. Additional elements include the ongoing COVID-19 food security response, FY21 budget to actual, objectives for FY22, and an FY22 budget. The appendix includes an updated Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform, tracking of food equity language integrated into the City Comprehensive Plan, a summary of community engagement and outreach activities, and an overview of our proposal for a Food Equity Fund (for discussion). We are finalizing the updated City Department Food Equity Action Profiles and will submit these to council next week. Support from council of the Food Equity Initiative’s city partnerships and matching funding has made a significant impact in bringing community based solutions to food equity challenges in our community. Key FY21 Food Equity Initiative accomplishments include: 1. Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform launch, as requested by council, with robust community engagement- 284 signatories (150 city residents, 80 county residents working in the city, and 38 organizations). 2. A Seat At The Table community roundtable with 93 participants to deepen understanding of the FEI Policy Platform and gather community feedback. 3. City staff engagement with the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform including 10 City departments, the City Manager, Mayor Walker, Deputy City Managers, Charlottesville City School Board, and City Council including youth and community advocates sharing their perspectives on their priorities. 4. Expanded emergency food security supports and improved accessibility and ability to navigate resources via Food Security Text initiative and weekly community food security calendars. 5. Integration of sixty-five food equity language and strategy priorities in the City Comprehensive Plan. 6. Continued network-wide racial equity capacity building with an Uprooting Racism workshop for 31 organizations and 143 participants, hosting two Racial Equity Accountability Circles for 12 organizations, and advancing Cultivate's anti-racism work with development of a 2-year action plan. 7. Selected for and participating in HEAL Food Alliance's School of Political Leadership 2021 Cohort to develop and advance Land Is Liberation urban agriculture campaign. 8. Contributed subject expertise and represented City Council Food Equity Initiative at nine partner coalitions amplifying the discourse on building a healthy and just food system. 9. Ongoing grassroots programming including growing and distributing 6,539 pounds of fresh produce, 9,500 school meals, COVID wrap around services, schoolyard garden education, and other on the ground efforts. We are grateful to City Council for your leadership in building food equity for all Charlottesville community. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Bria Williams Richard Morris Jeanette Abi-Nader Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Cultivate Charlottesville Executive Cultivate Charlottesville Executive Network Program Director Director Director bria@cultivatecharlottesville.org richard@cultivatecharlottesville.org jeanette@cultivatecharlottesville.org Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 Year End Report, October 2020-September 2021 Page 39 of 84 Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Against Objectives October 2020 – September 2021 Purpose The Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative (FEI) brings together public, private, and non-profit partners working in unique and complementary ways to build a healthy and just community food system for all Charlottesville residents. The Initiative is cultivating community driven processes, resident leadership, and city partnerships to improve access to and quality of nutritious and affordable foods, addressing food equity barriers. The 2020-2021 Food Equity Initiative work is designed to support implementation of citywide strategies outlined in the FY21 proposal that align with goals established in the MAPP2Health Community Action Plan, the Local Food, Local Places Action Plan, and the specific City Departments food equity action plans. Additional focus areas this year include a) continuation and adaptation of emergency food responses due to COVID-19 and rising food insecurity, b) launch of the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform that summarizes the recommendations emerging from city department and community engagement conversations over the past two years, and c) efforts to integrate community food equity priorities into the City Comprehensive Plan update. The following information includes three sections: a report against our FY21 goals and initiatives to date, a COVID-19 update report on goals and initiatives, and FY21 budget to actual. Activities and Progress towards Food Equity Initiative Objectives & Outcomes October 2020 – September 2021 A. Compile and disseminate research including an analysis of food system assessments that identifies gaps and opportunities for investment, current food access efforts, and communication strategies to engage stakeholders including community members, business owners, and elected officials. Food System Assessment • COVID-19 Wrap Around Services Program Evaluation Collaboration with Dr. ✔ 2 key evaluations conducted to Sherica Jones-Lewis of University of Virginia Equity Center to conduct COVID- assess Emergency food security 19 Wrap Around Services Evaluation; Shared findings at TomTom panel. | responses efforts *Find Executive Summary and Full Report at this LINK • COVID-19 Lessons Learned Review Partnered with UVA Global Policy Center to conduct Lessons Learned assessment of equity practices across food security response organizations. | *Find the report on Cultivate Charlottesville’s Resource page HERE Capacity Building • Education Hosted Soul Fire Farm Uprooting Racism training intensive for ✔ 143 individuals participated in 143 community members and 31 organizations. Hosted prep and follow up racial equity training sessions for members to engage in small groups. Created uprooting racism representing 31 organizations online organizational assessment tool. ✔ 14 organizations engaged in a • Supported three organizations with one-on-one review and evaluation. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report_APPENDICES Page 40 of 84 six-month racial equity • Funded 12 organizations to engage in a six-month intensive follow up accountability circles accountability circles to help shape ongoing racial equity capacity building. ✔ 25 FJN partners developed • Worked with Food Justice Network partners to develop their own racial specific racial equity plans equity action plans. • Cultivate launched an organizational Change Team of Board and staff that Communication Strategies developed our own Uprooting Racism Action plan based on 6 tenants: ✔ 13 presentations on food equity 1. Decision-Making, Power & Accountability, 2. Culture, 3. Programming, 4. ✔ 14 press articles Movement Building, 5. Accessibility, 6. Budget & Finances ✔ 370 social media posts for 2,461 followers • Outreach Maintained robust communications strategy to engage community ✔ 6 FJN Blasts to 534 people & 12 members across the Charlottesville area in a deeper understanding of food Cultivate newsletters to 2,647 equity issues.*See Cultivate Charlottesville Press Page for list of press pieces ✔ 142 Food Justice Network list at https://cultivatecharlottesville.org/stories/press/ B. Establish mechanisms for community voice including both formal and informal meetings with oversight by community stakeholders and community members on programs and broader food access issues. Formal Mechanisms Virtual Whole Measures Bi-monthly Roundtables ✔ 36 Virtual CFJN Whole Measure • Gathered 30+ organizational representatives to provide input and design for community meetings |35 Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform and to collaborate across food justice organizations engaged work in the area. These meetings are ongoing and open to city staff ✔ 14 CFJN Planning Team departments and the public. meetings |25 Planning Team • Hosted 14 monthly and special event FJN planning team meetings. members ✔ 19 Comprehensive Planning & City Comprehensive Plan City meetings attended |13 • FJN’s collaboration with city departments has opened the door for deeper organizations expressed contributions to the City Comprehensive Plan within the Transportation, support for FJN’s Housing, and Environment-Climate-Food Equity chapters with 65 specific Comprehensive Plan recommendations included in current drafts across 7 Chapters. recommendations |65 • Organized Food Justice Network partners to support multiple rounds of FJN comprehensive plan Policy Recommendations. recommendations included • FJN members attended nearly all of the comprehensive plan meetings and ✔ Advocacy: 10 youth interns and shared information publicly on how to engage. community advocates • FJN also has been engaging with the City’s Strategic Planning process, sharing advocated for Healthy School information and gleaning feedback from 22 partner members. Foods at Council/School Board meeting or in writing |3 Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform organizational partners • Organized Weeks of Action to advocate for investment in CCS Nutrition advocated for food equity in Department and Food Equity Initiative strategic priorities. City Strategic Planning process • Hosted A Seat At The Table community roundtable and Prep Sessions to |2 articles featured Weeks of deepen understanding of Food Equity Initiative Policy platform across Action advocacy community leaders, advocates and partners. ✔ 93 community members and • Hosted 7 roundtable practice sessions for 12 community members to engage organizational partners with the policy platform issue areas and prepare for sharing their engaged in A Seat At The Table perspective. Roundtable |7 Prep Sessions • Hosted 4 presentations to organizational partners and 8 city staff to share hosted to prepare 12 Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform priorities. community leaders|6 • 2 Weeks of Policy Platform Advocacy Push (via Toolkit) garnering signatures presentations to organizational and elevating priorities to City leadership. partners and 8 city staff Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 2 Page 41 of 84 Informal Mechanisms • Sign On Community members are signing on to express support for the Food ✔ 284 total signatures in support Equity Initiative Policy Platform. of the Food Equity Initiative • Community Events Weekly Urban Agriculture Collective Community Markets Policy Platform =150 city and the Urban Agriculture Collective end of year garden harvest meal. residents, 80 community members who work in the city but live outside, 46 university students, 38 organizations ✔ 516 attendees engaged in Food Access work and Advocacy C. Plan for sustainability by pursuing additional funding for long-term investment at the city, agency and community member levels. Matching Funds •Funding Partners In addition to general operating funds raised for 2020- ✔ $155,000 matching funds raised 2021, Cultivate Charlottesville has secured $155,000 in funds for FY21 to for FY21 plus $55,000 in match the City Council Food Equity Initiative contribution from the national additional support specific to USDA Community Food Projects ($125K) and the state Virginia Foundation food equity initiative for Healthy Youth ($30K) grants. We also raised $55,000 from regional ✔ $144,000 COVID-19 support foundations. funds • COVID-19 Emergency Funds Funding for COVID-19 efforts has decreased ✔ 43 volunteers for meal prep and over the past 6 months, although Cultivate has leveraged $144,000 in No Kid delivery Hungry funds. ✔ $15,000 for regional Hunger • COVID-19 In-Kind Support Partners have contributed $13,000 in support for Action Coalition as the regional providing meals to Charlottesville City School youth during 2021 winter and backbone organization for the spring break, coordinated by the Food Justice Network. Governor’s Roadmap to End • Hunger Action Coalition Cultivate Charlottesville was selected as the BRAHD Hunger backbone organization for the Governor’s Food & Nutrition Security Council. • Food Equity Fund Proposal: For discussion with this report is an overview of a proposed food equity fund to support long-term infrastructure developments to build food equity in our city. [See appendix VI] Diversified Multi-year Funding • Cultivate received a USDA Farm to School two year grant ($50K/year) to support the Healthy School Foods Initiative with training to Charlottesville City Schools nutrition staff by Culinary Concepts. D. Contribute subject matter expertise to discussions on transportation, zoning, and other planning and policy development to ensure that the City, the University of Virginia, community organizations and citizens are aware of the impact of policy on food equity. City Comprehensive Plan Advisory Roles and Food Equity Leadership ✔ 100+ recommendations to City • Blue Ridge Area Hunger Action Coalition Backbone Organization Cultivate Comprehensive Plan to Charlottesville is partnering with Move2Health Equity, Local Food Hub, Blue incorporate food equity Ridge Area Food Bank, Bread & Roses and other partners to host monthly language HAC meetings for our region. ✔ ‘Environment-Climate-Food • National Farm to School Network Equity Evaluation Cultivate co-executive Equity Chapter included in 2021 director, will be serving on the national steering committee to establish Comprehensive Plan proposal guidelines for evaluating equity in farm to school efforts across the country. ✔ 7 Chapters included food equity • Steering Committee Two Cultivate staff are on the Steering Committee of ✔ 7 Vision Statements the City’s Comprehensive Plan where we work to integrate food equity incorporated food equity language and priorities. language • Conducted Comprehensive Plan food equity language analysis of food ✔ 20 Progress Measures included equity language recommendations included and provided additional food equity language recommendations to incorporate food equity strategies. ✔ 1 of 6 Priority Areas including • Community Input UACC hosted weekly community markets to distribute Food Equity in Comp Plan food grown and engage in conversations on redevelopment, garden design ✔ 2 Priority Strategies & 2 Priority and healthy communities, and the city comprehensive plan. IRC hosted Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 3 Page 42 of 84 Progress Measures include food target small group sessions with Comprehensive Planning team consultants equity in Comp Plan to glean immigrant perspective. IRC promoted participation in the online ✔ 1 Food Equity Comp Plan surveys through its social media channels. Chapter • University of Virginia Sustainable Food System Coalition is developing a ✔ 26 Strategies included food multi-year sustainability plan for the university and community. Six network equity partners are deeply engaged in the process, serving on subcommittees and ✔ 3 Guiding Principles included engaging broader inclusion on goal definitions. food equity language • Native American Student Union at the University of Virginia is partnering ✔ 2 Key Goals included food with Cultivate Charlottesville to host a food sovereignty symposium. equity language ✔ 1 Land Use Planning Objective include food equity language Food Equity Initiative • City Department FEI Support Hosted meeting with City departments to Implementation review the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform and glean feedback in July. ✔ 12 City Department leads, 3 Following up with individual department meetings to update FEI Action City & Deputy City Managers, 2 Plans. City Councilors, and 5 School • Food Equity Implementation Equity & Inclusion indicators developed for board members engaged advancing progress in the 5 FEI focus areas. Indicators are linked to city and around Food Equity Initiative community partners’ implementation of action plans. Thus far, 24 of 32 city implementation department recommendations were implemented. ✔ 20 Equity and Inclusion Indicators for 5 sectors ✔ 24 of 32 City Department Recommendations Implemented D. Implement opportunities to highlight the City’s food equity work statewide & nationally. Presentations • Provided Thought Leadership in conferences, panels, and presentations: ✔ 9 Focused presentations and Presented at nine local, regional, state and national venues including USDA trainings engaging a collective 935 Farm to School Grantee Meeting, HEAL Food Alliance School of Political people at those presentations Leadership, John Hopkins University Food Policy Forum, VA Farm to School Regional Meeting, VA Food and Nutrition Security Summit, VA Roadmap to End Hunger, UVA Health Systems, VA Equitable Food Oriented Development, Building Racial Equity in the Food System. Statewide & Regional • Regional Coalitions CFJN leaders are engaged with multiple regional ✔ CFJN Team engaged in 5 Regional coalitions including: Chesapeake Foodshed Network-Community Coalitions Ownership, Empowerment & Prosperity Action Team | Virginia Tech ✔ Profiled in Virginia Roadmap to Center for Community Food Systems & Transformation Steering End Hunger as model Hunger Committee | VA Farm to School Regional Planning Teams | VA Children’s Action Coalition Cabinet for Food Security | VA Food Access Innovation Steering Committee National • National Coalition Jeanette and Richard were selected as part of the ✔ Cultivate team selected for and Wallace Center’s Food Justice Leaders program completed HEAL School of Political • National Coalition Building Cultivate team selected and participated as Leadership 2021 Cohort part of HEAL School of Political Leadership 2021 Cohort to advance urban agriculture / Land Is Liberation campaign. