HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2021-12-02 minutes.pdfCity of Maple Ridge
Agricultural Advisory Committee
MEETING MINUTES
December 2, 2021 Regular Meeting
The Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee,
held via Zoom teleconference on December 2, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.
____________________________________________________________________________________
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
Councillor Gordy Robson Council Liaison
Bill Hardy, Chair Member at Large
Carla Schiller, Vice Chair Member at Large
Alex Pope Fraser North Farmers Market Society Representative
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT
Adam Rieu Staff Liaison, Planner 1
Mike McLean Committee Clerk, Legal and Legislative Services
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT
Lorraine Bates Agricultural Fair Board Representative
Shannon Lambie Agriculture Land Commission (Non-voting member)
Conley Keyes B.C. Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member)
1. CALL TO ORDER – 7:09 pm
2. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
R/2021-016
It was moved and seconded
That the agenda for the December 2, 2021 Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be
approved as circulated.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
3. ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
R/2021-017
It was moved and seconded
That the minutes of the October 4, 2021 Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be adopted.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4. DELEGATIONS – NIL
5. NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1 Community Gardens
The Staff Liaison provided an update on the Community Gardens.
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
December 2, 2021
Page 2 of 2
6. LIAISON UPDATES
6.1 Staff Liaison
The Staff Liaison acknowledged the contributions of outgoing members, including Chair Hardy,
Carla Schiller and Councillor Gordy Robson. Chair Hardy discussed the speaker series and the
limitations of compostable plastic.
6.2 Council Liaison
Council Robson provided an update on the following:
• The evolving focus of the Agricultural Advisory Committee
• The success of the 2021 Food and Garden Contest
• The need to archive presentations from the Committee’s speaker series
• The development of agricultural area and community gardens
7. TASK FORCE UPDATES
7.1 2021 Food and Garden Contest
The Staff Liaison provided an update on the 2021 Food and Garden Contest and delivery of
prizes to recipients. C. Schiller discussed the progress of the 2021 Food and Garden Contest.
Chair Hardy spoke about the potential of utilizing LIDAR imagery to better understand
agricultural practices and the contributions of Alternative Land Use Systems (ALUS).
8. QUESTION PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC – NIL
9. ROUNDTABLE
C. Schiller discussed the impacts of flooding and the importance of flood mitigation efforts.
Alex Pope spoke about the Fraser North Farmers Market Society’s holiday market and the
progression of its online market and deliveries. Councillor Robson discussed tax rates for
agricultural properties and the economic difficulties of maintaining an agricultural hub. Chair
Hardy recalled attending recent COP 26 meetings in Glascow and discussions about the
electricification of the vehicle fleet, carbon capture efforts and the future of animal agriculture.
10. ADJOURNMENT – 8:12 p.m.
Bill Hardy, Chair