Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

To:      David L. Corliss, City Manager 

From: Eileen Horn, Sustainability Coordinator

CC:      Cynthia Wagner

Date:  July 13, 2011

RE:  Access to Healthy Foods Planning Grant Leadership Team

The Kansas Health Foundation just released an RFP for an Access to Healthy Foods Initiative. The Douglas County Community Foundation and the Lawrence/Douglas County Health Department are collaborating on a proposal for the City of Lawrence.  The initial grant is a one-year planning grant for communities to convene decision-makers in a policy planning process to improve Lawrence citizens’ access to healthy foods. 

The Foundation and Health Department are inviting a City Commissioner or designee to participate in a Leadership Team, whose responsibilities would include: 

-   Attending a lunch meeting once a month (or once every two months)

-   Editing/vetting the policy proposals provided by staff

-  Developing a list of policy recommendations to improve Lawrence residents’ access to healthy foods

This Leadership Team would have part-time staff to coordinate and provide research assistance, therefore the Commissioners’ role would primarily be in a policy advisory capacity.  Thus far, participants include the CEO of LMH, the Health Dept. director, USD 497, and County Commissioner Mike Gaughan.

 We need letters of commitment from the participating Commissioner(s) by Monday, July 25^th.

Thank you.