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 4 Page 43 of 84 Food Equity Initiative: COVID-19 Response The Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network has been a centralizing stakeholder in the immediate food security response to the Covid-19 Pandemic in Charlottesville and surrounding areas. We have developed and continue to define a short-term emergency food security communications structure and short-term operational plan support among our 30+ networks organizations including non-profits, local government and others. The City of Charlottesville Human Services has worked closely with Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network to take a central role in developing a longer-term food security strategy for the Charlottesville community. While the extent and duration of the disruption that the pandemic has stretched on, Cultivate has begun to work with City and other institutional partners to pick up implementation of COVID-19 initiatives. Two evaluation reports conducted during the past year have brought insight into best practices and lessons learned during this period. Activities and Progress towards COVID-19 Emergency Food Efforts October 2020 – September 2021 A. Developing COVID-19 Food Security Infrastructure: Build an emergency food security response infrastructure that enables the Charlottesville community to effectively respond to expanding food insecurity during the COVID-19 shelter in place orders. Internal Communication & Reporting ✔ 2 key evaluations conducted to • COVID-19 Wrap Around Services Program Evaluation Collaboration with assess Emergency food security Dr. Sherica Jones-Lewis of University of Virginia Equity Center to conduct responses efforts COVID-19 Wrap Around Services Evaluation; Shared findings at TomTom ✔ 40+ Organizational partners panel. | *Find Executive Summary and Full Report at this LINK delivering & coordinating food • COVID-19 Lessons Learned Review Partnered with UVA Global Policy access services Center to conduct Lessons Learned assessment of equity practices across ✔ 60+ Food Access Resources food security response organizations. | *Find the report on Cultivate Mapped in City & County Charlottesville’s Resource page HERE External Communication & Outreach ✔ 52 cycles of weekly food resource calendars in English & Spanish • Ongoing coordination and communication of emergency food resources ✔ 41 partners, 250 people throughout the Charlottesville and surrounding areas in English and supported with Community Food Spanish Resource materials ✔ 67 community organizations elevated with Community Food Resource programs ✔ 4,800 views on Community Food Resources Maps ✔ 58 social media posts with COVID- 19 food security information External Communication & Outreach ✔ $8,700 procured for Text • Launched and ongoing implementation of automated Food Security Text Messaging Service through UVA Messaging Service in collaboration with the Department of Human Office of Sustainability Services to better align existing and new food insecure community ✔ 430 community members members with access to resources in real time. enrolled in Food Security Text Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 5 Page 44 of 84 Program • Organized group of Text Messaging Service partners and community ✔ 19 zip codes, 9 localities included advocates informing development and launch of Food Security Text in Food Security Text Program Messaging Service. ✔ 5 articles featuring Text program • Conducted robust community outreach to ensure community members ✔ 4 radio spots of Text program input on the text messaging program design and implementation process. ✔ 1 City press release announcing • Hired an Equity and Environment intern to manage the Text Messaging Text program Service. ✔ 3 feedback sessions hosted to garner input on program development and launch ✔ 3500+ flyers distributed ✔ 500+ magnets shared B. Building a Safety Net for COVID-19 Cases & Organizations: Develop and implement “failsafe” mechanisms within the COVID food security response that minimize disruptions in food access support for organizations facing volunteer/resource shortages. Indirect Support to Orgs Facing Resource Strain ✔ 200+ volunteer hours, • Crowdsourcing in-kind volunteer support & resources: Coordinating transporting resources, translating pipeline to match organizational resource gaps with in-kind support materials, preparing and (support ranges from restaurants donating meals, to volunteer drivers and coordinating meals PPE donations). ✔ 70+ volunteers coordinating support for meals, wrap around services etc. PB&J FUND Direct Food relief • Reimagining our programming to reduce youth hunger by creating a ✔ 400+ families served weekly to monthly grocery distribution for Charlottesville City School ✔ 13,573 bags delivered families to provide food for the weekends. Bags include a minimum of four ✔ 217,170+ meals provided meal servings for a family of four. This program ran for 38 weeks from ✔ $100,000+ in local produce March 2020 through August 2021. distributed • Supporting the local economy by purchasing both shelf stable food and fresh produce from local suppliers. • Keeping families safe at home by providing contactless home delivery and engaging 45 weekly volunteers to drive bags directly to families. LOCAL FOOD HUB Direct relief • Early launch (in April instead of June) of our Fresh Farmacy program and ✔ 500 homes served bi-weekly in our drastic expansion, from plans for 2020 to serve 280 homes, every other Fresh Farmacy: Fruit and Veggie week, to serving around 500 homes every week for a total of around Prescription Program including 15,000 Fresh Farmacy deliveries during this period. contactless delivery • Hiring of Harvest Moon Catering and Yellow Cab for contactless home ✔ $275,000 in local produce, eggs delivery, while keeping local workers employed at these businesses. and value-added items • Supporting local farmers through consistent and high volume purchases of fresh produce and other goods. • Recipes and produce cooking and storage tips provided with each share, in English and in Spanish. CULTIVATE Direct food relief- community produce market • Urban Agriculture Collective –Community Produce Market Hosted 29 ! UAC grown produce: 3,150 market days and distributed a total of 6,539 pounds of fresh, locally grown st th ! Partner pounds produce at no cost to residents at Friendship Court, South 1 Street, 6 (donated/Purchased): 3,389 Street, Westhaven, Midway Manor, Crescent Halls, and other locations in ! 29 Community Market Days: 29 Charlottesville ! 363 unique residents participate ! 587 market bags distributed ! 140 community volunteers Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 6 Page 45 of 84 CULTIVATE Direct food relief-meals • Implementing Direct food relief support Securing funding and mobilizing ✔ 9,500 school meals distributed resources to fill direct gaps in Charlottesville City Schools meal deliveries across five neighborhoods during school breaks including winter and spring break. ✔ $15,000 Procured for CCS winter • Procuring Funding & Economic Investment Sourcing produce from local and spring breaks farms and meal preparation from Black and Brown owned restaurants. ✔ $15,000 invested in local restaurants owned by Black and brown residents C. Building Infrastructure for COVID Positive Case Support: Designed, sourced, implemented, and scaled wrap around services for COVID positive residents to safely shelter in place, contain the spread, and recover. Testing, COVID Care, and Impact COVID Community Testing: ✔ 25+ community test events • Partnering with the City of Charlottesville, Sentara Martha Jefferson ✔ 282 families with COVID-19 Hospital, UVA Health, Blue Ridge Health District, Albemarle County, positive community members PHAR/CRHA and others, to support community-testing events with a focus supported with COVID Care Wrap on Black and Brown, low-wealth communities that may have inequitable Around support access to healthcare and disproportionate COVID-19 burden. *Originally, ✔ 1125+ individuals (681 adults and COVID Care Support / Wrap Around Services provided for COVID positive 444 children) supported with family members and their families from Community Testing events. COVID Wrap Around program Expanded to include support for all Charlottesville, Albemarle, Greene, ✔ 5,800 prepared meals to families Fluvanna and Nelson residents via BRHD Case Investigation and Contact with COVID-19 positive members Tracing process. * (5100 in 2020; 700 in 2021) ✔ 12+ organizational partners COVID Care Support / Wrap Around Services: involved • Transitioned COVID Care Support Program to Government Partners ✔ 300+ food boxes distributed to Effectively transitioned operations and implementation of COVID Care families with COVID-19 positive program to Blue Ridge Health District response with support from City of members Charlottesville and Albemarle County DHS and DSS, County Office of ✔ 75 produce bags distributed to Equity and Inclusion to transition program to government partners and to families with COVID-19 positive scale across the City, County and Health District. members • Expanded COVID Care Model to BRHD counties COVID-19 Wrap Around Services program expanded to reach residents in all of the Blue Ridge Health District counties. D. Equitably Governing Resources: Establish mechanisms for equitably governing food security resources that minimizes impacts of COVID exacerbated social and economic inequities. ! 5 working principles developed • Community Advocates: Supporting resident community advocates in and adhered to by Committee and providing thought leadership and guidance to existing and emerging food Initiative Leader access programs to ensure key communities needs are met and feedback ! 2021: 4575 meals distributed in is incorporated into efforts. 2021 with 100% going to Black & • Equitable Economic Investment: Collaborated with the Office of Economic Latinx community and 100% Development to provide additional oversight of business participation and people of color owned restaurant compensation with a focus on supporting Black and minority owned partners businesses. Provided bi-weekly equity assessment and recommendations ! 2021: $35,000 invested in 9 to correct emerging racial inequities in program participation and People of Color Owned Restaurant compensation. Owners • 2021 Reignited Steering Committee with Racial Equity Framework guiding ! 6 Black & LatinX Community second iteration of Community Meals program, 100% of restaurant Outreach Liaisons Hired partners minority-owned. Reimbursed for their time for $3,250 in stipends • Nationwide Best Practice Setting Incorporated Equity Framework as Nationwide Best Practice for World Central Kitchen hunger relief efforts. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 7 Page 46 of 84 Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year | Budget to Actual October 2020 – September 2021 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 8 Page 47 of 84 Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative FY22 Core Priorities October 2021 – September 2022 FY22 Looking Forward Over the past year we have worked to balance the continued need for emergency COVID-19 responses as well as pivot back to our core work of building a food equity foundation in our city, nonprofit, and community partnerships. We also navigated staff transition of the FJN Program Director. Our collective work bringing together Network partners, City partners, and broader community to engage in deepening capacity for racial equity practices, however, has been uplifting and impactful. We have also been so fortunate to engage our new FJN Program Director with a deep history in Charlottesville and justice work, Bria Williams. Throughout this year, we have continued to prioritize the voices and choices of youth and community members affected by food insecurity as we bridge community advocacy, increased partner engagement, and intensified thought leadership around building food equity and racial equity. As we look forward to our final year of this initial three-year partnership, we will be moving towards strong deliverables through the final integration of food equity language in the comprehensive plan, refinement of the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform with a set of clear recommendations grounded in implementation plans, and launch of a Land is Liberation campaign to restore urban agriculture land to Charlottesville’s low-wealth neighborhoods. FY22 Core Priorities 1. Community Leadership In addition to cohorts of Community Advocates and Youth Food Justice Intern deepening our investment in grassroots community leadership, we plan to host several community circles to cultivate community representation around the urban agriculture initiatives. 2. City Comprehensive & Strategic Planning Processes We are near the final stages of the advocacy for this phase of the comprehensive plan and have much to be proud of as demonstrated in the 65 food equity recommendations integrated into the plan demonstrating Charlottesville’s innovative committed to food equity. Our focus this year is on ensuring the implementation measures continue to be robust and well understood across departments. 3. Food Equity Policy Platform Public Education Efforts Food Justice Network will continue to host community events to build support for and understanding of the platform planks as well as represent Charlottesville at numerous state, regional, and national spaces. We will solicit robust community feedback and modify as needed with specific focus on implementation needs. 4. City Department Food Equity Plans During this year’s meetings with City staff, we recognize and ongoing commitment to integrating food equity into numerous city departments. This year we aim to build out implementation plans and budgets for their food equity priorities as outlined in the Policy Platform. 5. Covid-19 Support Food Justice Network team will continue to implement the COVID-19 emergency food response communications text messaging and calendars. Similar to the wrap around service efforts, we aim to find an institutional partner that can transition into this work by the end of FY22. 