[HISTORY: Adopted by the Suffolk County Legislature 2-1-2011 by L.L. No. 11-2011. Amendments noted where applicable. Uncodified sections of local
laws amending these provisions are included at the end of this chapter.]
A.
This Legislature
hereby finds and determines that access to healthy food is essential
to maintaining a healthy, productive society.
B.
This Legislature
also finds and determines that over 18% of Americans did not eat enough
last year.
C.
This Legislature
further finds and determines that there are at least 7,705 households
in Suffolk County which do not have a car and are located more than
one mile from the nearest food store.
D.
This Legislature
finds that many more people in Suffolk County have only limited access
to healthy foods, as they cannot afford to purchase fresh food and
must frequently purchase processed foods with little nutritional value.
E.
This Legislature
determines that the growing obesity epidemic in the United States
and increased cases of Type II diabetes in children are related to
our local and national eating habits.
F.
This Legislature
also finds that 22.3% of all children in Suffolk County are obese.
G.
This Legislature
further finds that strengthened food policies by federal, state and
local governments can improve public health and help families obtain
healthy, fresh, nutrient-rich foods.
H.
This Legislature
also determines that food policy councils bring together stakeholders
from diverse food-related sectors to examine how the local food system
is operating and develop recommendations on how to prioritize food
policies and improve food systems.
I.
Therefore,
the purpose of this chapter is to establish a food policy council
for Suffolk County.
The Food Policy Council is hereby created for the following
purposes:
A.
To ensure
that schools and other public institutions in Suffolk County serve
healthy, delicious meals and give preference to purchasing from local
farms.
B.
To include
and improve access to local government agencies which support the
stability of local food infrastructure.
C.
To develop
policies that encourage success in small- and mid-scale farming ventures,
decrease exposure to hazards and support fair labor practices.
D.
To utilize
a broad range of public investments and tools in Suffolk County to
increase public access to healthy food and decrease inequities across
race and class which contribute to food insecurity and compromise
health.
E.
To implement
steps to eliminate artificial pesticides and fertilizers, genetically
modified organisms, and other contaminants that disrupt ecosystems
and human health.
F.
To help
promote local and regional sustainably grown, harvested or produced
food within the food system, and encourage local businesses to distribute
and promote these foods in every community, especially in the underserved
communities of Suffolk County.
G.
To encourage
the use of locally grown products for food distribution and processing.
H.
To make
recommendations to the County Legislature and County Executive of
actions the County may take to meet these goals.
[Amended 6-18-2013 by L.L. No. 30-2013]
A.
The Food
Policy Council shall consist of the following 18 members:
[Amended 7-8-2015 by L.L.
No. 28-2015; 4-4-2023 by L.L. No. 16-2023]
(1)
The
Commissioner of the Department of Health Services, or his or her designee,
who shall serve as Chairman.
(2)
The
Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development, or his or
her designee.
(3)
The
Commissioner of the Department of Social Services, or his designee.
(4)
A representative
of the Long Island Farm Bureau.
(5)
Two
food equity advocates, to be selected by the County Legislature.
(6)
A representative
of food retailers, to be selected by the County Legislature.
(7)
A representative
of food processors, to be selected by the County Legislature.
(8)
A representative
of food distributors, to be selected by the County Legislature.
(9)
Representatives
of two community-based groups, to be selected by the County Legislature.
(10)
A
representative of local food workers, to be selected by the County
Legislature.
(11)
The
Presiding Officer of the County Legislature, or his or her designee.
(12)
The
Chair of the County Legislature's Environment and Planning Committee,
or his or her designee.
(13)
A
representative of the seafood industry.
(14)
The
County Executive, or his designee.
(15)
A
local public school district administrator, to be selected by the
Legislature.
(16)
A
representative from the health care field, to be selected by the Legislature.
B.
The members
of said Council shall serve without compensation.
[Amended 7-8-2015 by L.L.
No. 28-2015]
All appointed members of the Food Policy Council shall serve
for a term of three years. Any appointed member of this Council who
is absent from four consecutive regular meetings, unless excused by
resolution thereof, shall be deemed to have vacated his/her position
on this Council. Vacancies occurring in such office otherwise than
by the expiration of the term shall be filled for the unexpired balance
of the term.
A.
The Council
shall hold its first meeting no later than 30 days after the oaths
of office of all members have been filed, which meeting shall be convened
by the Chairman of the Council, for the purpose of organization and
the appointment of a Vice Chairperson and a Secretary.
B.
The Council
shall hold regular meetings, keep a record of all its proceedings
and determine the rules of its own proceedings, with special meetings
to be called by the Chairperson upon his or her own initiative or
upon receipt of a written request therefor signed by at least three
members of the Council. Written notice of the time and place of such
special meetings shall be given to each member at least four days
before the date fixed by the notice for such special meeting. The
Council shall hold at least four meetings per year.
C.
A majority
of the full Council shall constitute a quorum to transact the business
of the Council at both regular and special meetings.
The Council may submit requests to the County Executive and
the County Legislature for approval for the provision of secretarial
services, travel expenses or the retention of consultants to assist
the Council with such endeavors, said total expenditures not to exceed
$5,000 per fiscal year, which services shall be subject to legislative
approval.
Clerical services involving the month-to-month operation of
this Council, as well as supplies and postage as necessary, will be
provided by the staff of the County Department of Health Services.
A.
The Council
may conduct public hearings at any place or places within the County
of Suffolk for the purpose of obtaining necessary information or other
data to assist it in the proper performance of its duties and functions
as it deems necessary. The Council will conduct at least two public
hearings each year.
B.
The Council
may delegate to any member of the Council the power and authority
to conduct such hearings.
The Council shall submit a written annual report of its activities
together with its recommendations for action, if any, to the County
Executive and to each member of the County Legislature no later than
January 31 of each year, for the prior calendar year activities, for
consideration, review and appropriate action, if necessary, by the
entire County Legislature.
None of the work contemplated by this chapter shall be performed
by any outside consultant or consulting firm unless explicit approval
and authorization for such consultant or consulting firm is granted
pursuant to a duly enacted resolution of the County Legislature.
