TO: Napa County Housing Commission
FROM: Jennifer Palmer, Executive Director
REPORT BY: Alex Carrasco, Project Manager
SUBJECT: Discussion on County Service Area No.4 Exemptions
RECOMMENDATION
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Discussion on County Service Area No.4 and requests for exemptions. No action needed.
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BACKGROUND
In 2002, the Napa County Board of Supervisors (“Board”), formed County Service Area No. 4 (“CSA No. 4”) as a mechanism for providing certain miscellaneous extended services pertaining to farmworker housing in Napa County. Services include any combination of the following:
(1) acquiring farmworker housing;
(2) building farmworker housing;
(3) leasing farmworker housing; and
(4) operating, maintaining, and managing farmworker housing facilities owned by a public agency.
Between 2002 to present, the program has primarily funded and supported the three county-owned farmworker centers (“Centers”) known as Calistoga, River Ranch, and Mondavi. The Board funds the services in part through the imposition of assessments (“Assessments”) on parcels in CSA No.4 containing one or more planted vineyard acres. Procedurally, prior to levying the Assessments, the Board receives a written Engineer’s Report (“Report”) prepared by a professional engineer that includes a description of each parcel of property with planted vineyard acres and the amount of the assessment for such parcel. The Board then holds a public hearing to allow for testimony, support or opposition to the proposed Assessments.
Following adoption of the Assessments, vineyard owners are notified of the Assessment for each of their parcels. At this time, vineyard owners may request written exemption. To qualify for an exemption, vineyard owners must either provide proof that they are housing their own farmworkers or demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that the parcel at issue receives no special benefit. Exemptions are filed with the Clerk of the Board no later than three (3) months after the date of the real property tax bill which shows the Assessment for which an exemption is requested. The Agricultural Commissioner (“Commissioner”) reviews the request for exemption and if granted, the Commissioner may cancel, correct, or issue a refund. The decision of the Commissioner may be appealed to the Board.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Staff Report
2. Public Comment
3. Discussion
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 1538 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.