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Home My WebLink AboutAAC 2017-03-23 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 23, 2017 at 7:00 pm. COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Bill Hardy Braden Hansen Candace Gordon Chris Zabek Councillor Speirs Ian Brooks Lorraine Bates Margaret Daskis, Chair Stephanie James, Vice-Chair GUESTS/DELEGATIONS Theresa Duynstee, P.Ag. STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Siobhan Murphy Sunny Schiller REGRETS/ABSENTS Al Kozak Tony Pellet 1. CALL TO ORDER Member at Large Member at Large Haney Farmers Market Society Regional Agrologist, Ministry of Agriculture & Lands City of Maple Ridge Member at Large Agricultural Fair Board Member at Large Equestrian Agricultural Sector Regional Planner, Metro Vancouver Staff Liaison / Planning Department Committee Clerk Agricultural Sector Agricultural Land Commission The meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm. 4. DELEGATIONS 4.1 Farm Property Tax Reform in Metro Vancouver -Theresa Duynstee, Metro Vancouver Ms. Duynstee shared findings from a recent investigation of farm property ta x policies. The report "Encouraging Agricultural Production through Farm Property Tax Reform in Metro Vancouver" is available at: htto://www.metrovancouver.org/services/regional- olanning/PlanningPublications/AgricultureProductionTaxReformMV-2016.odf Note: Candace Gordon and Ian Brooks entered the meeting at 7:06 pm. Quorum was achieved at this time. Lorraine Bates entered at 7:09 pm. \ } AAC Minutes March 23, 2017 Page 2 of 3 2. AGENDA ADOPTION R17-005 It was moved and seconded That the Agenda dated March 23, 2017 be amended to add Item 5.5 Fruit and Vegetable Labels and be adopted as amended. CARRIED 3. MINUTES APPROVAL R17-006 It was moved and seconded That the Minutes dated February 23, 2017 be approved. CARRIED 5. NEW & UNFINISHED BUSINESS 5.1 Backyard Chickens 5.2 A report on the topic of backyard chickens has been prepared for Council. Bill Hardy shared some of the feedback he has received from the public about backyard chickens since Grow and Gather Nursery started selling farm feed this year. Any correspondence regarding backyard chickens should be forwarded to the Staff Liaison (smurphy@mapleridge.ca). Metro Vancouver MC Update The next Metro MC meeting will be held in April. 5.3 Agricultural Development Permit Guidelines Update The Staff Liaison reported on the Agricultural Development Permit Guidelines project. A discussion paper is being prepared and will be shared with the Committee. 5.4 Membership Update The Chair reported that Braden Hansen has been appointed as a member at large. Committee vacancies were reviewed. 5.5 Fruit and Vegetable Labels Councillor Speirs has drafted a resolution for LMLGA that would advocate to senior levels of government to change both domestic and import regulations to require compostable stickers and food safe stamping on all fruits and vegetables. 6. SUB-COMMITTEE REPORTS 6.1 Golden Harvest Review The Staff Liaison provided a budget update. The Committee discussed Golden Harvest. Questions regarding future events will be sent to the Committee by the Staff Liaison. A decision about a 2017 event will be made at the April meeting. 6.2 Education Subcommittee Candace Gordon suggested holding an educational event on the topic of bees. ) AAC Minutes March 23, 2017 Page 3 of,3 6.3 True North Fraser Subcommittee Next steps for the True North Fraser branding program were discussed. Braden Hansen and Margaret Daskis offered to help Stephanie James on the project. 6.4 Food Distribution Subcommittee The Staff Liaison provided a status report on the Food Distribution project. 7. CORRESPONDENCE 8. ROUNDTABLE Stephanie James reported her farm is still working on coming out of winter. Councillor Speirs provided an update including addressing the topic of parking at the Albion Fairgrounds. Braden Hansen is looking forward to growing season. Lorraine Bates shared her thoughts about the impact the Albion Fairgrounds parking issue could have on this year's Country Fest and the 4H Fair. Bill Hardy reported the Grow and Gather Farm Expo will be held in Cloverdale June 10th and 11th. There are forty sessions planned over two days. Presenters include: Curtis Stone, the Young Agrarians, Tax Tips for Small Farms, Canning Sessions, Julia Smith (Slow Meat Movement). www.growandgatherfarmexpo.com Ian Brooks noted the late start to the growing season. 9. QUESTION PERIOD 10. ADJOURNMENT -9:01 pm Chair /ss