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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/04/2025 - Meeting Minutes ERIN MENDENHALL DEPARTMENT Mayor of SUSTAINABILITY SLCgreen SLC FOOD MICROGRANT • COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES The following members of the SLC Food Microgrant Selection Committee were present: In-Person Maria Schwarz, Chair Diana Ramirez, Vice Chair Monica O'Malley, Secretary, non-voting member Joshua Rebollo Electronic James Hunter,joined meetingat2.47p.m. Darby Egbert Marifer Rivera The following members were absent: Karina Villalba Also Present: None Minutes by Monica O'Malley, Salt Lake City Sustainability Department Meeting Time: 2:30 p.m. I Time Commenced: 3:35 p.m. 1. Welcome & Roll Call Chair Schwarz thanked the committee for lending time to this process and announced that applications closed on Monday, March 3rd. After Chair Schwarz gave a brief overview of the meeting agenda, each committee member introduced themselves and shared their favorite food in Salt Lake City. 2. Open & Public Meetings Act (OPMA)Training Chair Schwarz explained why the Committee must comply with OMPA and gave a brief overview of its requirements. The Committee attempted to view the OPMA training video but were not able to due to an issue with the audio. Chair Schwarz requested that each ERIN MENDENHALL DEPARTMENT Mayor of SUSTAINABILITY SLCgreen member watch the video on their own and confirm via email that they viewed the training and understand its contents. 3. Committee by-laws review& adoption The Committee reviewed the draft Selection Committee By Laws. With a motion from Committee Member Egbert and a second from Committee Member Rebollo, the voting members present unanimously adopted the By Laws, appointing Maria Schwarz as Committee Chair and Diana Ramirez as Committee Vice Chair. 4. Overview of SLC Food Microgrant Program Chair Schwarz gave an overview of the SLC Food Microgrant Program, including the Program purpose, history, and logistics. 1. Purpose Chair Schwarz explained that nearly 1-in-4 Salt Lake City residents struggle to buy food, and more than 1-in-3 residents are not able to access the types of food they prefer to eat. Coupling this with the rise in grocery prices and other food system challenges, there is a need to provide greater access to food resources and opportunities in Salt Lake City. Therefore, the purpose of the Program is to increase access to healthy, affordable, culturally relevant food and build an inclusive community around healthy food choices, so individuals living in Salt Lake City have many opportunities to shape, participate in, and enjoy a sustainable, accessible, and resilient local food environment. 2. History Chair Schwarz explained the role of the SLC Resident Food Equity Advisors and how they recommended the City create a microgrant program to help increase food system resiliency. 3. Logistics Chair Schwarz explained the program goals and gave an overview of program basics, including that the Program received about $45,000 in grant funding from the general fund. Chair Schwarz also shared the two different grant types, being $250 Home Food Production Grants and Community Grants up to $5,000, and reviewed program eligibility requirements. Chair Schwarz also explained the four key funding categories: (1) growing food, (2) inclusive outreach and communications, (3) dignified food access, and (4) neighborhood healthy food environments. The ERIN MENDENHALL DEPARTMENT Mayor of SUSTAINABILITY SLCgreen Committee reviewed which groups of people were identified by the Resident Food Equity Advisors as being the most negatively impacted by the food system. 5. Review of scoring process & rubric Chair Schwarz explained the challenges of traditional grantmaking and how the Committee can address those to promote accessibility. Chair Schwarz proposed a method for how grants will be scored, and no committee members objected. The Committee agreed that all voting members will review all Community Grant applications in which they don't have a conflict of interest. The Committee also agreed that each committee member with no conflicts of interest with the Home Food Production Grant process will review a selection of 20 or so Home Food Production applications, so each application is reviewed by at least three members. The Committee reviewed the Home Food Production Grant scoring rubric, the Community Grant scoring rubric, the number of applications received, and the amount of funding requested. Chair Schwarz also shared the names of the 26 organizations who applied for Community Grants, identifying organizations that received funding through the Program in the past. 6. Next steps &timeline Chair Schwarz reviewed the next steps in the Selection Committee's process, reiterating that committee members must watch the OPMA training, notify her and the Secretary of any potential conflicts of interest, and review home food production applications by March 10th 7. Adjourn There being no further discussion, committee members voted unanimously to adjourn. APPROVED: rn�1.Yi�li��Z Date: March 18, 2025 Maria Schwarz, Committee Chair This Document and the recording constitute the official minutes of the SLC Food Microgrant Selection Committee meeting held March 4, 2025.