Title
Agriculture Department, in coordination with the Sheriff’s Office, recommending the Board provide direction on the scope of study for the Ad Hoc Hemp Committee.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Following a presentation on industrial hemp by the Agriculture Department on June 23, 2020, the Board requested the formation of an Ad Hoc Hemp Committee to include two members of the Board. The members of the Committee are District I Supervisor John Hidahl and District IV Supervisor Lori Parlin. The Ad Hoc Hemp Committee held a planning meeting via ZOOM on August 19, 2020. County staff participants were Sheriff John D’Agostini, Sheriff Lieutenant Mike Cook, Deputy County Counsel Daniel Vandekoolwyk, and Agricultural Commissioner Charlene Carveth. Agricultural Commission members, Bill Draper and David Bolster, also participated. The Ad Hoc Committee discussed the scope of study for the Committee, and are returning to the Board for further direction.
The Ad Hoc Committee is recommending that the Board direct the Committee, and allow the Committee to use staff time, to develop recommendations for a comprehensive Industrial Hemp Program in the County, including the following:
1) Holding a meeting, or series of meetings, on whether to recommend to the Board a moratorium on all renewals or new registrations while the proposed Industrial Hemp Program Ordinance is developed using a similar model to the Cannabis Ad Hoc Committee with public outreach meetings but allow existing registrants to finish out this growing and harvest season.
2) Developing recommendations regarding testing of industrial hemp.
3) Developing recommendations on issues such as zoning, parcel size, setbacks, registration limits, crop size limits, maximum acreage within the County, signage, track and trace harvested crops, or other restrictions.
4) Develop recommendations on new ordinances, or updating existing ordinances, addressing industrial hemp cultivation, industrial hemp plant breeders, industrial hemp nurseries and processing/manufacturing.
5) Develop recommendations to create an administrative process for industrial hemp and provide best practices for the program by obtaining other counties best management practices and ordinances.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to create an ordinance under the direction of the ad hoc committee, or could direct other additions to the Hemp Ad Hoc Committee scope of study.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
At the June 23, 2020 Board of Supervisors meeting item # 20-0468, the Department of Agriculture recommended the Board: 1) Receive a presentation and update on Hemp program for El Dorado County permits issued through California Department of Food and Agriculture; and 2) Provide feedback and/or direction to staff on the Hemp program. The Board requested the formation of an Ad Hoc Hemp Committee with Supervisors Parlin and Hidahl as members and Supervisor Novasel as an alternate; and 3) Direct the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures, the Sheriff and the Hemp Program Ad Hoc Committee to return to the Board for further direction.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Sheriff’s Office; County Counsel; Planning and Building; Agriculture, Weights and Measures.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve and provide direction as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Currently the only funding for the Hemp program in the Agriculture Department is solely for registration and renewal issuance, training of county personnel, and enforcement activities covered under the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) contract and other billable cost as associated with the CDFA Hemp program
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
None
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety and Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Charlene Carveth, Agricultural Commissioner, Sealer of Weights & Measures and Sheriff John D’Agostini