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Home My WebLink AboutAAC 2016-03-24 minutes.pdf) 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 Maple Ridge Municipal Hall on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 7:00 pm. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Margaret Daskis, Chair Al Kozak Councillor Speirs Bill Hardy Chris Zabek Candace Gordon Ian Brooks Stephanie James, Vice-Chair Jennifer Zickerman STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Siobhan Murphy Sunny Schiller REGRETS/ABSENTS Kimberley Lauzon Tony Pellet Lorraine Bates 1. CALL TO ORDER Community at Large Agricultural Sector City of Maple Ridge Member at Large Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands Haney Farmers Market Society Member at Large Equestrian Agricultural Sector Agricultural Sector Staff Liaison / Planner 2 Committee Clerk Member at Large Agricultural Land Comm ission Agricultural Fair Board There being a quorum present the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:05 pm. 2. R16-006 3. R16-007 AGENDA ADOPTION It was moved and seconded That the Agenda be amended to add Items 5.3 Funding Requests, 6.3 Albion Flats Update and 7.3 Educational Subcommittee Update and be adopted as amended. CARRIED MINUTE ADOPTION It was moved and seconded That the Minutes of January 28, 2016 be amended to correct Item 7.6 Water Availability and Pricing by removing "she attended" and to correct Roundtable -Margaret Daskis by replacing Canadian Institute of Food Technology with Canadian Institute of Food Science Technology and be adopted as amended. CARRIED 0 Jennifer Zickerman entered at 7:10 pm. AAC Minutes March 24, 2016 Page 2 of5 4. DELEGATIONS -Nil 5. NEW BUSINESS R16-008 5.1 True North Fraser website The Staff Liaison reported the True north Fraser website is still up but is not being updated. The committee discussed responsibility for maintaining the site and a communication strategy for the brand. Criteria for allowing the brand to be used were also discussed. The Staff Liaison will contact Diana Hall (former Staff Liaison) for the True North Fraser documentation previously gathered and contact the City of Pitt Meadows to check the status of their Agriculture committee. 5.2 Committee Recruitment The Committee Clerk updated the committee on the status of AAC membership. There are still two vacancies on the committee -one member at large and one member from the agricultural sector. 5.3 Funding requests A request for funding was received from the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Agricultural Association. A $1,200 contribution from the AAC would support the "Grow Food, Not Waste" program, which is organized to promote growing food for all types of people, and reducing and/or reusing organic wastes in a sustainable manner. It was moved and seconded That $1,200 from the Agricultural Advisory Committee budget be provided to the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Agricultural Association to support the Grow Food, Not Waste program. CARRIED The committee discussed how to evaluate funding requests. The Staff Liaison will create a draft application form for funding requests. The form will be available on line once it is finalized. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6.1 Backyard Chickens Councillor Speirs reported that Council has not yet addressed the issue of backyard chickens. Stephanie James reported that West Vancouver now has a bylaw allowing backyard chickens. Councillor Speirs volunteered to discuss the issue with Frank Quinn, General Manager, Public Works and Development Services. A response is required for the citizens who originally requested a backyard chicken bylaw. 6.2 Water Pricing and Availability 6.3 An update from the Metro Vancouver Ag Committee will be provided at the next AAC meeting. Albion Flats Update The Staff Liaison reported Jim Charlebois, Manager of Community Planning, recently met with Council regarding the Albion Flats plan. Feedback from Council and City AAC Minutes March 24, 2016 Page 3 of 5 departments will be incorporated into a draft plan. Potential land uses and the plan process were discussed. The Staff Liaison will provide an update at a future meeting. 7. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS 7.1 Golden Harvest 2016 Subcommittee Update Candace Gordon will set a meeting date for the Golden Harvest subcommittee prior to the next AAC meeting. 7.2 Agricultural Plan Update Councillor Speirs reported that Council has not yet reviewed the Agricultural Plan. 7.3 Education Subcommittee Al Kozak made a presentation which outlined the history of the Farmer's Market and their plans for the future. Mr. Kozak recently met with Lino Siracusa, Manager of Economic Development to discuss his ideas to develop the growth of local sustainable agriculture. Mr. Kozak is organizing an event to bring together local stakeholders to discuss agriculture in Maple Ridge. The draft agenda for the "Exploring Ways to Foster Local Sustainable Agriculture in Maple Ridge" event was reviewed. The event will be held on June 9th, 2016, with the support of Cinema Politica. It was suggested a request be made to have the City to promote the event. Jennifer Zickerman, Councillor Speirs and Ian Brooks volunteered to help with the event. 8. CORRESPONDENCE -Nil 9. ROUNDTABLE Bill Hardy reported on the recent International Green City Conference held in Vancouver. The successful event hosted 140 delegates from 18 different countries. The International Association of Horticultural Producers, in partnership with the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, provided delegates with a chance to see innovations in urban green infrastructure and planning first hand. A working committee was formed to publicize the idea of living, green cities through the use of living, green infrastructure. Visit canadanursery.com to see presentations from the conference. Stephanie James explained the idea of the "Wonky Vegetable Box" which promotes the use of less than perfect looking fruits and vegetables. She shared the experience of a local grower who could not sell 30% of their cucumber crop due to aesthetics. Candace Gordon reported on a successful pilot project undertaken last year by Loblaws Supermarkets, which sold less than perfect produce at a discount. It was suggested that stores who haven't taken up this cause be challenged to get involved. It was suggested that a report be sent to Council requesting that Council encourage local grocery stores to adopt a "wonky produce" policy. Councillor Speirs reported on a recent court case that ruled that people who were previously approved to grow their own marijuana for medical purposes can continue to do so. The federal government is expected to provide a new policy, taking the ruling into account, in the next six months. ) AAC Minutes March 24, 2016 Page 4 of5 Jennifer Zickerman reported the Grower's Coop is coming along. Growing season is getting going. Candace Gordon reported the Farmers Market is hosting a fundraiser in April -a five course meal will be provided and the event is already sold out. The Market will be part of the Earth Day celebrations on April 23rd before beginning their regular season the second week of May. GE Feast has received United Way funding to cover planning table costs, a senior's community kitchen and a program aimed at parents of young children. A second grant has been received from the Fraser Health Authority to update food security data. The Salvation Army is closing their public kitchen food program and Ms. Gordon explained the impacts of that closure. It was suggested that community gardens could be contacted to provide produce. Al Kozak reported they are hoping for a week of nice weather soon to get the planting season started. Margaret Daskis reminded the committee of the upcoming launch of the Circle Farm Tour and encouraged members to attend. Ms. Daskis will be presenting a rock buffet created by her parents at the upcoming Rock and Gem show in Abbotsford. 12. ADJOURNMENT It was moved and seconded That the meeting be adjourned at 9:12 pm . Chair /ss