1. Digging In: Policy Innovation for a Healthy Food System
Sacramento’s experience turning food action into policy change
My name is Matt Read and I am a lawyer working in Sacramento. Thanks to Juell, Chanowk, Christine, and the BHC leaders that decided what we are working on is cool enough to present and highlight. What I want to talk about today is what we did in Sacramento around urban agriculture, how we did it, and why implementing something similar in your BHC area might be a good opportunity to galvanize your BHC groups around a food access issue.

2. What are we covering?
Urban Agriculture as an opportunity to do policy work
Crafting a campaign
Leveraging momentum

3. In the beginning, there were definitions and presumptions
Policy
CDC defines "policy" as a law, regulation, procedure, administrative action, incentive, or voluntary practice of governments and other institutions
Federal laws, regulations, state law, state regulations, city/county codes, agency internal direction.
Urban Agriculture
Sacramento City Code “U” definitions. “Urban agriculture” means the production of food in a form and scale that is appropriate for the urban context and includes market garden; community garden, public; community garden, private; private garden; aquaculture; and urban beekeeping.

4. Spectrum of Working with Urban Agriculture
Everyone in here is or will be at this stage because you’re about to hear about urban agriculture!
Awareness
Individuals in your community have identified urban agriculture as a potential policy change. You may have already identified barriers to doing urban ag
Working On it
Developed a policy; or have passed an urban agriculture ordinance
We Got That

5. Why is urban agriculture a good policy area?
Awareness
Why is urban agriculture a good policy area?
Aside from the fact that its good policy?

6. Community Empowerment
Awareness
Community Empowerment
Lots of opportunities for speaking in front of commissions, getting residents involved in a campaign. Learning about political processes.

7. Building the Social Network
Awareness
Positive policymaking: saying “We want this!” instead of “We don’t want this!”
Politicians react very favorably to this!
Opportunity to work closely with municipal elected, officials from departments that you may want something else from: code enforcement, community development, Parks

8. Building the Social Network
Awareness
Find the City Staff!
Positive policymaking: saying “We want this!” instead of “We don’t want this!”
Politicians react very favorably to this!
Opportunity to work closely with municipal elected, officials from departments that you may want something else from: code enforcement, community development, Parks

9. Learning about complex rules
Awareness
Learning about complex rules
The rules that apply to urban agriculture
Health and Safety
Business regulation
Income rules, SSI
Land use, zoning

10. Zoning and Land Use Residential Commercial Industrial Euclidean Zoning
Awareness
Zoning and Land Use
Residential
Commercial
Industrial
Euclidean Zoning
Separate the uses
Prohibit EVERYTHING besides what is explicitly allowed
Commercial activity generally not allowed
Lemonade stand
Agriculture was long considered an industrial use. Strong prohibitions.

11. Zoning and Land Use Awareness County Parcel Agriculture is prohibited
Can only be home, or school, the highest and best uses.
Want something else? Conditional use permit: $5k- $7k
Applies to vacant parcels and to “accessory uses.”

12. Crafting a Campaign Clear Message People Power Political Leadership
Working On it
Crafting a Campaign
Clear Message
People Power
Political Leadership
Patience

13. Working On it Clear Message Two parts to this
Always have a message or goal for every event.
Have consensus around what “urban agriculture” is. For us, it was “the proposal.”

14. Political Leadership Working On it
Staff reluctant to act without authority
Need someone to introduce, convey messages, give intelligence
Choose wisely! Some people are loathed by their colleagues! Many with reason!
Go outside of your usual suspects. Its an opportunity to engage someone new.

15. PATIENCE 2 years! Working On it Stakeholder Engagement
Staff Internal Review
City Attorney Review
Community Meetings
Draft Ordinance Review Comm.
Barrier Identification
Law & Legislation Committee (Feb. 10)
Policy Research
Conducted by SUAC
Planning and Design Comm. Hearing #2 (Feb. 12)
Policy Development
Feedback Session
Staff & Elected Feedback
Law & Legislation
Committee Intro
Coalition Feedback
City Council (March 17)
Staff Feedback
2 years!
Implementation
Planning/Design Comm. Hearing

16. PEOPLE POWER Didn’t forget!
Two Components: The Doers! And the Supporters
What is a “doer?”
Someone growing food, whose life will change from the law changing.
A supporter works in food systems, food access, used to have a community garden plot
Always scan the room: are there “doers” here? If not, less legitimacy to your ask.

17. PEOPLE POWER Doers Individuals
That stand to have their lives changed by the ordinance directly.
Will use the laws
That have identified barriers themselves
Challenges
It’s a lot to ask someone who is growing food to show up to all those meetings!

18. PEOPLE POWER

19. Healthy Food For All Coalition
Since 2010, groups working on food access through BHC funded grants (and not) have come together under the banner of the HFFA. Strategy of the group, that is executed through its workplan, is threefold
The strategy outlines expanding access to fresh food, increasing production of fresh fruits and vegetables, and providing education opportunities in the BHC area.
When the urban agriculture