COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AGENCY

DATE:

August 25, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 9, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Thomas Casey, County Counsel

Marcia Raines, Director of Environmental Services

SUBJECT:

Reconstitution of Agricultural Advisory Committee

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt a Resolution specifying the responsibilities and membership of the Agricultural Advisory Committee.

BACKGROUND

The Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) was established in 1980 pursuant to Section 6363 of the Planned Agricultural District zoning regulations, which states:

To assist in the achievement of the objectives of this ordinance, the Board has established an Agricultural Advisory Committee composed of farmers familiar with Coastside crops, agricultural experts, and representatives of the general public interest. Said Committee shall actively assist in the preservation of agriculture of the Coastside by advice and recommendation to the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors to achieve the objectives of this ordinance.

The membership of the Committee has been modified several times since. It currently consists of twenty (20) representatives, as follows:

One (1) Agricultural marketing.

One (1) Banking.

Two (2) Conservationists.

Nine (9) farmer/growers.

Three (3) public members.

Four (4) non-voting members (Farm Bureau, Resource Conservation District, UC Agricultural Extension and County Agricultural Commissioner).

A number of appointments to the Agricultural Advisory Committee have expired and there has been recent controversy about the filing of Statements of Economic Interests (FPPC Form 700) by Committee members. Also, as you know, your Board has undertaken a comprehensive review of County boards, commissions and committees. For those reasons, we have evaluated the make-up and charter of this Committee and recommend that its membership be modified and its responsibilities clarified, by adopting the attached Resolution.

DISCUSSION

1.

FPPC Form 700.

The Board of Supervisors has adopted standing rules for County advisory boards, commissions and committees. These rules require that all members of such groups file Statements of Economic Interest (Fair Political Practices Commission Form 700) in accordance with State law. Some members of the AAC object to this requirement. We recommend against reappointment of any member who chooses not to file and that your Board determine the willingness of new appointees to file before making appointments final.

2.

Expired memberships.

The terms of the following members have expired:

Banker - Gary Lee Cakebread

Farmer/grower - B.J. Burns, Neil Curry, Red Marchi, Bob Marsh, Jose Ramirez

Public members - Leo Del Rosso, Carmen Geidt

3.

Revised membership.

We recommend that the membership of the AAC be reduced to 15, as follows:

One (1) agricultural business.

One (1) conservationist.

Seven (7) farmer/growers.

Two (2) public members

Four (4) non-voting members (Executive Director, San Mateo County Farm Bureau; Executive Director, San Mateo County Resource Conservation District; County Director, UC Cooperative Extension; and County Agricultural Commissioner)

Agricultural business representative is defined as a professional in the fields of agricultural marketing, agricultural finance or agricultural supplies, equipment or services.

4.

Implementation.

Implementation of these recommendations would involve: (1) adopting the attached Resolution; (2) reappointing either Leo Del Rosso or Carmen Giedt or both as the public members, or recruiting and appointing one or two new public members; (3) recruiting and appointing three new farmer/growers; (4) verifying that all new appointees will file a Form 700 as required by State law.

VISION ALIGNMENT

The reconstitution of the AAC keeps the commitment of responsive, effective, collaborative government and goal number 20. Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

FISCAL IMPACT

None.

ATTACHMENT

Resolution specifying the responsibilities and membership of the Agricultural Advisory Committee.

COPIES

Members, Agricultural Advisory Committee