COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures

DATE:

July 28, 2011

BOARD MEETING DATE:

August 9, 2011

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Fred Crowder, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

SUBJECT:

Ordinance repealing and replacing Section 5.124.020

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt an Ordinance repealing and replacing Section 5.124.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code relating to weighing and measuring device registration fee increase and waiver of the reading of the ordinance in its entirety.

BACKGROUND:

The Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance amendment setting the current device registration fee schedule on June 9, 2009 (Ordinance No. 04472). The Business and Professions Code (BPC) provides authority for counties to set device registration fees by ordinance and sets maximum fees that counties may charge.

DISCUSSION:

Device registration fees fund the commercial weighing and measuring device inspection program. The proposed fee increase is for annual device registration. Inspection program costs have been developed using FY 2010-11 direct personnel hours and projected FY 2011-12 salaries and benefits, direct expenditures such as mileage and equipment, and associated indirect costs. The Division’s salaries and benefits have increased 19 percent due to negotiated labor increases since the current fee schedule was established. Most businesses currently pay $90 per location and $17 per device and will pay $100 per location (an 11% increase) and $20 per device (an 18% increase) under the new fee schedule. There are different device fees for weighing and measuring devices requiring specialized equipment and/or greater time to conduct testing. This fee schedule will set the County’s fees at the maximum rate authorized by the BPC and make them equivalent to the location and device fees of other Bay Area counties. The chart below outlines the current and proposed fee schedules. The proposed ordinance amendment has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel.

DEVICE TYPE

Current Fee Schedule January 1, 2010

Proposed Fee Schedule effective January 1, 2012

Electric, Vapor & Water Meters at marinas, mobile home parks, recreational vehicle parks, and apartments

$90/Business Location

Plus $2 per Meter

$100/Business Location

Plus $2 per Meter

Scales (other than Livestock) at least 2,000 Pounds but less than 10,000 Pounds

$90/Business Location

Plus $130 per Scale

$100/Business Location

Plus $150 per Scale

Scales (other than Livestock) 10,000 Pounds or greater

$90/Business Location

Plus $215 per Scale

$100/Business Location

Plus $250 per Scale

Livestock Scales at least 2,000 Pounds but less than 10,000 Pounds

$90/Business Location

Plus $85 per Scale

$100/Business Location

Plus $100 per Scale

Livestock Scales 10,000 Pounds or greater

$90/Business Location

Plus $130 per Scale

$100/Business Location

Plus $150 per Scale

Stationary & Truck Mounted LPG Meters

$90/Business Location

Plus $145 per Meter

$100/Business Location

Plus $175 per Meter

Wholesale & Vehicle Meters

$90/Business Location

Plus $25 per Meter

$100/Business Location

Plus $25 per Meter

All Other Commercial Weighing & Measuring Devices

$90/Business Location

Plus $17 per Meter or Scale

$100/Business Location

Plus $20 per Meter or Scale

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2010-11
Estimated

FY 2011-12
Projected

Percent of businesses in compliance with Weights and Measures requirements

90%

92%

Approval of this Ordinance contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of Environmentally Conscious Community by providing additional revenue to maintain the commercial device inspection program at the current level of service.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proposed fee increases will contribute to the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer’s ability to maintain customer service levels within its Net County Cost target. It is projected that the new fees will result in an increase in revenue of $47,000 which has been included in the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer FY 2011-12 Recommended Budget.