Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout22426 1 ORDINANCE NO. 22,426 2 3 AN ORDINANCE TO CREATE A LITTLE ROCK FOOD COMMISSION; 4 TO DEFINE ITS PURPOSE; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR 5 OTHER PURPOSES. 6 7 WHEREAS,municipalities throughout the nation must deal with concerns regarding food deserts,food 8 insecurity,the need for urban agriculture,the creation of common gardens and education of the public about 9 healthy food awareness in an attempt to fight food-related diseases; and, 10 WHEREAS,the City of Little Rock, Arkansas ("the City"), believes that the creation of an Advisory 11 Body to the Mayor and Members of the Little Rock Board of Directors could focus on such issues and help 12 determine needs, create programs, gain community input and implement programs that raise public 13 awareness and increase the growth, purchase and intake of healthy foods. 14 NOW,THEREFORE, IT BE ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY 15 OF LITTLE ROCK,ARKANSAS: 16 Section 1. The City hereby creates a seven (7)-member Little Rock Food Commission ("Food Com- 17 mission")to serve as an Advisory Board to the Mayor and Members of the Board of Directors as set forth 18 in this ordinance. 19 Section 2. Membership. The members of the Food Commission shall be selected as follows: 20 (a) One (1) member of the Little Rock Board of Directors who will serve as the Chair of the 21 Commission; and, 22 (b) One (1) food retailer with stores located within the corporate limits of the City, and who 23 resides within the corporate limits of the City; and, 24 (c) One(1) person who lives within the City and is actively engaged in agriculture; and, 25 (d) One (1) person involved with Hunger Relief Programs in operation within the corporate 26 limits of the City; and, 27 (e) Three (3) persons at-large who have expressed an interest in the purposes of the Food 28 Commission as set forth in this ordinance. 29 Section 3. Purpose of the Food Commission. The purpose of the Food Commission it to serve as an 30 Advisory Board for the Mayor and Members of the Board of Directors of the City, to consider the various 31 issues set forth in this ordinance, and also to undertake research on specific issues, or site-specific issues, 32 as directed by the Board of Directors. 33 Section 4. Duties of the Food Commission. The Food Commission shall have the following duties: 34 (a) To assist the City in its efforts to reduce food insecurity; and, (Page 1 of 31 1 (b) To obtain community input on the resources needed to address food issues within the City; 2 and, 3 (c) To support urban agriculture such as community gardens and other potential sources of 4 fresh food;and, 5 (d) To promote educational programs about: 6 (i) diet-related diseases; and, 7 (ii) food waste;and, 8 (iii) to increase public awareness of food programs, food deserts and food policy 9 decisions that should be considered by elected officials;and, 10 (e) To establish methodologies and programs to monitor available data on the nutrition status 11 of residents of the City most impacted by the inequities in the local food system; and, 12 (f) To explore ways for the City to improve the availability and quality of food to its citizens. 13 Section 4. In fulfilling any of its duties or obligations as set forth in this ordinance, the Food 14 Commission shall obtain information from City Agencies, Non-Profit Organizations, existing programs, 15 governmental resources and other relevant entities, in order to present a thorough well-researched policy 16 consideration to the Board of Directors. 17 Section 5. Food Commission Policy Recommendations. Beginning in the second December after 18 the creation of the Food Commission and the selection of its members,and afterwards in December on an 19 annual basis, unless otherwise requested the Board of Directors,the Commission shall report on the work 20 completed in the previous year, its findings, identification of significant areas of concern and any policy 21 recommendations that it has for consideration by the Elected Officials. 22 Section 3. Severability. In the event any title, section, paragraph, item, sentence, clause, phrase, or 23 word of this ordinance is declared or adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, such declaration or 24 adjudication shall not affect the remaining portions of this ordinance, which shall remain in full force and 25 effect as if the portion so declared or adjudged invalid or unconstitutional was not originally a part of this 26 ordinance. 27 Section 4.Repealer. All ordinances or resolutions of the City in conflict herewith are hereby repealed 28 to the extent of such conflict. 29 Section 5. Emergency Clause. There is hereby found and declared to be an immediate need for the 30 compilation of information regarding food deserts, access to healthy food, creation of urban agriculture 31 programs, education of the public about diet-related decisions and identification of programs and policies 32 that address these issues;further, such a need for action is essential to protect to public health, safety and 33 welfare; an emergency is, therefore, declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full force and take 34 effect immediately upon and after its passage. (Page 2 of 31 1 PASSED: March 19,2024 2 AT APPROVED: 3 ►41 1,4L- 5 L5 Susan a 'glrty Clerk Frank Scott,Jr.,Ma 6 APPRO 71145. LEGAL FORM: 7 ‘74(1\--4 • 1A-4"----- 9 Thomas M. Carpenter,City Attorn 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 // [Page 3 of 31