PDF Return
C.47
To: Board of Supervisors
From: INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
Date: April  19, 2016
The Seal of Contra Costa County, CA
Contra
Costa
County
Subject: RECONSTITUTION OF THE AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY TASK FORCE
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On:   04/19/2016
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:
John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor
Contact: Julie DiMaggio Enea (925) 335-1077
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED:     April  19, 2016
David Twa,
 
BY: , Deputy

 

RECOMMENDATION(S):

RECONSTITUTE the Agricultural Advisory Task Force and APPROVE updated mission, seat configuration, and attached bylaws.

FISCAL IMPACT:

None.

BACKGROUND:

The recommendation culminates from a thorough review performed by the County's new Agricultural Commissioner as part of the County Administrator's triennial Board advisory body review process.   
  
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
    The Board of Supervisors, which has a long-standing commitment to supporting and promoting agriculture, seeks to assist farmers and ranchers by addressing emerging agricultural issues. For this reason, the Agricultural Commissioner and the IOC recommend the re-establishment of the Contra Costa County Agricultural Advisory Task Force to provide a forum for people and organizations that have an interest in agriculture.  
      
    Contra Costa County has undergone a transition from predominantly rural to become more suburban over the past 50 years. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors created an Agricultural Core zone to preserve the best growing soils located in the Eastern portion of the County. In addition, when the voters passed transportation expenditure plans (Measure C and Measure J), they included growth limits including a requirement that 65% of the land in Contra
      
    Costa County be preserved as open space and later added an Urban Limit Line policy to further direct growth into the urban centers. Growth has effectively been limited to no more than 35% of the County.  
      
    Due to the flexibility and innovation of local farmers and ranchers, the Contra Costa agricultural industry continues to play an important and vital role in the local economy. The success of Contra Costa's agricultural industry requires producers to adapt to constantly changing environmental, economic, political and social conditions, creating unanticipated needs and opportunities within the agricultural community.  
      
    The new Task Force's mission, seat configuration, and attached bylaws are designed to revitalize and modernize the body’s efforts. A proposal to re-establish the Task Force was reviewed and approved by the Internal Operations Committee on March 28, 2016.  
      
    MISSION:   
      
    The mission of the Task Force is to advise and provide recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on matters that relate to preserving and promoting agriculture in Contra Costa County. In doing so, the Task Force will also provide a forum to support the exchange of information and ideas, advocate for projects, resolve disagreements, foster consensus and build relationships within the agricultural and ranching community.  
      
    POWERS AND DUTIES:  
      
    The Task Force shall:
    1. Provide leadership and direction in formulating policy recommendations relevant to preserving and promoting agriculture, and advise the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors on applicable planning, zoning, and other land-use issues.
    2. Make recommendations to enhance the economic viability of agriculture and to minimize undesirable environmental impacts.
    3. Provide active participation and leadership to develop a plan to further preserve, enhance and promote agriculture in Contra Costa County.
    4. Participate periodically in the review of Contra Costa County's guidelines for the Williamson Act.
    5. Report to the Board of Supervisors on effects of proposed local, State and federal legislation affecting agricultural resources
    6. Advise and work with city, county, district governments, special interest groups, and individuals concerning conflicts between agriculture, urban development and environmental quality.
    7. Advise and work with city, county, state, federal, special interest groups, individuals, and other entities and district governments concerning Agricultural preservation funding opportunities.
    8. Advise County departments on the impact of programs affecting preserving and promoting agriculture in Contra Costa County.
    9. Determine the committee's work schedule, procedures, and work products.
    MEMBERSHIP:  
      
    The Agricultural Advisory Task Force will be composed of 12 members appointed by the Board of Supervisors: 8 voting members and 4 ex-officio non-voting members.   
      
    In order to ensure that the Task Force represents each region of the County, one seat representing each of the five county districts shall be filled by a member nominated by each Supervisor. Those appointed shall be technical representatives of their profession or field, and advocates for preserving and promoting agriculture in Contra Costa County. They shall demonstrate expertise by their active involvement in agriculture, professional association and/or academic achievement. They shall be able and committed to meet regularly and should be able to communicate effectively with interested members of the public.  
      
    In addition, a seat shall be provided each to a representative of the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau that is nominated by the Bureau, and representatives of Harvest Time and the Cattlemen's Association that is nominated by their membership. These organizations shall submit the names of their selected representative to the Board for approval. Although it is expected that appointments for these positions will represent the variety of agricultural interests within the county, if the need arises for additional appointments, other experts may be recommended by the Agricultural Advisory Task Force at any time to the Board of Supervisors to become voting members.  
      
    Ex officio members will be non-voting and shall be the following persons:
    1. Contra Costa-County Agricultural Commissioner (or designee)
    2. Contra Costa County Director of Conservation and Development (or designee)
    3. A representative of the University of California Cooperative Extension nominated by the Cooperative Extension office
    4. A representative of the Resource Conservation District nominated by the District
    TERMS OF OFFICE:  
      
    Appointed members of the Agricultural Task Force shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors and shall have terms of three years. No regular member shall serve more than two terms in succession. A regular member shall remain on the committee following expiration of the term being served until he or she is re-appointed to a successive term or until a successor is appointed. The Board of Supervisors shall fill any vacancy on the committee, and may utilize the committee to screen the applicants' qualifications. The person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term of the person he or she succeeds.  
      
    Ex officio members and the two seats nominated by industry groups will serve at will in two year terms as long as they represent the entity that selected them to serve as ex officio members of the committee and are willing and able to act as members.
    Term Length Staggered Terms
    Seat Nominated by Voting in Years First Term Succeeding Term
    1 District I District I Supervisor Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/19 7/1/19-6/30/22
    2 District II District II Supervisor Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/20 7/1/20-6/30/23
    3 District III District III Supervisor Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/19 7/1/19-6/30/22
    4 District IV District IV Supervisor Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/20 7/1/20-6/30/23
    5 District V District V Supervisor Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/19 7/1/19-6/30/22
    6 CCC Farm Bureau CCC Farm Bureau Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/20 7/1/20-6/30/23
    7 Harvest Time Harvest Time Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/19 7/1/19-6/30/22
    8 Cattlemen's Association Cattlemen's Association Voting 3 6/1/16-6/30/20 7/1/20-6/30/23
    9 Agricultural Commissioner Ex-Officio Non-Voting 2 N/A N/A
    10 Conservation & Development Director Ex-Officio Non-Voting 2 N/A N/A
    11 U.C. Cooperative Extension Cooperative Extension Office Non-Voting 2 6/1/16-6/30/18 7/1/18-6/30/20
    12 CC Resource Conservation District CCRCD District Board Non-Voting 2 6/1/16-6/30/18 7/1/18-6/30/20
      
    MEETINGS:  
    Regular meetings shall be held two times per year at a minimum, pursuant to a schedule of dates, times and places determined at the first meeting of the committee.  
      
    STAFF:  
    Chad Godoy, Contra Costa County Agriculture Department  
    Phone number: (925) 646-5240 or E-mail: chad.godoy@ag.cccounty.u

    CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

    That status quo of irregular meetings and attendance will continue.

AgendaQuick©2005 - 2024 Destiny Software Inc., All Rights Reserved