Markham’s Greenprint Sustainability Plan, Markham, Ontario

Jurisdiction Name: Markham
State/Province: ON
Country: Canada
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 328,966
Population Range: 250,000 to 999,999
Policy Links: WebPDF
Policy type: plan
Year: 2011
GFC Topic: community food security
Keywords: agricultural land, community garden, community kitchen, education, food bank, food processing, food production, food security, food system, food systems, plan, water
Adopting Government Department(s):

Town of Markham Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Markham General Committee
Support Entity(s):

Markham Sustainability Office

Funding Amount: n/a
Funding Sources: Federal Gas Tax Fund; Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund
Policy Outcome(s):

The sustainability plan includes a section on food security, which explores topics such as food insecurity, health, and waste. Also included are measurements of variables to assess current food system performance, such as agricultural land use, established community gardens, food bank usage, and retail food environments. The section later provides recommendations to increase food security through education, engagement, and increased opportunities in the local food system. Thus far, the sustainability plan has been successful in creating community and allotment gardens within the town.

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Recognizing the Importance of Healthy, Sustainably Produced and Locally Grown Foods and Creating the Homegrown Minneapolis Implementation Task Force, Resolution No. 2009R-283

Jurisdiction Name: Minneapolis
State/Province: MN
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 392,880
Population Range: 250,000 to 999,999
Policy Links: PDF
Policy type: resolution
Year: 2009
GFC Topic: community food connections, community food production, community food security
Keywords: EBT, access, agriculture, community garden, community garden program, community kitchen, distribution, double-value redemption program, farmers market, food access, food distribution, food processing, food security, healthy, healthy food, healthy food incentive program, homegrown minneapolis, homegrown minneapolis implementation task force, incentive, incentive program, kitchen, local, local food, local food sustainability indicator, minneapolis local food resource hubs network, minneapolis market bucks, plan, processing, program, sustainability, urban, urban agriculture, urban agriculture plan, urban agriculture policy plan
Adopting Government Department(s):

Minneapolis City Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Minneapolis Health Department, Homegrown Minneapolis Steering Committee
Support Entity(s):

n/a

Funding Amount:
Funding Sources:
Policy Outcome(s):

Acknowledged the importance of local foods to the economy, environment and health of residents; authorized a short-term, 16 member implementation task force to pursue the implementation of 8 Homegrown Minneapolis priority recommendations and report back to City Council at 9 and 18-month intervals; provided city staff with direction and institutional permission to take on food system projects as part of work plans, and incorporate food related activities into grant writing processes; authorized development of Minneapolis Local Food Sustainability Indicator for the comprehensive plan, the Minneapolis Urban Agriculture Policy Plan, Minneapolis Community Garden Program, Minneapolis Local Food Resource Hubs Network, Market Bucks program, and other food system related programs

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Amendments to the Creation of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council, Resolution No. 2011R-633

Jurisdiction Name: Minneapolis
State/Province: MN
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 392,880
Population Range: 250,000 to 999,999
Policy Links: PDF
Policy type: resolution
Year: 2011
GFC Topic: community food connections, community food production, community food security
Keywords: food policy council, homegrown minneapolis food council
Adopting Government Department(s):

Minneapolis City Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Minneapolis Health Department, Homegrown Minneapolis Coordinator
Support Entity(s):

Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services, Minneapolis City Council

Funding Amount: not applicable
Funding Sources: not applicable
Policy Outcome(s):

amended Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council adding two members (a representative from the Minneapolis Department of Regulatory Services and an additional Minneapolis City Council appointment) and revising details about the structure of the Homegrown Minneapolis Food Council

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Ordinance Promoting Economic Development and the Food Truck Industry, Boston, Massachusetts

Jurisdiction Name: Boston
State/Province: MA
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 685,094
Population Range: 250,000 to 999,999
Policy Links: WebPDF
Policy type: ordinance
Year: 2011
GFC Topic: community food connections, community food security
Keywords: entrepreneurs, food access, food affordability, food distribution, food truck, healthy food, healthy food access, license, neighborhood, permit, sustainable food business
Adopting Government Department(s):

Boston City Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): City of Boston Public Works Department; Mobile Food Trucks Commission
Support Entity(s):

Boston Transportation Department; Boston Inspectional Services Department; Boston Police Department; Boston Fire Department; Boston Director of Food Initiatives

Funding Amount: n/a
Funding Sources: n/a
Policy Outcome(s):

This ordinance permits the operation of food trucks within the City of Boston, as well as established rules and regulations regarding food truck use. The ordinance includes specific instruction on obtaining permits to operate a food truck, permit renewal, and general rules about permissible locations for parking, necessary structures within the truck, use of space, and so on. Information regarding permit fees, prohibition regarding the transfer of permits, and other violations is also included. The ordinance also established a Mobile Food Trucks Commission consisting of various city departments in order to regulate and food trucks and establish or amend regulations. The Mobile Food Trucks Commission will also work with applicants to encourage the following: the use of sustainable practices, selling of healthy and affordable food, implementing programs for children and the homeless, and serving areas of the city with low food access during food truck routes.

