News Flash

Meeting Minutes

May 21, 2019, 4-5 pm 

4:00                Call to Order – Welcome, Check-in                                             Learner

Introductions

Public Comment   - No Public present 

ARC members present:   

Caitlin

Learner

Brook

Sarah

David

Steph

Meike

Charlie

Faith

Samantha

4:05                Agenda Review                                                                               Learner

No minutes adopted

4:10                ARC Business                                                                                   Faith

• ARC Roster/Recruitment -  Three (3) open seats need to continue to recruit.

• There will be no meeting in June, a meeting on July 16 and no meeting in August.  Our usual third Tuesday of the month schedule will resume in September. 

4:15               Outreach                                                                               Caitlin

• Ag Org Retreat- May 23rd Lopez Island 10:00-3:00

  • 22 -24 people RSVP’s for Retreat

• Summer Work Plan

  • San Juan County Fair- Last year coffee hour with SJ Grange

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  • Website build out

    • Guide to Ag Organizations

    • Website- Learner to create list with all AG Orgs with attendant acronyms and abbreviations.

    • Ask Ag Orgs to write a brief description of what they do, website and contact info maybe ask Ag Orgs to do this at retreat.

4:30              Policy                                                                                     David

• Summer Work Plan

  • Comp Plan Land Use Section ready to vote on in July meeting.

  • Faith talked to Lynda at SJC- Planning commission does not want comments until September 

  • Need a program to get Farmers water rights possibly having DOE to a big batch at once.

  • VSP will be looking for new members, perhaps a new opportunity to fund a water initiative.  Cost Share?

• Discussion of the Draft Ag Goal and Policy section of Land Use.

  • Discussion on Agricultural Land Use Goal 7 in regards to Mandatory or Productive Uses.  Desire is to have the land used for Ag.

  • Encourage ARC to take a look at Draft Ag Goals before July meeting. 

  • How can we use local resources more effectively and make food more accessible to locals

4:50                Ag Program Updates & General Announcements 

• Charlie- Next land bank meeting on Orcas - June 21

• Land bank looking for new lease, both short term and longer term for Coffelt farm.  There will be a RFP out in the next few weeks for short term lease. Look for notice in paper.

• WSU - hiring a coordinator and Office Manager

• Ag Guild - Working with Puget Sound Food Hub to possibly link up San Juan Farmers.

5:00                Adjourn                                                                                             Learner