Title
Resolution to Approve a Professional Services Agreement with VegMichigan for Various Efforts to Engage, Educate, and Work to Advance Sustainable and Plant-Forward Diets ($165,000.00)
Memorandum
In June 2023, City Council approved a Professional Services Agreement with VegMichigan to advance work around a plant-forward diet (R-23-254). Covered within the scope of services of that contract were six actions:
1. Design community educational materials
2. Host plant-based challenges
3. Conduct local business engagement
4. Provide plant-based policy support
5. On demand support to expand plant-based diets
6. Biweekly check-ins
That contract was for $45,000.00 per year for three years ($135,000.00 total). After nearly two years of engagement work with VegMichigan, the Office of Sustainability and Innovations (“OSI”) would like to expand the scope of services, increase the annual compensation amount, and extend the term of the contract. The reasons for this are the impact, efficacy, positive feedback, and criticality of the work VegMichigan is doing with the City. As one demonstration, through collaboration with VegMichigan in just the last 9 months, we’ve been able to engage with over 1,900 Ann Arbor residents on sustainable food choices, with more than 550 trying plant-based eating for the first time through the 30-day Plant-Based Pledge. As another example, in just the last several weeks, OSI and VegMichigan have been working with local restaurants to introduce more plant-based options into their menus.
These examples demonstrate the depth and breadth of impact VegMichigan and OSI are having regarding introducing the Ann Arbor community to more sustainable food options. And, given the positive and welcoming way that VegMichigan staff interact with members of the public, restauranteurs, and others, OSI is excited to see this collaboration grow.
Given the proven impact VegMichigan is having in helping advance the City’s sustainable food work as outlined in the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan, staff recommend approving a new Professional Services Agreement that has a modified and expanded scope of services and more funding support to execute the updated scope of services (increasing the annual compensation from $45,000.00 to $55,000.00) for a period of three years (from fiscal year 2026 through the end of fiscal year 2028). Included in this new Professional Services Agreement is a provision to terminate the existing Professional Services Agreement and replace it with the new one by mutual agreement of the parties.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: Funding to support this work with VegMichigan was integrated into the Office of Sustainability and Innovations fiscal year 2026 City Council adopted budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Missy Stults, Sustainability and Innovations Director
Reviewed by: Valerie Jackson, Assistant City Attorney
Reviewed by: Kim Hoenerhoff, Financial Analyst
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, In June 2020 Ann Arbor City Council unanimously adopted the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan, which set the goal of community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030;
Whereas, Moving towards a more circular economy, including work to advance plant-forward diets, is one of the core actions identified in the A2ZERO Plan;
Whereas, The Office of Sustainability and Innovations has worked with VegMichigan on a 30-day plant-based pledge program and on community education and engagement over the last two and a half years;
Whereas, This work has been extremely successful, with hundreds of Ann Arborites participating in events and activities;
Whereas, Reviews from participants of these programs are strong, indicating that VegMichigan provides a welcoming, nonjudgmental, and fun way to experience the bounty of sustainable food options in southeastern Michigan; and
Whereas, The growing interest around plant-forward diets necessitates additional time, attention, and capacity to support more residents with engaging in this work;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a Professional Services Agreement with VegMichigan in an amount not to exceed $55,000.00 per year for three years ($165,000.00 total), for Various Efforts to Engage, Educate, and Work to Advance Sustainable and Plant-Forward Diets;
RESOLVED, That City Council authorize an optional one-year extension of the agreement upon approval by the City Administrator;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a contingency in the amount of $10,000.00 to be allocated at the City Administrator’s discretion should additional work be necessary;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to sign the agreement after approval by the City Administrator and the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator is authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution.