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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-09 Minutes CLARINGTON AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 91", 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Brenda Metcalf John Cartwright Eric Bowman Gary Jeffery Tom Barrie Mary Ann Found Councillor Partner Les Caswell Ted Watson ABSENT: Mark Bragg Don Rickard Jenni Knox STAFF: Faye Langmaid GUESTS: Chris Brown and Pauline VanRoon, MTO Phase 2 of 407 Implementation Team Ted welcomed all to the meeting, everyone introduced themselves. Adoption of Agenda 013-13 Moved by Gary Jeffery, seconded by Wendy Partner "That the Agenda for May 9`', 2013 be adopted" CARRIED - Approval of Minutes -� l� 013-14 Moved by Brenda Metcalf, seconded by Eric Bowman ?� 'That the minutes of the April 11"', 2013 meeting be approved" � CARRIED Special Meeting j 013-15 Moved by Eric Bowman, seconded by Tom Barrie f "That the minutes of the April 23'c/, 2013 special meeting be approved" CARRIED Presentations: Pauline provided a presentation on the scheduling of the Phase 2 implementation and the information that is being compiled for the contract and the related agricultural issues. The discussion with committee included: • Tile draining, when they are cut they can create a "boil', most tile draining cannot be specifically located, today the lines are all GPS locates but the older ones sometimes have drawings and sometimes not. The tiles need to be reconnected to keep the field drained and then outlet in appropriate places. It will not be worthwhile to a renter to repair the tile drains unless they get a longer lease agreement (15-20 years). Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 91", 2013 • Permission to use agreements, the meeting at Solina was successful, most likely a majority of the agreements will be extended for another year. The permission to use agreements includes specifics about where crops may be damaged and are at no cost to the farmer. MTO is limiting permission to use agreements with farmers who had/have historical connections to the land as either owners or tenants. • Land leases, once the field work is completed (2014-15) then the lands not required for mitigation will be considered for lease to farmers. MTO will not surplus lands until after construction. • Expropriation, only the right of way can be expropriated, MTO is working with each of the owners offering to purchase properties that may be land-locked. Some owners are making arrangements with adjacent land owners to access lands and do not want to sell land-locked parcels. • Phase 2, requirements in relation to agriculture are very different from Phase 1, MTO staff have learned very quickly that they need to discuss what the implications are to farmers and then they can work out a resolution with them on a case by case basis. • Remnant Parcels, MTO is working through the process of identifying lands for environmental mitigation. By the end of 2013, MTO hopes to finalize which parcels will be required for mitigation. They realize that a balance between lands required for environmental mitigation and maintenance of agricultural operations needs to be achieved. The remainder of the lands will be retained by MTO but will not be used as construction staging areas, rather they will be considered for lease to farmers. • Transit Way, not sure if it will be fenced separately from the 407 ROW, but are aware that the lands within both the highway and transit way ROW need to be maintained such that they do not become a nuisance to farmers and spread weeds and invasive species...dog strangling vine and phragmites are concerns. • Archaeological field investigations, are ongoing in Phase 2, not all require ploughing, some have been done with no-till drill but the suitability is determined by the archaeologist, certain crops are more conducive to allowing for investigation by walking the field such as corn. Agricultural fields are easier to do than other types of land cover. The rate of investigation is about 24 hectares/ day on agricultural lands versus 1 hectare/day for other cover (i.e. forest). Depending on what is found there may need to be additional stages of investigation and also whether it is within the construction area or not. Pauline and Chris were thanked for their attendance. Business Arising from Minutes OP Discussion Papers —Ted and Tom attended the sessions. The response was good. For natural heritage system there is some concern from farmers about what can happen in the buffer areas along the natural heritage features. The natural heritage system is a combination of woodland, areas of natural and scientific interest, wetlands, floodplain, etc. Lisa will be in attendance at the next meeting for a fuller discussion. Mostly the concern was from property owners that have had Provincially Significant Wetlands identified on their properties; the major concern is with the process by the Province and lack of notification to property owners. