2019 November - Board of Directors Meeting Minutes đź“ť
MEETING NOTES
IN ATTENDANCE: Stephen Janes, Katy Rogers, Karen Steinwachs, Nicholas Miller, Tyler Thomas, Wayne Kelterer, Kathy Joseph
Item 1: Call to Order
o Meeting called to order (9:11am)
Item 2: Approve Minutes-June 2019 & July 2019
o Tabled
Item 3: Guest Speaker – Agricultural Commissioner: Cathy Fisher
o Commissioner Fisher introductions
o Commissioner Fisher spoke about anonymous AG group addressing pesticide conflict between cannabis grows and conventional AG
o Commissioner Fisher stated there is a misunderstanding of the group. No power, just suggestions
o Planning Commission should not have stated this group would be able to provide direction
o CDFA Secretary Ross suggested group established
o All signed confidentiality agreement
o Twelve members: row crops, pest advisors, pesticide spray pilots, vineyard manager
o Three members from cannabis, One vineyard manager
o All voluntary with no County Government members
o Cannabis highest tested commodity
§ Health & Safety Code: 66 active pesticides
o Cannabis still illegal on Federal level
o USDA-EPA: Set tolerance
o Labeled a product or commodity
o County AG doesn’t protect cannabis
o BCC test cannabis, 80 total certified labs in CA
o Considered a product, but need a cultivation license
o State issues license, as long as regulations met
o This has been a pilot on enforcing regulations
o So far, program has shown flaws
o Track & Trace has not been implemented fully
§ Only four grows are utilizing Track & Trace
o Kathy Joseph: Have weather conditions, wine, climate, “lift & drift” being considered?
§ Commissioner Fisher: Not being considered
o Applicator is ultimately responsible
o Group has met four times, one more meeting in January
o Group focusing on two items
§ Mitigating drift
§ Good neighbor relationships
o Group can only submit suggestions, nothing enforceable
o SBV Board is concerned not enough wine members included
o Planning Commission can recommend Board of Supervisors open cannabis ordinance
o Wine community create a stakeholder group ourselves?
o Commissioner Fisher has met with Mona Miyasato (SBC CEO), Board of Supervisors, and Planning Commission: Has relayed concerns with cannabis and AG next to each other
o Tyler Thomas: We should pursue “Memo of Understanding” between cannabis and AG and establish conditions with permit
o AVA concentration: Should we pursue limits within AVA lines?
o All AG is threatened: Leased land is 3X higher and being scooped up by cannabis for expansion or artificial banner
o Commissioner Fisher thanked for coming to meeting
Item 4: CEO Updates and Financials
o Financials: $22,000 currently in bank
o Invoices for 2020 Dues has been sent
o Annual Report out prior to invoices
o Projecting 2020 budget of $315,000
o Events have brought in money
o BID line on P&L shows how much spent. Civitas currently on hold
o Mission SB: Some invoices sent after event
o Wine Futures: $18,000 profit
o Budget to Actual: Prior years loss: Shows arrears of previous years
o Business Membership Dues: Tabling tiers to strategic planning
o Santa Rita Hills Wine Alliance: Will discuss BID at their Annual Meeting
o Shooting for 2/1/20-3/15/20 for petition period for BID
o SBV Staff & Board members will need a unifying front to cover so much space
o Work on list of total wineries
o Grant: Marketing Committee of Anne Hallock (Fess Parker), Katy Rogers (Jackson Family), Larry Schaffer (Tercero)
o Marketing Proposals are in and recommendations forthcoming
o Bank of Marin looking at helping us with funding so we don’t have to wait for reimbursements
o Already submitted proposal for CDFA Grant for 2021
Item 5: SB Vintners Foundation Updates
o Jessica Gasca is President and aiming to work closely with SBV
o End of Harvest Party at The Station in Los Alamos
o Solterra Strategies onboard with Foundation for Auction, other events
o Multiple charities will benefit from Auction
Item 6: Taste of the Valley
o Tabled due to time
Item 7: Meeting Adjourned
o Adjourned at 12:30pm