To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures
Staff Name and Phone Number: Andrew F. Smith, (707) 565-2371
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
title
Consolidated Fee Hearing - FY 2025-26 Fees for the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (Second Reading)
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt the Ordinance introduced on March 25, 2025, establishing and amending fees for services provided by the Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures, effective July 1, 2025.
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Executive Summary:
At a public hearing on March 25, 2025, as part of the County’s Consolidated Fee Hearings, the Board adopted Resolution No. 25-0223 introducing, reading the title of, and waiving the reading of the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures’ fiscal year 2025-26 fee change ordinance. This item requests adoption of the ordinance establishing the fees to be collected by the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures effective July 1, 2025.
Discussion:
The Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (“Department”) annually prepares an analysis of user fees for the next fiscal year to illustrate the methodology used for fee calculations and to demonstrate that the proposed Department fees are based on amounts reasonably necessary to recover the cost of providing the services described.
The proposed fee rates reflect an average fee increase of 3% for most fees. These increases are associated with the annual cost of living adjustments which occurred in FY 2024/25. The Hazardous Materials technical fee is increasing from $11 to $13, which is an 18% increase for use of the Digital Health Department software used for recording hazardous materials projects. The increase is necessary to recover the cost of the software.
Agriculture Division
The Agriculture Division acts under the jurisdiction and direction of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR), and works in cooperation with various federal, state, regional, and local agencies. The Agricultural Commissioner enforces the laws and regulations of the California Food and Agricultural Code, the California Code of Regulations, and local ordinances while serving at the discretion of the County Board of Supervisors and the CDFA Secretary of Agriculture.
Historically, fees in the Agriculture Division have remained below full cost recovery to help support the local agricultural community, and as a result, the General Fund is used to supplement division costs. In turn, the amount of General Fund contributed to the CDFA program activity costs within the Agriculture Division supports the County’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) for unclaimed gas tax revenue and helps leverage additional funding from the CDFA. Fee revenues for Agriculture services (excluding Cannabis) comprise approximately 5% of the division’s total revenues.
Land Stewardship Division
The Land Stewardship Division administers the Sonoma County Vineyard and Orchard Site Development Ordinance, also known as VESCO, as well as Agricultural Grading and Drainage. Growers planting new vineyards, orchards, or replanting existing vineyards or orchards are required to meet standards within the Sonoma County Code and comply with requirements including best management practices (BMP) as established in the Agricultural Commissioner’s BMP Guidelines. The proposed ordinance includes average fee increases of 3% within the Land Stewardship division.
Weights & Measures Division
The Weights & Measures Division is committed to protecting the economic health of the community by preserving and maintaining confidence in the accuracy of weighing and measuring instruments, product standards, and business practices used in commerce. Through this balanced commitment and timely response to citizen requests, consumers and businesses are assured the means of accurate value comparison and fair competition. The Automated Point of Sale Fees are to cover costs for point-of-sale scanner compliance. This is ensuring correct charges when a store scans the bar code on a package and the price rings up at the checkout counter. The Division’s staff inspects to ensure the products sold are charged the correct listed price. Noncompliance with these regulations tend to effect underrepresented communities where small overcharges can have greater effect. In this way these fees support the County’s Strategic Plan pillar of Racial Equity and Social Justice. The proposed ordinance includes average fee increases of 3% within the Weights & Measures Division.
Estimated Revenues
The FY 2025-26 estimated revenue projections based on the proposed fee increase is approximately $173,804. The Department is approximately 70% self-funded through state grant revenue and costs for services (fees) and receives approximately $2.5 million in General Fund support to offset the balance. While the overarching goal is to implement fees for services that cover departmental costs, significant consideration was given to community impacts.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
03/25/2025 - The Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution introducing, reading the title of, and waiving further reading of the proposed ordinance adjusting fees for the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures Fees effective July 1, 2025
https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7266593&GUID=43DAEC09-D486-41F6-BD6A-E729A2ED1718&Options=&Search=
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY24-25 Adopted |
FY25-26 Projected |
FY26-27 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$173,804 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
|
$173,804 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
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$173,804 |
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
|
$173,804 |
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Department anticipates an additional $173,804 in revenue as a result of the proposed fee increases in FY 2025-26.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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N/A |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1. Ordinance
2. Exhibit to Ordinance
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A