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Home My WebLink AboutAAC 2018-06-28 agenda.pdfCity of Maple Ridge AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA June 28, 2018, 7:00 pm Blaney Room, Maple Ridge City Hall 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 3.ADOPTION OF MINUTES – May 17, 2018 4.DELEGATIONS 5.QUESTION PERIOD 6.NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. Farm Tour 2018 6.2. Workshop and Event Updates 6.2.1. Metro Vancouver AAC Update 6.2.2. Ministry of Agriculture AAC Workshop 6.2.3. Langley Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Invitation 7.SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1. Backyard Chickens 7.2. Education 7.3. Food Distribution 7.4. Food Garden 7.5. Golden Harvest 7.6. Terms of Reference 8.CORRESPONDENCE 9.ROUNDTABLE 10.ADJOURNMENT Next Meeting: September 27, 2018 Agenda Submission Deadline: September 13, 2018 QUESTION PERIOD Question Period provides the public with the opportunity to ask questions or make comments on subjects that are of concern to them. Each person will be given 2 minutes to speak. Up to ten minutes in total is allotted for Question Period. /aa City of Maple Ridge AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE REGULAR MEETING The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, held in the Blaney Room, at Maple Ridge Municipal Hall on May 17, 2018, 2018 at 7:07 pm. ____________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Councillor Craig Speirs City of Maple Ridge Margaret Daskis, Chair Member at Large Stephanie James, Vice-Chair Agricultural Sector Al Kozak Agricultural Sector Bill Hardy Member at Large Candace Gordon Haney Farmers Market Society Ian Brooks Member at Large Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Ryan Murphy Agricultural Sector STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Amanda Grochowich Staff Liaison / Planning Department Joanne Georgelin Records Management Assistant REGRETS Chris Zabek Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture David Kaplan Member at Large Josef Hans Lara Economic Development Committee Representative Kamelli Mark Agricultural Land Commission 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA R/2018-020 It was moved and seconded That the May 17, 2018 Agricultural Advisory Committee agenda be approved as circulated. CARRIED 3.ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES R/2018-021 It was moved and seconded That the minutes of the Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated April 5, 2018 be adopted. CARRIED 3.0 Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes May 17, 2018 Page 2 of 4 4. DELEGATIONS 4.1. Young Agrarians • Sara Dent, Young Agrarians BC Program Manager Sara Dent gave a presentation on how the Young Agrarians program works. 4.2. Food Hub Implementation Plan Update • Ione Smith, Upland Agriculture Consulting Ione Smith gave a presentation on the Maple Ridge Food Hub draft plan. Ms. Smith reviewed the project objectives, methodology, implementation plan, and next steps. R/2018-022 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee endorses the Maple Ridge Food Hub Implementation Draft Final Report and support the proposed public consultation program. CARRIED 5. QUESTION PERIOD Christian Cowley requested a copy of the Maple Ridge Food Hub draft plan and offered a windshield survey he could supply of local farmers. 6. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. Langley Sustainable Agriculture Foundation Invitation R/2018-023 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee accepts the Langley Sustainable Agriculture Foundation (LSAF) invitation and nominates Al Kozak and one other member to attend on behalf of the Committee. CARRIED 6.2. Farm Tour 2018 Bill Hardy reported no updates at this time. Lorraine Bates reported that the North Fraser Therapeutic Riding Association has offered to be part of the tour. 6.3 Conference and Workshop Updates The Chair reported on concerns of farmers about real estate pressure and the availability of quality water specifically in Richmond and Delta. Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes May 17, 2018 Page 3 of 4 6.3.1 Metro Vancouver AAC Update Bill Hardy requested a Metro Vancouver AAC presentation at a future meeting. The Chair reported on grant funding possibly available for the Agricultural Fair/Country Fest. 6.3.2 Ministry of Agriculture AAC Workshop Item deferred to next meeting. 6.4 City of Maple Ridge Farm Protection Development Permit Guidelines Discussion The Staff liaison recommended the item be deferred to a future meeting once updates are available. 7. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1. Backyard Chickens Lorraine Bates reported the 4H Club will be doing a large display at the Maple Ridge Fair. 7.2. Education Al Kozak commented on the informative presentation by Sara Dent and proposed the Young Agrarian website be more accessible to community members. Councillor Speirs recommended the Young Agrarians reappear on a future agenda to discuss what the Committee should report to Council on the Young Agrarian organization. Discussion was held on tying this matter in with a work plan item for the 2019 year. R/2018-024 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee supports the Land Linking initiative of the Young Agrarians and a weblink be placed on the City of Maple Ridge webpage. CARRIED 7.3. Food Garden Stephanie James reported on the promotion of the program over the next few months to ensure the message gets out. 7.4. Golden Harvest The Staff liaison provided an update on the on-going process of filling the Golden Harvest 2018 Coordinator position. 7.5. Terms of Reference The Chair reviewed the proposed action developed at the Terms of Reference subcommittee meeting on Thursday May 3 2018. The proposed action requests that the Planning Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes May 17, 2018 Page 4 of 4 Department, through the Staff liaison, advise the AAC members of land use policies of changes that may impact agricultural land, whether ALR or non-ALR, or those where changes to activities may affect agricultural practices, such as but not exclusively, water management, landscape changes near agricultural land or activities, noxious pest or weed control programs, major development or recreational activities. R/2018-025 It was moved and seconded That the Staff liaison will take this proposed action back to staff to review and further develop to return on a future agenda. CARRIED 8. CORRESPONDENCE 9. ROUNDTABLE Ryan Murphy reported on current farm work underway including returning workers, irrigation and drainage. Councillor Speirs reported on his garden beds. Bill Hardy reported on the possible expansion of his greenhouse production area. Mr. Hardy shared his experience as a guest speaker at Local Voices event at the Maple Ridge Library. Lorraine Bates provided an update on Country Fest planning, events, and grants. Ian Brooks reported the Ministry of Forests is drilling an automatic well in Ruskin to better monitor well water conditions of the aquifer. Al Kozak shared his experiences with the young agrarians he is working with on his farm and his Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) box. Mr. Kozak reported on his excellent garlic crop this year. Candace Gordon reported on staff updates at the Haney Farmers Market and advised that the 2018 regular season opened last week with 60 booths. Ms. Gordon reported on the Provincially expanded food coupon program and noted a gap with our local seniors coupons. Stephanie James reported everything is blooming very well on her farm. The Staff liaison extended gratitude from the City of Maple Ridge to all members of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for the volunteer hours and passion for agriculture they provide to the community. 10. ADJOURNMENT – 9:30 pm M. Daskis, Chair /jg