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Sustainable Cleveland Municipal Action Plan, Cleveland, Ohio

Jurisdiction Name: Cleveland
State/Province: OH
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 385,525
Population Range: 250,000 to 999,999
Policy Links: WebPDF
Policy type: plan
Year: 2013
GFC Topic: community food connections
Keywords: compost, composting, design guidelines, economic development, economic viability, environment, environmental projects, environmental quality, environmental sustainability, organic, plan, resilient, sustainability, urban, waste
Adopting Government Department(s):

Cleveland City Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Cleveland City Green Team
Support Entity(s):

Cleveland Office of Sustainability

Funding Amount: $716,572 over three years (2009-2012)
Funding Sources: United States Department of Energy (EE Conservation Block Grant Program)
Policy Outcome(s):

This plan outlines efforts to be taken by the City of Cleveland to increase the sustainability of its municipal operations in five primary areas: design, construction, and maintenance; energy; transportation; water; and materials management and purchasing. While each area has its specific goals and indicators, these efforts are overall meant to increase the viability of organizations and communities, improve organizational efficiency and decrease costs, enhance social services, and preserve natural resources. Additionally, the report points to changes that may be implemented to jointly increase municipal efficiency and sustainability of city services such as transportation, waste management, water consumption, and so on. In regards to food systems planning, the plan outlines a compost program for city buildings. This effort is in tandem with waste reduction and recycling programs at city buildings, allowing for a comprehensive sustainability strategy. The city plans to pilot the program before launching it city-wide, and later plans to partner with other organizations, such as food service, to increase the overall sustainability through the use of compostable containers. The city hopes the sustainable action plan will aid in the development of a sustainable economy, increase resiliency against climate change, and serve as a model for other cities.

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Northeast Sector Plan, Resolution No. 12-18

Jurisdiction Name: Douglas County
State/Province: KS
Country: United States
Type of Government: County
Population: 112,864
Population Range: 50,000 to 249,999
Policy Links: PDF
Policy type: resolution
Year: 2012
GFC Topic: community food production
Keywords: agribusiness, agricultural land, agricultural land protection, agriculture, food production, plan, production, rural, rural agriculture, urban growth area
Adopting Government Department(s):

Douglas County Board of County Commissioners

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Lawrence/Douglas County Planning and Development Services
Support Entity(s):

n/a

Funding Amount:
Funding Sources:
Policy Outcome(s):

plan set aside hundreds of acres of prime soil for agricultural or agri-business use and prevents it from being developed for commercial or industrial purposes

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Local Food Purchasing Policy, Resolution No. 496-a

Jurisdiction Name: Albany County
State/Province: NY
Country: United States
Type of Government: County
Population: 97,856
Population Range: 50,000 to 249,999
Policy Links: PDF
Policy type: resolution
Year: 2009
GFC Topic: community food connections
Keywords: economic viability, food procurement, food production, food purchasing, healthy, healthy food, local, local food, local food production, local food purchasing policy, procurement, production, purchasing, regional diet, resolution
Adopting Government Department(s):

Albany County Legislature

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Albany County Purchasing Agent, Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets
Support Entity(s):

n/a

Funding Amount: not available
Funding Sources: not available
Policy Outcome(s):

resolution tasked the Albany County Purchasing Agent to purchase local food products for Albany County Residential Healthcare Facilities and the Albany County Correctional Facility

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

FoodWorks: A Vision to Improve NYC

Jurisdiction Name: New York
State/Province: NY
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 8,175,133
Population Range: 1 million or more
Policy Links: PDF
Policy type: plan
Year: 2010
GFC Topic: community food connections, community food production, community food security
Keywords: SNAP, WIC, access, agricultural production, agriculture, compost, composting, consumption, distribution, economic viability, environmental sustainability, farm, farmer, food access, food consumption, food distribution, food processing, food production, food transport, food work, hunger, local, local food, local food access, obesity, post-consumption, processing, produce market, production, regional, regional agriculture, regional farmers, regional farms, rural, rural agriculture, sustainability, transport, urban, urban agriculture
Adopting Government Department(s):

New York City Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): New York City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn
Support Entity(s):

Baum Forum, New York City Coalition Against Hunger, The New School, Earth Institute at Columbia University, FGE Food & Nutrition Team, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Karp Resources, Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture

Funding Amount: not available
Funding Sources: not available
Policy Outcome(s):

Plan proposed a series of initiatives and policy changes at each phase of New York City

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

Urban Agriculture Zoning Regulation No. ZA-14-08

Jurisdiction Name: City of Burlington
State/Province: VT
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 42,282
Population Range: 20,000 to 49,999
Policy Links: WebPDF
Policy type: ordinance
Year: 2014
GFC Topic: community food production
Keywords: agricultural structure, cold frame, community garden, comprehensive development ordinance, greenhouse, hoop house, open air market, rooftop, zoning ordinance
Adopting Government Department(s):

City of Burlington Planning Commission

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Department of Planning and Zoning
Support Entity(s):

n/a

Funding Amount: n/a
Funding Sources: n/a
Policy Outcome(s):

Allows for urban agriculture on private land in the City of Burlington.

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1

City of Burlington Open Space Protection Plan

Jurisdiction Name: City of Burlington
State/Province: VT
Country: United States
Type of Government: Municipality
Population: 42,282
Population Range: 20,000 to 49,999
Policy Links: WebPDF
Policy type: plan
Year: 2014
GFC Topic: community food production
Keywords: community garden, land use, urban agriculture
Adopting Government Department(s):

City of Burlington City Council

Lead Implementing Entity(s): Burlington Conservation Board
Support Entity(s):

City of Burlington Department of Parks, Recreation & Waterfront

Funding Amount: $196,000/year
Funding Sources: Conservation Legacy Program
Policy Outcome(s):

The Plan inventories open spaces including urban agriculture opportunities, and availability and proximity of community gardens to residents.

Additional Resources and Information: Link 1