Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2014-01-23 minutes.pdfAgricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 1 of 6 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, January 23, 2014 at 7:00 pm. ______________________________________________________________________ ________ COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Candace Gordon Community at Large Councillor Cheryl Ashlie Council Liaison, Maple Ridge Chris Zabek Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Craig Speirs Haney Farmer’s Market Kimberly Lauzon Community at Large Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Margaret Daskis Community at Large Bill Hardy Community at Large Georgina Rodriguez Agricultural Sector Ian Brooks Community at Large Stephanie James Equestrian Agricultural Sector STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Diana Hall Staff Liaison, Planning Department Joanne Georgelin Committee Clerk COMMITTEE MEMBERS REGRETS Tony Pellet Agricultural Land Commission Councillor Bob Masse Council Liaison, Maple Ridge Al Kozak Agricultural Sector Karoline deVries Economic Advisory Commission 1.Call to Order & Introductions There being a quorum present, Chair Gordon called the meeting to order at 7:09 pm. Introductions and welcome were made. 2.Adoption of the Agenda R14-001 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agenda dated January 23 , 201 4 be adopted with the following amendment : Item 4.1 be deferred to a future date. CARRIED Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, January 23, 2014 - Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 2 of 6 3.Adoption of the Agricultural Advisory Committee Regular Meeting Minutes R14-002 Motion was moved and seconded That the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 24,2013 be adopted with the following amendment: Item 1: Stephanie James chaired the meeting. Item 2: Remove the words “addition of ”. CARRIED 4.Delegations & Presentations - Deferred 4.1 Tentative Perspectives of New Emerging Farmers- Attendees of Richmond Farm School. 5.Current & Unfinished Business 5.1 True North Fraser Program – staff report attached Diana Hall reviewed the staff report regarding the True North Fraser signage program which recently went before Council. Councillor Ashlie commented on Council’s viewpoint regarding this report which was sent back to the Committee for final review become returning to Council again. Ms. Hall informed members that Sandy Blue from Strategic Economic Initiatives will be attending a future Council meeting to further explain how the Invest North Fraser brand was developed. R14-003 Motion was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee accepts the staff report titled True North Fraser Program and refer this document back to council. CARRIED Craig Speirs pointed out that private signs will roll out first with this program and noted that Mission and Pitt Meadows are already onboard with their online presence of the True North Fraser brand. Diana Hall clarified that the True North Fraser brand trademark research is a line item in this year’s budget for AAC. 5.2 Business Planning – 2014-2018 Diana hall reviewed the business plan for 2014-2018. Notable items in the budget include: o Implementation of the Agricultural Plan o Bike Tour Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, January 23, 2014 - Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 3 of 6 o Signage program o Recruiting new members o Agricultural land inventory Please note: Committee members chose to discuss another topic at this time. 5.3 Recommended budget to be distributed Diana Hall reviewed the recommended budget with the committee for 2014. Kimberly Lauzon explained about the proposed 2014 bike tour item. Diana Hall clarified that the signage program will not just include signs, but will also be used for promotions regarding the True North Fraser brand. Ms. Hall explained that the brand trademark item on the budget is an estimate which has come from the District staff. Craig Speirs suggested a re-launch of the True North Fraser brand could be appropriate this year and suggested we host a regional agricultural meeting to help with exposure of this brand. Candace Gordon suggested this meeting could be part of the “committee development” item which already has funds set aside for items such as this. R14-004 Motion was moved and seconded That the line item Golden Harvest be reduced to $4,000 from $5,000 with the $1,000 being relocated to the Grants line item. CARRIED R14-005 Motion was moved and seconded That the 2014 AAC budget be adopted as presented with the exception of the above noted motion regarding Golden Harvest. CARRIED 5.4 Update from Strategic Economic Initiatives Department Diane Hall discussed a recent email she received from Strategic Economic Initiatives with the subject of the True North Fraser brand. Ms. Hall explained that Sandy Blue, Manager