Recommendations
on the Establishment, Structure and Functioning
of
the Detroit Food Policy Council
Unanimously approved by the Detroit City Council
on February 17, 2009
Background
In June of 2006 the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network (DBCFSN) spoke before the Neighborhood and Community Service Standing Committee of the Detroit City Council Chaired by Council Member JoAnn Watson. They pointed out that Detroit did not have a comprehensive food security policy, and discussed with the committee the benefits of developing such a policy. DBCFSN was appointed to head a task force to develop a food security policy for the City of
Over the next 18 months, the DBCFSN’s Public Policy Committee researched, wrote and revised several drafts of a food security policy for the City of
In furthering the establishment of a more food secure Detroit, DBCFSN continued to work with Council Member Watson’s committee on the development of a Detroit Food Policy Council. From April through October 2008 the DBCFSN Public Policy Committee conducted research on Food Policy Councils throughout North America. They examined the mission, number of members, attributes desired in members, structure, terms of office, relationship to government, and meeting schedule of food policy councils or similar bodies in Toronto, Vancouver, Portland/Multnomah, Washington D.C., Cleveland/Cuyahoga County, New Haven, New Jersey, Chicago, Grand Rapids, and the Native American Tribal Council. DBCFSN held a public discussion, on the proposed food policy council, at their Harvest Festival on October 4, 2008. On October 7, 2008, the Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the creation of the Detroit Food Policy Council.
DBCFSN presented an initial draft of their recommendations for establishing and operating the Detroit Food Policy Council, for public comment, at a listening session at Eastern Market on November 14, 2008. More than 75 people attended the session sponsored by DBCFSN, Detroit Food and Fitness Collaborative, Eastern Market Corporation and the C.S. Mott Group for Sustainable Food Systems at Michigan State University. Representatives from many organizations attended the session including Greening of Detroit, Detroit Agricultural Network – Garden Resource Program, Capuchin Soup Kitchen – Earthworks Urban Farm, Vandalia Gardens, SEED Wayne, The Farm, Multi-Cultural Minority Agricultural Initiative, Urban Agitropolis Project, Next Detroit Neighborhood Initiative, BECA Project, Alternatives for Girls, 4C of Detroit, Focus Hope, Great Lakes Bioneers Detroit, Restaurant Opportunities Center-Michigan, Hush House, Detroiters Working for Environmental Justice, Food System Economic Partnership, Eat Local Food, Be Fit Inc., WARM Training Center, Avalon Bakery, Goodwells Market, Consumers Unlimited, Save-a Lot, East Michigan Environmental Action Council, Associated Food and Petroleum Dealers, and Clement Carpentry. Detroit City Council Member JoAnn Watson attended as did a representatives from Council Member Kwame Kenyatta’s Office, and Mayor Kenneth Cockrel’s Office. Many of the suggestions from that session have been incorporated into this final draft. Kami Pothukuchi offered her written critique of the initial recommendations. Most of her suggestions have been incorporated into this final draft.
On November 20, 2008 Wayne Roberts, the Manager of the Toronto Food Policy Council addressed the Neighborhood and Community Services Committee of the Detroit City Council and gave a public lecture at Wayne State University later that evening. His comments on the successes and mistakes of the Toronto Food Policy Council also informed the revision of this document.
Although this draft was crafted by the Public Policy Committee of DBCFSN, this document reflects the collective experience, expertise, perspectives and interests of many Detroiters. It is our intent that the recommendations in this document be fully implemented to serve the common good of the people of the city of Detroit. It is our hope that the Detroit Food Policy Council and its work will be embraced and supported by the people of Detroit and their elected, appointed and anointed leadership.
Preamble
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948, upholds access to food as a human right. We the people of Detroit stand firm in supporting this basic human right. As Detroit transitions from an economy based primarily on the automobile industry to a new sustainable, environmentally friendly economy; the production, distribution and sale of food are key elements. Sound, thoughtful food policy is increasingly important as we seek to remake our city. Equally important, are programs and actions that seek to localize the food system, improve food security and establish food justice. The Detroit Food Policy Council is thus established, empowered and entrusted to provide guidance to the government and residents of the city of Detroit on food related matters.
Vision
We envision a city of Detroit with a healthy, vibrant, hunger-free populace that has easy access to fresh produce and other healthy food choices; a city in which the residents are educated about healthy food choices, and understand their relationship to the food system; a city in which urban agriculture, composting and other sustainable practices contribute to its economic vitality; and a city in which all of its residents, workers, guests and visitors are treated with respect, justice and dignity by those from whom they obtain food.
Mission
The Detroit Food Policy Council is committed to nurturing the development and maintenance of a sustainable, localized food system and a food-secure city of Detroit in which all of its residents are hunger-free, healthy and benefit economically from the food system that impacts their lives.
