APB Meeting Notes 11182020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 collaboratively with property owners to assess the land and develop a conservation plan or a forest management plan as appropriate for the land use. Often when owners apply,there is not a conservation plan yet in place to address erosion and other issues. Once an application is approved by the APB, staff can then work with owners to develop plans so this is a tool to allow us to help owners move toward better practices. Staff reminded members that having a conservation plan in place is a requirement per our ordinance, before a farm can be approved by the BOCC. So if we don't enroll a farm in the VAD, then we lose that opportunity to be a partner in improving conditions. We don't have this problem with timbered land, as owners must develop a forestry management plan in order to qualify that land for the PUV program--a direct incentive to get that done. A motion was made to approve all the farms for enrollment in VAD, seconded; motion passed. 6. Discussion Items: a) Annual Report and Work Plan for 2020:Staff referred members to the draft sent out with their other materials.This draft shows the updated wording to reflect current accomplishments and topics of concern to the APB that they wish to bring to the attention of the BOCC. Members felt that the updated wording was OK to use for the report. Staff asked for any other input to be sent by email before the end of December, to be incorporated into the final draft. If there are any substantive changes, staff will share a revised, updated version back with members in December. b) Revised Approach to Ag Trust Fund Proposal: Staff reviewed past discussion about the proposed approach, and the very candid feedback that was received when the County Manager spoke to the group regarding the current budget picture and the need to look at another way to structure this so it was not coming directly from a tax revenue fund. Discussion followed with a general consensus that a more viable approach might be to promote the concept as a stand alone budget proposal, rather than something that had to rely on the sale of property enrolled in PUV. Members agreed that in these tight budget times caused by the loss of revenues associated with the pandemic, this might have to wait a year or two before pushing for this again; but keep it as a work plan goal. 7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items: a. Presentation on Present Use Program by Roger Gund:This is scheduled for January. Members are looking forward to this. No further discussion. b. Ag Economic Development Update: Ortosky reported on the current statistics regarding the Ag Economic Dev. Grant Program;this continues to award all of its funding to a wide range of projects. c. Status of milk processing feasibility study grant application:At present there has been no additional action on this following the grant application being turned down. Members are still interested in seeing the APB support the concept. d. Update on Gail's position and schedule for filling it:Staff reported on the current status of Gail's position following her retirement last December. Hughes was just elected to be a Soil and Water Commissioner so will not be able to continue to work for the county part time after early December. The position was frozen at the start of the pandemic and is still expected to remain frozen until January, 2021. Sherry Scully, who is working part time for the NRCS, will be helping Gail and Peter with VAD duties as her time permits, which will be a huge help. 8. Time for Information Sharing: None 9. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:48 pm.