Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2019-05-23 agenda.pdfCity of Maple Ridge AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGENDA Thursday, May 23, 2019 7:00 pm Blaney Room, Maple Ridge City Hall 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES – April 25, 2019 4. DELEGATIONS 5. QUESTION PERIOD 6. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. Farm stand directional signage 6.2. Golden Harvest 6.3. Prioritization of agricultural plan action items 6.4. Backyard chickens 7. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1. Food Garden Contest 8. CORRESPONDENCE 9. ROUNDTABLE 10. ADJOURNMENT Next Meeting: June 27, 2019 Agenda Submission Deadline: June 13, 2019 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 MEETING MINUTES The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, held in the Blaney Room, at Maple Ridge Municipal Hall on April 25, 2019 at 7:03 pm. ____________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Councillor Gordy Robson City of Maple Ridge Bill Hardy, Chair Member at Large Al Kozak, Vice Chair Agricultural Sector Andrew Pozsar Member at Large Candace Gordon Haney Farmers Market Society Carla Schiller Agricultural Sector Chris Zabek Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture Ian Brooks Member at Large Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Michelle Franklin Member at Large Ryan Murphy Agricultural Sector STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Amanda Grochowich Staff Liaison / Planning Department Amanda Allen Committee Clerk ABSENT Councillor Ryan Svendsen City of Maple Ridge Pascale Shaw Agricultural Sector Note: Councillor Svendsen was not in attendance. 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA R/2019-017 It was moved and seconded That the April 25, 2019 Agricultural Advisory Committee agenda be approved as circulated. CARRIED 3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES R/2019-018 It was moved and seconded That the minutes of the Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated March 28, 2019 be adopted. CARRIED Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes April 25, 2019 Page 2 of 4 4. DELEGATIONS 4.1. Let’s Get Farming Maple Ridge  Andrew Poszar Mr. Poszar gave a PowerPoint presentation sharing his experience while visiting a Fraser Valley poultry hatchery and the methods practiced at the hatchery. Mr. Poszar provided the following information:  Methods practiced at the hatchery  Study of nine cities of maximum allowable coverage on ALR land  Purpose of study: which is most farm friendly in Lower Mainland  Recommendations: education of City staff and public and changing bylaws to welcome farming  Food Hub There was discussion on the presentation and it was requested that an edited version of the presentation be shared with City of Maple Ridge staff. R/2019-019 It was moved and seconded That the April 25, 2019 Let’s Get Farming Maple Ridge presentation be forwarded to City of Maple Ridge staff for comment on the history of low maximum lot coverage for properties located in the Agricultural Land Reserve. CARRIED 5. QUESTION PERIOD - Nil 6. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1. Bill 15 – 2019 Agricultural Land Commission Amendment Act - discussion The Chair summarized some earlier apprehension about Bill 15 and provided an update on the latest commentary and discussion around the intention of Bill 15. 6.2. Vancouver Farmers Markets Direct – follow up discussion Councillor Robson provided an update on the Friends in Need Food Bank perishable food recovery program. Al Kozak will follow up with the Friends in Need Food Bank Executive Director and the Vancouver Farmers Markets Direct Manager. There was interest in extending an invitation to the Food Bank and Vancouver Farmers Markets Direct to present their model at a future meeting. There was discussion on next steps and logistics of a Food Hub operation. 6.3. Incorporation of agriculture on City of Maple Ridge website – follow up Al Kozak gave a PowerPoint presentation providing the following information:  Purpose of website  Farm directory  Consolidate information resources  Links to municipal/provincial websites Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes April 25, 2019 Page 3 of 4  Connecting farms to buyers and buyers to farms  Costs to establish new website  Review of CMR website  recommendations Mr. Kozak will bring back specific recommendations at a future meeting and will work with the municipal website developers to suggest improvements for the existing website. 6.4. Prioritization of agricultural plan action items The Chair provided an update on the status of the Booth in a Box grant application through Metro Vancouver. 6.5. Golden Harvest 2019 The staff liaison summarized the Golden Harvest event. There was discussion on whether to hold the event in 2019 and potential sponsorship involvement with local organizations and agencies. The Golden Harvest subcommittee will schedule a meeting to discuss the event and report back at the next meeting. 6.6. Workshop and Event Updates 6.6.1. Metro Vancouver AAC The Metro Vancouver AAC meeting minutes will be circulated as part of the next agenda. 6.6.2. Agricultural Land Use Planning in the Lower Mainland Policy Forum Chris Zabek summarized the forum hosted by Metro Vancouver and UNBC. 7. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1. Backyard Chickens The staff liaison advised a best practices report is in development for Council review. There was discussion on how other municipalities are handling backyard chickens. 7.2. Education 7.2.1. Let’s Get Farming summary Al Kozak provided a summary and highlights of the Let’s Get Farming event with speakers Dr. Wallapak Polasub, Kim Grout and Chris Zabek. There was discussion on agricultural millrates in Maple Ridge and neighbouring communities. R/2019-020 It was moved and seconded That the AAC direct the staff liaison to provide a community comparison on agricultural millrates and extend an invitation to the Finance Department to present at a future AAC meeting. CARRIED Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes April 25, 2019 Page 4 of 4 7.2.2. Booth in a Box – update - Nil 7.3. Food Garden Contest The Staff liaison reported on the launch of the contest. 8. CORRESPONDENCE 8.1. Upcoming Events May 11, 2019 9:00 am – 2:00 pm May 11, 2019 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Haney Farmers Market – Opening Day Memorial Peace Park, (11900 224 Street) Organizer: Haney Farmers Market Society Design Workshop Sneak Peek Glenwood Elementary (21410 Glenwood Avenue) Organizer: City of Maple Ridge May 16, 2019 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm North East Albion Open House Samuel Robertson Technical (10445 245 Street) Organizer: City of Maple Ridge 9. ROUNDTABLE Members received verbal reports on local agricultural topics and activities. 10. ADJOURNMENT – 9:07 pm. Bill Hardy, Chair /aa