6. NEW! Food Equity Fund The enclosed Food Equity Fund Overview builds on lessons learned from our work with Communities Unlimited and the Equitable Food Oriented Development network, as well as research on similar programs across the country. Our aim this year is to finalize a plan for an equitable way to invest in food equity infrastructure for Charlottesville that supports movement from a foodie town to a food equity town. [See appendix VI for Council discussion] 7. NEW! Land is Liberation This year we are focusing on innovative solutions to the loss of 100% of Urban Agriculture Collective’s land at public and subsidized housing sites that has produced 17,000 pounds of fresh produce for low- wealth residents, right in their back yards. Through an intensive community engagement process (interviews and circle discussions) we plan to launch a campaign, Land Is Liberation. The name for this campaign emerged from interviews of Black farmers conducted by youth food justice interns. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 9 Page 48 of 84 Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative FY22 Budget Overview October 2021 – September 2022 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 10 Page 49 of 84 Charlottesville Food Justice Network Planning Team Jeanette Abi-Nader, Cultivate Charlottesville, Advocacy & Systems Executive Director Theresa Allan, International Rescue Committee, Manager Food and Agriculture Programs Laura Brown Local Food Hub, Director of Community & Policy Aleen Carey, Cultivate Charlottesville, Outreach & Resource Program Director Jane Colony-Mills, Loaves & Fishes, Executive Director Eileen Emerson, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank Jordan Johnson, Cultivate Charlottesville City Schoolyard Garden Program Director Joe Kreiter, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Partner Services Coordinator & Network Development Cecilia Lapp Stoltzfus, International Rescue Committee Gabby Levet, Cultivate Charlottesville, Food Justice Network Policy & Advocacy Alex London-Gross, PB&J Fund, Executive Director Richard Morris, Cultivate Charlottesville, Farm & Foodroots Executive Director Todd Niemeier, Charlottesville Office of Human Rights, Community Outreach & Investigation Specialist Brianna Patten, Cultivate Charlottesville, UAC Program Associate Kristan Pitts, Trinity Bread & Roses th Kristen Rabourdin, Market at 25 , Founding Leadership Team Michael Reilly, Virginia Foodshed Capital, Executive Director Sara Santa Cruz, Virginia Department of Agriculture Rebecca Schmidt, Blue Ridge Health District, Population Health Manager Alfred Shirley, Cultivate Charlottesville, Youth Leadership & Food Justice Coordinator Briana Stevenson, Virginia Foodshed Capital & Local Food Hub Kristen Suokko Local Food Hub, Executive Director Bria Williams, Cultivate Charlottesville, Food Justice Network Program Director Tamara Wright, Cultivate Charlottesville, Food Justice Network Community Advocate Lead Barbara Yager, Community Member, Bread & Roses Charlottesville Food Justice Network A program of Cultivate Charlottesville www.cultivatecharlottesville.org | 434.260.3274 bria@cultivatecharlottesville.org | jeanette@cultivatecharlottesville.org Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report Page 11 Page 50 of 84 APPENDICES I. Charlottesville City Department Food Equity Action Plans (plans are currently being vetted with each department and will be submitted after with the report to council) II. Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_updated October 2021 III. City of Charlottesville Comprehensive Plan – Food Equity Recommendations & Wins_updated October 2021 IV. Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform Community Engagement Summary_October 2021 V. Emergency Food Relief Text Messaging Service and Weekly Calendar - Engagement & Communications_October 2021 VI. Food Equity Fund Overview_for discussion Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY21 End of Year Report_APPENDICES Page 51 of 84 Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network October 2021 In recent years, the City of Charlottesville has doubled down on its efforts to forge avenues for race and class equity in the areas of housing, education, economic development, climate change, policing, transportation, health, and food. In the area of food and health, the City Council passed the Food Equity Initiative for the first time in 2018 beginning a course of systemic efforts to reshape community health, wealth, and belonging through our food system. As the coalition driving the Food Equity Initiative, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network of 30+ organizations has been working in collaboration with community members, City departments, and Charlottesville City Schools to further identify the policy and funding steps necessary to bring our collective vision of a healthy and just food system to fruition. The following Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform includes input from over 300 individuals and recommends the following overarching strategic values, funding priorities, and concrete goals for City Departments to deepen their capacity for food equity. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network will be working with City Departments and Charlottesville School System towards implementation of these priorities. Sign on to show your support for these recommendations and for the Food Equity Initiative’s goals for cultivating a healthy and just food system for ALL Charlottesville residents. Cultivate Charlottesville: City Schoolyard Garden | Urban Agriculture Collective | Food Justice Network 1 Page 52 of 84 Food Equity & Justice Advancing Systemic Change and Collective Movements Food equity and justice practices are foundational throughout this policy platform and reinforce food as a human right. Each recommended action emerged out of prioritizing community members voices and choices and aims to impact long-term systemic change. While some cities establish food policy councils to carry out Food Equity Initiative type work, Charlottesville has a unique and dynamic partnership with Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network. Together we leveraged the power of public and private partnerships to rapidly respond to crisis in the face of the pandemic. Supporting collective movements that uplift community voice and leadership through partnership and collaboration with grassroots organizations, youth leaders and resident advocates has been a foundation of systemic change for our city. In order to build equity in the Charlottesville food system so that all community members have access to fresh, affordable, culturally relevant food—food equity and justice must be considered as a core strategy for community health and safety. Partnerships with grassroots organizations, youth leaders, and resident advocates are critical. Food Equity Initiative Recommendations ➢ Continue support for Food Equity Initiative coordination through Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network and maintain the focus on an integrated approach through urban agriculture, healthy school foods, affordable housing, transportation and food pathways, and accessible food markets. [City Council] ➢ Dedicate a percentage of the city meal tax to create a Food Equity Fund that will strategically support infrastructural projects such as community owned grocery stores, transportation enhancements, etc. The Charlottesville food economy can help create a FoodE | Food Equity city. [City Council] Food Equity & Justice: Budgetary Recommendations ● Continued City Council funding for the Food Equity Initiative- $155,000/year for 3 years ● Pass Meal Tax Initiative in FY23 to set aside a % annually for Food Equity Fund to fuel proposed and future activities - 2%/year set aside The Power to Grow Advancing Affordable Housing and Urban Agriculture The power to grow food for the health and nutritional wellbeing of one’s family is a power not equally distributed across the city. Black and brown, low-wealth neighborhoods carry the increased burden of choosing between good housing and land to grow sparking mind, body, and social health. Currently, three key urban farms ushered forth by residents themselves as an effort to create fresh and free produce for their families and neighbors have been destroyed to make room for much needed affordable housing. At its height, these farms totaling an acre in the city’s urban center, produced 17,000 pounds of produce for 350 families in the Friendship Court, South First Street, 6th Street, Crescent Halls, Midway Manor, Riverside and Westhaven neighborhoods. In addition to produce distributed at weekly markets, these growing communities bolstered some of the most environmentally sustainable practices managing storm water runoff, building soil health, fostering natural pollinator habitats, and growing orchards while cleaning the air and capturing carbon. In pursuit of restoring the power to grow for every community, the Food Justice Network believes an equitable investment in urban agriculture is needed to counter impacts of necessary housing redevelopment on decreased food access and environmental health. When families have the power to grow, land is liberation. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_October 2021 2 Page 53 of 84 Food Equity Initiative Recommendations ➢ Hire an Urban Agriculture Director to review, clarify, and simplify the process of garden space rentals for community organizations, and low-wealth community members to grow food on city land, as well as coordinate efforts with private landowners who may donate land for community food security purposes. [Parks & Recreation] ➢ Commit funding to acquire and protect green space for community food security and environmental sustainability efforts focused on Black and brown low-wealth neighborhoods. Priority areas to dedicate for urban agriculture include Azalea Park and Washington Park. [Neighborhood Development Services and Parks & Recreation] ➢ Sustain investment in affordable housing development and commit to cultivating more affordable living by implementing policies and practices that include green space and urban agriculture space as integral to public, subsidized, and affordable housing community development. [City Council] ➢ Analyze the distribution of green space for recreation, urban agriculture, and climate mitigation across economic and racial boundaries in our city and create a plan to break down inequities that exist. [Neighborhood Development Services and Parks & Recreation] The Power to Grow: Budgetary Recommendations ● Invest in integrating an urban agriculture map overlay to the comprehensive plan to track access and land use. ● Staffing for Urban Agriculture Director within Parks and Recreation—$115,000 /year ● Support increase funding for land protection Parks and Recreation—$250,000/year ● Support funding affordable housing development (0%-60% AMI) The Right to Good Food Advancing Transportation and Food Pathways While Charlottesville is regarded as a foodie town nestled in the abundance of sustainable cultivated farms, the right to good food is not equally realized across our city. Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 6 residents faced challenges acquiring enough good and nutritious food for their families. Across the Blue Ridge Health District, health outcomes continue to draw stark lines by race. In our City, inequitable access to food can be traced back to neighborhoods, demonstrating that not every community was developed fairly in terms of transportation, grocery store access or affordable community markets, and economic opportunity. In addition, individuals reentering society face barriers with decreased access to programs like SNAP and WIC, as well as housing assistance, further exacerbating inequities we see today across race and class. In pursuit of the right to good food for every community member, the Food Justice Network believes measures should be taken to expand eligibility to programs, cultivate ownership of affordable markets, and develop stronger transportation avenues to food resources. Food Equity Initiative Recommendations ➢ Commit funding to affordable housing redevelopment projects that support development of community owned market places centered around food, health, and childhood development. [City Council, City Manager’s Office] ➢ Develop funding avenues to provide free or subsidized travel rates to bus pass holders that qualify for SNAP or WIC and increase outreach to free travel passes for youth. [Charlottesville Area Transit, Department of Social Services] ➢ Work with local and state partners to advocate for available federal policy waivers to expand SNAP program eligibility. [Department of Social Services] Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_October 2021 3 Page 54 of 84 ➢ Analyze and report SNAP application and eligibility determination outcomes by race. [Department of Social Services] ➢ Work with community partners to develop and implement strategies to effectively market Department of Social Services benefit programs including SNAP (and encouraging its use in certain places), camp scholarships, and other activities through direct, consistent interactions with low-wealth communities in order to promote self- sufficiency. [Department of Social Services] ➢ Adapt/change transportation routes to be quick and efficient and include specific routes to affordable markets, schools, gardens, parks, grocery stores, and areas that have been identified. [Charlottesville Area Transit] ➢ Maintain robust communication with community members and coordination across nonprofit providers regarding access to emergency food sources such as the newly launched Cultivate Text Messaging Service. [Department of Social Services] The Right to Good Food: Budgetary Recommendations ● No current budget ask while assessment is underway, but council should anticipate future ask in the following areas to support the recommendations above. o Charlottesville Area Transit (bus route changes and equitable fares) o Public Works (capital infrastructure development) o Neighborhood Development Services (bike and pedestrian pathways) o Financial incentives for internal urban ring groceries, cooperative markets, and farmers markets Inspire Youth Choice Advancing Healthy School Food In Charlottesville, more than half of city school youth are eligible for free and reduced-price meals and 1 in 6 city school students experience childhood food insecurity. Low-wealth students and students of color experience food insecurity at higher rates compared to their white peers. While school meal programs serve a central role in combating childhood hunger while supporting positive health and academic outcomes, students have indicated barriers to accessing school meals such as time to make it through the lunch line, unappealing food options, and smaller portions than needed. These issues are compounded by structural challenges within the school system to prepare and make available fresh, from scratch, culturally relevant foods such as limited kitchen infrastructure, inconsistent staff availability and high turnover, low wages for nutrition staff, and the diversity of the Charlottesville City School (CCS) student population and cultural food needs. In order to ensure food equity across the city and provide all students the fuel needed to be successful learners, healthy school food options and infrastructure, informed by youth leadership, must be understood in the context of equity building and elevated with continued momentum. School nutrition programs are not a business but a service to build equity and health among Charlottesville youth. Food Equity Initiative Recommendations ➢ City of Charlottesville should prioritize fully funding Charlottesville City Schools and school reconfiguration proposals including a specific focus on additional short-term (3-5 year) investment in revamping the school meals program in concert with federal and state grants currently active. We anticipate this investment will be met with increased revenue in the CCS Nutrition department. [City Council] ➢ Charlottesville City Schools should support the Nutrition Department to hire an internal Farm to School Coordinator to increase capacity for implementation of food equity practices that will lead to healthier