STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Environmental & Sustainability
AGENDA DATE: March 8, 2023
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): All
DEPARTMENT: Office of Environmental Quality & Sustainability
EXECUTIVE: M. Elizabeth Cedillo-Pereira
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SUBJECT
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A resolution authorizing the adoption of the Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan for the City of Dallas - Financing: This action has no cost consideration to the City (see Fiscal Information)
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BACKGROUND
While Dallas has a long history including farms, and ranches, this history also includes underinvested areas with limited food access, and thus food security is identified as one of the local indicators of racial equity. The Dallas food supply has experienced vulnerabilities due to extreme weather, labor shortages, a lack of diversified production, supply chain disruptions and numerous other stresses. The City of Dallas has established a Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan (CUAP) to lay the groundwork for a sustainable and resilient food system in the face of these climatic and societal challenges. The development of this plan addresses gaps in the resiliency of Dallas’ food system by providing five key recommendations to increase local production, food sourcing, and access through increased agricultural activities.
The City has had several important milestones that the CUAP builds from, including the adoption of the Resilient Dallas Plan that identified challenges posed by food deserts, the adoption of the Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP), which established “All Dallas’s communities have access to healthy, local food” as Goal 7 of 8 CECAP primary focus areas and goals. Action FA3 within Goal 7 of the CECAP directs the City to develop a Dallas Comprehensive Food and Urban Agriculture Plan. The City has also adopted the Racial Equity Plan, which advances racial equity and inclusion by implementing action targets like supporting the local urban agriculture ecosystem in communities that are experiencing food security and food access issues.
The Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability (OEQS) has conducted community outreach related to development of a Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan since October of 2021. OEQS engaged various stakeholders, interviewing 56 Dallas Agriculture stakeholders, and receiving a total of 745 survey responses from the general public and community and neighborhood groups. The results of those interviews and survey responses were used to engage stakeholders in meetings, and ultimately guided the recommendation creation process for the plan.
The CUAP provides recommendations, solutions, initial action items, and metrics in pursuit of the City’s food system resiliency challenges. The recommendations and objectives have been developed to align with those as part of CECAP. The intention of CUAP is to provide a strategic long-term framework for urban agriculture development in Dallas for the City to utilize as part of current and future program and infrastructure planning efforts.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On May 27, 2020, City Council unanimously adopted the Comprehensive Environmental and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) by Resolution No. 20-0688.
On August 25, 2021, City Council authorized a two-year service contract for a comprehensive food and urban agriculture plan for the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability - Agritecture, LLC by Resolution No. 21-1378.
The Environmental Commission was briefed on progress of the CUAP draft; input from the Environmental Commissioners was incorporated into the draft plan on August 10, 2022.
On August 25, 2022, City Council unanimously adopted the Racial Equity Plan, that also addresses food access by Resolution No. 22-1588.
The Environment and Sustainability Committee was briefed on the progress of the CUAP draft on September 6, 2022.
The Environmental Commission was briefed on updates related to progress of the CUAP draft on November 9, 2022.
The Environment and Sustainability Committee was briefed on updates related to progress of the CUAP draft for consideration to advance to the full City Council agenda for adoption on December 5, 2022.
The City Council was briefed on the CUAP on March 1, 2023.
FISCAL INFORMATION
This item has no cost consideration to the City. Potential future costs to implement the Comprehensive Urban Agriculture Plan (CUAP) are estimated in the amount of $200,000.00 per year for services such as convening an annual growers summit, assisting local growers to implement their agri-businesses, and supporting local efforts to grow the urban agricultural industry in Dallas. Costs will be paid from the Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24 operating budget, subject to appropriations.