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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2013-03-28 minutes.pdfAgricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 1 of 7 District 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 the Maple Ridge Municipal Hall,11995 Haney Place,Maple Ridge,British Columbia, on Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 7:08 p.m. ______________________________________________________________________ ________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Council Liaison, Maple Ridge Candace Gordon Community at Large Margaret Daskis Community at Large Stephanie James Equestrian Agricultural Sector Craig Speirs Haney Farmer’s Market Kimberly Lauzon Community at Large Bill Hardy Community at Large STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Diana Hall Staff Liaison, Planning Department Christina Stewart Committee Clerk GUESTS Steve Wynnyk COMMITTEE MEMBERS REGRETS Councillor Bob Masse Council Liaison, Maple Ridge Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Chris Zabek Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Tony Pellet Agricultural Land Commission 1.Call to Order & Introductions Note: Councillor Cheryl Ashlie assumed the role of Chair at the start of this meeting. There being a quorum present,Councilor Cheryl Ashlie called the meeting to order at 7:08 p.m. Introductions were made. 1.1 Appointment of the Chair & Vice-Chair Councillor Cheryl Ashlie reviewed the process for electing a Chair and Vice-Chair . Stephanie James nominated Candace Gordon for the role of the Chair and Craig Speers seconded the motion. Candace Gordon accepted the nomination. Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, March 28, 2013 - Regular Meeting Minutes Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 2 of 7 Craig Speers nominated Stephanie James for the role of Vice-Chair and Margaret Daskis seconded the motion.Stephanie James accepted the nomination. R13-004 Motion was moved and seconded That Candace Gordon be appointed as the Chair and Stephanie James be appointed as Vice-Chair to the Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee for the 2013 term. CARRIED Note: Candace Gordon assumed the role of Chair. 1.Adoption of the Agenda R13-005 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agenda dated February 28, 2013 be adopted with the following addition s: Item 5.6 Committee Vacancies Item 5.7 Proposed AAC Committee Budget Item 6.3 Buy Local program Discussion (Invest Agriculture Invest BC ) Item 6.4 Reg Ens Presentation Discussion CARRIED 2.Adoption of the Agricultural Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes R13-006 Motion was moved and seconded That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of March 28,2013 of the Agricultural Advisory Committee be amended to correct the spelling in action item 5.4 of ‘tol ’to ‘to’ and that the minutes as amended be adopted. CARRIED 3.Delegations & Presentations – Nil 4.Current and Unfinished Business 5.1 Kwantlen Polytechnic University Proposal – A Food System Design and Implementation Plan for Southwest British Columbia Diana Hall explained that Kwantlen Polytechnic University has not yet responded to her requests confirming the conditions of the proposed finances are met. Therefore, no funds have been released. Ms. Hall will update the Committee at the April meeting. 5.2 Medical Marijuana Bylaw update Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, March 28, 2013 - Regular Meeting Minutes Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 3 of 7 Councillor Cheryl Ashlie provided an update on the proposed Medical Marijuana Bylaw.The Bylaw will be addressed at the public hearing scheduled for April 16th 2013. 5.3 March 7,2013 Agricultural Brand Launch Event Update Diana Hall gave an overview of the Agricultural Brand Launch event. The Committee discussed the next stage of promotion of the True North Fraser Brand. Action Item: Discuss with staff posting the Agricultural Brand on the Maple Ridge website and the next steps for the True North Fraser Brand launch. R13-007 Motion was moved and seconded That a final report outlining the next steps in launc hing and promoting the True North Fraser Brand be requested from the Agricultural Brand Sub Committee . CARRIE D Action Item: Diana will send out the Brand Launch survey to the Committee. Action Item:Organize a Brand Launch sub-committee meeting to debrief and prepare the report. 5.4 Chamber of Commerce the Agricultural award Diana Hall handed out a list of the Chamber of Commerce awards and nominees. The Committee discussed types of awards they would like to see distributed at the Golden Harvest event in October,including an award for proprietors that support local agriculture. The Committee appointed Bill Hardy, Councillor Cheryl Ashlie and Kim Lauzon to the Agricultural Awards sub-committee. 5.5 2013 Sixth Biennial AAC workshop – March 13, 2013 Candace Gordon,Craig Speirs,Stephanie James and Kim Lauzon reviewed the 2013 Sixth Biennial AAC workshop,they attended.Some of the highlights and issues raised included: Masse Tunnel replacement: Richmond AAC support Tipping fees The Committee being involved in petitions to reclassify land from the ALR Edge Planning Bylaw enforcement of misused land in Surrey Water rebates for farmland Building awareness of Agricultural Issues Farm Signage - -- Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, March 28, 2013 - Regular Meeting Minutes Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 4 of 7 Action Item:Diana Hall will organize these topics into future agendas to allow more time for discussion and more preparation. Action Item:Diana Hall will acquire more information on the Masse Tunnel Replacement issues for next meeting. 