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 91", 2013 Correspondence and Council Referrals E-mail requesting support for wind turbines on farms. Councillor Partner brought forward the correspondence at the request of wind turbine land lease holder as they see it as a benefit to the farm to help stabilize farm income. The committee has not taken a position on wind turbines nor have they had much information presented to them about the concerns and issues from both sides of the discussion. Ontario Farmers Association (OFA) has supported a moratorium until further health studies can be carried out. There are cases where a number of farmers have formed co-operatives to locate wind turbines and then all farmers have benefitted from pooling the lease payments, rather than individual land owners receiving the benefit and at the same time eliminating a neighbour's property because of the distance between turbines. There are issues with the gravel lanes through fields accessing the turbines. Letter from the Quarter Horse Owners Association referred by Mayor for comment. The committee worked on a resolution last year which Council endorsed. The resolution dealt with the entire Equestrian industry and the effect of the actions of the Provincial Government on the entire industry and its spin-off benefits. Elimination of the purses from the gambling industry would have been better implemented in a phased process such that the equine industry could have adjusted over time and found alternate sources for the purses. The committee is reluctant to endorse the letter from the Quarter Horse Owners Association as it did not include other aspects of the industry. Liaison Reports DAAC — May is the break for DAAC, no meeting. DRFA — April 16th meeting had presentations and discussion on Species at Risk. There are no decisions as of yet on Species at Risk, many are assuming that little will change until a better definition of "hay" is available and there is a better understanding by the policy makers that bobolinks nest in meadows and pasture land not alfalfa and red clover. The annual Cattlemen's BBQ is Friday June 7th, tickets available from Mary Ann. Agricultural Education Strategy — there needs to be a cohesive approcah across the Region, working on having an enhanced website, and setting up a sub-committee structure to address the different initiatives. CBOT — Annual Meeting held April 25th, Ken Knox was recognized for Lifetime Achievement (see write-up at end of minutes). Don Rickard is willing to continue in his liaison role between AACC and CBOT. Future Agendas June - Marlene Werry is booked to come as a speaker on the abattoir business plan, also Lisa Backus will attend with regard to the Official Plan Review- Natural Heritage Discussion Paper. July - MP Erin O'Toole has been invited to attend an Ag meeting when his schedule and the committee meetings match up. He was pleased to be invited and will follow-up later in the year. Other ideas were to have someone attend on Biosolids, Mike Kapansky from Miller Compost and someone on alternative energy project (solar, wind) and Green Energy Act approvals. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 91h, 2013 Other Business Pitch-in Day— Brenda and Mary Ann attended on behalf of committee with display. They have some suggestions for how the day could be better organized and will pass them along. It is a good opportunity as there are many youth in attendance. John Cartwright moved for Adjournment. Next Meeting June 13th, 2013, 7:30pm. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 91h, 2013 Life Time Achievement—Mr. Ken Knox In our role in the community we have a distinct opportunity to meet and learn from many inspiring and motivating members of Clarington. Our choice for this year's recipient for Life Time Achievement was an easy one for us. When you hear this individual's name it is always accompanied with adjectives like visionary, leadership, innovative, entrepreneurial, passionate and progressive. "Impressive" was the word that resonated with the awards committee. Both inside and outside of the public service, he has had a huge impact on some of the policies and programs that have served our membership well. And here in our community, he is part of a fourth-generation family farm that has continued the tradition of giving back to, and bettering our community. He is in the ranks of the rare few who work for positive change by motivating and enabling the best among us, with little desire on his part for public recognition. He is a passionate man who fosters innovation and sparks ideas wherever he travels, and his ability to encourage meaningful discussions on policy and application --while fostering in others the passion to influence positive change makes us proud to recognize his many achievements. Tonight's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award has a list of accomplishments too long to recite; but that include topping a career in public service by serving as Deputy Minister of Agriculture; helping to establish, and then serve as Deputy Minister of Energy, Science and Technology; being inducted into the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame; receiving the prestigious Ontario