Title
Resolution to Advance Sustainable Food Options at City Facilities and Events
Memorandum
In June of 2020, Ann Arbor City Council unanimously adopted the A2ZERO plan, including the action of advancing plant-based diets. Since the adoption, staff in the Office of Sustainability and Innovations have primarily been working on public engagement and education around the value of plant-forward diets and working on reducing the amount of single-use plastics through the Ann Arbor: Reduce, Reuse, Return (A2R3) program.
In September of 2021, Ann Arbor City Council, under R-21-347, requested that the City collect information from all City departments regarding food purchases and develop suggestions on ways to improve food procurement policies to have greater alignment with the City's sustainability goals.
In response to this resolution, City staff prepared a memorandum for City Council outlining five near term recommendations and five potential long-term recommendations to advance sustainable food policies and options at city facilities and at city events. Those recommendations included:
Near-Term Recommendations:
* Recommendation A: Through the existing contract with Pepsi or through the establishment of new contracts, re-work the drink options available at City vending machines and other points of sale to include more nutritious and health-enhancing, ideally locally sourced, choices.
* Recommendation B: For food sold at City snack bars or distributed at City events, develop a list of preferred food items, with a focus on options that: have low GHG emissions; provide plant-based alternatives, especially when animal-based options are already provided; support the local food system; and minimize wasteful packaging.
* Recommendation C: For catering of City events, develop a directory of preferred restaurants, caterers, and other eating places with a focus on options that: have low GHG emissions; provide plant-based alternatives, especially when animal-based option...
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