Burlington Agricultural & Rural Affairs Advisory Committee Meeting

Minutes

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Virtual

1.
Members Present:
 

Glenn Portch (Chair), Norm Richardson, Vanessa Warren, Jamie Fisher, Maura Romanelli, Sarah Pralet, Larry Campbell, Vincent Sowa and Michiel Barnard

2.
Regrets:
 

John Timmis, Simon O'Keefe (alternate) and Peter Starcevic (alternate)

3.
Others Present:
 

Councillor Angelo Bentivegna, Kelly Cook (Planner) and Jo-Anne Rudy (Clerk)

4.
Land Acknowledgement:
 

The Chair read the following Land Acknowledgement:

Burlington as we know it today is rich in history and modern traditions of many First Nations and the Métis. From the Anishinaabeg to the Haudenosaunee, and the Métis – our lands spanning from Lake Ontario to the Niagara Escarpment are steeped in Indigenous history. The territory is mutually covered by the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement between the Iroquois Confederacy, the Ojibway and other allied Nations to peaceably share and care for the resources around the Great Lakes.

We would like to acknowledge that the land on which we gather is part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit.

5.
Declarations of Interest:
 

None

6.
Approval of Minutes:
 

6.1
Approve minutes from meeting held September 15, 2021
This item has attachments. 

1.2021_09_15_Burlington_Agricultural_and_Rural_Affairs_Advisory_Cttee_Minutes.pdf

On motion, the minutes from the meeting held September 15, 2021, were approved as presented.

7.
Delegation(s):
 

None

8.
Regular Items:
 

8.1
Status update on high-speed rural internet
 

  • Councillor Bentivegna acknowledged that there has been a lot of issues with this project and much disappointment from residents in the rural area. He advised that the funding has been extended to July 2022 and as of Nov 4th the City has received a complete application submission for this project. The City has been assisting the internet providers with other external agencies (Halton Region, Conservation Halton, Niagara Escarpment Commission) to coordinate and expedite the processing of permits to be issued from these agencies, to allow this work to proceed. Based on discussions with the land use authorities noted above, permits are expected to be issued in early 2022 so work can begin in the Spring with a target completion date of July. Forestry staff have worked out a plan and have been working with IASL to meet their timelines. Councillor Bentivegna added that he will be attending another meeting in the next couple of days to confirm everything is on track.

8.2
Halton Region Official Plan Review - Agricultural Working Group update 
This item has attachments. 

1.Jamie's BARAAC presentation Nov 17 2021.pdf
  • Jamie provided a presentation that highlighted the different perspectives between the Region and the Halton Region Federation of Agriculture (HRFA). He stated that the Region is focused on conformity and not conflicting with Provincial Plans and Policy, and implementing the Regional Official Plan Review Directions Report and the Region's Strategic Plan based on staff interpretation of priorities with the result being building on existing Regional Official Plan policy without examining how these policies have performed. The implementation of natural heritage system policies remains a key concern.
  • Jamie added that the HRFA is focused on what the impacts are on the ground; is it implementable at the local level; does it lead to a reasonable application process for the level of development; does it conform and not conflict with Provincial Plans and Policy or does it go beyond.
  • Jamie noted the need for policies that can be implemented and make sense and stressed the importance of reducing the red tape that already exists for any kind of development, rather than introducing more.

8.3
Planner's update
 

a.
Rural Active Transportation Strategy
 

  • Kelly advised that the draft Rural Active Transportation Strategy has been released is available online for review. Members were encouraged to take a look and provide their feedback.

b.
Summary of 2021 Agri-Food Forum 
 

  • Kelly provided a summary of the 2021 Agri-Food Forum she attended, specifically in relation to the two breakout sessions on event barns as an on-farm diversified use. She noted that there was a lot to discuss and that it requires coordination among agencies, with direct input from the rural and agricultural community, to strike the right balance for implementing the policy framework.

c.
Status update on Climate Resilient Burlington Plan
 

  • Kelly advised that she has participated in recent meetings to provide input from a rural and agricultural perspective. The committee noted the need to focus on a small number of impactful core issues, rather than numerous peripheral concerns.

d.
Provincial advocacy priorities for ROMA 2022 
 

  • Kelly advised that the City has applied to delegate at the 2022 Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference in January and noted that this could be a good opportunity to bring forward some of the committee's core concerns for Provincial consideration. Due to the tight timelines, she suggested that a sub-committee be struck to work on developing a written summary of the committee's advocacy priorities, for consideration by the City government relations staff and elected officials that would be leading the delegations. Glenn, Vanessa, Michiel and Vince agreed to participate on this sub-committee. Motion - Approve the creation of a sub-committee to work on the Provincial advocacy priorities. CARRIED

8.4
Clerk's update
 

a.
2022 meeting schedule 
This item has attachments. 

1.2022 BARAAC meeting dates.pdf
  • Jo-Anne presented the 2022 meeting schedule to committee and noted that due to the Municipal Election next year, all advisory committees will pause as of June 30, 2022. She noted that sub-committee work can continue on planned projects and events and staff will provide support. Motion - Approve the 2022 BARAAC meeting schedule. CARRIED

b.
2022 Workplan 
 

  • Jo-Anne advised of the following timelines to complete and approve the committee's 2021 annual report and 2022 workplan:
    • December - 2022 workplan discussion
    • January - annual report and workplan to be approved by committee
    • February - report to Council with all advisory committees annual reports and workplans

c.
Public Appointment Policy 
 

  • Jo-Anne provided a brief overview of the recently approved Public Appointment Policy and highlighted the changes that would affect the committee. These changes include appointment terms changing from two 3-year terms to three 2-year terms; and appointments will not be made beyond the term of Council. Any existing terms that are beyond the term of Council will be grandfathered.

d.
Advisory Committee Recruitment 
 

  • Jo-Anne advised that recruitment for advisory committees begins on Monday, November 15 and ends on Friday, November 26. Current members whose terms are ending this year were encouraged to submit their applications before the deadline.

e.
December meeting
 

  • Jo-Anne noted that in the past, the December meeting was typically more social in nature rather than focusing on business. If desired, members can arrange to get together socially; however, it would not be organized or supported by staff. 

9.
Other Business:
 

  • Vanessa asked for an update on the new tree by-law as well as information on a property located on Bell School Line, south of Britannia Road where an owner was clear cutting their property.
  • Norm asked about an archaeological study request on a farm property with no buildings that has an application put forth for a single family dwelling where the entire 9.19 acres has been requested to be ploughed for study. 

10.
Adjournment:  9:09 p.m.
 

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