school meal options, robust student and partner engagement, and increased participation in meal programs*. [CCS] Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_October 2021 4 Page 55 of 84 ➢ Charlottesville City Schools must continue to revamp school lunch line infrastructure and kitchen cooking equipment to create more appetizing serving lines and support the implementation of increased from scratch cooking as well as proper storage of locally sourced produce and meat*. [CCS] ➢ Charlottesville City Schools should collaborate with partners to develop innovative strategies to meet the food needs of students outside of the CCS breakfast and lunch programs including the potential to provide a la carte and snack options, larger portions, afterschool meals, meals during school breaks, and other food security needs with the goal of decreasing in-school hunger, and reducing stress for families with limited financial resources*. [CCS] ➢ Charlottesville City Schools should establish and practice a new local standard for healthy school meals that goes beyond the current USDA regulations, which CCS is meeting, and significantly increase fresh, from scratch locally sourced, and healthier meal options and by reducing overly processed and high in sugar foods for breakfast, lunch, and snack programs in the next five years* (Good Food Purchasing Program is an example). [CCS] ➢ Charlottesville City Schools should analyze and redesign the Nutrition Department staffing protocol to ensure that all CCS nutrition staff receive fair wages that increase staff consistency and training that provide staff with culinary skills to provide increased fresh, from scratch meals*. [CCS] *These goals are also included in the 2019 MAPP2Health Plan and 2020 Food Equity Initiative Report and embedded in the five- year Healthy School Foods plan currently partially funded by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation Shaping Futures grant (5 year) and the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth grant (3 year). Inspire Youth Choice: Budgetary Recommendations ● Fully fund Charlottesville City Schools reconfiguration plans. ● Fully fund Charlottesville City Schools annual budget and invest in the CCS Nutrition Department, specifically, with supplemental funding to support food equity practices. Currently, nonprofit partners are investing $560,000/year in the Healthy School Foods project. Consider a percentage of matching funds. Build Community Wealth Advancing Neighborhood Food Access and Markets The economic divide in Charlottesville falls starkly along racial lines with Black and brown low-wealth families making about a half ($28,309) of the median household income ($54,029). Nationally, in 2019 Charlottesville rated in the lowest 10% of United States cities in our ability for income and social mobility. The multiple challenges and stark inequalities make it challenging for families to increase their wealth. Investing in community wealth building opportunities provides multiple benefits across the city. In order to ignite and fund community wealth, it is critical to provide opportunities for people of color in low- wealth neighborhoods to access economic opportunities that have been limited by systemic racism. This includes expanding local food system businesses owned by people of color and providing youth and residents opportunities to thrive in food system-related position. Robust collaboration with City departments is necessary for implementation. Food Equity Initiative Recommendations ➢ Continue to use funding opportunities and resources, such as the Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development grants (through VDACS) and the Virginia Community Capital’s Fresh Food Loan fund to assist local business expansion and create opportunity for increased food access. [Office of Economic Development (OED), City Manager’s Office] ➢ Utilize existing programs, resources and incentives (Business Equity Fund, ACE Program, Minority Business Program) that support and enable local community food stores, particularly in low-wealth communities. [OED] Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_October 2021 5 Page 56 of 84 ➢ Continue to actively support development of business plans and funding for affordable brick and mortar, as well as mobile markets that can serve public housing residents and other low-wealth neighbors. [OED] ➢ Utilize existing and new incentives (Workforce Development, CAYIP, CCS Intern Program, Cultivate Community Advocates & Food Justice Interns) to build a stairway for food system related employment. Work with Food Justice Network partners and local businesses to build a stairway for Charlottesville youth and residents to move from nonprofit programs to potential positions in landscaping, greenhouse, agriculture, culinary, etc. [OED] Build Community Wealth: Budgetary Recommendations ● No current budgetary ask while assessment is underway, current ask for staff support to acquire funding. Future funding for these projects could come through the Food Equity Fund. Restore Earth & Climate Justice Advancing Environmental and Climate Justice While Charlottesville boasts a variety of parks and green spaces in and around the City that largely benefit University students and wealthy residents, environmental and climate injustices have been linked to the historical practice and remaining impacts of racist zoning policy. Higher temperatures and the heat island effect have been shown to have a disproportionate impact, causing greater strain on residents of color and low-wealth residents, due to limited green space and permeable surfaces. The heat island effect threatens health for individuals with underlying health conditions and can impact ability to access food during the summer months. Meanwhile, low-wealth and public housing residents face the added financial burden of increasing utility bills from energy inefficient housing and rising temperatures, thus exacerbating issues of food insecurity. As housing, transportation, and environmental barriers threaten residents’ food security, investment in affordable housing paired with dedicated green space for urban agriculture, affordable markets and equitable transportation routes plays a central role in reconciling our climate crisis in coordination with building food equity. In order to provide residents of color and those with low-wealth the health benefits of access to green space and discontinue the harmful effects of redlining's heat island effect, strategic planning and accompanying investment must be made in affordable housing paired with dedicated green space for urban agriculture, affordable markets, and equitable transportation routes. Food Equity Initiative Recommendations ➢ Dedicate city staff (through the Urban Agriculture Director or an Environment & Climate Equity Manager) to support development of equitable Climate Action plans centering urban agriculture and food security strategies for community resilience. [Public Works] ➢ Public Works Climate Protection Office should incorporate food equity and urban agriculture in the draft Climate Action Plan as a vulnerability of the effects of climate change, so that the City can prioritize food access as a target and develop specific strategies to enhance and sustain our food system. [Public Works Climate Protection] ➢ Parks and Recreation should update public land policy to require a percentage of land be reserved by the city for urban agriculture and affordable food market vending for low-wealth communities. [Parks & Recreation] Restore Earth & Climate and Environmental Justice: Budgetary Recommendations ● No current budgetary ask. Request for staff support for acquiring funding. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_October 2021 6 Page 57 of 84 Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform - Background Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Food Equity Initiative (FEI) Overview In November 2018, the Food Equity Initiative was passed through City Council building on the cross-sector partnerships necessary to bring forward a healthy and just food system in Charlottesville. With the goal to strengthen and embed food equity practices and programs across City Departments and Charlottesville City Schools, five core inter-related action areas were identified and established based on years of community engagement and insight. These include Accessible Food Markets, Urban Agriculture, Affordable Housing, Transportation, and Healthy School Foods. The Food Justice Network’s coalition of 30+ organizations has been working in collaboration with community members, City departments, and Charlottesville City Schools to further identify the policy and funding steps necessary to bring our collective vision of a healthy and just food system to fruition. FEI Policy Platform Overview In November 2020, the Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network presented our annual report to the City Council. This report included collaborative efforts towards building a healthy and just food system in Charlottesville through the intersection of initiatives in Urban Agriculture, Healthy School Foods, Affordable Housing, Transportation and Food Pathways, and Accessible Food Markets. During the presentation, Council asked the Food Justice Network to produce an overview document that summarized policy priorities and funding needs across these areas. The Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform was created to fulfill that request. Connection between FEI and Policy Platform The Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform puts forth food equity priorities informed by years of community engagement, including Local Food Local Places, Mapp2Health, and the FEI city department profiles. The FEI Platform areas connect to the Food Equity Initiative’s five core advocacy areas described above. While the FEI advocacy areas are organized around city department engagement, the FEI Policy Platform planks are organized around community advocacy and include Food Equity & Justice, The Power to Grow, The Right to Good Food, Inspire Youth Choice, Build Community Wealth, and Restore Earth & Climate Change. Applications of Policy Platform The policy platform includes specific policy and action recommendations that are to be implemented within city departments and Charlottesville City Schools in partnership with nonprofit partners, businesses and community members. The recommendations can be applied across various City and regional planning processes that connect to these intersecting issue areas such as the Comprehensive Plan, Strategic Plan, and Climate Action Plan. We will continue to update these recommendations and circumstances evolve. The Food Equity Policy Platform is proposed by Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Planning Team Richard Morris & Jeanette Abi-Nader, Cultivate Charlottesville, Co-Executive Directors Bria Williams, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Program Director Theresa Allan & Cecilia LappStoltzfus, International Rescue Committee, Manager Food and Agriculture Programs Laura Brown & Kristen Suokko Local Food Hub, Director of Community & Policy and Executive Director Jane Colony-Mills, Loaves & Fishes, Executive Director Joe Kreiter & Eileen Emerson, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Partner Services Coordinator-Child Nutrition & Network Development Tamara Wright, Gabby Levet, Brianna Patten, Alfred Shirley Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Staff Alex London-Gross, PB&J Fund, Executive Director Todd Niemeier, Charlottesville Office of Human Rights, Community Outreach & Investigation Specialist Sara Santa Cruz, Virginia Department of Agriculture, Founding Leadership Team Michael Reilly & Briana Stevenson, Virginia Foodshed Capital, Executive Director Rebecca Schmidt, Blue Ridge Health District, Population Health Manager Kristan Pitts & Barbara Yager, Trinity Bread & Roses For inquiries: bria@cultivatecharlottesville.org | jeanette@cultivatecharlottesville.org |www.cultivatecharlottesville.org | 434.260.3274 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform_October 2021 7 Page 58 of 84 Food Justice Network Food Equity Language Policy Wins in 2021 Comp Plan Chapters as of October 2021!!! I. Food Justice Network Food Equity Language Policy Wins OVERVIEW 65 Food Equity Policy Wins in the City Comprehensive Plan: including 1 Title, 2 goals, 26 strategies, 7 vision statements, 3 guiding principles, 1 Top Priority Area, 2 Top Priority Strategies, 2 Top Priority Progress Measures, 1 Future Land Use Planning Objective & 20 Progress Measures across 7 chapters! II. Food Justice Network Food Equity Language Policy ACTION ITEMS As the Comprehensive Plan is expected to be finalized by the end of the year, FJN has two remaining Action Items to ensure food equity is incorporated comprehensively and effectively: ● #1 Embed Urban Agriculture in Future Land Use Analysis and Zoning Rewrite ○ Urban Agriculture Collective faces continued land loss due to growing spaces designated for redevelopment. Recognizing the long-term benefits of stewarding land for community food security and climate resilience, we believe urban agriculture should be shifted from a short term land use placeholder to a long-term City commitment. ● #2 Include Additional Data in Environment, Climate Food Equity Statistics Section (page 16) to accurately represent the recent land lost to redevelopment ○ Current data indicates 21 urban agriculture sites in Charlottesville and has not been updated since three (3) Urban Agriculture Collective sites have been lost. ● #3 Implement the Livable Cville Recommendations around affordable housing ● Contact engage@cvilleplanstogether.com or call the toll-free phone line: (833) 752-6428 to let the Comp Plan team know you support these action items!! Page 59 of 84 III. Food Justice Network Food Equity Language Policy Wins DETAIL *Highlighted text = FJN’s recommended and incorporated food equity language as of June 2021 *Highlighted and bolded text = FJN’s newly incorporated, recommended food equity language as of Sept 2021 *Just bolded text = related/relevant language that is included but FJN did not recommend 2021 Comp Plan Chapter & Food Equity Language - highlighted sections were recommended by the Food Justice Network or additions/adaptations by Cville Plans Together Section or Guiding Principle process that include food equity language Guiding Principle: Equity & All Charlottesville residents, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, income, neighborhood, religious affiliation, gender expression, sexual orientation, Opportunity country of origin, immigration status, and other personal characteristics will have equitable and expanded access to safe and affordable housing options, desirable jobs and wealth building opportunities, healthy and local foods, robust parks and natural resources, high-quality education and training, and other infrastructure and services that support a high quality of life. Guiding Principle: All will have access to high-quality natural resources, including improved air, soil, and water quality. Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Guiding Principle: Residents and visitors will have a variety of travel options to move safely, efficiently, and affordably throughout neighborhoods, the city, and the Connections & Access region, with easy access to services, employment opportunities, healthy food sources, parks, schools, and other services and amenities, regardless of vehicle ownership or physical ability. The City will place an emphasis on enhancing networks and safety for walking, riding bicycles, and public transportation. COVID-19 Impacts and The Charlottesville community has responded to community needs during the pandemic in various ways, including enhanced access to emergency Recovery food and shelter, as well as increased outreach about these opportunities. Environment, Climate & ● 45% urban tree canopy coverage (2015), with 72% of trees on private land Food Equity Stats ● 20 mile (approximate) Rivanna Trail loop around City (maintained by a non-profit organization) ● 21% decrease in citywide greenhouse gas emissions between 2011 and 2016 ● 49 alternatively fueled vehicles in the City fleet ● More than 250 kilowatts (kW) of solar photovoltaic array systems owned by the City have generated over 1,779,000 kilowatt- hours (kWh), with an average production of about 25,300 kWh/month Page 60 of 84 ● 21 urban agriculture locations, including 8 City Schoolyard Gardens, 5 Urban Agriculture Collective Gardens, 4 City community gardens, and, 2 gardens managed by the New Roots program, and 2 managed by others ● 2 farmers markets Future Land Use Planning Maximize access to public open spaces, urban agriculture amenities, and schools. Objective Chapter: Land Use, Urban Through the City’s plans, policies, and regulations, including zoning, Charlottesville will increase the supply and affordability of housing, will Form, Historic Preservation work to address inequities related to the distribution of land uses and - Vision Statement impacts of development, will increase the supply and affordability of housing, , will support an efficient and multimodal transportation network with a variety of options for travel, will improve and protect the health of the natural environment (including the tree canopy, air quality, and water quality), will increase access to urban agriculture and shared green space, and will maintain and improve business and commercial vitality at context-appropriate scales throughout the city. Chapter: Land Use, Urban Goal 2 Strategy 2.1 Progress Measure: % population within walking and biking distance (1/4 mile) to parks, transit, schools, food access locations Form, Historic Preservation (including affordable food markets and urban agriculture space), and - Progress Measure employment centers (goal: increase) Chapter: Land Use, Urban Sub-strategy 1.1: Identify ways to meet multiple goals at once and support a more Form, Historic Preservation sustainable future by incentivizing and supporting development of - Strategies affordable housing opportunities within the context of healthy, thriving communities that support and build pride of place, active living with streets designed for people, public parks, recreation facilities, and healthy and affordable food sources. Substrategy 1.2: ● Incentivize private landowners and developers to preserve or create urban agricultural spaces. ● Expand requirements for tree canopy protection and, where necessary, replacement, and consider incorporating urban heat island analyses into this process. Substrategy 2.1: Through City-led projects,private and institutional development projects, and partnerships, address citywide and regional priorities. These include housing affordability and increased housing options; community equity and displacement protection for at-risk communities, including lower- income households; tree canopy, environmental sustainability, and climate change mitigation and resilience; transit-oriented development; improved walkability and bikeability; enhanced access to parks, recreation, social interaction opportunities, schools, and other amenities and services; improved and Page 61 of 84 equitable food access; and support for existing and new business opportunities, including for small and neighborhood-focused businesses. Identify assets, priorities, and targets for long term permanent land access and infrastructure for both food production and food access points including existing city parks and city- owned land. Strategy 2.3: Evaluate existing and potential new programs for protecting communities at risk of displacement, as well as protecting existing affordable housing, historic buildings, community-based urban agriculture sites, and other resources. Chapter: Housing The City of Charlottesville will recognize the importance of housing for all residents by implementing strategies to achieve a housing market - Vision Statement that is affordable, healthy, high quality, accessible to resources (affordable food, green space, schools, etc.) and, above all, equitable, meeting the needs of underserved communities and fostering a good quality of life for all.. Chapter: Housing Goal 2 Strategy 2.7 Progress Measures: ● % of affordable housing developments/neighborhoods within - Progress Measures 1/4 mile of a food access avenue (goal: increase) ● % of households within 1/4 mile of a healthy and affordable food access location (goal: increase) ● % of developments that include a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to consider food access and development impacts in planning of affordable housing (goal: increase) ● # of square feet reserved for urban agriculture or other food access avenues by housing developers (goal: increase) Chapter: Housing Goal 2: Diverse Housing Throughout the City: Support a wide range of - Goals & Strategies housing choices that are integrated and balanced across the city, and which meet multiple City goals including community sustainability, walkability, bikeability, ADA accessibility, public transit use, increased support for families with children, poverty deconcentration, access to food, access to local jobs, thriving local businesses, and decreased vehicle use. Strategy 2.3: Ensure that lower-income households and the disability community have access to adult learning and employment opportunities, job training, healthy food sources, and public amenities, such as parks and recreational facilities, shopping destinations, and libraries with the goals of reducing family isolation, deconcentrating poverty, and enhancing neighborhood and school health, and economic mobility. Strategy 2.7 Encourage the incorporation of food access avenues (e.g., affordable stores, agriculture space such as greenhouses, school and community gardens, neighborhood farmers markets) in all housing developments to the maximum extent feasible in order to both increase self-sufficiency and to be more sustainable, as well as to increase community access to food. Substrategy 2.7: Consider mechanisms to incentivize housing developers to consider health impacts of affordable housing development projects. Page 62 of 84 Chapter: Transportation The transportation network will leverage connections across travel modes and be well- integrated with land use to support access to jobs, services, - Vision Statement schools, affordable and healthy food options, parks and green spaces, and other destinations while reducing reliance on the automobile and single occupancy vehicle travel. As this is achieved, provision of parking will be coordinated with urban form goals, while mitigating potential impacts to neighborhoods and respecting the needs of residents, businesses, employees, visitors, and others. Chapter: Transportation Goal 1 Strategy 1.7 Progress Measure: % of population with commercial and employment centers, grocery stores/food access locations and urban - Progress Measure agricultural space, transit routes, schools, and parks with pedestrian and bicycle connectivity within ¼ mile (goal: increase) Goal 5 Strategy 5.5 Progress Measure: ● # of bus routes connecting to food access avenues (goal: increase) ● # of residents with access to free or subsidized bus or micromobility pass (goal: increase) Goal 5 Strategy 5.6 Progress Measure: % of community involved in transportation planning (goal: increase) Chapter: Transportation Sub-strategy 1.1: Seek state and federal funding for completing a Transportation - Strategies Master Plan, potentially with the next Comprehensive Plan update. Ensure that the plan update includes analysis of locations needing convenient, consistent, safe, and accessible pedestrian and bicycle connections within 1⁄4 mile of all commercial and employment centers, grocery stores/food distribution locations, transit routes, schools, parks, and development areas, including nodes and corridors identified on the Future land Use Map. Connections may include sidewalks, curb ramps, staircases (where ramps are not feasible) and other features. Strategy 1.7 Incorporate equity considerations and diverse public input opportunities into bicycle and pedestrian planning and programs. Sub-strategy 1.7: Seek funding for the development of a Transportation Master Plan which will prioritize equity considerations and projects in low wealth communities Sub-strategy 5.2: Evaluate Ways To Continue Fare-free service. Consider a new bus or micro mobility (e.g., shared bicycles, scooters) pass to provide free or subsidized rates for low-income residents that qualify for SNAP or WIC. Strategy 5.5 Evaluate transit services to food access points and consider incorporating new bus stops near these locations, which may include community and school gardens, farmers markets, grocery stores, emergency food banks, soup kitchens, and nutritional services. Page 63 of 84 Strategy 5.6 Increase public input opportunities related to transit planning and review. Substrategy 5.6: Design and establish a system to increase data collection on utilization and route preferences, including where people board and disembark, what demographics are utilizing transit, what is the purpose of the travel, and other relevant information to develop routes that contribute to equitable transportation. Strategy 5.7 Identify locations along bus routes needing additional bus stops, enhanced quality and comfort of bus stops, connectivity via walking/biking, and safer crossings, particularly near schools, parks, and other amenities. Chapter: Environment, Title Changed from Environment, Climate, Food Access to Environment, Climate, and Food Equity Climate, Food Equity - Title Chapter: Environment, The City and the Charlottesville community will work to create a more just and healthy food system through access to healthy foods for all residents, Climate, Food Equity urban agriculture, transportation food pathways, and affordable food - Vision Statement markets. Chapter: Environment, The City, with the cooperation with the Charlottesville community, will both mitigate and prepare for the potential impacts of climate change by Climate, Food Equity increasing reliable access to and use of clean energy sources, improving - Vision Statement building energy performance, pursuing resilience and adaptation strategies, and utilizing food & climate equity approaches. Chapter: Environment, Interactive CityGreen map, including locations of urban agriculture locations, green stormwater infrastructure, and more: LINK Climate, Food Equity - Appendices Chapter: Environment, Goal 2 Strategy 2.2 Progress Measure: ● Identification of climate resiliency and adaptation strategies Climate, Food Equity and funding to address - Progress Measures ● # of residents engaged in Climate Action implementation (goal: increase) Goal 4 Strategy 4.1 Progress Measures: ● % community within walking distance (1/4 mile) to a grocery store or food market (goal: increase) ● # and potential impact of policies included in the zoning ordinance to protect and promote urban agriculture through development processes Goal 4 Strategy 4.2 Progress Measure: # acres of community based urban agriculture sites (including farms and gardens) in the city (goal: Page 64 of 84 increase) Goal 4 Strategy 4.3 Progress Measure: Incorporation of [food equity] strategies into [Parks & Recreation] Master Plan Goal 4 Strategy 4.4 Progress Measure: # pounds of food produced by local urban agriculture (goal: increase) Goal 4 Strategy 4.5 Progress Measure: Commitment to regional strategies and goals Chapter: Environment, Goal 4) Resilient and Equitable Local Food System: Increase resilience and equitability of the local food system and urban agriculture, including Climate, Food Equity access to healthy foods for all neighborhoods. - Goals & Strategies Strategy 4.1 Commit to eliminating food deserts through strategic support and collaboration of organizations, community members, private businesses, health institutions, and City departments focused on cultivating healthy food access through programs and supporting the creation of affordable markets in or within walking distance to low-income neighborhoods. Substrategy 4.1: • Support development of educational materials related to creation of community gardens. • In partnership with community organizations, keep a record of local food access locations, updated at least annual. Strategy 4.2 Evaluate recommended standards for open space and how those could be implemented to support urban agriculture production and food availability, especially for low-income populations and residents previously displaced through redevelopment. Sub-strategies 4.2: • Promote and protect green and urban agriculture spaces distributed throughout the city, especially in or near public and subsidized housing sites, for the sustainable production of locally grown foods or community gardens; leverage resources with local partners. Look for ways to allow and encourage urban agriculture in yards and on rooftops, through zoning and other processes. • Define a process to make community and shared garden spaces more equitable and accessible to residents without private land Strategy 4.3 Investigate ways to incorporate food equity practices such as urban agriculture, edible landscaping, and water conservation into the Parks & Recreation Strategic Master Plan. Sub-strategies: ● As part of parks planning and other efforts, strategically invest in preserving green space for community food security purposes. ● Utilize a community-based approach that leverages public and Page 65 of 84 private partnerships as well as resident leadership in conducting an urban agriculture land availability assessment and prioritization. Strategy 4.4 Promote sustainable resource strategies for urban agriculture (e.g., soil health, nutrient inputs, water collection, efficient irrigation) including during development and redevelopment projects, in low-income census tracts, and throughout the City. Strategy 4.5 Facilitate City, County, and UVA coordination centered on promoting a more regionally-focused food system Substrategy 6.1: Utilize UVA Equity Center’s Heat Index map, once finalized, to identify areas with lower tree cover investment leading to higher energy costs and negative health implications. Strategy 8.4: Through education initiatives and incentive programs, encourage the increased use of composting to reduce landfill waste, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support urban landscaping and agriculture. Chapter: Economic Charlottesville’s land use and economic development programs will be supportive of businesses, including existing small and minority-owned Prosperity & Opportunity businesses as well as new business ventures, and the City will actively - Vision Statement participate in community wealth building and regional economic development initiatives. Chapter: Economic Goal 2 Strategy 2.7 Progress Measure: # of community-owned and community-wealth generating co-operative businesses, including food Prosperity & Opportunity system businesses, provided technical assistance annually (goal: - Progress Measures increase) Chapter: Economic Strategy 1.9 Advocate for community wealth building strategies outside of employment and training, including housing programs that provide Prosperity & Opportunity access to new or sustained homeownership for lower-income residents, - Strategies community gardens, etc. Chapter: Community The City of Charlottesville will ensure that all residents have access to outstanding schools, parks and natural areas, recreational facilities and Facilities and Services trails, urban agriculture, civic facilities and public buildings, public services, - Vision Statement and the infrastructure needed to support a full range of educational and economic opportunities. Chapter: Community Goal 13 Strategy 13.7 Progress Measure: Facilities and Services ● % of public park land reserved for urban agriculture by Parks & Rec (goal: increase) - Progress Measures ● % of population within 1/4 mile of public parks with space Page 66 of 84 reserved for urban agriculture (goal: increase) Chapter: Community Strategy 12.4: Ensure that planning, maintenance, and operation of parks always explores and