Agenda 8-a - Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 11 Commissioner Rich said the food council does not provide food, but has two different groups that are currently meeting: an economic development group and a group of food providers. She said the Coordinator would coordinate monthly meetings of the providers at the Rogers Road Community Center. She said this allows the efforts of food provision to be coordinated to eliminate duplication of services, and also allows food to be spread out as far as possible, to serve as many people as possible. She said there is no way to know this information without a coordinating effort. She said the economic development portion comes from the farmers, and the coordinator will work with the farmers and suppliers to get food to other markets, such as schools, for example. Commissioner Rich said there is a group of women entrepreneurs out of Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing Center (PFAP), and the Coordinator is helping to connect these women with neighboring counties. Commissioner McKee said the proposed coordinator position is contingent on funding from partnering governments, and asked if all these entities are committed. Travis Myren said the Town of Carrboro has approved its contribution, and Chapel Hill has not taken the vote yet. Commissioner Rich said it is in the Town of Chapel Hill's budget. Commissioner McKee said the Food Council needs to do a better job of reaching out to farmers. Commissioner Rich said she would like to coordinate with Commissioner McKee on this, and she has met with farmers and outreach is taking place. She said if Commissioner McKee is aware of farmers who have been missed, she would be keen to get their names so that contact can be made. Commissioner McKee said he would like the Food Council to come down from its 30,000 feet view to more of a 3 feet view. He said there are many people that are not receiving meals and food, and unless the Food Council can show him that more food is being put on the table for people, he will not support it. Chair Dorosin suggested that Commissioner McKee and Commissioner Rich get together and have this discussion. Commissioner Marcoplos asked if the coordinator position already exists. Commissioner Rich said there is a part -time a coordinator. Commissioner Marcoplos said a full time person would result in being able to expand the scope and reach of the Food Council. Chair Dorosin referred to the Partnership to End Homelessness, and said it does not provide direct services, but coordinates all of the providers to make sure areas of the County are not being missed, or having duplication of services. He said it also helps to coordinate information from the state and federal governments. Commissioner Rich said the part -time Food Council coordinator researches and applies for grants, which would continue should this position become full -time. She said the Food Council also partnered with UNC last year, and graduate students worked on special food projects. Commissioner Price said this position is worthwhile, but she still has concerns about people actually getting food. She said most providers do not provide food on holidays and weekends. She said there were several requests for outside agencies funds from agencies that provide actual meals, which were denied due to a tight budget. She said these budget cuts equate to meals being cut as well, and this concerns her. She said she is not opposed to the coordinator position, but if there is a finite amount of money, she would rather see meals being put on the table. Chair Dorosin said Orange County's portion of the coordinator position would be $27,000.