5.6 Committee Vacancies Candace Gordon explained that there are three vacant positions that require people who are active farmers. The Committee discussed how to target farmers including,posting a general ad and encouraging the Committee members to ask other farmers to apply. Action Item:Diana Hall will email a draft of the ad and information on the recruitment. 5.7 Proposed AAC Committee Budget Diana Hall distributed and reviewed the proposed AAC Committee Budget. The Committee discussed various upcoming projects and budgets for them including supporting the True North Fraser Brand,the purchase of promotional tee shirts or aprons, intergenerational gardens and farm tours. R13-008 Motion was moved and seconded That ‘True North Fraser ’ aprons be purchased to a maximum of $500 Dollars CARRIE D Action Item: Diana Hall will organize the purchase of the aprons. R13-009 Motion was moved and seconded That the proposed 2013 AAC Budget be adopted. CARRIED 5.New Business 6.1 Turning Fallow Agricultural Land into Productive Land Study The Committee nominated Stephanie James and Kim Lauzon to compile a short report on the Turning Fallow Agricultural Land into Productive Land Study. 6.2 LMLGA Conference – Support for BC Associations Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions Councillor Cheryl Ashlie read out the Support for BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions motion carried by Council on March 19,2013 which will be -- - - Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, March 28, 2013 - Regular Meeting Minutes Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 5 of 7 sent to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association (“LGLMA)2013 Conference. R13-010 Motion was moved and seconded. That the Committee supports the m otion below: That the following resolution be forwarded to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association 2013 Conference: SUPPORT FOR BC ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS WHEREAS BC’s agricultural fairs and exhibitions are in the strategic position to continue and enhance their work of educating and promoting BC agriculture awareness through serving excess of 1.5 million visitors to BC’s agricultural fairs, exhibitions and related festivals each year; AND WHEREAS in over 50 communities throughout BC,the use of a combined total of 20,000+volunteers has resulted in affordable family entertainment and agriculture awareness; AND WHEREAS agriculture,food production and food security is an important economic contributor to the British Columbia economy; THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the LMLGA request that the provincial government negotiate a viable funding envelope with the BC Association of Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions to be included in the Ministry of Agriculture budget, in order to preserve the existence of agricultural fairs and exhibitions across the province. CARRIE D 6.3 Buy Local Program Discussion Margaret Daskis reported that funding for the buy local program is no longer available and that Municipal Committees are no longer eligible for the funding. Ms.Daskis further explained that the Committee can encourage local groups to collaborate on projects and apply for funding independently. 6.4 Reg Ens Presentation to AAC Committee in April Discussion Councillor Cheryl Ashlie led discussion on the upcoming presentation by Reg Ens, Executive Director of the BC Agriculture Council to the Committee. The Committee discussed inviting the agricultural community to the presentation and changing the venue to the Council Chambers.The Committee will not have a regular meeting in April but have the presentation instead. R13-011 Motion was moved and seconded. Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, March 28, 2013 - Regular Meeting Minutes Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 6 of 7 That the April AAC Committee meeting will comprise of the Reg Ens presentation and the local agricultural community will be invited to attend in Council Chambers . CARRIED 6.Sub-Committee Reports 7.1 Golden Harvest Event – review of event and budget – deferred 7.Correspondence - NIL 8.Roundtable Candace Gordon – reported that she received a United Way Food Security grant that will fund a program to teach low income people to make healthy meals. With the help of New Horizons, volunteers will help any people in the program that can not physically do all the food preparation. Stephanie James – reported that she acquired a new thoroughbred. Ms. James also reported in the news that Ontario Ministry of Agriculture passed a local food act to support, promote and sell local food. Craig Speirs - reported the Community Heritage Commission is compiling a heritage plan and he is hoping to highlight farming as part of local heritage. Mr. Speirs also reported that the Community Heritage Commission is still looking for people to complete their survey. There are many ways to fill out the survey including: on the Maple Ridge website or by paper copy or through Facebook. Action Item: Diana Hall will circulate the survey link again to the Committee. Kimberly Lauzon - reported that the draft market plan for a local coop food store has been completed and she is planning a fundraiser. Bill Hardy - reported he is seeking someone for part time work, doing labor and sales. Diana Hall -distributed to the Committee an email regarding organizing a series of long table dinner events to highlight the True North Fraser Brand products at the Golden Ears Cheesecrafters location. Ms. Hall encouraged the Committee to get involved. 9.Public Questions and Answers -Nil 11.Next Meeting -Thursday, April 25, 2013 7:00 p.m.in Council Chambers at Maple Ridge Municipal Hall Agenda Deadline -Wednesday, April 10, 2013 - Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, March 28, 2013 - Regular Meeting Minutes Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 7 of 7 12.Adjournment –9:1 5 pm ________________________________ Chair /cs