Title
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Amend Resolution No. 12-259 and the Monterey County Agricultural Advisory Committee Bylaws to remove term limits pursuant to Section 4. Term of Office; and
b. Remove the corresponding reference to said term limits at Section 7. Officers; and
c. Revise the regular meeting start time from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. pursuant to Section 5. Meetings.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Amend Resolution No. 12-259 and the Monterey County Agricultural Advisory Committee Bylaws to remove term limits pursuant to Section 4. Term of Office; and
b. Remove the corresponding reference to said term limits at Section 7. Officers; and
c. Revise the regular meeting start time from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. pursuant to Section 5. Meetings.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Committee’s current Bylaws provide for term limits of three, three-year consecutive terms pursuant to Section 4 with a corresponding reference to said term limits at Section 7. Section 5 provides for a regular meeting date and time of the fourth Thursday of the month at 1:30 p.m. The proposed amendments to the Committee’s Bylaws will remove term limits pursuant to Section 4 and remove the corresponding reference to said term limits at Section 7, as well as change the regular meeting start time from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. pursuant to Section 5. Meetings.
The proposed amendments to Section 4. Term of Office, Section 5. Meetings, and Section 7. Officers, were prepared for the Committee’s consideration and recommendation on January 25, 2018. The Committee’s recommendations, shown in strikeout and underline, and approved unanimously by those members who were present, follow:
Section 4. Term of Office
Members shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years to serve at the will of the Board of Supervisors, commencing on July 1st and ending June 30th. Vacancies that occur will be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointments. No member Members shall be appointed for more than three (3) full consecutive terms, and shall serve until his or her successor is appointed.
Section 5. Meetings
The Committee shall conduct business in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (Government Code Sections 54050 et. seq.) and by Robert’s Rules of Order. The Committee shall meet monthly. The meetings shall be open to the public and located within Monterey County. The regularly established time and place of meetings shall be at 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of the month or as may be determined by the Chairperson of the Committee, at the Monterey County Agricultural Center, 1428 Abbott Street, Salinas. Special public meetings may be held at such times and places as the Board of Supervisors, the Committee Chairperson or a majority of the Committee shall direct. Special meetings shall be noticed and conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act, Open Meeting Law.
An agenda shall be posted at least 72 hours before the meeting, and will contain a brief general description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at the meeting. Meetings shall provide an opportunity for public comment. Agendas for special meetings shall be posted at least 24 hours before the time of the special meeting. Committee members shall be notified at least 24 hours before the time of the special meeting. If requested in writing, local newspapers of general circulation, radio stations and television stations shall be notified at least 24 hours before the time of the special meeting. Items of business to be transacted or discussed at special meetings shall be limited to those items of business requiring the special meeting. No changes or additions shall be made to agendas for special meetings. No other items of business shall be transacted or discussed, other than those items of business requiring the special meeting.
Committee members are entitled to receive reimbursement for reasonable and actual expenses incurred in the course of their official duties as a Committee member. Claims for expenses will be submitted to the Agricultural Commissioner for approval.
The Committee shall not hold a closed session without first notifying the Office of the County Counsel of the specific purpose of such meeting and receiving written advice from the Office of the County Counsel that it is legal to hold such a session or meeting. Any closed session or meeting shall be held in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
Section 7. Officers
The Committee shall select a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson, who shall be elected at the Committee’s July meeting or at its first meeting of each year. Officers shall serve for a one (1) year term from July 1st and shall serve until his or her successor is appointed. Officers may be re-elected by the Committee to serve more than one term. so long as said Officer’s term is within the timeframe of the maximum of three consecutive full terms.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Office of the County Counsel-Risk Management has reviewed and approved the proposed amendments to Resolution No. 12-259 and Agricultural Advisory Committee Bylaws as to form. One (1) additional grammatical correction to insert the word, “the” has been recommended by the Office of the County Counsel-Risk Management at Section 2. Membership which follows for the Board’s consideration:
Section 2. Membership
The Committee shall consist of thirteen (13) members who are residents of the County of Monterey appointed pursuant to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and representing agricultural interests. The thirteen (13) members shall be selected as follows: A) one (1) each from Grower-Shipper Association of Central California, Monterey County Farm Bureau, California Strawberry Commission, Monterey County Vintners and Growers Association and Monterey County Cattlemen’s Association; B) one (1) by each Member of the Board of Supervisors; and C) three (3) at-large members nominated by the Committee and appointed by the Board of Supervisors. Members selected by the Board of Supervisors shall have their primary source of income derived from an agricultural occupation, and members at-large shall be selected from other segments of the industry, such as, but not limited to, nursery/floriculture, labor, organic growers or pest control. Changes to the membership of the Committee adopted by resolution of the Board of Supervisors shall automatically be reflected in these Bylaws.
FINANCING:
There is no cost to the County General Fund.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Elimination of term limits will allow for more efficient administration of the Committee, particularly in supervisorial districts have a limited pool of qualified candidates.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by:
Robert Roach, Assistant Agricultural Commissioner
Approved by:
Henry S. Gonzales, Agricultural Commissioner
Attachments:
A Proposed Resolution 2018-07-17
B Proposed Amendments 2018-07-17
C Resolution 12-259 2012-09-18
D Resolution 65-2018 1965-04-26
E 2018-01-25 - AAC Meeting Minutes - Final