HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-03-08 MinutesCLARINGTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2007
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom Barrie
Gary Jeffery
Ted Watson
Mark Bragg
Eric Bowman
Brenda Metcalf
Henk Mulders
Donald Rickard
Mary Ann Found
Ross McMaster
Marlene Werry
Councillor Gord Robinson
STAFF: Faye Langmaid
Susan Hajnik
REGRETS: Jennifer Knox
Orwin Bandstra
Chair called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Adoption of Agenda
07-04
Moved by Gary Jeffery, seconded by Eric Bowman
”That the Agenda for March 8, 2007 be adopted”
CARRIED
Approval of Minutes
07-05
Moved by Donald Rickard, seconded by Eric Bowman
“That the minutes of the February 15, 2007 meeting be approved.”
CARRIED
Municipal Treasurer Nancy Taylor offered the following comments in response to two motions
that were suggested by a previous committee member regarding lowering or deferring
agricultural taxes in Clarington:
The reduction of agricultural taxes that took place in 2004 is in its final year. Taxes were
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reduced from 21.67% to 20% in 2007.
91% of the tax rate in Clarington is on residential and agricultural property
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while 9% is on commercial, industrial or utilities
If you shift the taxes from agriculture you put it on residential, which would affect the
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property tax of the farmers own homes.
A 1% tax increase is equal to approximated 8.20 cents per household. 8.89% is $73 for
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the average household valued at $253,000.
Business Arising from Minutes
The Durham Region Agriculture and Environmental Advisory Committees with the Durham Land
Stewardship Council are presenting an Agricultural Stewardship seminar “Increasing Your
Farm’s Productivity through Environmental Improvements” on Saturday, March 31, 2007 at the
Latcham Centre in Port Perry. The seminar will provide information on the opportunities to
improve farm productivity through programs and services for on-farm environmental
improvements and Beneficial Management Practices (BMPs). Seminar starts at 9:30 and runs
until 2 pm. Lunch is included, registration is free, limit of 100 people. Please contact the
Durham Region Planning Department if you wish to register.
Reports from Other Committees
DAAC
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Newtonville Road, north of Highway 2 to the 5 Concession will be undergoing guardrail
replacement and localized ditch repair.
MTO is expected to have a plan in place for their Slow Moving Vehicle signs.
407 Committee
The 407 Committee is trying to determine factors that should be considered in the
Environmental Assessment, and their importance to area residents. A list was circulated and
members were asked to fill in the percentage of consideration each item should be given. The
407 Committee will use this data when determining the important criteria.
There is a new set of routes on the table. The short list of viable routes will now be taken
through the EA process. Since the original “preferred route” things have changed: new
subdivisions have been built, new environmental assessment information has made some of the
original routes less desirable.
Durham Federation of Agriculture
DFA will host an all candidates meeting (provincial) on September 25, 2007 at the Port Perry
Community Centre. All welcome.
OFA restructuring continues.
Stable funding talks continue.
Other Business
Farmers Parade of Lights
07-06` Moved by Eric Bowman, Seconded by Henk Mulders
“The Farmers Christmas Parade of Lights held annually on the first Wednesday of
December has requested that the Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington sponsor
the event for the purposes of obtaining the road closure permit, having a police escort
and having the public attending the parade plus the farmers participating in the parade
being covered by the municipal insurer.”
“CARRIED”
07-07
Moved by Ted Watson, Seconded by Donald Rickard
“WHERE AS the Clarington Council are on record as opposing the direct election of the
Regional Chair at large;
WHERE AS agriculture is the leading industry in Clarington and the second largest in
Durham Region;
THEREFORE the Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington is in total support of
Clarington Council position for status quos of retaining the election of the Regional Chair
by Regional Council”
“CARRIED”
Future Agendas
Rick Pigeon on procedures and fees for building permits
Jake DeBruyn from OMAFRA on alternative energy systems
Mayor Abernethy