Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution establishes a Task Force on Farmland Preservation. No budget authority exists for the Task Force. Any costs associated with the Task Force that cannot be covered through existing budget authority would need to be included in a future budget request and subject to Council approval.
Title
SUBSTITUTE: Establishing the Task Force on Farmland Preservation
Body
WHEREAS, farmland preservation and increasing access to community gardens and agricultural land for underrepresented groups are highlighted in the 2018 City of Madison Comprehensive Plan (https://plan.imaginemadisonwi.com); and,
WHEREAS, farmland preservation provides economic and social benefits (https://conservationtools.org/guides/147-why-preserve-farmland) to a broad segment of the community while providing ecosystem services such as flood prevention; and,
WHEREAS, according to the land access survey administered by Rooted, since 2019, demand for farmland for community gardens and small-scale market gardeners within the City of Madison is continuing to increase; and,
WHEREAS, the opportunity to provide these land-based benefits diminishes with each acre of farmland that is used for development; and,
WHEREAS, the Dane County Farmland Preservation Plan is based on tax credits for owners of medium to large parcels of farmland outside of the City of Madison and therefore is not relevant to the needs of urban agricultural practitioners within city limits; and,
WHEREAS, the importance of farmland preservation has been raised numerous times by the Madison Food Policy Council, especially during the Comprehensive Plan Work Group’s efforts during the city-wide Imagine Madison process in 2018, but it still has not been formally addressed at a policy level; and,
WHEREAS, City decision makers will benefit from policy guidelines to help them balance development interests with the strong community values that support local food production, local food businesses and the preservation of farmland as expressed in adopted plans;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Task Force on Farmland Preservation is hereby created and charged with creating guidelines for land use decisions when farmland and open space within City limits are proposed for rezoning and development and writing a final report with supporting data, to be referred for review by the Madison Food Policy Council, Sustainable Madison Committee and Plan Commission prior to consideration of acceptance by the Common Council, and will be composed of seven (7) voting members and two (2) alternates:
Voting Members (7)
An Alder (1)
A member of the Plan Commission (1)
A member of the Sustainable Madison Committee (1)
A member of the Madison Food Policy Council (1)
A resident member with expertise in land use and planning (1)
A resident member with expertise in real estate (1)
A resident member with expertise in farmland preservation (1)
Alternate Members (2)
A member of the Dane County Food Council (1)
A member of a non-profit that supports small farmers (1)
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following members are hereby appointed:
Members
Alder member: Ald. Tag Evers
Plan Commission member: Ald. Erik Paulson
Sustainable Madison Committee member: Jeannette LeZaks
Madison Food Policy Council member: Rebecca Kemble
Land use and Planning expert: Nan Fey
Real Estate expert: Mark Voss, Latitude Real Estate
Farmland preservation expert: Alison Volk, American Farmland Trust
Alternate Members
Dane County Food Council member: Marcia Caton-Campbell, Rooted
Small farmer-supporting nonprofit member: Yimmuaj Yang, Groundswell Conservancy
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Task Force will be self-organized and self-managed and work will conclude by March 31, 2023.