Amethyst Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Public Service, and receiving an honorary doctorate. Please help me welcome Mr. Ken Knox as this year's Life Time Achievement recipient. Agricultural Advisory Committee of Clarington May 91", 2013 Version 4 January 4, 2011 Highway 407 East: Overview Presentation to Clarington Agricultural Advisory Committee May 9, 2013 Ift Ontario Provincial Commitment ■ To extend Highway 407 East to Highway 35/115 by 2020 with the following key dates: Phase 1 : ❑ By late 2015—22 km section from Brock Road to Harmony Road and a 10 km north-south highway (West Durham Link) connecting Highway 407 East to Highway 401 Phase 2: ❑ By 2017— Highway 407 East from Harmony Road to Taunton/East Durham Link ❑ By 2020—the section from Taunton/East Durham Link to Highway 35/115, and a 10 km north-south highway (East Durham Link) connecting Highway 407 East and Highway 401 2 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT [January 2011] 1 Version 4 January 4, 2011 Highway 407 East Reference Map ------------ T !RING Lift om" Procurement Partnership ■ MTO in partnership with Infrastructure Ontario (10) is undertaking the procurement of both phases of Highway 407 East. ■ 10 manages the AFP procurement process. ■ The AFP model being used (excluding tolling), "Design- Build-Finance-Maintain" (DBFM) with a 30-year concession. ■ MTO responsible for a number of activities including prelim inary/reference design, property acquisition, obtaining permits, major utility relocations, project funding and tolling. 4 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT [January 2011] 2 Version 4 January 4, 2011 Phase 2 - Scope • Highway 407 East Mainline: ❑ New 4-lane highway from Harmony Road to Highway 35/115(approx. 23 km). Freeway-to-freeway interchanges at the EDL and Highway 35/115 ❑ Interchanges at Enfield Road, Regional Road 57 and Darlington-Clarke Townline • East Durham Link(EDL): ❑ New 4-lane north-south highway (EDL)connecting Highway 407 to Highway 401 (approximately 10 kilometres). A freeway-to-freeway interchange at EDL and Highway 401. ❑ Interchanges at Taunton Road, Highway 2 and Courtice Road at Highway 401 • Project Facts Highway 407 East Phase 2: ❑ 357 properties are required ❑ Expropriation Fall 2012; majority possession April 30 to May 2, 2013 ❑ 20 road structures ❑ 25 major water-crossing structures ❑ 9 interchanges, including three complex freeway-freeway 5 Key Dates — Phases 1 and 2 Phase 1 Brock Road to Harmony Road Phase 2 Harmony Rd to Hwy 351115 March 2011 MTO announced the timetable to complete the construction of MTO announced the timetable to complete the construction of Highway 407 East Highway 407 East April 2011 Phase 1 RFP Released to short list of bidders Summer/Fall 2011 Phase RFP Close Fall/Winter 2011 Phase 1 Selection of Proponent Winter 201112012 Phase 1 Commercial Close with Preferred Proponent May 24,2012 Phase 1 Financial Close/Start of Implementation stage Spring 2013 Phase 1 Construction start Phase 2 RFO release March 26.2013 by 10 Summer 2013 Phase 2 RFP release Spring 2014 Phase 2 RFP Close Summer 2014 Phase 2 Selection of Preferred Proponent Fall 2014 Phase 2 Commercial Close and Financial Close Spring 2015 Phase 2 Construction Start Late 2015 Phase 1 Open to traffic 2017 Interim Opening to Taunton Road/EDL 2020 Phase 2 Open to Traffic CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT [January 2011] 3 Version 4 January 4, 2011 Phase 2 — Procurement Update • RFQ released March 26; closes June 5 • RFP release targeted for Fall 2013 • Pre-construction work required in 2013 includes: ❑Stage 2 & 3 archaeology ❑Field investigations for: • species at risk, terrestrial features, aquatic features • contamination/waste • built heritage • groundwater, surface water • Foundations MTO's Agricultural Strategy for 407 East • Ensuring Agricultural Areas are being properly considered in all phases of the 407 East project; • Address agricultural needs with respect to access and linkages; • Explore opportunities for remnant land parcels to remain in agricultural use; • Recognize the balance between the need for protection of the environment, green spaces and agriculture; • Government retention of surplus lands for enhanced mitigation / compensation measures for Endangered Species. CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT [January 2011] 4 Version 4 January 4, 2011 Phase 2 — Agricultural Lands • In September 2012, all existing farm leases with MTO were cancelled in order to undertake necessary fieldwork in the Fall 2012 and 2013 field seasons • Based on concerns/comments received from local farmers and the Municipality, MTO undertook a review of proposed agricultural activities in relation to necessary fieldwork • On March 21, 2013, MTO made available to existing local farmers Permission to Use agreements for the 2013 season ❑ No cost to the farmer ❑ Risk of crop damage is carried by the farmer although MTO is trying to mitigate this risk • Similar strategy may be considered for 2014. 9 Questions? Highway 407 East Phase 2 OSHAWA CLAR1NGTO CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT [January 2011] 5