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Agriculture Commission Agenda and Minutes September 25_2013    Northampton Agricultural Commission Minutes 7:00 PM Wednesday September 25, 2013 210 Main Street (City Hall) Room 10, Northampton Members present: Chair John Omasta, Vice Chair Rich Jaescke, John Bobala, Chip Parsons and Stan Zawalick. At 7:00 PM, A representative of the North Street Neighborhood Association announced that they would be videotaping the meeting. John Omasta opened the meeting at 7:01PM 1. Public Comment  Rick Clark suggested that there is a need for better clarity on public access rights in the meadow. He said that there is legal public access to Rainbow Beach and along all Meadows roads, with the possible exception of Young Rainbow Road. He recommended that the Agriculture Commission be the body issuing licenses for farm use on conservation commission farmland.  Lilly Lombard, Grow Food Northampton, said that all the farmland at GFN’s site is now leased. She also recommended that the Conservation Commission hold RFPs for any new or renewed farm licenses and that bids should be awarded based on the highest conservation values offered.  Laura Friedhan Keyes suggested that the next license for Mineral Hills farmland should not allow the use of Roundup.  Mac Everett said he supports public access to the Meadows and believes that the public has the right to reach Rainbow Beach.  Jerry Budgar offered support for the Agriculture Commission mediating public access issues but that the given should be that all roads in the Meadows are public. He stated he is working on a public access coalition.  Marvin Ward stated that the Meadows Roads were designed to create public access for all citizens. 2. Discussion of opportunities for public access to Rainbow Beach and plan process for public discussion/mediation of status of Meadows Roads Commission members discussed possible approaches:  Outside mediator (e.g., Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution).  Identifying as much data as is available first o What roads are city owned o What roads are city maintained     o What roads are not city owned but for which there is public access rights o What roads is the status not clear (what do we know and not know) o What is the status and ownership of land between the road and Rainbow Beach  Is mediation possible, or is this a legal adversarial process  Is mediation an outside mediator or the Ag. Commission working with landowners to see if some new public access is possible without compromising their operations.  Is a private effort for informal conversation with a few volunteers the first step. Laurie Sanders suggested creating a strategy for public access to Rainbow Beach but caution to avoid the problems of 20 years ago that lead to gating the lower Meadows, cars driving on Rainbow Beach and through farmers’ fields. Other comments expressed skepticism about data from DPW since they don’t want to maintain roads, about whether the Agriculture Commission could be neutral, and about the virtue of any discussions taking place outside of a public meeting. Fred Zimmock suggested that limited access to Rainbow Beach was good but agreed that access needed to be limited to avoid abuse. Rich Jaeske and Chip Parsons summarized that there was at least common ground that no one was asking for vehicle access to Rainbow Beach or through farmers’ fields, a first step. They discussed the enormous problems farmers have with the public using farmers’ fields for recreation. The Commission asked that Planning compile what information is available and report back. 3. Update on water standpipe no-parking zones The no-parking zones have been approved. DPW reported that signs have either been installed or are coming shortly. 4. Plan January 2014 agricultural forum Pete Westover, MACC and Phil Korman, CISA, worked with the Commission to plan the full day January 11th agricultural forum. CISA will handle registration and MACC will provide the preliminary agenda to get agriculture commissions talking to each other and not simply present information. Northampton Agriculture Commission’s goal of including opportunities for vendors can be included in the forum. Pete and Phil will report back with a draft agenda at the next Agriculture Commission meeting. 5. Set October meeting date and time The Commission agreed to meet at 7:00 PM on October 23, 2013. 6. Update and discussion licensing conservation areas for agriculture and related policies The Commission reviewed the status of licensing of conservation commission agricultural lands. The Commission agreed, by consensus, that:  Renewing licensees for farmers who serve as good stewards instead of doing a formal RFP process is preferred because 1) it rewards good stewardship, 2) if provides incentives for farmers to manage property for long term stewardship and conservation, 3) it reduces the     risks of failed licenses, that have happened at least twice recently when new farmers with new models of farming failed to thrive.  Allowing farming in accordance with the City’s Right-to-Farm ordinance which notifies the public that farming is going on here and puts on-going farming following a tradition going back 360 years is above nuisance complaints from more recent development.  Acknowledged that while organic treatment uses less chemicals and is desired by many consumers, 1) it may create more soil erosion since no-till agriculture is harder which reduces the conservation value of the site and 2) is easier for some crops (e.g., produce, hay) than for other crops (e.g., corn and soybeans) and therefore the decision may be site specific. 7. Pending or new Agriculture Preservation Restrictions (APR) and recommendations --Parcel D, Northampton State Hospital—Feiden updated the Commission that the City closed on its acquisition of this new APR. --Russell, Northampton Meadows—Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaeske, the Commission voted unanimously to support this APR and to use CPA APR funds for the city share. --Venturers Field Road, Northampton Meadows – Upon motion by Rich Jaeske and second by Chip Parsons, the Commission voted unanimously to support legislation that would put the former “jail work farm” back into agriculture production, with the city either holding the land in fee or holding an APR. 8. Executive Session—land acquisition—The Commission discussed going into executive session to discuss negotiation for the purchase of interests in land on issues that would be sensitive to public disclosure. The Commission reported that they would adjourn immediately after the meeting and no other item would be discussed. Upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaeske, the Commission voted unanimously to go into executive session. The Commission came out of executive session at 9:30 PM and, upon motion by Chip Parsons and second by Rich Jaeske, voted unanimously to adjourn.