Goals
The DFPC shall have the following goals:
1) advocate for urban agriculture and composting being included as part of the strategic development of the City of Detroit;
2) work with various City departments to streamline the processes and approvals required to expand and improve urban agriculture in the city of Detroit including acquisition of land and access to water;
3) review the City of Detroit Food Security Policy and develop an implementation and monitoring plan that identifies, priorities, timelines, benchmarks, and human, financial and material resources;
4) produce and disseminate an annual City of Detroit Food System Report that assesses the state of the city’s food system, including activities in production, distribution, consumption, waste generation and composting, nutrition and food assistance program participation and innovative food system programs;
5) recommend new food related policy as the need arises;
6) initiate and coordinate programs that address the food related needs of Detroiters;
7) convene an annual “Powering Up the Local Food System” Conference.
In the long-range, the DFPC will engage in other activities including but not limited to: producing brief research reports with policy positions on significant relevant and emerging issues such as land for urban agriculture; convening listening sessions to hear from community members on relevant issues; assisting community-based organizations develop programs to meet needs and fill gaps in the food system; developing collaborative, city-wide programs and raising funds for implementing them.
Relationships and Functions
We recognize the City governments’ importance in local policy formation and we recognize the need for the community to have an independent voice and the ability to hold City government accountable to the broad- based needs of Detroit residents.
We therefore propose that the DFPC be initially seated by the Detroit City Council (see section on convening committee), but that after the expiration of the initial terms, the members of the DFPC recommend and seat new members as needed.
The DFPC is an implementation, monitoring and advisory body. It will issue an annual report making recommendations to the Detroit City Council and various other public and private entities about how to improve the food system impacting the lives of Detroiters. The DFPC will undertake initiatives designed to educate the populace and to make improvements in the food system.
Designated seats
The DFPC shall have 21 seats.
The Detroit City Council will appoint one seat from their body, the Mayor of the City of Detroit will appoint one seat, and the Director of the City of Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion or her/his designee will hold a seat.
Twelve DFPC members will be drawn from the following sectors:
Sustainable Agriculture
Retail Food Stores
Wholesale Food Distributors
Food Processors
Farmers Markets
Environmental Justice
Nutrition and Wellbeing (non-governmental)
Food Industry Workers
Colleges and Universities
K-12 Schools
Emergency Food Providers
Urban Planning (non-governmental)
There will be six at-large seats to be held by consumers and the general public. Special effort should be made to ensure that grass roots, low income community members and others with an earnest stake in our community are represented on the DFPC.
DFPC members will not represent the organizations or institutions that they may be affiliated with, although it is expected that their decisions, contributions and work will be informed by their experience and expertise.
Diversity
The membership of DFPC must be a culturally, economically, generationally and gender diverse representation of Detroit’s population. All members of the DFPC must be either residents of
The DFPC will communicate and liaise with county, state and regional agencies regarding the food system and its impact on Detroiters. The DFPC will communicate and liaise with residents and agencies in Highland Park and Hamtramck working to improve the food system. As needed, the DFPC will assemble a team of advisors from those entities.
Convening Committee
We recommend that Council Member Watson designate a seven person convening committee to receive and review names and qualifications of possible initial DFPC members and to coordinate the initial establishment of the DFPC. The convening committee will do the following:
1) recommend to the Neighborhood and Community Services Standing Committee, the names of people to fill seats on the DFPC;
2) draft by-laws by which the DFPC shall operate;
3) determine where the DFPC and the Detroit Food Policy Office will be housed.
4) write job descriptions, determine salaries and recommend the names of candidates for Coordinator, Program Manager and Office Manager to the DFPC.
5) secure funding for the DFPC and its paid staff;
The convening committee will terminate 90 days after its first meeting.
Terms of Office
Nine of the 18 designated sector and at-large positions will be appointed to an initial term of two years, and the other nine will be appointed to an initial term of three years. After the initial terms expire, the DFPC will receive and review names and qualifications of potential candidates to fill positions, and will select new members from those potential candidates. After the expiration of the initial terms, all reappointed or new members will serve three year terms. The DFPC members appointed to the three seats reserved for the Mayor, City Council and Director of Health and Wellness will serve two year terms.
No DFPC member shall serve more than six consecutive years. The DFPC will actively work for and nurture the development of new community-based leadership to hold seats on the Council.
Officers, Staff and Committees
The members of the DFPC will elect a Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson at the first regular meeting of each year.
We propose the creation of a Food Policy Office staffed by a full-time Food Policy Coordinator, a full-time Program Manager and a full-time secretary to be funded by a combination of public and private dollars for the first five years of the Council’s existence. The Food Policy Office staff will be hired by and accountable to the DFPC.
The DFPC will set up various working groups as are necessary to accomplish its mission. Community members are encouraged to volunteer on any of the working groups to help them achieve their goals.
Decision Making
The DFPC will strive to make decisions by consensus whenever possible. If after a reasonable amount of discussion, a consensus can’t be arrived at, decisions will be made by a simple majority vote. The vote of all members of the DFPC shall have equal weight.
Meetings
Beginning in 2009, the DFPC will meet in January, March, May, July, September, and November of each year. The DFPC will adhere to the Michigan Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Acts. Time will be allocated on each meeting agenda for public comment. Minutes of all DFPC meetings will be available to the public within 14 days of each meeting.
Revised 11/30/08