APB Minutes 091620 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 Vanhook moved to approve all of the applications, seconded by Compton; motion carried. b) Appointment of APB member to serve on Food Council:Staff introduced the topic of appointing a new APB member, or perhaps finding a volunteer to replace Ken Dawson,who has been the APB representative on the Food Council since it was started in 2016. Dawson provided an overview of the Food Council. Our member will attend the meetings and represent the ag community. It is made up of representatives from a diverse background across various non-profit entities and local governments; membership comes from the public health and education community as well. We need to continue to have this presence to represent issues of importance to real farmers. The Council helped initiate and coordinate ways to respond to the food insecurity issues created by the pandemic, such as the food distribution effort spearheaded by the Extension Service.Tyrone explained how they partnered with the Dept. of Social Services and others to implement food distribution to help provide local food, with around 180-200 households at both Cedar Ridge and Carrboro high schools. Chair Redding asked for potential volunteers to express their interest but no one stepped forward. Discussion followed. Staff explained that in such cases the APB could initiate a system of rotating representation, starting with the chair,then the vice chair,then moving through the roster. Dawson reviewed the recent initiative to implement the Ag Trust Fund program, which is still viable and will require a renewed push from the APB to keep alive. Chair Redding agreed to represent the APB at the next Food Council meeting. c) Annual VAD Breakfast: Hughes asked for a formal decision on this. Given all the restraints on meetings right now,this cannot be held this fall. Members expressed agreement that we needed to cancel the breakfast for this year. We can keep the topic on the agenda for future meetings. 6. Discussion Items: a) Lands Legacy Action Plan and funding update: Staff reviewed the handout provided by Chris Hirni and walked members through the comments that the APB made in 2017 when we last provided input. Hirni walked members through the core goals and purposes of this program, and how projects need to be ranked depending on the varying priorities of the agencies granting the funds. There is a list of projects in the pipeline if and when funds are obtained. It's not essential for farms to be in the PUV or VAD programs to be eligible, but those add points to applications. Ultimately, the BOCC needs to approve a project before he can apply for grant funds to proceed with a project. The APB continues to advocate for special emphasis on projects that promote the preservation of prime farmland.Also,we did get word that funding for this program has been preserved and is in the budget for FY 2021-22. b) Dates for the next APB meeting: Members agreed to plan to meet again on November 181n provided there are items of business to conduct. 7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items: a. Local Food Distribution Program:Staff reviewed this topic,which was covered in more detail by Tyrone Fisher earlier in the meeting. b. Ag Economic Development Update: no report at this meeting c. Status of milk processing feasibility study grant application: Staff reported that the application that McKnight worked so hard on was not approved. She was hoping to learn more about how we might enhance our application to have a better chance to get funding.This can be revisited on the November agenda.