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9 <br /> • Complete Qualitative portion of Baseline Food Assessment <br /> • Create Food Security Action Plan for Orange County <br /> • Conduct outreach and hold two large community forums over the first year of the <br /> council's life. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin referred to the handout, noting that "a majority of Chapel Hill <br /> and Carrboro is a classified food desert". He asked if there could be clarification of this <br /> statement. <br /> Sarah Prager said the USDA classifies a food desert area partly by looking at income <br /> levels, and the (UNC) student population brings the overall income level down. She said the <br /> food desert measurement is a half mile. She said the USDA only considers grocery stores that <br /> have a certain level of sales. She said this can ignore local data and culture, which is why <br /> qualitative data is vital. <br /> Commissioner Dorosin encouraged the changing of the language in this hand out, <br /> because though it may be technically accurate, it is very misleading. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs thanked Mike Ortosky, Steve Brantley, Orange County Economic <br /> Development Director, and Molly DeMarco, Center for Health Promotion and Disease <br /> Prevention at the University of North Carolina, for their leadership thus far through the county <br /> process. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he disagreed with Commissioner Dorosin's comments and <br /> said downtown Chapel Hill is a food desert for fresh, affordable food, outside of a restaurant <br /> setting. He said many neighborhoods are over a half a mile from a grocery store and <br /> suggested not changing the language until there is more data and discussion. <br /> Commissioner Price said the summary focuses more on Chapel Hill and Carrboro and <br /> noted that Hillsborough has some food deserts too. <br /> Commissioner Price asked if there are any farmers or non-profits on the council. <br /> Mike Ortosky said the Agricultural Preservation Board (APB) was approached and a <br /> member from this board is on this council. <br /> Cyril Murphy said there are representatives from non-profits such as Chestnut Ridge, <br /> as well as from Community Gardens and the school systems. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said she would like the BOCC to receive an annual update <br /> from the Food Council. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked if there was going to be any interaction between the <br /> Food Council and the APB. <br /> Mike Ortosky said yes, the Council will reach out to farmers, food service people, as <br /> well as those in need of food access. <br /> Commissioner Rich said the University of North Carolina students should not be <br /> forgotten as many of them cannot afford to eat. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said he would like to be the BOCC representative to the Council. <br /> Commissioner Rich backed Commissioner Jacobs for this. <br /> Cyril Murphy said elected officials would have a one-year commitment which would be <br /> renewable. <br /> Commissioner Price said Durham Tech students have many food needs as well. She <br /> suggested speaking with that community, about potential involvement in the Council as well. <br /> Chair McKee said to reach out to the traditional farmers as well. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs volunteered to serve on the Council, and Commissioner Rich <br /> volunteered to be the alternate. <br /> The Board agreed by consensus. <br />