HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2020-03-26 minutes.pdf
City of Maple Ridge
Agricultural Advisory Committee
MEETING MINUTES
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee,
held via Teleconference on March 26, 2020 at 7:02 pm.
____________________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Bill Hardy, Chair Member at Large
Carla Schiller, Vice Chair Member at Large
Melissa Maltais Fraser North Farmers Market Society
Michelle Franklin Member at Large
Pascale Shaw Member at Large
Angela Boss B.C. Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member)
Shannon Lambie Agriculture Land Commission (Non-voting member)
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
Amanda Grochowich Staff Liaison / Planning Department
Erin Mark Committee Clerk
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Councillor Gordy Robson Council Liaison
Andrew Pozsar Member at Large
Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Representative
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
R/2020-010
It was moved and seconded
That the March 26, 2020 Agricultural Advisory Committee agenda be amended to add:
Item 6.6 – Agricultural Advisory Committee Membership Structure;
Item 6.7 – Backyard Chickens;
and be approved as amended.
CARRIED
3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
R/2020-011
It was moved and seconded
That the minutes of the Maple Ridge Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated January
30, 2020 be adopted.
CARRIED
4. DELEGATIONS – Nil
_ _.......-·~-
mapleridge.ca
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
March 26, 2020
Page 2 of 3
5.QUESTION PERIOD – Nil
6.NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6.1. Impacts of COVID-19 on Local Farms/Farmers
Angela Boss informed the Committee that the Provincial Ministry of Agriculture was reaching
out to different agriculture sectors/regions asking about the current impacts and
anticipated issues of the COVID-19 pandemic and then asked about their experiences.
Members shared some of the issues they and others in the industry are currently facing and
how they are adapting.
6.2. Pollinators Presentations Follow-Up
The committee clerk shared that the delegation that presented information regarding the
Decline of Pollinators to the AAC on January 30, 2020 also presented to Council on February
11, 2020. Committee members discussed the next steps to try to address the concerns
raised by the Pollinators delegation.
6.3. Dr. Bee – 2020 Bees & Blueberries Festival – August 8/9, 2020
The Chair reviewed an event application package received for the 2020 Bees & Blueberries
Festival. The Committee postponed a decision on this item until more information becomes
available on the future of public events given the current COVID health crisis.
.
6.4. Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental Management
The staff liaison spoke about The Code of Practice for Agricultural Environmental
Management materials provided in the agenda package and encouraged members to
distribute them to their contacts.
6.5. Golden Harvest 2020
The staff liaison asked the Committee if they would support hosting a Golden Harvest event
in 2020.
R/2020-012
It was moved and seconded
That the AAC consider including Golden Harvest as part of their 2021 Business Plan.
CARRIED
Note: Items 6.6 and 6.7 were moved to after the Task Force Updates due to time constraints.
7.LIAISON UPDATES
7.1. Staff Liaison
The staff liaison provided an update on City operations during the COVID pandemic.
7.2. Council Liaison
An update was not available.
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
March 26, 2020
Page 3 of 3
8.TASK FORCE REPORTS
8.1. Food Garden Contest 2020
Carla Schiller and Pascale Shaw updated the Committee on the preparations for the 2020
Food Garden Contest and discussed categories and prizes.
8.2 Education
The Chair discussed and sought support from the Committee to host a Speaker Series in the
fall.
R/2020-013
It was moved and seconded
That Michelle Franklin and Angela Boss work to examine potential topics for a Speaker
Series that would potentially run Fall 2020/ early Winter 2021.
CARRIED
8.3 Promotion of Agriculture
The Committee discussed the Booth in a Box project currently underway by the task force.
Michelle Franklin and Angela Boss offered assistance with the project.
6.NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS Continued
6.6 Agricultural Advisory Committee Membership Structure
Pascale Shaw raised concerns that the AAC did not have representation from a variety of
agricultural sectors and that valuable experience was lost when members left at the end of
2019. The Committee discussed ways to identify what sectors are missing and how to
involve individuals from those sectors with the AAC.
6.7 Backyard Chickens
This item was moved to a future agenda due to time restraints.
9.ROUNDTABLE
Members provided verbal reports on local agricultural topics and activities.
10.ADJOURNMENT – 9:00 PM
Bill Hardy, Chair
/em