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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2016-11-24 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, November 24, 2016 at 7:00 pm. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Margaret Daskis, Chair Candace Gordon Ian Brooks Al Kozak Member at Large Haney Farmers Market Society Member at Large Agricultural Sector Chris Zabek Councillor Speirs Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands City of Maple Ridge Bill Hardy Stephanie James, Vice-Chair STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Siobhan Murphy Sunny Schiller GUESTS REGRETS/ABSENTS Lorraine Bates Tony Pellet Jennifer Zickerman 1. CALL TO ORDER Member at Large Equestrian Agricultural Sector Staff Liaison/ Planning Department Committee Clerk Agricultural Fair Board Agricultural Land Commission Agricultural Sector There being a quorum present the Chair called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm. 2. AGENDA ADOPTION R16-024 It was moved and seconded That the Agenda dated November 24, 2016 be adopted. 3. MINUTE APPROVAL R16-025 It was moved and seconded That the Minutes of October 27, 2016 be approved. CARRIED CARRIED 7 _J AAC Minutes November 24, 2016 Page 2 of4 4. DELEGATIONS -Nil 5. NEW & UNFINISHED BUSINESS 6. 5.1 Backyard Chickens No update. 5.2 Metro Vancouver AAC Update The Chair attended the Metro Vancouver Water Forum. Protection of farm land from climate change, roads, storage of water, and agricultural water use vs. personal water use were all topics discussed at the forum. The Chair will email her notes to the Committee. 5.3 Municipal Water Pricing No update. 5.4 Farm Home Plate Regulations -Direction from Council on November 21, 2016 The Staff Liaison reported the Farm Home Plate Regulations zoning bylaw amendment has received first and second reading. The Committee discussed the regulations. At the November 21, 2016 Workshop Council directed the AAC to review and prepare a report on farm home plate regulations for agricultural lands not in the Agricultural Land Reserve. The Committee discussed what information would be needed for a report. The Staff Liaison will research the requested information and report back to a future meeting. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS 6.1 Golden Harvest 2016 Subcommittee Update Candace Gordon provided the final report on Golden Harvest 2016. The event was negatively affected by bad weather and a lack of advertising. The event was well organized and the food was good. Craft beer was included for the first time. Plans for next year were discussed. A subcommittee will be formed in January for Golden Harvest 2017. 6.2 Education Subcommittee Al Kozak reported notified the Committee of the upcoming Sustainable Farming event this Saturday, November 26. The event will feature the stories of people who have left other careers to successfully farm. 6.3 True North Fraser Subcommittee Stephanie James provided updated True North Fraser documentation for review by the Committee. Ms. James proposed the TNF Subcommittee administer the program during the first year and provide reports back to AAC . Once established the plan is to have the Economic Development office administer the TNF program. It was suggested the compostable stickers be used. Resources needed to launch the program were discussed, along with potential timelines. J I AAC Minutes November 24, 2016 Page 3 of4 R16-026 It was moved and seconded 7. 8. That the True North Fraser Agriculture Brand program -Acceptance and User Criteria report be accepted and the subcommittee be authorized to proceed to Phase Two of the action plan task list. CARRIED 6.4 Food Distribution Subcommittee Al Kozak reported that a grant application has been submitted to Investment Agriculture Foundation for funding to investigate potential food distribution models. Mr. Kozak thanked the Staff Liaison for her work on the application and reported he had learned a lot through the process. Mr. Kozak reported on discussions had with existing business in regards to a food distribution system. Mr. Kozak recently spoke with Mr. Christian Cowley with the CEED Centre in regards to a potential food hub facility in Mission. Mr. Kozak, the Chair and a representative of the Haney Farmers Market have been invited to attend the meeting. The Staff Liaison will update the Economic Development office about the process. CORRESPONDENCE -Nil ROUNDTABLE Chris Zabek encouraged members to attend the Sustainable Agriculture forum on Saturday. Candace Gordon reported the Food Asset Inventory will be done this year. Ms. Gordon is considering different methods to communicate the information collected. Ms. Gordon reported the Child Poverty Report Card states that one in five children in BC lives in poverty. Ms. Gordon reported that statistic has been consistent over many years and also commented on the number of food bank users in BC. Ms. Gordon reported the upcoming holiday season is an important time for charitable organizations to collect donations. Ms. Gordon would like to have a discussion around combatting hunger in the future. Al Kozak thanked Siobhan Murphy for her work on the Investment Agriculture Foundation application. Mr. Kozak suggested inviting a guest speaker to future Golden Harvest events. Al Hardy reported on the Communities in Bloom awards in October. Mr. Hardy shared information on a Green Cities initiative being launched by the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association. Mr. Hardy shared information on other environmental initiatives around the world. Councillor Speirs answered questions from the Committee, including an update on the proposed civic centre facility and the Albion plan. Margaret Daskis encouraged other committee members to consider representing the AAC at the Metro Vancouver AAC beginning in the new year. 9. QUESTION PERIOD -Nil AAC Minutes November 24, 2016 Page 4 of4 10. ADJOURNMENT -9:06 pm Chair /ss