To: Board of Supervisors
From: Matt Slattengren, Ag Commissioner/Weights & Measures Director
Report Title: HEARING to consider adoption of Resolution No. 2025-, amending the Department of Agriculture, and Weights and Measures fee schedule, effective December 1, 2025. (Matt Slattengren, Agriculture Commissioner/Weights and Measures Director)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. OPEN the public hearing to consider adoption of a resolution, amending the Department of Agriculture, and Weights and Measures fee schedule; RECEIVE testimony; and CLOSE the public hearing.
2. ADOPT the resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The increase in the hourly rate and the increase in various departmental fees should increase revenue by approximately $30,000 annually to help offset increasing costs.
BACKGROUND:
Since 2022, the Department’s cost of providing services has increased as has the cost of some of the materials used in programs. The Agricultural Commissioner has evaluated the current fees and determined an increase in certain fees is necessary to cover the costs of the services provided by the Department. The Department is increasing its hourly rate to be closer to the actual rate. The hourly rate has not increased in over 3 years. The Department had not charged for services for issuing businesses a Certificate of Quarantine Compliance (CQC) for shipping plants out of the state for several years. The Department will begin charging for CQCs to cover its costs. The Department will also increase the fees for Farmers Market registrations and Certified Producers Certificates to cover some of the increased costs in the program. The Department will increase other fees as set forth in the proposed fee schedule.
The Agriculture Department recommends amending its fee schedule to cover the increased costs of providing services and selling items, as set forth in the attached fee schedule. The fees in the proposed fee schedule do not exceed the amount allowable by statute or the cost incurred by the County to provide the service, sell the item, or enforce the regulation.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Failure to adopt this new fee schedule will result in a loss of revenue to the Department.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
body
IN THE MATTER OF Adopting an agricultural fee schedule.
WHEREAS, the Food and Agriculture Code authorizes a county to charge fees for providing certain services;
WHEREAS, the Agriculture Department has conducted a fee study and determined that in order to recover the reasonable costs of services it provides, it is necessary and appropriate to charge and collect the fees set forth herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors as follows:
1. Authority. This resolution is enacted pursuant to the following statutes: Food and Agriculture Code sections 5202, 5204, 5852, 6027.5, 6303, 11732, 11734, 11923, 12034, 15204, 15204.5, and 47020; Labor Code section 1695; and California Code of Regulations Title 3 section 4603.
2. Notice and Hearing. This resolution was adopted pursuant to the procedures set forth in Government Code section 66018. The required notice has been given and a hearing has been held.
3. Fee Adoption. On and after the effective date of this resolution, the fees set forth in the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture, Schedule of Fees and Charges 2025 (attached hereto as Attachment A and incorporated herein) are adopted and shall be charged and collected.
4. Severability. If any fee or provision of this resolution is held invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that holding shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining fees or provisions, and the Board declares that it would have adopted each fee or provision of this resolution irrespective of the validity of any other fee or provision of this resolution.
5. Supersede. This resolution supersedes all ordinances, resolutions, and other actions of the Board of Supervisors that established fees for the services specified in this resolution.
6. Effective Date. This resolution becomes effective immediately upon adoption.