Council expands Columbus–Franklin County Local Food Board to add equity seats

Columbus — The Columbus City Council on Monday adopted a resolution to expand the Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Board by adding three voting seats focused on equity in order to better implement the 2016 Local Food Action Plan.

Council Member Dorrance Green introduced the measure and invited Yolanda Owens, executive director of Local Matters, and Kip Holly of the Franklin County Local Food Council to the podium. Owens told council the expansion will add three seats — increasing the board to 15 members — and that the new seats will be appointed by the board and required to have expertise in areas such as human services, public health, economic development, community planning, and racial and health equity.

Why it matters: Owens said the changes intend to institutionalize equity in food-system governance and ensure that voices with lived experience of food insecurity help shape policy and implementation. The resolution aligns the city's approach with a Franklin County action adopted previously by the county commissioners.

Council action: The council voted to adopt Resolution 0164X-2025. The clerk called the roll and the resolution was recorded as adopted.

Context: The Columbus and Franklin County Local Food Action Plan was adopted in February 2016; council members noted that expanding membership and adding equity seats is intended to help translate plan goals into sustained action as the plan approaches its 10-year anniversary.

Ending: The expanded board is expected to provide guidance on implementing the Local Food Action Plan; the resolution does not itself appropriate new city funding but formalizes board membership and appointments.