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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-08* Subject to Advisory Committee Approval * Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington Meeting Minutes Date: Thursday, June 8, 2023 Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: Microsoft Teams or Meeting Room 1 C, Municipal Administrative Centre 40 Temperance St., Bowmanville, Ontario Members Present: Tom Barrie, Eric Bowman, John Cartwright, Jennifer Knox, Jordan McKay, Brenda Metcalf, Mitch Morawetz (DRFA), Craig Rickard, Richard Rekker, Henry Zekveld (Chair), Councillor Zwart Regrets: Ryan Cullen Staff Present: Amy Burke, Sylvia Jennings — Planning and Infrastructure Services Guests: Allison De Vos — Invest Durham 1. Welcome and Introductions Henry Zekveld welcomed all to the meeting, with introductions. 2. Land Acknowledgement Statement Henry Zekveld recited Clarington's Land Acknowledgement Statement. 3. Declarations of Interest None 4. Approval of Minutes of May 11, 2023 023-009 Moved by Eric Bowman, seconded by Brenda Metcalf That the minutes of the May 11, 2023, meeting be approved. Carried 5. Presentations / Delegations None Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington June 8, 2023 6. Business Arising from Previous Meeting 6a. Election of Vice Chair: Tom Barrie nominated himself for Vice -Chair. 023-010 That Tom Barrie be declared as AACC Vice -Chair for the years 2023 and 2024. Carried 6b. Update on Discussions with Bowmanville Farmers' Market Organizers No update. 6c. Proposed Provincial Planning Statement and Bill 97 (Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023) — extension of comment period to Aug. 4, 2023 A. Burke shared that the deadline to comment on the proposed PPS and Bill 97 has been extended to August 4, 2023. Comments can be submitted via the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO 019-6813). 7. Communications The following communications items were circulated as part of the meeting agenda and provided for information: • Notice of Study Completion: Port Granby Project End Use Transportation Network MCEA, May 17, 2023 (news release): A.Burke informed the Committee the preferred option is to maintain the current road network with improvements to site lines and culverts. • Notice of Special Meeting of Council to initiate the Official Plan Review, May 25, 2023 (news release): A.Burke informed the Committee that the Special Meeting will be held on June 27, 2023 at 6:30pm to solicit early feedback from the public on the Official Plan review process. An introductory discussion paper will be shared with the Committee once it's available. • Ontario Celebrates 2022 Foodland Ontario Retailer Awards, May 26, 2023 (news release): Local Bowmanville Metro was awarded. • Notice of Adoption — New 2023 Durham Regional Official Plan, as amended (Envision Durham), May 30, 2023 (notice): A.Burke informed the Committee that the new Durham Regional Official Plan has been adopted by the Region and will now go to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for review and approval. 8. Liaison Reports 8a. Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee No updates. The next DAAC meeting is scheduled for June 13, 2023. The DAAC Annual Farm Tour will be held at Carncroft Farms and Swain Beef in Blackstock on September 21, 2023. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington June 8, 2023 8b. Durham Region Federation of Agriculture No updates. 8c. Durham Farm Connections B. Metcalf shared updates. High school students in the high skills major attended a precision agriculture workshop hosted by AACC member Tom Barrie (Terwidlen Farms, Bowmanville), with AACC member Craig Rickard (Ceresmore Farms, Bowmanville) as guest speaker. There will be a Farm Safety Day for youth and a wellness workshop for adults in Port Perry on Saturday, June 10, 2023. DFC has collaborated with the Scugog Arts Council to print barn quilts, contributing so far to five new boards, bringing the Durham Region Barn Quilt Trail total to 20 (www.barnguilttrails.ca). The all about farming trailer exhibition in Enniskillen was cancelled due to air quality and postponed until Wednesday, June 14, 2023. The trailer will be at the CNE this year and will need volunteers. The Celebrate Agriculture Gala will be held October 19 at the Port Perry Community Centre. 8d. Durham Agricultural Economic Development Update A. De Vos shared updates. She thanked T. Barrie and C. Rickard for their assistance with the precision agriculture workshop and noted they received great feedback. June 5t" is Local Food Week and is highlighting the Village of Newcastle as the apple capital of Canada. Invest Durham is currently conducting an agrifood business retention and expansion study with food processors throughout the Region with the intent to expand the food processing industry in Durham. 9. New Business 9a. Work Plan A. Burke shared examples and a work plan template developed based on a review of other Ontario agricultural advisory committees. The Committee agreed by consensus this template is a good starting point. A Sub -Committee including AACC members J. Knox and C. Rickard will work with staff to create a draft work plan for presentation to the Committee at the next meeting. 10. Other Business 10a. Rumoured Closure of Enniskillen Fire Station A Committee member raised a rumour heard that the Enniskillen Fire Station will be closing. A. Burke advised that an Emergency Response Service Review had been undertaken by Emergency and Fire Services and was going before the Joint Committee of Council on June 19, 2023. Councillor Zwart confirmed that there have been difficulties getting volunteers and that a decision on the report will likely be made at the Council meeting on June 26, 2023. Committee members discussed a number of concerns including impacts to farm insurance costs and longer response times for both fire and medical events. Members suggested a drive for volunteers. A meeting with Emergency and Fire Services before Council makes a decision on the future of the Enniskillen Fire Station was requested by the Committee. The staff report on the Emergency Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington June 8, 2023 Response Services Review will be shared with Committee members as soon as it's available. The Committee put forward the following motion: 023-011 Moved by Tom Barrie, seconded by Brenda Metcalf That the Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington (AACC) communicate to Council that the reported closure of the volunteer Enniskillen Fire Station is a detriment to the safety and wellbeing of the rural and agricultural community and is not supported by the AACC; And further that the AACC recommend the Municipality carry out a recruitment campaign for volunteer fire fighters to staff the Enniskillen Fire Station. Carried 10b: Holstein Club Twilight Meeting A Holstein Ontario Durham County Twilight Meeting will be held on July 7, 2023, 6pm, at Zekveld Farms (Bowmanville). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the event. There will be supper, music, and a cow judging. 11. Date of Next Meeting August 10, 2023 12. Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington June 8, 2023