2017-01-18 AAC Report 1

 

1ST REPORT OF THE

 

AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 

meeting held on January 18, 2017, commencing at 7:03 PM, in Committee Room #5, Second Floor, London City Hall. 

 

PRESENT:    L. McKenna (Chair), H. Fletcher, S. Franke, L. Hollingsworth, M. McAlpine and S. Twynstra and J. Bunn (Secretary). 

 

ABSENT:       A. Lawrence.

 

ALSO PRESENT:      J. Logan and D. Simpson.

 

 

I.

CALL TO ORDER

 

1.

Disclosures of Pecuniary Interest

 

That it BE NOTED that no pecuniary interests were disclosed.

 

II.

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

 

2.

Election of Chair and Vice Chair for the Term Ending November 30, 2017

 

That it BE NOTED that the Agricultural Advisory Committee elected L. McKenna and S. Franke as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, for the term ending November 30, 2017.

 

III.

SCHEDULED ITEMS

 

3.

Concerns of Local Farmers

 

That it BE NOTED that the Agricultural Advisory Committee heard a delegation from K. Vecchio, Member of Parliament, Elgin-Middlesex-London regarding the results of her roundtable discussions with the farming community, related to the concerns of farmers.

 

4.

Farmland Tax and Farm Tax Assessment

 

That the Civic Administration BE ADVISED that the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) supports the Farm Property Class Tax Ratio for 2016 and recommends the continuation of the same ratio in 2017; it being noted that the AAC heard a delegation from J. Logan, Division Manager, Taxation and Revenue, with respect to this matter.

 

IV.

CONSENT ITEMS

 

5.

6th Report of the Agriculture Advisory Committee

 

That it BE NOTED that the 6th Report of the Agricultural Advisory Committee from its meeting held on November 16, 2016, was received.

 

6.

1st Report of the Advisory Committee on the Environment

 

That it BE NOTED that the 1st Report of the Advisory Committee on the Environment from its meeting held on December 7, 2016, was received.

 

7.

Notice of Application - 748094 Ontario Ltd. and 2624 Jackson Road Inc. - Lands located on the east side of Jackson Road between Commissioners Road East and Bradley Avenue

 

That the following comments with respect to the application by 748094 Ontario Inc. and 2624 Jackson Road Inc., relating to the lands located on the east side of Jackson Road between Commissioners Road East and Bradley Avenue BE FORWARDED to the Civic Administration for consideration, the Agricultural Advisory Committee is not supportive of the application due to:

 

a)         the encroachment on the urban growth boundary;

 

b)         the priority of the City of London should be preserving the rural/urban             interface; and,

 

c)         approving this application promotes urban sprawl within City limits.

 

V.

SUB-COMMITTEES & WORKING GROUPS

 

None.

 

VI.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

 

8.

London Beekeeping Recommendation

 

That consideration of the recommendation related to beekeeping in London BE DEFERRED to the March 15, 2017 meeting of the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC); it being noted that the AAC held a general discussion related to the matter and reviewed the submission by S. Franke.

 

VII.

DEFERRED MATTERS/ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

 

9.

(ADDED) 2nd Report of the Advisory Committee on the Environment

 

That it BE NOTED that the 2nd Report of the Advisory Committee on the Environment from its meeting held on January 11, 2017, was received.

 

VIII.

ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 8:53 PM.

 

 

 

 

 

NEXT MEETING DATE: March 15, 2017