Committee hears update on Austin‑Travis County food plan progress; city budget director says federal grants unchanged

Edwin Marty, the city’s food policy manager, briefed committee members on progress implementing the Austin‑Travis County Food Plan and said roughly 60% of the plan’s strategies have been started while about 62% will require additional resources to begin or continue.

"Roughly 60% of the strategies in the food plan are already actually being implemented," Marty said, and he described Appendix A in the memo as a set of examples where city and community partners are already working. Marty said Appendix B lists projects that are partially started or ready to start but need resources and that staff will pursue a mix of city support, philanthropic funding and potential grant funding.

Carrie Lang, director of Budget and Organizational Excellence, briefed the committee on federal grants included in a separate memo. Lang said staff reviewed operating and capital grants from fiscal 2021 through the current year and, as of the memo, had not received information showing reductions to ongoing operating grants. She said some COVID‑era grants might conclude earlier than September but that most regular federal and capital grants identified in the memo remain active.

Committee members asked for follow‑up material including asset maps for community agriculture opportunities on public land, options for formalizing cross‑jurisdiction food governance, and staff recommendations on structure and staffing to implement food‑system strategies. Marty said asset maps and a short report on potential opportunities — including John Trevino Park master‑plan opportunities — would be provided in coming weeks.

Budget Director Lang said staff would continue to monitor grant funding and provide details to council as they are confirmed.