HomeMy WebLinkAboutAAC 2024-04-25 Agenda.pdfCity of Maple Ridge
AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
AGENDA – REGULAR MEETING
Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 7:00 pm
Meeting Access Information
Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) meetings are held in a hybrid format. Members of the AAC and the
public are asked to join the meeting in-person in the Blaney Room at Maple Ridge City Hall or remotely using the following access information:
Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone
https://mapleridge-ca.zoom.us/j/88281925102
Or join the meeting using your phone
Dial: 1-778-907-2071 Meeting ID: 882 8192 5102
1.CALL TO ORDER
2.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
3.ADOPTION OF MINUTES
3.1 February 22, 2024
4.DELEGATIONS
5.NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1 Agricultural Website Update
5.2 Speaker Series – Japanese Beetle
6.LIAISON UPDATES
6.1 Staff Liaison
6.2 Council Liaison
7.TASK FORCE UPDATES
7.1 Food Garden Contest
8.QUESTION PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC
9.ROUNDTABLE
10.ADJOURNMENT
Next Regular Meeting: June 27, 2024
Agenda Items Submission Deadline: June 12, 2024
QUESTION PERIOD
Question Period provides the public with the opportunity to ask questions or make comments on subjects
that are of concern to them. Each person will be given 2 minutes to speak.
Up to ten minutes in total is allotted for Question Period.
City of Maple Ridge
Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes
February 22, 2024
The Minutes of the Regular Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting held virtually on February 22, 2024, at 7:00 pm.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT Councillor Ahmed Yousef, Acting Chair Council Liaison Megan Baars Agricultural Fair Board Shannon Campbell Member at Large Robert Fullerton Fraser North Farmers Market Society Representative Bhupinder Johar Member at Large
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT Emily Davies Committee Clerk Kelly Hills Committee Clerk Adam Rieu Staff Liaison, Planner 1
ABSENT Alli Di Giovanni Member at Large Conley Keyes B.C. Ministry of Agriculture (Non-voting member)Michelle Sparrow Member at Large
OTHER GUESTS Bahram Rashti UP Vertical Farming Michelle Baski City of Pitt Meadows
1.CALL TO ORDER – 7:00 pm
Councillor Yousef called the meeting to order and provided the land acknowledgment.
2.APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
R/2024-AAC-001 It was moved and seconded That the February 22, 2024, Agricultural Advisory Committee agenda be approved as circulated.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY 3.ADOPTION OF THE MINUTES
R/2024-AAC-002 It was moved and seconded 3.1
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
February 22, 2024 Page 2 of 4
That the minutes of the Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting dated December 7, 2023, be adopted as circulated. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
4.DELEGATIONS4.1. Bahram Rashti, UP Vertical FarmingB. Rashti, representative from UP Vertical Farming, gave a presentation on UP VerticalFarming in Pitt Meadows. Topics included: an overview of Up Vertical Farming’soperations, which included automation and energy use; Oppenheimer Group marketingstrategies for their products; supplier information, which included large British Columbiaretailers such as Costco; agricultural land use, which included greenhouses andwarehouses; irrigation, which included water filtration for reuse and harvested rainwater;lack of subsidies and grant opportunity for modern farmers; and a lack of incentivesavailable for energy and irrigation systems used by modern growers. Committeemembers asked questions and engaged in discussion.
4.2. Michelle Baski, City of Pitt Meadows M. Baski, representative from the City of Pitt Meadows, gave a presentation on the PittMeadows Agricultural Viability Strategy. Topics included: project team; backgroundreport; public engagement; engagement findings; strategy summary; and an overview ofthe synergies between the Maple Ridge Agricultural Plan and the Pitt MeadowsAgricultural Viability Strategy. Committee members asked questions and engaged indiscussion.
5.NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
5.1. Welcome/Member Introductions The Agricultural Advisory Committee members and staff engaged in a roundtable of introductions.
5.2. Advisory Committee Overview E. Davies provided a general overview of Committee proceedings and functions.
5.3. Chair and Vice Chair Selection To appoint a Chair and Vice-Chair to the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 2024.
R/2024-AAC-003 It was moved and seconded That Bhupinder Johar be appointed as Chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 2024.
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
February 22, 2024 Page 3 of 4
R/2024-AAC-004 It was moved and seconded That Alli Di Giovanni be appointed as Vice Chair of the Agricultural Advisory Committee for 2024. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5.4. 2024 Meeting Schedule To adopt the Agricultural Advisory Committee format and the meeting schedule for 2024 as circulated.
R/2024-AAC-005 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting be held in hybrid format. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY R/2024-AAC-006 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee meeting schedule be adopted as follows: Thursday February 22, 2024, at 7:00 pm; Thursday April 25, 2024, at 7:00 pm; Thursday June 27, 2024, at 7:00 pm; Wednesday October 2, 2024, at 7:00 pm; and Thursday November 28, 2024, at 7:00 pm. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
5.5. 2024 Work Plan Discussion A.Rieu provided an overview of the 2024 Agricultural Advisory Committee work plan,and the ongoing work of the Committee, which included the Food Garden Contest, theAgricultural website, and the Agricultural Plan. Committee members provided theirrecommendations and feedback.
R/2024-AAC-007 It was moved and seconded That the Agricultural Advisory Committee move forward with the Food Garden Contest for 2024. CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
6.LIAISON UPDATES
6.1. Staff Liaison A.Rieu encouraged Committee members to provide potential delegations from theirnetworks for a variety of speakers this year.
Agricultural Advisory Committee Minutes
February 22, 2024 Page 4 of 4
6.2. Council Liaison Councillor A. Yousef noted that March would be Agricultural Literacy month, and that resources would be available at the Fraser Valley Regional Library.
7.TASK FORCE UPDATE
7.1. Food Garden Contest A.Rieu provided an update on the 2023 Food Garden Contest, which had concluded.
7.2. Agricultural Website A. Rieu gave an update on the Agricultural website. S. Campbell expressed an interest inparticipation.
8.QUESTION PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC - NIL
9.ROUNDTABLE - NIL
10.ADJOURNMENT –8:33 pm
Councillor Ahmed Yousef, Acting Chair
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