County of Sonoma
State of California
Date: May 14, 2024
Item Number:
Resolution Number:
☐ 4/5 Vote Required
Resolution Of The Board Of Supervisors Of The County Of Sonoma, State Of California, Submitting the Sonoma County Prohibition on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Initiative Petition to the Voters of Sonoma County at the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election
Whereas, on August 21, 2023, proponents of an ordinance filed with the Sonoma County Registrar of Voters Office a notice of intent to circulate an initiative petition of an ordinance to phase out existing and prohibit future Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in most unincorporated areas of Sonoma County; and Whereas, County Counsel prepared a ballot title and summary for the proposed Initiative, as required by law, entitling the Initiative “Sonoma County Prohibition on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations” (hereinafter the “Initiative”); and Whereas, the proponents of the Initiative thereafter published a Notice of Intent to Circulate Petition, circulated their petition for signature, and on March 4, 2024, filed the petition and signatures with the Registrar of Voters; and Whereas, the Registrar of Voters Office has examined the signatures and verified that sufficient signatures support placing the Initiative on the ballot at the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election; and
Whereas, the Registrar of Voters Office certified the results of the examination to the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on April 16, 2024; and Resolution #24-
Date:
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That:
1. The Board of Supervisor submits the Sonoma County Prohibition on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations Petition to the Voters of Sonoma County at the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election.
2. The Initiative shall be submitted to the voters in the following form:
SONOMA COUNTY PROHIBITION ON CONCENTRATED ANIMAL
FEEDING OPERATIONS
To promote animal welfare, water quality, and other goals, should the County Code be amended to prohibit, outside of the Coastal Zone, farms and other animal production
operations that meet the definition of “Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations” (CAFOs), as defined by federal
regulations, require phase out of existing CAFOs over three years, authorize daily financial penalties for violations, and require, among other things, the Agricultural Commissioner to create a job retraining program for CAFO workers?
YES
NO
3. The County Clerk is hereby authorized, instructed, and directed to provide and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter, and all supplies, equipment, and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct an election.
4. The County Clerk is hereby further directed to take the necessary and appropriate actions to provide the necessary election officers, polling places, and voting precincts.
5. Arguments for and against the Initiative may be submitted to the Registrar of Voters Office by August 16, 2024, in accordance with the deadlines established for the November 5, 2024, Presidential General Election.
6. In accordance with the provisions of the Elections Code, the County Counsel is Resolution #24-
Date:
authorized to prepare an impartial analysis of the Initiative, and the Auditor is directed to review the Initiative and determine whether the Initiative, if adopted, would affect the revenues or expenditures of the County, and, if so, to prepare a fiscal analysis.
7. Notice of time and place of holding the election, together with any other notices required by law, shall be given to the County Clerk.
Supervisors:
Gorin: Rabbitt: Gore: Hopkins: Coursey:
Ayes: Noes: Absent: Abstain:
So Ordered.