considers the cross functional benefit for the City’s Facilities and Services environmental goals, including those related to stormwater management, - Strategies energy efficiency, environmental justice, urban agriculture, and others. Strategy 13.7 Prioritize inclusion of urban agriculture or community garden space in new or renovated public parks or open spaces. Chapter: Implementation Priority Area 2: Make sure all people have access to shelter, food, job opportunities, and other resources they need to thrive and succeed. - Priority Area Chapter: Implementation Priority Area 1: Support the development of more housing throughout the city, with a focus on creation of more housing that is affordable to more - Strategies people, especially those with the greatest need. - Land Use, Urban Form, and Historic and Cultural Preservation Priority Strategy 2.3: Evaluate existing and potential new programs for protecting communities at risk of displacement, as well as protecting existing affordable housing, historic buildings, community-based urban agriculture sites, and other resources. Priority Area 2: Make sure all people have access to shelter, food, job opportunities, and other resources they need to thrive and succeed. - Environment, Climate, and Food Equity Priority Strategy 4.1: Commit to eliminating food deserts through strategic support and collaboration of organizations, community members, private businesses, health institutions, and City departments focused on cultivating healthy food access through programs and supporting the creation of affordable markets in or within walking distance to low-income neighborhoods. Chapter: Implementation Priority Strategy 4.1 Progress Measures: ● % community within walking distance (1/4 mile) to a grocery - Progress Measures store or food market (goal: increase) ● # and potential impact of policies included in the zoning ordinance to protect and promote urban agriculture through development processes Page 67 of 84 IV. Food Equity Policy Losses Recommendations not incorporated into Comp Plan Community Review Recommendations: May-Sept 2021 Guiding Principles: #1. Include ‘urban agriculture and land stewardship’ in the Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Guiding Principle [Where: Environmental Stewardship & Sustainability Guiding Principle, page 2] ● The City government will reduce its carbon footprint and other environmental impacts. The Charlottesville community will be empowered and encouraged to reduce their environmental footprint and benefit from energy efficiency efforts and . All will have access to high-quality natural resources, including improved air, soil, and water quality. Transportation Chapter: #4. Develop a system to evaluate bike and pedestrian programs (pathway assessment and prioritization, especially to key food resources) by how well they are reaching people in low wealth neighborhoods and collect broad community feedback. [Where: Transportation Chapter, Goal 5, Strategy 5.5, page 37] ● Note: Transportation Chapter Strategy & Substrategy 1.7 adopted similar but different language (see above) Housing Chapter/Affordable Housing Plan: #6 Include 'healthy, affordable food options' in the Affordable Housing Plan [Where: Affordable Housing Plan page 77, para 1] ● "Increase access to opportunity. - Land use policies should create more housing in areas of opportunity such as near main transit lines, jobs, or in mixed-income neighborhoods, but must also be designed to prevent displacement of low-income residents due to increased investment and rising housing costs." #7 Include 'healthy, affordable food options' in the Affordable Housing Plan [Where: Affordable Housing Plan page 77, para 3] ● "Increase housing supply to limit market pressure on rents and home prices.-The City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County are expected to add 15,000 households by 2040. Housing prices are growing rapidly as demand exceeds supply. The region must build more housing to prevent pricing pressure, and to ensure that residents have equitable options to access schools, access jobs, and age in place." ● "Racial Equity- Zoning has historically been a tool to create and enforce racial segregation, so zoning reform is essential to building racial equity into housing in Charlottesville. To successfully align with this guiding principle, the zoning changes must increase access to housing near major transit lines, and employment centers while limiting displacement pressures in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods." Environment, Climate, Food Equity Chapter #11. Hire an Urban Agriculture & Climate Justice position to focus on issues of land, environment, and climate justice. For example, review, clarify, and simplify the process of garden space rentals for community organizations, and low wealth community members to grow food on city land, as well as coordinate efforts with private landowners who may donate land for community food security purposes. [Where: Environment, Climate, Food Access Chapter, Goal 4, Strategy 4.1 , page 45] Page 68 of 84 Community Facilities & Services Chapter: Goal 2 City Schools #17 Intentionally transform Charlottesville City Schools’ meal program to increase participation for all students, especially students eligible for the federal meals program. [Where: Community Facilities & Services Chapter, Goal 2, page 60] #18. Revamp school meal delivery systems to include functional kitchen and serving lines and proper storage to accommodate fresh, from scratch cooking at each school [Where: Community Facilities & Services Chapter, Goal 2, page 60] #19. Develop strategies to resolve the annual student meal debt in ways that are financially sustainable, promote increased participation in CCS meal programs, decrease in-school hunger, and reduce stress for families with limited financial resources. [Where: Community Facilities & Services Chapter, Goal 2, page 60] #20 Improve procurement practices and meal offerings to include increased fresh, from scratch, and local menu items that are healthier and provide energy for students. [Where: Community Facilities & Services Chapter, Goal 2, page 60] #21. Establish and practice a new local standard for healthy school meals that goes beyond the current USDA regulations, which CCS is meeting, and significantly increase fresh, from scratch locally sourced, and healthier meal options in the next five years. [Where: Community Facilities & Services Chapter, Goal 2, page 60] Future Land Use Map / Planning Objectives: #22. Add “neighborhood food access avenues and markets” in Future Land Use Map Planning Objective [Where: Future Land Use Map Planning Objective, page 1] ● Increase density around community amenities such as shopping, employment centers, “neighborhood food access avenues and markets” and transit. #23 Add ‘focus on urban agriculture and neighborhood food access’ in Future Land Use Map Planning Objective [Where: Future Land Use Map Planning Objective, page 1] ● Explore the development potential of vacant or underutilized properties with a focus on urban agriculture and neighborhood food access avenues and markets ○ Note: Urban agriculture access was added to an objective (see wins above) #24. Add a Land Use Category for urban agriculture and community garden spaces on the Future Land Use Map. Here’s the 2020 mapping research By Taha K Suhrawardy which shows current garden locations and identified potential locations. [Where: Future Land Use Map, page 2] Progress Measures Recommendations: Aug-Sept 2021 Goal 1 Suggested Measures: Land Use, Urban Form, and Historic and Cultural Preservation Chapter • All measures should include data breakdowns by race, income and Neighborhood Planning Area Page 69 of 84 Goal 4 Suggested Measures: Land Use, Urban Form, and Historic and Cultural Preservation Chapter • % of City (and private land) required for urban agriculture and affordable food market vending for low-wealth/income neighborhoods in the Zoning Ordinance • Include breakdown by race, income and Neighborhood Planning Areas for urban heat island analyses Goal 2 Suggested Measures: Housing Chapter • # of residents engaged in planning & envisioning of food access avenues* with breakdowns by race, income, Neighborhood Planning Area Goal 1 Suggested Measures: Transportation Chapter • Include breakdowns by race, income, Neighborhood Planning Area Goal 5 Suggested Measures: Transportation Chapter • Include breakdowns by race, age, income, Neighborhood Planning Area for current three measures of progress • # of avenues available to provide community input on transportation plans Goal 2 Suggested Measures: Environment, Climate, Food Equity Chapter • Staff time dedicated to support development of an equitable Climate Action plans centering urban agriculture and food equity strategies for community climate resilience Goal 4 Suggested Measures: Environment, Climate, Food Equity Chapter • # of residents co-planning urban agriculture productions spaces with breakdowns by race, income, Neighborhood Planning Area • Staff time dedicated to coordinating community based urban agriculture initiatives Goal 2 Suggested Measures: Economic Prosperity and Opportunity Chapter • # of SWaM certified businesses engaged in City farmers market network with breakdowns by race, income and farm source/location • # of SWaM certified food system businesses (restaurants, grocery stores, value added markets, mobile markets) with breakdowns by race, income and farm source/location • # of community-owned and community-wealth generating co-operative food system businesses with breakdowns by race, income and Neighborhood Planning Area Goal 2 Suggested Measures: Community Facilities and Services Chapter • # of renovations, repairs, and improvements completed for fresh/from scratch food capacity at school kitchens and serving lines • % of Charlottesville City School kitchens fully functioning for fresh/from scratch food capacity • # of new, healthier menu items offered • % Increase in School Meal Enrollment • % Increase in Utilization (CCS Meal Consumption) • % Increase in Healthier Meal Options on the line Goal 15 Suggested Measures: Community Facilities and Services Chapter • % of residents within 10 minute walk of public parks reserved for urban agriculture with breakdowns by race, income, Neighborhood Planning Area Page 70 of 84 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Food Equity Initiative | Policy Platform Engagement & Communications Summary_OCT21 Background In recent years, the City of Charlottesville has doubled down on its efforts to forge avenues for race and class equity in the areas of housing, education, economic development, climate change, policing, transportation, health, and food. In the area of food and health, the City Council passed the Food Equity Initiative for the first time in 2018 beginning a course of systemic efforts to reshape community health, wealth, and belonging through our food system. As the coalition driving the Food Equity Initiative, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network of 30+ organizations has been working in collaboration with community members, City departments, and Charlottesville City Schools to further identify the policy and funding steps necessary to bring our collective vision of a healthy and just food system to fruition. The initial Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform launched in February 2021 included input from over 300 individuals, ten city departments, and over a dozen nonprofit partners. Since April, we have continued to engage and develop policy recommendations based on the changing landscape. The following summarizes engagement for FY21 from September 2020 - October 2021. Engagem ent Audiences As part of the Food Equity Initiative goals and action areas, the City Council, the School Board, and City Departments are the target decision-making audience. Specific City Department partnerships include the following: Depts of Parks & Recreation, Office Of Economic Development, Neighborhood Development Services, Department of Human Services, Charlottesville Area Transit, Department of Social Services, Charlottesville Fire Department, and Public Works Climate Action. Charlottesville City Schools, while not a department of the City, is also included. In addition, FJN has emerging relationships with the Deputy City Manager of Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The engagement audience whose perspectives are amplified in these recommendations include community members and nonprofit partners. Specifically prioritized are: public and subsidized housing residents, individuals facing food insecurity and living with food apartheid, Charlottesville City School students, and Food Justice Network organizational partners, community advocates, and youth interns. Advocacy & Engagem ent Process While developing and building momentum for the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform, the Food Justice Network advocates across multiple City planning processes to elevate core food equity action areas and platform priorities. Key planning processes highlighted below include the Strategic Planning during Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 1 Page 71 of 84 the Fall of 2020, Comprehensive Plan 2018-2021, and Budget planning during the Winter of 2021. Engagement in the Strategic planning process laid the groundwork for further engagement in the budget planning process. The initial Policy Platform launched early February with revised versions released at the end of March, April, and October 2021. Two weeks of action were held between the end of January and early February to request budgetary investment in the Charlottesville City Schools’ Nutrition Department for Healthy School Foods priorities. Ongoing efforts over the past several years and consistent engagement with each new round of Comprehensive Plan updates throughout 2021 have secured 65 Food Equity Policy Wins in the Comprehensive Plan, including language around Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform priorities. The Food Justice Network gathered signatures of support and mobilized an advocacy push for the updated Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform to share with the City Council for the previous mid-year report and the current end of year report. The Policy Platform garnered 284 signatures, representing 150 Charlottesville residents, 80 community members who work in the City, and 38 organizations. For the end of year report to Council in November 2021, Food Justice Network advocacy is focused on budgetary requests for the continuation of the Food Equity Initiative, discussion of a Food Equity Fund, and commitment to replacing urban agriculture land lost in low-wealth neighborhoods. Engagem ent w ith City of Charlottesville Com prehensive Planning: Food Justice Network began engagement with the city comprehensive planning process in 2017-2018 during the initial phase of City updates and has had a representative serve on the steering committee. Since the process reignited in 2020, FJN continues to be involved and amplify community voice by: 1) Elevating community input during each community review period 2) Participating in Cville Plans Together Steering Committee 3) Analyzing and reviewing each round of updates to assess food equity language inclusion 4) Recommending community-informed food equity language during each round of feedback 5) Mobilizing FJN partner and community feedback and support in advocacy process Engagem ent w ith City of Charlottesville Strategic Planning: Between September and November 2020, the City held Strategic Plan Engagement sessions to gather community input and develop an updated City Strategic Plan. However, the process was halted before completion. During this process, FJN gathered three organizational representatives to advocate for food equity across FJN’s core action advocacy areas- especially urban agriculture, at the Strategic planning meetings (see below). ● City Council meeting to take notes and listen to Public Comment on Strategic Plan - September 21, 2020 - Maria Niechadowitz and Sara