District of Metchosin Agenda Agricultural Advisory
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DISTRICT OF METCHOSIN AGENDA AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Thursday, January 20, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. Council Chamber, 4450 Happy Valley Road 1. Public Participation 2. Agenda, Additions, Approval 3. Presentations a) Rob Kline, Ministry of Agriculture, Agriculture Advisory Committees, Agriculture Area Planning 4. Adoption of Minutes a) Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting, July 10, 2008 5. Business Arising from the Minutes a) Agricultural Uses In RR1 And RR2 b) Goose Depredation c) Metchosin Farm Forum Update d) PAC Membership Update 6. Correspondence a) Jared Gunn-McQuillan, Food Security, VIHA, Central Saanich Toolkit b) Rob Kline, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, 2009 Conference on Agriculture Advisory Committees, Nanaimo; 2007 Agricultural Advisory Committee Workshop, Summary of Proceedings c) Growing Together publication d) Peninsula Agricultural Commission Minutes of October 9, 2008 e) Jennifer Horn, Rural Studies, Vancouver Island University 7. New Business a) Jared Gunn-McQuillan, Food Security, VIHA b) Sooke Farm Forum – Agriculture plans c) 2009 Agriculture Advisory Committee workshop Nanaimo 2009 d) Meeting with Mike Wicks, Westshore Chamber of Commerce e) Farmlands Project Workshops, CR-FAIR Farm Forum, November 27, 2008 8. Reports a) Abattoir update b) Juan de Fuca EDC, Food Chi: A Food Strategy For The Sooke Region, Preliminary Action Plan To Address These Issues. Final Report 9. Adjournment and Next Meeting Date 1 FILE: 0118-55B DISTRICT OF METCHOSIN MINUTES AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING THURSDAY, JULY 10, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. COUNCIL CHAMBER, 4450 HAPPY VALLEY ROAD Attendance: Tom Henry, Brent Donaldson, Dieter Eisenhawer, Aileen McConnell, John Buchanan, Jo Mitchell Action Items: Canada Goose depredation and control: Observer David Johnson agreed to research the Canada Goose issue as described in Item 3b and to report back at the next Metchosin Agriculture Committee Meeting November 20, 2008. After Mr. Johnson reports, Jim MacPherson will take the Canada Goose issue to the Peninsula Agriculture Commission. Fall Agriculture Forum: Brent Donaldson, supported by Jo Mitchell, will take the lead role in developing an agriculture forum to be held in late October. Jo Mitchell will arrange for the venue and date. Brent and Jo will arrange for participants, advertising, logistics, etc. Jim MacPherson to be kept informed. “What Does Farmland Mean to a Local Community,” BC MAAF presentation. Jim MacPherson and Jo Mitchell to determine whether Mr. Kline can make the presentation to Council in September. Agriculture in RR1 and RR2 lands Jim MacPherson to research, report to committee members and bring to the attention of Mayor Ranns. ___________________________________________________________________________________ _ 1. Public Participation None 2. Agenda, Additions, Approval Additions to the Agenda: Pengrow, organic fertilizer available from Hartland landfill, Brent Donaldson to discuss under Presentations, Agenda Item 3a Canada Geese depredation and control added to Presentations, Agenda Item 3b Agricultural land uses in RR1 and RR2 residential land use zones to be added as New Business, Agenda Item 7b. Agenda adopted as amended, Moved John Buchanan, Seconded Brent Donaldson, Carried 3. Presentations 3a) Pengrow, organic fertilizer 2 Brent Donaldson provided a brief description of “PenGrow” an organic fertilizer available at no cost by the CRD at the Hartland Landfill site. PenGrow is produced by the Saanich Peninsula Wastewater Treatment Plant. It is a biosolids-based high pH soil conditioner that will provide nitrogen and organic matter to soil. Pengrow is available pre-bagged or in bulk available for loading onto a truck. Further information is available by contacting Andy Liu at [email protected]. Document.pdf HDM-#244672-v1-Q &A_FOR_CRD_HOTLI 3b) Canada Geese depredation and Control Tom Henry described the destructiveness of Canada Geese of which as many as 60% in southern Vancouver Island are non-migratory. This issue is not unique to Vancouver Island and Canada Geese are over-wintering in Canada across the country. Canada Geese are protected species under the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act. We need to work with the Provincial and the Federal governments to control Canada Geese and to remove protection offered by the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Bob Mitchell noted that permission to shoot Canada Geese can be acquired from Provincial Conservation Officers. Permits are free. Because of shooting bans near urban areas, police have to be notified. Observer David Johnson agreed to research the Canada Goose issue as described and to report back at the next Metchosin Agriculture Advisory Committee Meeting November 20, 2008. After Mr. Johnson reports, Jim MacPherson will take the Canada Goose issue to the Peninsula Agriculture Commission. 