§ 820-8.004. Grievance procedure.

(1)

Should any controversy arise regarding any inconveniences or discomfort occasioned by agricultural operations or agricultural processing operations, which cannot be settled by direct notification, the parties involved may agree to submit the controversy to a grievance committee as set forth below, in an attempt to resolve the matter without filing any court action.

(2)

The grievance committee shall consist of five members selected from the community at large by the board of supervisors, and serving at the pleasure of the board, two of whom shall be engaged in the commercial practice of agriculture, two of whom shall have no financial interest in any agricultural property or operation, and the final member being the farm advisor of the University of California Cooperative Extension or designee. Members of the committee shall receive no compensation for carrying out these duties.

(3)

A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum of the grievance committee, and no decision shall be valid unless taken upon a majority vote of the members present. The county agricultural commissioner shall be the secretary, who shall call meetings as the need arises and shall maintain minutes of each meeting. The grievance committee may adopt rules of procedure governing the conduct of its meetings.

(4)

An aggrieved party may submit the controversy to the grievance committee, by written request, within thirty days after the initial notification.

(5)

Thereafter, the grievance committee may investigate the facts of the controversy, but must, within thirty days, hold a meeting to consider the merits of the matter and within twenty days of the meeting render a written decision to the parties. At the time of the meeting both parties shall have an opportunity to present what each considers to be pertinent facts.

(6)

The decision of the grievance committee shall be advisory only.

(7)

The effectiveness of the grievance committee as a forum for resolution of disputes is dependent upon full discussion and complete presentation of all pertinent facts concerning the dispute in order to eliminate any misunderstandings. The parties are encouraged to cooperate in the exchange of pertinent information concerning the controversy.

(Ord. 97-38 § 2).