VASCM: FW: Wineries & Vineyards Meeting 8/22

[Bill Cooper]

Many, but not all of you, know that newly-elected Santa Clara County Supervisor Mike Wasserman wants to learn about issues facing vineyards and wineries in Santa Clara County and is holding a meeting on August 22nd at 7:00pm at the Coyote Grange Hall (8140 Monterey Highway).
Lessons learned from other counties are specifically requested in the attached letter, and I hope members in Santa Cruz County could provide some insights on what makes that a difficult place for wineries and vineyards.  If we can get better regulations in Santa Clara County, then you can reference us in your discussions with Santa Cruz officials.

I plan to attend and will be happy to convey any points/examples you have.

Below is Tom Kruse's email to Wasserman.

Bill

Bill Cooper
Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards
22645 Garrod Rd
Saratoga, CA 95070
408.867.8440
www.cgv.com




From: Tom [mailto:krusewine at aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 12:47 PM
To: Mike.Wasserman at bos.sccgov.org
Cc: krusewine at aol.com
Subject: Re: Wineries Meeting 8/22

Dear Mike
Thank you for this opportunity to share with you and the planning department the issues that are confronting the wineries of Santa Clara County. As you will recall you had our support in the supervisorial election. I recall one of the main planks of your platform, and you repeated it several times, was to invite business to this county and then get out of their way and let them succeed. I sincerely hope that is still a main tenet of your political beliefs.
There are, no doubt, agencies of the county and state scrambling to "invent" new reasons for their existence and grab, here-to-fore untapped, revenue streams. Wineries are not the place to further regulate and tax.
These are definitely trying times. I know the county is making cuts wherever possible and yet doing their best to provide basic and vital services to its' residents. Many, many wineries are just getting by. Contrary to what some planners may think we were never fat cats to begin with. More work and more expense to comply with new regulations and fees will, no doubt, put some people out of business. Yet more victims of big government.
I cannot speak for others but I can tell you, as a matter of fact, that Karen and I have struggle to meet our obligations. The winery business is our full time occupation. Ours is a tenuous existence so we are looking to you to remove or change some burdensome and, frankly, unnecessary regulations. Many of us are farmers as well. A winery with a vineyard is a perfect example of a vertically integrated business. At the last overhaul of the General Plan of the County a great deal of effort was put forth to recognize agriculture as business and not just the interim maintainer of open space. It was the intent of the county to recognize this and allow as many value added operations as could be compatible with the area. The purpose of all of this was to make farming in this great county a viable enterprise. At our winery, like many others, we bring in bottles, labels and corks. The rest is produced and processed here. It's really fairly simple. Let us strive to  keep it that way. I look forward to seeing you on the 22nd.
Sincerely, Your Friend
Tom Kruse

I am copying the other wineries on this.

-----Original Message-----
From: Wasserman, Mike <Mike.Wasserman at bos.sccgov.org>
To: Wasserman, Mike <Mike.Wasserman at bos.sccgov.org>
Sent: Tue, Aug 9, 2011 12:57 pm
Subject: Wineries Meeting 8/22
Friends,

Please join me on August 22nd at 7:00pm at the Coyote Grange Hall (8140 Monterey Highway) for a special meeting to discuss winery operations in our County.

County Planning Staff will be on hand to discuss how processes and regulations might be modified to support your operations.

Flyer attached.

I hope to see you there!

Mike

Mike Wasserman
Supervisor, District One
Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
70 West Hedding Street, 10th Floor, East Wing
San Jose, CA 95100
(408) 299-5010 | (408) 295-6993 (Fax)
Mike.wasserman at bos.sccgov.org<mailto:Mike.wasserman at bos.sccgov.org> | www.supervisorwasserman.org<http://www.supervisorwasserman.org>