HomeMy WebLinkAboutAPB meeting summary 03162022 Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board
Approved Meeting Summary: March 16th, 2022
***Bonnie Davis Center***
6:30 p.m.
Members Present: Hooten, Hughes, McAdams, McKnight, McPherson, Myers, Parker, Redding, Saiers, Sykes,
Taylor, Woods
Members Absent: Finley
Guests: None
Staff: Jessica Perrin, Resource Conservation Coordinator-Orange Soil and Water; Peter Sandbeck, Cultural
Resources Coordinator.
1. Call to order: Chair Redding called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
2. Chair Comments/Introductions: Redding asked members to introduce themselves the help new
members Hooten and Hughes get to know everyone.
3. Considerations of Additions to Agenda: None
4. Meeting Summary/Minutes: January 19th, 2022: Saiers moved to approve, seconded by McPherson;
motion approved
5. Items for Decision:
a) VAD Program Updates: Perrin provided a brief overview of current activities and projects.The BOCC
approved our ordinance and map updates earlier in March, so we will now be operating under our
newly revised ordinance and the New Hope district boundary as revised. Our VAD web site is due for
an overhaul and update. She continues to work on developing a process for creating conservation
plans for farms as they apply; she is training under Brent Bogue with NRCS to develop her skills in
creating these plans. She continues to comb through our older applications to make sure all of our
paperwork is current.The Coon Rock Farm VAD application can now move forward with the BOCC
approval of the revised New Hope district boundary.
New VAD/EVAD Application (Attachment 2): Staff reviewed the pending application for the
Totten farm, which meets the requirements/criteria for VAD/EVAD enrollment.
William and Sandra Totten: 29.64 acres,for VAD, Schley/Eno Ag. District: 1 parcel; managed
woodland and pasture.The correct signatures were recorded on March 3, but GIS is not yet
updated. She recommends a motion to approve pending receipt of the updated GIS maps.
McPherson moved to approve with that condition, seconded by McAdams; motion passed.
b) Election of Officers: Staff noted that we are overdue to hold new elections. Discussion followed
about who might be willing/able to serve as Chair and Vice Chair. McPherson moved to nominate
Portia McKnight as Chair. Woods seconded and the motion passed. Saiers nominated Woods to
serve as Vice Chair, seconded by McPherson; motion passed.
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6. Discussion Items:
a) Annual Report presentation to BOCC on April 14:Staff will assist the newly-elected chair in making
our annual report to the BOCC on April 14. Staff referred members to the draft summary document,
listing our highlights, sent out with their other materials. Members discussed the topics outlined and
agreed to add a new item to the report that summarizes the new project to assess farmland
protection being undertaken by Saiers and her subcommittee.
b) Membership: Staff noted the welcome addition of our two new members, Beth Hooten and Anjail
Taylor. However, as the updated roster handout shows, we still have four vacancies: two in our
district positions for Cedar Grove (Compton rotated off) and Schley-Eno (Anderson resigned), and
two of the at-large positions. In addition, more members will be rotating off their at-large positions
in June (Parker and Finley). Members were encouraged to email the staff with the names and
contact information for potential new members. Staff will work with Perrin to search our VAD farm
database to identify VAD farm owners who might be eligible to serve in those two districts.
7. Informational Items/Future Agenda Items:
a. Staff report by Jessica Perrin:This was covered earlier in the meeting while discussing VAD
applications.
b. Best Policies for Farmland Protection project update: Saiers presented an excellent powerpoint
program to provide an updated overview of this proposed multi-phase project, as a follow up to the
discussion of this topic in January. Members were enthusiastic about this being a good effort for the
APB to support.There is a subcommittee now in place consisting of Saiers and Redding, along with
staff members Perrin, Sandbeck, and Ortosky. She has invited Chris Hirni to participate as well.
McKnight agreed to join the group when time permits. Saiers will draft a summary document to use
to help present the topic to the BOCC at our work session in April.
c. Ag Summit follow up: Perrin reported that the programs had been recorded and should be available
for viewing online soon.
d. Ag Economic Development: Ortosky was not able to attend the meeting. He will provide an update
at the next meeting.
8. Time for Information Sharing: None
9. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 7:32 pm.