4. Adoption of Minutes a) Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting April 29, 2008 Moved, Jo Mitchell. Seconded, Tom Henry. Carried. 5. Business Arising from the Minutes a) Fall Agricultural Forum In years past an agriculture forum had been held in the fall. The forum provided an educational role to describe to the public what farming in Metchosin is all about, and what farmers do. The forum also provided an educational opportunity to those who might be interested in taking up some form of agricultural production. The forum will also provide a good platform for farmers to talk to each other and to communicate to others how particular problems and issues might have been resolved. For example, the forum might be a good venue to make Metchosin farmers aware of the record keeping requirements necessary to handle any possible farm re-assessment which has been forecast for 2009. After discussion, it was decided to resume the fall agriculture forum. Brent Donaldson, supported by Jo Mitchell, will take the lead role in developing an agriculture forum to be held in late October. Jo Mitchell will arrange for the venue and date. Brent and Jo will arrange for participants, advertising, logistics, etc. Jim MacPherson to be kept informed. b) Becher Bay representation on MAAC Jo Mitchell reported that in light of Treaty negotiations, Becher Bay representation on the Metchosin Agriculture Advisory Committee is in abeyance. 3 c) CRA/WorkSafe follow-up Jim MacPherson reported that some farmers in Metchosin had been informed by the Canada Revenue Agency that they had employees for whom no statutory deductions had been submitted. CRA now demanded back payments for all deductions (Income Tax, Employment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan) This arose from a collaboration between BC Worksafe and CRA. In working with one Metchosin farmer affected, this farmer ultimately contacted CRA and met with an individual who helped sort things out. Ultimately, the persons affected contacted CRA and appear to have arrived at a satisfactory conclusion. The upshot is to register with CRA all persons who receive payment for work. 6. Correspondence a) Brian Currie re Farm Assessment Review (Email) Jim MacPherson indicated that he had received an email from, and had spoken to Brian Currie, BC Assessment confirming that a moratorium had been placed on farm reassessment and that Metchosin farms would not be reassessed until after the Review Panel had completed its report. b) Isobel Hoffmann re PAC membership Jo Mitchell indicated that Isobel Hoffmann, secretary to the Peninsula Agriculture Commission, had received Metchosin’s request for membership and that the PAC was considering the request. 10. New Business a) “What Does Farmland Mean to a Local Community,” BC MAAF presentation. A copy of the PowerPoint presentation, presented by Robert Kline to the Peninsula Agriculture Commission, was attached to the agenda for the review of committee members. Jim MacPherson and Jo Mitchell to determine whether Mr. Kline can make the presentation to Council in September. b) Agricultural uses in RR1 and RR2 residential zones. Bob Mitchell brought to the attention of the Committee that some owners of residential properties in RR1 and RR2 (one and two acre residential lots) zones raised agricultural produce. In these zones, however, agriculture is not a permitted use. Mr. Mitchell noted that in many cases, neighbours were not aware that their neighbours were farming. He expressed the belief that Metchosin should amend zoning regulations for RR1 and RR2 lands permit agriculture. In response to a question, Jo Mitchell indicated that she was unaware of any complaints pertaining to agricultural uses in RR1 and RR2 lands. Jim MacPherson to research, report to committee members and bring the matter directly to the attention of Mayor Ranns. Reports a) Juan de Fuca Agriculture Committee Jim MacPherson reported that he had contacted CRD with regard to the Juan de Fuca Economic Development Commission’s intention to establish an agriculture committee. The committee has been established. MacPherson reported that he is on the contact list for the committee and will establish a liaison with the committee. b) Abattoir update John Buchanan reported that there was still some concern over the rising costs of constructing an abattoir. If constructed, the group is planning to cut and wrap meat on the facility. A Public Hearing is planned for September, date not yet set. c) Membership in Peninsula Agriculture Commission Jo read from a letter from Isabel Hoffman of the Peninsula Agricultural Commission stating that Metchosin’s application to join had been referred to the constituent members for their approval. No action expected until