Santa Fe City and County Advisory Council on Food Policy

Santa Fe City and County, Advisory Council on Food Policy Thursday, September 11, 2025, 9:00AM-11AM In-Person: Santa Fe Farmer’s Market Institute:1607 Paseo De Peralta, Santa Fe, NM 87501 and on Zoom A. CALL TO ORDER​ ​ 9:04am​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ B. ROLL CALL Nate Crail - Present Maria Sanchez-Tucker - Present Eric Renz-Whitmore - Present David Sundberg - Present Susan Perry - Present Emigdio Ballon - Excused Tejinder Ciano - Present Said Assali - Present Jasmine Meyer - Excused Peter Ives – Present Coy Maienza - Present We have a quorum. Staff: Helen Henry Ram Roy is on vacation Guests: Harrison Gibson (and Josephine) Marko Alarid White, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty James Martinez, SF County Joseph Scala, SF County Amanda Bregal, Food Depot Hvtce Miller, SF County C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA –September 11, 2025 [ACTION]​ ​ ​ ​ Prioritization and Agenda Order​ Motion to approve the agenda with the removal of item G: David Second: Sue Approved ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ D. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES – August 14, 2025 [ACTION]​ ​ ​ ​ Motion to approve: Said Second: Sue Approved ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ E. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE FLOOR​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ None ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ F. INITIATIVES AND ACTIONS​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1. Federal Updates 2. Critical Timeline of the impacts of Federal funding cuts in the state. [Action] Hvtce shared that he doesn’t have any updates as we are still waiting for things to sort themselves out. He added that the changes to the work requirements to SNAP are expected go into place in October 2026. The Federal Budget Stabilization Committee (of the NM Legislature) is has been conducting monthly meetings, leading up to a special session in October. From the chat from Marco: The excepted categories for the work requirements are changing but we need more clarification concerning categories like "Indian" and "Urban Indian" in terms of what that will look like in practice. Action: Hvtce will send out the timeline that LFC is providing for this to the interim committees. Question from David about SNAP benefits and helping people navigate the changing landscape around applying, etc.? Marco said that these changes are effective as of July 4th (2025), and then that started the 120-day grace period so looking at November for these changes coming into effect. David said that the whole focus seems to be to get people to not stay with their benefits by being discouraging and confusing for people and that is causing people to go into panic mode for insurance trying to draw out as many of their benefits for Double Up Food Bucks as they can now. Marco: Some of the exclusion categories are going to change broadly. Hopefully we will be able to have this sorted out soon. Amanda: (reporting from a hearing that took place on 9/10) The Heath Care Authority until about a few weeks ago was focused the cost sharing that was going to be active in 2027 and so they're just now starting to share with LFC about the numbers of New Mexicans that are going to be losing SNAP and the narrowing of benefits beginning in October of 2025. The state is working to fix the error rate so that we have to pay less of the cost share. The takeaway is that more things will kick in faster than we thought. Amanda: The Food Depot and Roadrummer have been asking for numbers from HCA about numbers of people who are being kicked off SNAP. The general presumption was there would be about 58,000 people who would be kicked off SNAP. The state creating a temporary program to help specific groups who could be losing benefits because of their classification, but the timeline of people losing those benefits is what's still confusing as well as where those people are located, which is something the food banks need to know in order to increase services. David said that because people need to update their information so that they don’t get disenrolled, this is an advocacy effort that needs to happen. Amanda, from the chat: HCA reports an estimated 16,220 New Mexicans could lose SNAP benefits due to their immigration status. HCA states about 55,750 New Mexicans receiving SNAP will be newly subject to work requirements, with 20,070 New Mexicans likely to lose SNAP benefits due to work requirements. HCA reports approximately 20,077 New Mexicans could see a reduction in SNAP benefits due changes in deduction allowances. David said that the GSNIP program which supports Double Up Food Bucks, NMFMA got an extension through Sept 2026, so this program will continue to be funded and it also has some state funding which will support people to shop at farmers’ markets. They've also been trying to get an exemption to some of the rules so that proteins such as pecans will be allowed to be included as proteins as well as exemptions for some culturally-appropriate foods such as chiles. David also mentioned a pilot program for proteins at some farmers’ markets (similar to Double Up Food Bucks) which has been very popular. So this could be a really good advocacy focus for Santa Fe Food Policy Council which can support health and nutrition within the community and also support our local economy as well. The advocacy effort would need to be in conjunction with New Mexico Farmers Marketing Association, because they're the holders of the GUSNIP grant, so supporting their efforts through letters of support, etc. Hvtce asked if there was anything the Council would like to put forward before the special session? Peter said that letting the legislators know that we are available to support their efforts is important. Action: Hvtce is available to work with anyone on the Council to put something together. 3. Update to the Food Plan -summary comments [Action] Peter suggested putting together a committee to work on this to get broader input. Peter can participate on this committee. Action: Helen will send out the links to the Plan again. Action: Helen will send out a summary of the suggested changes to everyone for feedback. Sue and Helen will be meeting next week to discuss the website redesign. Much of the website is about the Food Plan so we will be doing these two things in tandem. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ G. PRESENTATIONS: ​​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Senator Trujillo (invited)or alternate?​ ​ H. STAFF COMMUNICATIONS Website re-build and transfer- Deadline for bios and head shot from Council members Action: Eric will check on the progress of the application for the website redesign and Food Plan updates. We’ve received photos and bios for everyone on the Council​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ I. ITEMS FROM THE COUNCIL​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​  Member check-in Maria announced that the city’s Senior Services Division has had 3 senior managers retire. They have a nutrition manager position open at the Senior Center which is posted. They will also be looking for an overall program manager for the Senior Services Division. The senior centers serve about 200 meals/day and about 700 meals are delivered to people’s homes. Amanda shared that the Food Depot is upgrading their food bus program which brings food into communities and allows people to choose what they want. They will be doing a launch soon. Peter will circulate a water report to everyone. Sue gave an update on people who are being trained by the PEARLS programs to be able to help older people who are isolated. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ J. ITEMS FROM THE CHAIR​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 1. SFFPC progress Reports to City Council and County BCC-start date? 2. Discussion of Public Education meeting​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3 New member update​ We are working on having someone to replace Shana.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 4. Next Meeting: October 9, 2025: In-Person Santa Fe County Extension (Zoom available) ​ 6.Topics for future presentations David mentioned that there are programs around the state that are supporting agricultural initiatives, like Healthy Soil Program, Farmer Innovation Program, Healthy Food Finance Initiative, etc. These could serve as a way to more deeply focus discussion and show how there's a lot of alignment between these Action: David will send an email to the Executive Committee about this. Peter also brought up that there are ongoing discussions about meeting the needs of people who do not have housing in light of the situaltion around the future of Pete’s Place. Peter has contacts with people who could present on this. K. ADJOURNMENT 10:12am David moved Sue seconded Approved These notes were taken contemporaneously and may contain errors and omissions. Signed by ___________________________ Helen Henry. I verify that these notes have been approved by a quorum of members of the Santa Fe Food Policy Council. Signed by Susan Perry, Co-chair or, Peter Ives, Co-chair _____________________________________________________