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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2015-05-28 minutes.pdf0Gep Roo(5 Groafor Hoigl>L< 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 the Maple Ridge Municipal Hall, 11995 Haney Place, Maple Ridge, British Columbia, on Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 7:00 pm. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Bill Hardy Stephanie James Candace Gordon Chris Zabek Margaret Daskis, Chair Councillor Speirs Al Kozak Lorraine Bates Kimberly Lauzon, Vice-chair GUESTS Christian Cowley Darren Stott Katie Robinson and Josh Baker STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Sunny Schiller Siobhan Murphy COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT Ian Brooks Georgina Rodriguez Jennifer Zickerman Councillor Duncan 1. CALL TO ORDER AND INTRODUCTIONS Member at Large Equestrian Agricultural Sector Haney Farmers Market Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Community at Large City of Maple Ridge Agricultural Sector Agricultural Fair Board Member at Large Executive Director, CEED Centre Society Greenchain Consulting Young Farmers Committee Clerk Staff Liaison, Planning Department Member at Large Agricultural Sector Agricultural Sector City of Maple Ridge There being a quorum present, Councillor Speirs called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. 2. AGENDA ADOPTION R15-001 It was moved and seconded That the Agenda be amended to include Items 5.8 Front yard food garden and 5.9 Budget update and be adopted as amended. CARRIED Agricultural Advisory Committee Page 1 of 4 ) . Regular Meeting of May 28, 2015 3. MINUTE ADOPTION R15-002 It was moved and seconded That the Minutes of November 27, 2014 and the notes of March 5, 2015 be adopted. CARRIED Lorraine Bates entered the meeting at 7:09 pm. 4. PRESENTATIONS 4.1 Christian Cowley, CEED Centre Society and Darren Stott, Greenchain Consulting - North Fraser Centre 4.2 Christian Cowley requested that the Agricultural Advisory Committee recommend to Council that Council work with CEED to create the North Fraser Centre. Mr. Cowley made a presentation on the proposed Centre, which would include a farm school, support for new farmers and the establishment of a community garden site. As the anchor tenant the CEED Centre would establish a farm on the site. Darren Stott provided an explanation of food hubs, which are an aggregation and distribution of local food by farmers. Examples of existing hubs in North America (including Vancouver) were provided. Local farmers have expressed interest in a hub and a feasibility study has been done. Katie Robinson and Josh Baker -Young Farmers Josh Baker and Katie Robinson are young farmers trying to become established in Maple Ridge. Mr. Baker and Ms. Robinson shared their experience seeking agricultural land in Maple Ridge. They explained that connecting land seekers with land owners, grants or incentives to encourage farm development and connecting food buyers with sellers would help farmers to begin a new farm. They highlighted the dwindling number of farmers, especially new/young farmers. 5. NEW & UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 2015 Chair and Vice-Chair Elections R15-002 It was moved and seconded That Margaret Daskis be appointed Agricultural Advisory Committee Chair. CARRIED R15-003 It was moved and seconded That Kimberley Lauzon be appointed Agricultural Advisory Committee Vice-Chair. CARRIED Ms. Daskis chaired the meeting following the election. Agricultural Advisory Committee Page 2 of 4 ) . Regular Meeting of May 28, 2015 R15-004 R15-005 5.2 Council Update Councillor Speirs provided an update on the review of the Advisory Committees. Feedback on potential future changes was provided by the committee. It was decided to proceed with Item 5.9 as the next item of business. 5.9 Budget Update The Staff Liaison reviewed the current budget. 5.3 Committee Business Plan Review The Business Plan was discussed. 5.4 Golden Harvest 5.5 The Committee discussed holding a 2015 Golden Harvest. The committee determined the event provides education regarding local agricultural products for the public and local restaurants and that planning should begin immediately for 2015. Candace Gordon volunteered to chair a Golden Feast sub-committee. Ms. Gordon will work with the Staff Liaison to check facility and school availability and hire a coordinator. $4,000 from the committee budget has been allocated for this event. Request for Support for Food Security Project Candace Gordon reported the Food Security table of the Community Network is working to create a food charter. The goal is to have the charter included in the sustainability plan being developed by the City. Ms. Gordon requested $3,500 from the AAC budget be spent to fund consultation with the community to develop the charter. The committee discussed how to determine which projects should be funded by the AAC budget. It was moved and seconded That the project proposed by Ms. Gordon be supported with a grant of $3,500 to support the development of the food charter. CARRIED Al Kozak, Bill Hardy OPPOSED 5.6 Agriculture and Real Estate Al Kozak provided a newspaper article from a lower mainland real estate publication and highlighted comments made in the article by realtors in regards to agricultural land as a real estate investment. It was moved and seconded That the real estate publication article be sent to Mayor and Council for their information. CARRIED Agricultural Advisory Committee Page 3 of 4 • Regular Meeting of May 28, 2015 5.7 Demo International -Councillor Craig Speirs Google "demo international" to find out what's happening in September 2017 in Maple Ridge. 5.8 Front Yard Food Garden This contest is an annual event to promote gardening in front yards. Stephanie James volunteered to chair the Front Yard Food Garden sub-committee. Kimberley Lauzon, Candace Gordon and Lorraine Bates volunteered to join the sub-committee. It was suggested that back yard gardens be included in the competition. The sub- committee will determine what categories will be included. 6. CORRESPONDENCE R15-006 7. 8. 9. Chair /ss A request for support of the Backyard Farming project was received from the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Agricultural Association. The project teaches Country Fest visitors how to grow their own food. After discussion It was moved and seconded That the Country Fest application for $1200 for the Backyard Farming project be approved. CARRIED ROUNDTABLE The planned marihuana growing facility in Whonnock was discussed. COMMUNITY FORUM -Nil ADJOURNMENT -9:27 pm NEXT MEETING: Thursday, June 25, 2015 AGENDA ITEM SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Monday, June 8, 2015 Agricultural Advisory Committee Page 4 of 4