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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2021-06-24 agenda.pdf City of Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee AGENDA Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 7:00 pm Held via Zoom Teleconference Meeting Access Information To practice social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic we will be holding the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) meeting via Zoom teleconference. All participants including members of the AAC and the public are asked to join the meeting from home using the following access information: Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone https://mapleridge-ca.zoom.us/j/99299359284?pwd=YmVDcjl6NElzMkZUT0k3b3JFMm1JZz09 Or join the meeting using your phone Dial: +17789072071 Meeting ID: 992 9935 9284 Passcode: 376486 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA 3. ADOPTION OF MINUTES – April 22, 2021 4. DELEGATIONS 4.1 Empowering Farmers with DirectFood.Store Colin Schmidt, SR VP, Product Development, DiretFood.Store 5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1. Agriculture Education Update 6. LIAISON UPDATES 6.1. Staff Liaison 6.2. Council Liaison 7. TASK FORCE UPDATES 7.1. 2021 Food and Garden Contest 8. QUESTION PERIOD 9. ROUNDTABLE 10. ADJOURNMENT Next Meeting: September 30, 2021 Agenda Submission Deadline: September 9, 2021 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. sc/ MAPLE R l □GE tir.JJ ■h Cil1111n1a map eridge ,ca City of Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee MEETING MINUTES The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee, held via Zoom teleconference on May 27, 2021 at 7:00 pm ____________________________________________________________________________________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Councillor Gordy Robson Council Liaison Bill Hardy, Chair Member at Large Carla Schiller, Vice Chair Member at Large Pascale Shaw Member at Large Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Representative Conley Keyes B.C. Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member) Angela Boss B.C. Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member) STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Adam Rieu Staff Liaison, Planner 1 Sabina Chand Committee Clerk, Legal and Legislative Services COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT Melissa Maltais Fraser North Farmers Market Society Representative Andrew Pozsar Member at Large Shannon Lambie Agriculture Land Commission (Non-voting member) 1. CALL TO ORDER 2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA R/2021-009 It was moved and seconded That the agenda for the May 27, 2021 Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be approved as circulated. CARRIED 3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES R/2021-010 It was moved and seconded That the minutes of the April 22, 2021 Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be adopted as circulated. CARRIED 4. DELEGATIONS Note: Carla Schiller joined at 7:17 pm MAPl.~ R l □GE tlr-JJ1h Cah11r:111 map endg;e ,ca Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes May 27, 2021 Page 2 of 3 4.1 Proposed Innovation District on Sumas Mountain − Gavin Dew, Chief Strategic Advisor to Abbotsford Tech District Gavin Dew presented on the Abbotsford Tech District project, highlights included: a proposed development of a high-tech hub located on Sumas Mountain, agriculture innovation in BC and establishment of the B.L. Au Centre for innovation and food security. Note: G. Dew left at 7:37 pm At this time the Committee welcomed new member Conley Keyes, B.C. Ministry of Agriculture representative. The Chair thanked previous representative, Angela Boss for all her support and commitment on the Committee. 5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 2021 Grant Application Lorraine Bates proposed a grant application for the 2021 Country Festival which is scheduled for July 16 to July 29, 2021. L. bates spoke about key elements of the project and challenges associated with raising funds during the pandemic. The Committee discussed the importance of supporting agriculture and farmers during COVID-19. R/2021-011 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee approves the 2021 Country Festival grant application for $1,000. CARRIED Lorraine Bates did not vote 5.2 Annual Presentation to Council The Chair advised that the Staff Liaison and Chair will provide a report to Council this year that summarizes AAC’s initiatives over the past and asked the Committee to provide their feedback. 5.3 AAC Educational Opportunities The Committee discussed many ways to promote and educate the public on agriculture:  speaker series webinars open to the public: topics included pollinators, understanding what it means to live in a farming community, celebrate agriculture week, soil health and food security;  C. Keyes to provide a report on Maple Ridge agriculture community feedback;  short videos to display different examples of agriculture in Maple Ridge;  B.C farming resource link: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural- resources-and-industry/agriculture-and-seafood/agricultural-land-and- environment/strengthening-farming/planning-for- agriculture/countryside_and_you_booklet.pdf  Staff Liaison and C. Keyes to organize a webinar for June 2021. Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes May 27, 2021 Page 3 of 3 5.4 Farm Vehicle Awareness in Maple Ridge The Staff Liaison advised that the City’s Engineering Department is supportive of raising public awareness on farm vehicles in Maple Ridge. The Staff Liaison will work with Conley Keyes and the Communications Department to introduce information on farm vehicle awareness on the City’s website. Further update will be provided at the next meeting. 6. LIAISON UPDATES 6.1 Staff Liaison The Staff Liaison advised that AAC previously received $2,250 from Metro Vancouver for outreach education that has yet to be used. 6.2 Council Liaison - NIL Note: A. Boss left at 8:27 pm 7. TASK FORCE UPDATES 7.1 2021 Food and Garden Contest The Staff Liaison shared that the contest has received over 60 entries. Discussion followed on submission guidelines and promotion of early bird draw prizes. 7.2 Promotion of Agriculture – Booth in a Box Project No further update. 8. QUESTION PERIOD – NIL 9. ROUNDTABLE Members provided verbal reports on local agricultural topics and activities. 10. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m. The next regular meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2021 at 7:00 pm. Bill Hardy, Chair /sc