Farm Bureau roundup: Water rates, minimum wage, electric vehicle charging stations

SCVWD maintains ag rate
The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors voted 7-0 Tuesday to keep agricultural groundwater rates at 6 percent of the municipal and industrial (M&I) rate. This action was the conclusion of a nine-month process to review the ag rate and consider an increase in the rate. Other proposals at the meeting included raising the agricultural rate to 10 percent of M&I or 12 percent of M&I, among other things. According to the district’s charter, the agricultural water rate cannot be more than 25 percent of the M&I rate. Ag rates are kept low using property tax funds, a practice known as the Open Space Credit, which will continue in its current form at least through fiscal year 2015. Several local farmers attended the meeting to encourage the board to continue their practice of providing a reduced rate for agricultural groundwater. For more information, visit www.valleywater.org.
*Check back Monday for a follow-up story regarding the vote on ag groundwater rates.
The Open Space Credit Policy has kept ag water costs under a set threshold since 1999. The credit limits the semi-annual charge paid by agricultural producers for groundwater to no more than 10 percent of the municipal and industrial charge. Currently the charge is at 6 percent, or $18.30 per acre foot. Municipal and industrial water rates are $305 per acre foot in South County and $680 per acre foot in North County. The Open Space Credit is currently funded by a one percent property tax. To read more about the credit, click here.
Proposal for countywide minimum wage proposal abandoned
At the Board of Supervisors’ Finance and Government Operations Committee (FGOC) meeting Thursday, Supervisor Dave Cortese rescinded his request to consider a countywide minimum wage ordinance. In May, Cortese asked the County to consider raising the wage in unincorporated areas of the county to match the minimum wage adopted by the San Jose voters in November, which started at $10 per hour and is tied to increases in the Consumer Price Index. Cortese changed direction Thursday and instead asked County staff to consider the impacts to the county from California’s new minimum wage signed by Governor Brown in September and from San Jose’s minimum wage ordinance. Cortese called this “a signal to the administration to not keep working on a minimum wage or living wage ordinance at this time”. Cortese also specifically asked that this change be communicated to the Farm Bureau, the only organization that was mentioned by name during the committee meeting. According to his remarks, the primary driver for this change was California’s adoption of its own minimum wage increase. In a memo to the committee, Cortese noted “it is questionable at this time whether pursuing a county ordinance would be effective”.
Planning Dept. roundtable Nov. 19 at the Farm Bureau
The Farm Bureau will host a roundtable meeting from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19 with staff from the County Department of Planning and Development. All members are encouraged to attend this meeting, which is part of an ongoing discussion with the department to better support the agricultural community. This is an opportunity to identify and address ongoing and systematic hurdles for farmers, ranchers, and food processors. Updates will include information on winery regulations and winery signage, the department’s internal modifications to the permitting process, the implementation of the Santa Clara Valley Habitat Plan, proposed changes to septic system regulations, and other topics that arise during the meeting. The county’s new proposal to require charging stations for electric vehicles at residences and commercial buildings will also be discussed. Contact Jennifer Scheer

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or (408) 776-1684 for more information or to suggest an additional item for discussion.