of Strategic Economic Initiates suggested the AAC cost share a “rack card” with them promoting the brand and would go out in the tax notices. The AAC’s estimated share would be $400. Further discussions with Strategic Economic Initiatives focused on a recommended ‘meet and greet’ with the CHC committee and other committees of council used to promote communications between committees and to look at joint work. This could happen as early as March 2014. R14-006 Motion was moved and seconded Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, January 23, 2014 - Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 4 of 6 That the AAC agree to a networking meeting titled “intersections ”for March where AAC would collaborate with the other committees of council for the sharing of knowledge. CARRIED Please note: A subcommittee was struck including Kim Lauzon, Margaret Daskis, and Craig Speirs to work on the networking conference as noted above. 5.5 Food Security (Regional Food Strategy Roundtable) Margaret Daskis gave an update on the November 20th Regional Food Strategy Roundtable she recently attended with Kim Lauzon. 5.6 Small Lot Farming workshop Bill Hardy gave a brief overview of the recent Small Lot Farming workshop he attended where attendance was well over the anticipated numbers. Councillor Ashlie proposed the AAC write a letter to ask if we could be a location for one of these workshops in the future. 6.Sub-committee Reports 6.1 Front Yard Food Garden Contest & Council Presentation Stephanie James updated members regarding the Front Yard Food Garden Contest and explained the awards were presented at a Council meeting this year instead of at the Golden Harvest. It was well received. 6.2 Golden Harvest – nil 7.Correspondence 7.1 City of Salmon Arm letter to BC AAC’s.Core review –Agricultural Land Commission Candace Gordon reviewed this letter which Salmon Arm sent in support of the ALC. Councillor Ashlie confirmed that Council received a copy of this letter as well. R14-007 Motion was moved and seconded That AAC adopt the recommendation as written to BC AAC by the City of Salmon Arm and recommend that Council write a letter of support for the Agricultural Land Commission. CARRIED 8.Roundtable Candace Gordon shared that the CBC was recently at the Billy Minor Ale House and featured Mayor Daykin and Brian Underhill from the ALC who discussed the agriculture land reserve. Councillor Ashlie noted that Council had an application to put 5 acres into the land reserve. Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, January 23, 2014 - Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 5 of 6 Craig Speirs commented that February 17 is the Haney Farmers Market AGM and that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Farmers Market. Stephanie James commented that she discovered recently that only licensed farmers can purchase rodent control products. Lorraine Bates gave an update on the Agricultural Fair Board and that this year the fair will be celebrating two centennials.One will be the Pitt Meadows Centennial with a display of agriculture from a Pitt Meadows perspective and the second is the 100th anniversary of the 4H in BC. The fair will also be hosting the 4H alumni celebration. Ian Brooks expressed his gratitude to be part of this committee and commented that the Farmers Market is trying to set-up a seed exchange program this year. Kim Lauzon reported that a request for a name for the Food Coop has recently happened and that they are hoping to incorporate on March 4th. Margaret Daskis reported that a gluten free expo is happening this weekend at the PNE, and her facility is now a certified gluten free blending facility.Ms.Daskis also noted she was contacted recently by a company in China is looking for blueberry growers that would like to sign a 100 year agreement with them. Chris Zabek commented that the Pacific Agriculture Show is coming up next week, Thursday to Saturday. 9.Public Questions and Answers Ken Knechtel, a local farmer posed the following questions to AAC: Can farmers get a at cost rate for water? Why are agricultural vehicles not exempted from tolls on the bridges? Could farmers access the District owned liquid fueling stations (with their own cards) due to the fact there is no where local for farm fuel. Ken further suggested that,although the signage program is interesting,it may be a good idea to ask farmers who would utilize it.He further commented there are several drainage issues in Silver Valley. The AAC reported that they will take these questions and comments into consideration for discussion at a future meeting. 10.Next Meeting -Thursday, February 27, 2014 Agenda Deadline -Monday, February 12, 2014 11.Adjournment 9:10 pm ________________________________ Chair Agricultural Advisory Committee Thursday, January 23, 2014 - Regular Meeting Minutes - Draft Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes Page 6 of 6 /jg