Santa Cruz supported ● Strategic Plan Work Session- September 29, 2020 - Jeanette Abi-Nader spoke at public comment ● City Council Meeting- October 5, 2020 - Sara Santa Cruz spoke at public comment ● Strategic Plan Budget/Work Session - November 20, 2020 - Richard Morris spoke at public comment Engagem ent w ith City of Charlottesville Budget Planning: Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 2 Page 72 of 84 Between January and February 2021, the FJN engaged with the City’s FY21-22 Budget Process. During January and February 2021, FJN released the initial Healthy School Foods Policy Platform priorities and an initial full policy platform, supported three youth interns and two community advocates to speak at a City Council/School Board joint meeting which led to two weeks of action. The weeks of action included a social media storm and email campaign to raise City leadership awareness to the priorities. Due to the momentum built, meetings were held with Charlottesville City School administration, City Councilors, and School Board members to respond to FJN’s priorities and budget requests. Ultimately, the School Board and Council denied requests for funding during this budget cycle due to budget shortfalls from COVID-19, among other factors. The meetings we attended include: ● Healthy School Foods Priorities Release & Week of Action #1 - January 26-28, 2021 ○ Youth Intern Public Comment Preparation - January 21, 2021 ○ Release Healthy School Foods Priorities - January 26, 2021 ○ Youth Intern Public Comment Preparation - January 26, 2021 ○ *Council/School Board Work Session Budget Discussions - January 28, 2021 - 5 Youth Interns and Community Advocates speak at public comment - Aina, Rosy, Tami, Jayleana, Hallie ○ Social media storm and email campaign ● FJN Policy Platform Release & Week of Action #2 - Feb 2-4, 2021 ○ Release Initial Policy Platform - February 3, 2021 ○ Meetings with CCS, Council & School Board leadership ○ School Board Meeting (Review of Proposed Budget and Public Hearing) - February 4, 2021 ○ Social media storm and email campaign Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform Outreach and Engagem ent Strategy: From February 2021 onwards, FJN adjusted to the City’s response, continuing to push the strategic values, priorities, and actions set out in the Policy Platform. Mid-year and end of year reports to Council were decided as key focal points to advocate for necessary food equity strategies and investment. Meetings with City Department leads informed the platform next steps. In March, an updated Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform was released, coupled with a sign on petition and advocacy toolkit to engage the community in expressing support and momentum leading up to the May mid-year report to Council. A Seat At the Table community roundtable was organized to deepen understanding of the platform and mobilize organizational partners and community members to activate action in support of the Policy Platform. Ninety-three (93) community members engaged in the roundtable, with community advocates leading breakout discussions. Throughout the fall, Food Equity Initiative meetings with each City Department partner clarified existing Departmental goals, updated implementation plans, and outlined next steps for food equity development. Pre-Roundtable - March-April 2021 ● Meet with City Department Leads - March 9 ● Launch Updated FEI Policy Platform and Advocacy Toolkit for March-May - March 24 ● Announce FEI Policy Platform plans to FJN Large Group - March 24 ● Host Roundtable Pre-Meetings with Discussion Group Leads - April 13, 14, 20, 22, 23, 26, 28 (7 total) Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 3 Page 73 of 84 ● Present FEI Policy Platform to partner organizations ○ Move2Health - April 14 ○ UVA Equity Center - April 22 ○ Piedmont Master Gardeners Equity Committee – April 22 ○ City Manager, Chip Boyles and City Mayor, Nikuyah Walker - April 27 ○ UVA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office – May 7 ● Prepare FJN Planning Team to present on platform - April 21 ● Host A Seat At the Table community roundtable - April 29, (93 people engaged total) ● Develop FEI Mid-Year Report - May 3 Pre-Mid Year Report to Council - May 2021 ● Conduct outreach to present/share platform with organizations - May 3-7 | Move2Health Equity, Cultivate Board & Staff, FJN Planning Team, FJN Large group, UVA Sustainable Food Taskforce, UVA Equity Center, UVA Office for Sustainability, UVA Diversity and Inclusion Office, CNE, UVA Health Systems, Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition, CLIHC, PHAR, CRHA, PHA. ● Activate Advocacy Push (collecting signatures, building momentum) - May 3-17 ● Meet one on one with City Department Leads ● MidYear FEI Report to Council - May 17 ● Hold discussions with and train Community Advocates on platform - May Pre-November Report to Council- June-November 2021 ● Hold discussions with and train Community Advocates on platform - June ● Article published on Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform - June ● Update and Implement Community Advocates feedback - July & August ● Op-ed published on Food Equity priorities in the Comprehensive Plan - July ● Article published on Community Advocates efforts - August ● Meetings with City Depts: Deputy City Managers, Office of Economic Development, Neighborhood Development Services, Dept of Social Services, Dept of Human Services, Dept of Recreation, Dept of Parks, Climate Protection, Fire Department, City Councilors Magill and Hill - September & October ● Meetings with City Council and School Board Candidates around FEI Platform - September & October ● End of Year Report to Council -Advocate for FEI Continuation & Food Equity Fund–November 1 Current Campaign Resources Past Campaign Resources Past Communications ● Policy Platform_Sep2 ● Talking Points ● Cville Weekly ● Advocacy Toolkit ● Funding ● NBC29 ● Visuals Recommendations ● Cville Tomorrow 1 2 3 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 4 Page 74 of 84 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Food Equity Initiative | Text Message Initiative Engagement & Communications Summary_OCT21 Initiative Overview & Tim eline The Text Message Initaitive is a response to community feedback looking for a food security response to reach individuals, families, and households facing food insecurity during and beyond COVID-19. The goal of the Text Messaging Initaitive is to provide informational resources about avenues to access food in and around Charlottesville, including shelf stable food, produce, and prepared meals. Our aim is to reach households affected by COVID-19 and/or food insecurity that have difficulty accessing the food resources available. Our scope has been the region of the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD). ● Spring/Summer 2020: Initial Program Establishment ● Summer/Fall 2020: Program Development ● Winter 2020-2021: Program Launch ● Spring 2021: Program Automation Improvement ● Fall 2021: Program Continuation & Maintenance Program Resources: Each resource available in English & Spanish 1. Food Security Text Program 2. Weekly Community Food Calendars 3. Food Resource Sheet 4. Food Resource Map Page 75 of 84 Initiative Reach Overview ● # of Food Organizations Elevated by Text Initiative: 39 City & county food resource organizations ● # of Organizations Elevated by Community Food Resources Initiative: 67 City & county orgs ● # of Subscribers: TOTAL 432 subscribers/participants ● 130 Spanish speaking participants, 302 English speaking participants, 15 Subscribers to RIDE option ● Weekly calendar reach: >180 people receive weekly email Engagement & Feedback Process Community Feedback Session #1: August 7, 2020 ● Presentation of initial design ● Feedback session notes #1; received feedback Cultivate Team Demo & Feedback Session #2: December 9, 2020 ● Incorporated feedback and updated design; demo to Cultivate team ● Feedback form #1; collected feedback ● Feedback session notes #2 Community Feedback Session #3: January 15, 2021 ● Presentation of revised initiative to original group of community partners from August ● Feedback session notes #3 ● Feedback form #2 ○ Ongoing opportunities for feedback: shared survey form during feedback session, via press release, at meetings with partners, on Cultivate website ● Feedback Incorporation: ○ Added day of week + zipcode to provide more specific information ○ Included resources close to each zip code, even if not technically in zip code ○ Provided list of multiple resources to be comprehensive ○ Included Google Voice number for users to seek support ● Future plans: ○ To develop Food Security Call Line ○ To add Government resources/programs - WIC, SNAP, CCS meals Added transportation options: Jaunt, CAT & Sin Barreras/Loaves & Fishes delivery ○ To automate information update process ○ To add Whatsapp integration if possible 3 Key Rounds & Ongoing Community Outreach: January-October 2021 ● Distributed 3500+ flyers & 500+ magnets via local nonprofit programs, CCS channels, REN event, Community Advocates door to door outreach, & other community events (more details below) ● Shared flyers and information via email listservs, social media & traditional media outlets Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 2 Page 76 of 84 Text Initiative Outreach to Participants: March-May 2021 ● Spread the word about the CCS Response to Essential Needs Event to Participants (March) ● Conducted survey to participants to gather information about how people find out about the program to increase reach and awareness (May) Initiative Improvement Update: May-June 2021 ● Improved process to subscribe and receive food resource information & to update changing resource information via automation ● Reached out to inform participants of new program process for easier use ● Created new educational tutorial videos and flyers to inform community members & participants about changes ● Developed Social Media Visuals & Flyers Design Folder *Ongoing Bi-Monthly Check Ins with Community Food Resources Organizations for Updated Text Program, Weekly Community Food Calendars, Food Resource Sheets and Maps in English & Spanish* Community Outreach via Flyers, Magnets, & Email/Social Media ● End of Jan/early Feb 2021 - 470 flyers distributed with support from Sentara ○ Shared program data report, tutorials, and flyers with text program partners ○ Shared with FJN partners and network via email, Twitter, FB, Instagram, website, newsletter ○ Partners Shared with: UVA Sustainable Food Coalition, Move2Health Equity, CHIP, UVA Health Systems ○ 470 Spanish/English flyers distributed via Local Food Hub’s Fresh Farmacy bags (Cultivate & Sentara printed the flyers) ● March 2021 - 1385 Flyers (with Screenshots) and Magnet Distribution with support from City DSS & County Office of Equity and Inclusion ○ 200 Spanish/English flyers via Community Kitchen’s Community meals program to Southwood & Prospect Ave - mid-March ○ 500 Spanish/English flyers distributed via Charlottesville City School meals - March 26 ○ 250 Spanish/English flyers AND 250 magnets via CCS’ Response to Essential Needs event - March 27 ○ 200 Spanish/English flyers via PB&J Fund’s Bags - March 26 ○ 235 Spanish/English flyers via Local Food Hub’s Fresh Farmacy bags - March 30 ● May 2021 - 1210+ flyers/magnets shared to spread the word after program updates with support from City DSS & County Office of Equity and Inclusion ○ Virtual/Media ○ Update to partners and listservs with materials - Including Cultivate Board & Staff, FJN Planning Team, Community Food Resources Listserv, FJN large group, Move2Health Equity, CNE, UVA Sustainable Food Coalition, CHIP, UVA Health Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 3 Page 77 of 84 Systems ○ Sent materials, data report and asks for support to text partners ○ Shared on Cultivate social media ● Flyers & Magnets ○ 100 Spanish/English flyers distributed via Local Food hub Fresh Farmacy to Crescent Halls ● 410 Spanish/English flyers distributed via PB&J Bags ● 700 Spanish/English flyers distributed via Loaves & Fishes ● Laminated flyers featured at New Roots Garden Sites ● Flyers distributed by Sin Barreras ● Flyers featured at The Haven ● BRHD County outreach ● June-October 2021- Ongoing community outreach with flyers and magnets ○ Flyers/Magnets Shared at UAC Market Days ○ Flyers/Magnets Shared at Community Advocate Door to Door Outreach to Madison Ave & Riverside neighborhoods ○ Flyers/Magnets Shared at WellAware Event in Westhaven neighborhood ○ Flyers/Magnets Shared with Piedmont CASA, Buford Open House, CCS Back to School Event, Bread & Roses/Cultivate Seedling Giveaway ○ Shared virtually via Cultivate social media, Food Justice Network & Community food resource listserv Community Outreach via Media Outlets Media Talking Points | Press Release | TV10 Community Bulletin | TV10 Community Bulletin | WINA, 101.3 | Daily Progress | WNRN Community Connection| Augusta Free Press | Poder Latino | NBC29 | CBS 19 | CBS 19 Community Partners The food security text messaging and calendars have ben made possible by the support of community members, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network, and participating partners including the UVA Equity & Environment Fund, and the City of Charlottesville Department of Human Services. Thanks to community partners: Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR), Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA), Gen to Gen, Legal Aid Justice Center, Westhaven Nursing Clinic, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central VA, Sentara Martha Jefferson, Sin Barreras, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Charlottesville City Schools, Piedmont Housing Alliance, Department Social Services, Department of Human Services, Albemarle County Office Equity & Inclusion, Cville Community Cares, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Local Food Hub, PB&J Fund, Blue Ridge Health District, and the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network: Policy Advocacy Engagement Summary_OCT21 4 Page 78 of 84 Food Equity Initiative | Food Equity Fund Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network Overview for Discussion_October 2021 Background Charlottesville has a reputation for being a “Foodie City”. Not only did the town rank 14th in the country for most restaurants per capita, it’s close proximity to organic farms means that many eateries rely heavily on fresh, local ingredients. While the city’s upper middle class residents and tourists enjoy top tier dining, 1 in 6 Charlottesville residents lack access to enough affordable, nutritious food. 57% of students are eligible for free & reduced meals. The Charlottesville Food Justice Network, a group of over 25 organizations working together to build a healthy and just food system, recognize these inequities and are working to transform Charlottesville from a Foodie City to a Food Equity City. Making the shift to a city that prioritizes food equity for all residents will require multiple strategies across public, private, and nonprofit partnerships. While the Charlottesville Food Justice Network is coordinating and amplifying nonprofits working in the food system, infrastructure initiatives that go beyond nonprofit partner capacity are needed to assure that all residents have access to quality food. Currently, the city has a 6% meals tax on prepared foods. In FY22 this amount is budgeted at $10.7 million. These funds are currently allocated to the general city budget and are not being tracked. We are proposing that 2% of the existing 6% meal tax be allocated to a Food Equity Fund held with the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. This fund would invest in large-scale food equity infrastructure projects to advance food equity in Charlottesville. These projects could include investing in a cooperative grocery store at a Charlottesville public housing site, investing in restoring the urban agriculture land dedicated for resident of public and subsidized housing that has been lost to redevelopment, or investing in