Supervisors mum on ranching dispute

County urged to intercede in suit threatening some agricultural use

Marin County supervisors saluted a new initiative to expedite agricultural project permits on Tuesday. But they were silent about a legal fight some say could cripple the industry altogether.

At their weekly meeting, the Board of Supervisors received a report on the newly formed Marin County Agricultural Team. The team, which consists of 21 county staff members from various departments, was organized with the assistance of the Marin County UC Cooperative Extension office. It received no special funding or authorization from supervisors.

“These individuals have been tasked with acting as leads in their departments on any ag-related projects, sort of point persons for permits and applications coming from the farming community,” Vince Trotter, the county's sustainable agriculture coordinator, told supervisors.

Trotter said that while nearly half of Marin County is agricultural land, permit applications from farms and ranches are submitted infrequently.

“So when they do,” Trotter said, “it's important that there is someone who is familiar with the ag community and understands the context for the projects and can consistently apply the appropriate policies for these working landscapes.” Members of the team received some special training to prepare them for their new roles.

Jyotsna Basho, a building plans examiner who is a member of the team, said her training included six- to eight-hour field trips to dairy farms, slaughterhouses and oyster farms. Another member of the team, Alicia Stamps, a civil engineer, said the biggest bene