COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

County Manager’s Office

DATE:

September 28, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 6, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David S. Boesch, County Manager

SUBJECT:

Transferring responsibility for Agricultural/Weights and Measures from the Health System to the Community Services Department

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt an ordinance transferring responsibility for Agriculture/Weights and Measures from the Health System to the Community Services Department.

BACKGROUND:

In 2006, the County ordinance codes were amended to assign oversight of Agriculture/Weights and Measures to the Health System. Over the past two years, while reporting to the Health Department, the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures has worked closely with the Planning, Parks and Public Works Departments, which are all part of the Community Services Department, which is part of the Office of the County Manager. The Commissioner also frequently attended the Community Services Roundtable meetings, where she shared information of interest with the Community Services Departments.

DISCUSSION:

A recent review of department assignments concluded that agricultural services should be part of the Community Services Department and the Commissioner should report to the Deputy County Manager for Community Services. This proposal has been endorsed by the Farm Bureau and is supported by both the Health System and the Community Services Department Director. This change will allow agricultural services to work even more closely with departments that oversee and manage the County environmental resources. Although no longer part of the Health System, Agriculture staff will continue to work in partnership with the Health System on projects including “As Fresh As It Gets”, the County Food System Alliance and the Food, Agriculture and Nutrition work group.

The proposed change is aligned with the Environmentally Conscious Community vision statement.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact associated with moving agricultural services to the Community Services Department.