the Charlottesville City Schools meal program and ensuring healthy meals for all students throughout the academic year, summer, and school breaks. Discussion The council has demonstrated their commitment to Food Justice by approving many initiatives outlined in the Food Equity Initiative Policy platform. Three of the planks in the Food Equity Platform are: increasing neighborhood access to food and markets, advancing healthy school foods, and advancing urban agriculture. A taxed based fund using income that is already being generated from Charlottesville’s booming restaurant industry would be the most effective way to assure that the values Council has already committed to result in lasting change. Other metropolitan areas including Washington D.C., Phoenix Arizona, and Seattle Washington have implemented similar programs with their food related tax dollars and have been successful at redistributing these funds to advance food justice in their respective communities. Charlottesville’s Food Equity Fund will be managed by an independent body and funding guidelines will be based on the priorities in the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform and the City of Charlottesville Department Food Equity Action Plans. The following are examples of initiatives that have been prioritized Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network | Food Equity Fund Overview for Discussion_OCT21 1 Page 79 of 84 by community stakeholders at the Local Foods Local Places workshop that may be considered for funding through a Charlottesville Food Equity Fund: Example #1 | Cooperative Grocery Store: A local cooperatively owned grocery store would not only benefit consumers, but producers and the environment as well. Navigating to and from traditional grocery stores is challenging for those without access to reliable transportation. A cooperatively owned grocery store in a low income neighborhood would give residents more of a stake in the food system, make healthy options more accessible, and allow local farmers to sell their products to a broader market. Members of Charlottesville Public Housing Association of Residents visited a co-op in Harrisonburg in 2019 and were so inspired by the concept that they set this as a priority, adding that it would be important to make sure prices are affordable to the residents of the community in which the store will be built. Example #2 | Urban Agriculture Land and Programs: Through redevelopment, many agricultural programs in the city are set to lose land. The Urban Agriculture Collective of Charlottesville has experienced the pitfalls of redevelopment firsthand, having to downsize from 1 acre of gardens throughout the city to one 4,400 square foot lot at 6th street and Monticello. Even this space will be lost as it is set to be redeveloped next year. Although the collective was able to secure land at CATEC for future projects, frequently having to develop a garden from scratch combined with the constant threat of land loss keeps these projects from reaching their full potential. Urban agriculture builds resilience for our neighbors to respond to economic shocks hampering household food budgets. Cultivating land capital for community agriculture purposes can be accomplished with financial investment and people power to negotiate fair and equitable leases, for example, a 99 year lease. The proposed Food Equity Fund could invest in land or infrastructure for the specific purpose of urban agriculture, wages for those that care for this land, and programming to involve the community in land stewardship. Example #3 | Charlottesville City Schools Meal Program: Pandemic related school closures have exacerbated existing inequities in regards to childhood/adolescent nutrition. Currently, 57% of Charlottesville City School students are eligible for free or reduced meals, and many of these students' only source of food is provided by their school. While the City School nutrition program has begun to address the needs of students in the wake of the pandemic by offering free breakfast and lunch to all students and meal pickups, there is still room for improvement in regards to the quality of food served and the amount of meals prepared from scratch. The proposed Food Equity Fund could also aim to provide students with meals while school is not in session. Other metropolitan areas including Washington D.C, Phoenix Arizona, and Seattle Washington have implemented similar programs with their food related tax dollars and have been successful at redistributing these funds to advance food justice in their respective communities. The funding for similar initiatives in other cities ranges from $5 million to $10 million and goes towards community-based investments to expand food access, such as food banks and meal programs. While our current thinking has been to utilize this much smaller fund to invest in non-profit and community based food equity infrastructure developments, we could also consider directing the funds towards other initiatives that community members deem necessary to advance food justice in the city. Alignment with Council Vision Areas and Strategic Plan This proposal aligns with City Strategic Plan Goal 1.5: Intentionally address issues of race and equity, Goal 2: Healthy and Safe City, and Goal 3: A Beautiful and Sustainable Natural and Built Environment. Council has also approved 62 additions to the City Comprehensive Plan, which prioritize building food equity. This proposal aligns with the aforementioned additions to the plan. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Fund Overview for Discussion_October 2021 2 Page 80 of 84 Community Engagement Creating a Food Equity Fund was a key proposal that came out of our Local Food Local Places workshop, an initiative sponsored by the USDA and the EPA. More than 130 participants that represented many different organizations throughout the city were in attendance. The stakeholders who engaged in the program included representatives from the Charlottesville Food Justice Network, City Schoolyard Garden, Piedmont Housing Alliance, International Rescue Committee, The City of Charlottesville, Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Public Housing Association of Residents Advisory Council, Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Parks & Recreation, and others. ADD The Food Equity Fund is a Food Equity Initiative Policy and Budgetary Recommendation under the Food Equity & Justice Plank of the FEI Policy Platform. The Platform includes input from over 300 individuals, 125 youth, and 10 city departments. The Policy Platform garnered 284 signatures, representing 150 Charlottesville residents, 80 community members who work in the City, and 38 organizations. We have spoken with the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation about hosting the fund. A committee composed of community members who have experience facing food insecurity, Food Justice Network partner organizations, and other key stakeholders will determine decisions about the specifics of where funds will be invested. This year, Cultivate is working to connect with local restaurants about the proposed Food Equity Fund. The restaurant owners we spoke with to date are excited about the idea of having a portion of the income from the meals tax set aside to build food equity in our community Budgetary Impact A 2% diversion of the 6% city meals tax would account for approximately $214,000 in FY23. This number is calculated from a projected $10.7 million income from the city meals tax. Food Justice Network partners will work with City officials to raise private and foundation dollars to add to the fund, making this an innovative partnership between the public and private sectors. Discussion • Explore the strengths and weaknesses of approaching food equity infrastructure projects that are beyond the scope of nonprofit partners through a Charlottesville Food Equity Fund and does council support the idea of a food equity fund to build infrastructure needs identified through the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform and Department Food Equity Profiles? • Implementation considerations: o The suggestion to house the fund at the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation o The idea of setting up a community based decision making body o Whether or not funds would be available only to nonprofit entities o Whether or not there would be an option for emergency funds for small businesses • Remaining questions and additional materials from Council. • Next Steps For inquiries: bria@cultivatecharlottesville.org | jeanette@cultivatecharlottesville.org |www.cultivatecharlottesville.org | 434.260.3274 Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network_Food Equity Fund Overview for Discussion_October 2021 3 Page 81 of 84 Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative Looking Forward | Objectives Existing Food System Emerging Food System Prioritizes mass production Prioritizes health and equity Food is not seen as the business of cities Food is seen as a strategic vehicle for meeting city goals Founded on access to cheap fossil fuels Environmental protection is a cornerstone of food production, processing, and distribution Market forces determine location of food Neighborhoods are planned with food stores access in mind Food pricing unconnected to nutritional Food pricing favors healthy choices benefit Food issues carved up into separate Food solutions come from collaborative government departments and jurisdictions partnerships within and among governments and civil society Table 1: City of Toronto Food Strategy, 2010 Purpose The Charlottesville Food Equity Initiative (FEI) brings together public, private, and non- profit partners working in unique and complementary ways to build a healthy and just community food system for all Charlottesville residents. The Initiative is cultivating community driven processes, resident leadership, and city partnerships to improve access to and quality of nutritious and affordable foods, addressing food equity barriers. *Throughout our organization and in this document, we are specifically focused on engaging the voices of community members that have direct experience with food insecurity and who have typically been excluded from decision-making and conversation. Goals 1. Increase food access and equity for Charlottesville community members facing food insecurity through systemic change to barriers 2. Increase collaboration and impact of diverse stakeholders engaged in building community food equity 3. Increase systemic strategies and advocate for policy change to address community health disparities across race and economics 4. Increase knowledge and implementation of food equity practices by food systems organizations and the Charlottesville community at large 5. Increase community participation in food equity planning and implementation, especially for community members experiencing food insecurity 6. Provide opportunities for leadership and employment among young adults and community advocates to address food equity issues Page 82 of 84 Activities and Outcomes: October 2022 – September 2023 A. Compile and disseminate research including an analysis of food system assessments that identifies gaps and opportunities for investment across the six planks of the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform and communication strategies to engage stakeholders including community members, food system organizations, business owners, city staff, and elected officials. Outcome 1: By December 2022, create an interactive map that tracks urban agriculture spaces in Charlottesville and intersects with the City Comprehensive Plan land use map to cultivate an analysis of land use practices across race, economics, neighborhood, etc. Outcome 2: By December 2022, integrate research on city based food equity funds across the country with local planning efforts (MAPP2Health Equity, Local Food Local Places, City Comprehensive Plan) to develop recommendations and strategies for a Charlottesville Food Equity Fund. Outcome 3: By May 2023, conduct and disseminate research focused on equitable food access markets in Charlottesville that outlines core strategies for increasing affordable, healthy food options for Charlottesville residents and invests in community wealth building. B. Establish mechanisms for community voice including both formal and informal meetings with oversight by community stakeholders and community members on programs and broader food access issues. Outcome 1: By December 2022, launch an interactive community design process for urban agriculture spaces in Charlottesville to inform the upcoming citywide parks and recreation strategic plan. Outcome 2: By September 2023, host a series of community events engaging over 500 community members and stakeholders in visioning and defining of Charlottesville food justice and for continued engagement In Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform priority implementation. Outcome 3: By September 2023, employ 10-15 youth food justice interns and 5-10 community advocates to elevate community input and priorities while also building community wealth. C. Act as a centralizing stakeholder for food system organizations across the city while centering racial equity, community voice, and engaged decision-making. Outcome 1: By September 2023, ongoing facilitation of the Food Justice Network as a central convener for food system organizations and advocates working to build a healthy and just food system in Charlottesville while advancing racial equity. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY23 Goals & Outcomes_proposed Page 2 Page 83 of 84 Outcome 2: By September 2023, provide ongoing backbone facilitation and expertise for networks such as the Governor’s Nutrition Security Coalition Hunger Action Coalition, the Virginia Healthy Coalition Action Team, and other similar networks. Outcome 3: By December 2022, further community, nonprofit, and city understanding of and commitment to the intersection of racial equity and food justice through ongoing networking and capacity building. D. Contribute subject matter expertise to discussions on school reconfiguration, transportation, zoning, affordable housing, food markets, parks, and other planning and policy development to ensure that the City, the University of Virginia, community organizations and community members are aware of the impact of policy on food equity. Outcome 1: By September 2023, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network will continue to work closely with the local planning processes including: the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan, City Climate Action Plan, and City Strategic Plan guided by recommendations from the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform. Outcome 2: By September 2023, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network, with input from communities facing food insecurity and city departments, will continue to modify, track progress, and provide support for implementation of the Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform recommendations. Outcome 3: By September 2023, Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network will develop and implement learning exchanges, such as representation on advisory councils and presentations at conferences, to extend Charlottesville’s food equity reach to statewide, regional, and national partners. E. Plan for sustainability of Food Equity Initiative Policy Platform priorities by pursuing additional funding for long-term investment at the public, private, nonprofit, and community member levels. Outcome 1: By December 2022, secure a multi-year funding match of $155,000 to support the Food Equity Initiative. Outcome 2: By September 2023, present a diversified multi-year funding plan to City Council for the Food Equity Fund and/or other opportunities to invest in building a healthy and just food system in Charlottesville. Cultivate Charlottesville Food Justice Network – Food Equity Initiative FY23 Goals & Outcomes_proposed Page 3 Page 84 of 84