Dane County  
Minutes - Final Unless Amended by  
Committee  
Food Council  
Consider:  
Who benefits? Who is burdened?  
Who does not have a voice at the table?  
How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?  
Wednesday, May 18, 2022  
5:30 PM  
Virtual Zoom Meeting: See top of agenda for  
instructions on how to join the webinar or call in by  
phone.  
A. Call To Order  
7 -  
Present  
Supervisor MICHELE RITT, SHEENA TESCH, BILL WARNER, MARCIA CATON  
CAMPBELL, DANIEL CORNELIUS, SHIRLEY NENNIG, and ABHA THAKKAR  
Madison Food Policy Council members: Chair Nicholas Leete, Jamie Bugel, Lindsey Day  
Farnsworth, Alder Yanette Figueroa Cole, Taylor Foster, Sarah Larson, Dustin Lundt,  
Laura Scandurra, Devika Suri, Alder Regina Vidaver  
OTHERS PRESENT: Jess Guffey Calkins, Nick Heckman, Nan Fey, Sarah Elliott, Jill  
Groendyk, Luthien Niland, Rishika Tumula, Seb Alexander Waldvogel, Logan Morrow  
B. Consideration of Minutes  
FOOD COUNCIL MINUTES FROM FEB 16, 2022  
2022  
MIN-060  
Attachments: 2022 MIN-060  
A motion was made by RITT, seconded by TESCH, that the Minutes be approved.  
The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0.  
C. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda  
D. Announcements  
E. Such Other Business as Allowed by Law  
F. Presentations  
Pandemic Food System Study Introduction – Sift Consulting. Members of the Sift  
Consulting team (Sarah Elliott, Jill Groendyk, Luthien Niland) introduced themselves and  
gave a brief overview of their project proposal.  
Dane County Farmland Preservation Plan – this will be moved to a future meeting.  
G. Reports to Committee  
Work Group Reports  
- Food Access, Relief & Economic Support  
No report  
- Food Plan – WARNER, CATON CAMPBELL  
The group isn’t applying for the 2022 USDA Regional Food Systems Partnership grant,  
but is focusing on developing relationships and a cash match for future proposals. The  
approved vendor for the pandemic food system study is Sift Consulting.  
- Regional Agriculture & Food Sovereignty - TESCH  
Work group is focusing on agricultural land preservation efforts.  
Staff Reports  
- City of Madison – George Reistad  
No report  
- Public Health Madison & Dane County – Nick Heckman  
Updates provided based on the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic.  
- Dane County – Jess Guffey Calkins  
Low Mow May: The 5.19.22 Dane County Board agenda includes an honorary resolution to  
recognize May 2022 as Low Mow May and to promote pollinator friendly lawn height  
year-round. This resolution is in line with the City of Madison resolution, and is designed  
to boost the population of bees and other pollinators. Members of both food councils  
were instrumental in developing this resolution (Supervisor Ritt, Laura Scandurra) in  
conjunction with city and county staff.  
Upcoming food systems educational events on the UW-Madison Extension Dane County  
website (https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/) include Green Thumb Gardening – Spring  
Series (Wednesdays 9-11am, March 9th-May 25), Webinars for WI Gardeners (May 10,  
18, 31; 12pm), and Green Thumb Gardening – Summer Series (Mondays 6-8pm, June  
6th-Aug 22). The 2022 Dane County Master Gardener Plant Sale will be held Sunday,  
May 22nd, 11a,-3pm. A list of plants for sale and more info will be updated at  
https://dane.extension.wisc.edu/horticulture/plant-sale/.  
Regular Business Reports  
- Community Gardens – Nicholas Leete  
Community gardens are finishing up registration. There are still some openings in case  
folks can help get the word out.  
- Madison Metropolitan School District – Dustin Lundt  
MMSD is getting ready for summer feeding program – a list of sites is being developed.  
Starts June 20. USDA hasn’t extended waivers, so it will be back to pre-pandemic style -  
breakfasts and lunches for kids at summer school sites.  
- Double Dollars Program – Nick Heckman, Jamie Bugel  
Double Dollars will start at farmers markets on June 1. $25 can be doubled per market  
(can do multiple markets per week).  
- Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future - Community of Learning Practice -  
THAKKAR  
At the recent session, participants shared organizational structures and governance  
models, and how those help or hinder their goals. More work is ahead to make space to  
have more resident voice present at DCFC/MFPC meetings.  
H. Future Meeting Items and Dates  
June 15  
I. Adjourn  
A motion was made by TESCH, seconded by RITT, that the meeting be  
adjourned. The motion carried unanimously 7-0.  
Minutes respectfully submitted by Jess Guffey Calkins, pending council approval