Burlington Agricultural & Rural Affairs Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:

Date:

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Time:

7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Location:

Hybrid meeting- Virtual and Room 247 City Hall

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1.

Members Present:

Vincent Sowa (Chair), Maura Romanelli, Glenn Portch, Erin Fleming, Sarah Pralet, Larry Campbell, Michiel Barnard, Mariam Abu-El-Magd, Chuck Nyland (left at 8:30 p.m.) and Peter Starcevic

2.

Regrets:

None

3.

Others Present:

Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, Steve Robinson (Manager of Urban Forestry & City Arborist), Charles Priddle (Manager, Regulations & Coastal Management Programs, Conservation Halton), Andrew Elliston (Manager Business Development, Burlington Economic Development), Sabah Kazmi (Specialist, Business & Economic Development, Burlington Economic Development), Zaryab Ahmad (Economic Development Officer, Burlington Economic Development), Anna DeMarchi-Meyers (Agricultural Liaison Officer, Region of Halton), Kelly Cook (Planner), and Jo-Anne Rudy (Clerk)

4.

Land Acknowledgement:

The Chair read the land acknowledgement.

5.

Declarations of Interest:

None

6.

Approval of Minutes:

6.1

Approve minutes from meeting held April 10, 2024

On motion, the minutes from the April 10, 2024 meeting were approved as presented.

7.

Delegation(s):

7.1

Next Steps for implementing the Urban Forest Master Plan

• Steve Robinson, Manager, Urban Forestry & City Arborist, provided an update on the Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) which included:
  • UFMP Program recap
  • Woodland Management Strategy
  • Community Engagement
  • Key Program Risks
  • Key Actions
  • Focus Areas
  • Funding Offset Opportunities
  • Resource Requirements
• Steve noted that there are opportunities in the rural area in terms of increasing the tree canopy by perhaps planting trees on lands that aren't usable for farming.

7.2

Conservation Halton regulatory/mapping changes (Charles Priddle, Senior Manager, Regulations & Coastal Management Programs, Conservation Halton)

• Charles Priddle, Senior Manager, Regulations & Coastal Management Programs, Conservation Halton, advised that there were legislative and regulatory changes effective April 1, 2024,  including changes to mapping and development permitting. Charles noted that the changes are intended to streamline conservation authorities approvals and support the Provincial government's priorities to increase Ontario's housing supply.

8.

Regular Items:

8.1

Planner update

a.

Proposed amendments to R.R.O. 1990 Regulation 828, under the Niagara Escarpment Planning and Development Act

• Kelly advised that the link for the above was shared for the committee's information.

8.2

Agricultural Action Plan

• Kelly introduced the guests joining us from the Region of Halton (Anna DeMarchi-Meyers) and Burlington Economic Development (Andrew Elliston, Sabah Kazmi, Zaryab Ahmad) who were in attendance to participate in the Agricultural Action Plan (AAP) discussion.
• Kelly noted that the AAP has been sorted into themes which shows a very strong interest in Agri-tourism - an opportunity to elevate the rural profile with regards to tourism as well as supplementary on-farm diversified uses.
• Kelly reviewed the goals of the AAP with the committee.
• Kelly will scope down the document to make it achievable and distribute to committee members. She will also prepare a summary for the Region and Burlington Economic Development which outlines proposed collaborative actions to help inform further discussion.
• Kelly will then develop a formal work plan to guide the project moving forward which will be shared with committee members and then brought to Council for approval.

9.

Other Business:

• Jo-Anne advised that the Food for Feedback event is planned for September 14, 2024. More information will be provided at the June meeting and committee can decide whether this is something they want to participate in again.
• Kelly advised that the second edition of the Burlington Rural Forum is planned for September 12, 2024.

10.

Adjournment:

Chair adjourned the meeting at 9 p.m.