DATE:
March 15, 2022
16
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
EXPLORING THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING AN AG PASS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
Last fall, AB-1103, legislation creating a standardized training and framework for obtaining an Ag Pass was signed into law by Governor Newsom. The author(s) of this bill recognized the need for ranchers to have timely access to their ranch during a wildfire or other emergency incidents that could be devastating to livestock. An Ag Pass program could prevent occurrences similar to the 2020 incident involving a rancher who lost hundreds of cattle during the Bear Fire (part of the North Complex Fire) as he struggled to gain access to his rangelands.
Many ranchers and farmers have ignored evacuation orders, knowing that once they leave, they may not be able to return to their property to care for their animals and crops. Others have been evacuated only to eventually make the difficult choice to bypass roadblocks to access their farm or ranch, risking their safety and a misdemeanor charge to ensure the welfare of their animals.
Several California counties have created a county-based "Ag Pass" program. Ag Pass cards are an opportunity to identify vetted commercial farm and ranch owner-operators and their employees to firefighting personnel, California Highway Patrol officers, Sheriff deputies, other law enforcement officers, and emergency personnel during an emergency.
The Ag Pass can provide cardholders limited access during a wildfire or emergency, or similar disaster to restricted areas, allowing them to protect or care for agricultural assets, such as irrigating crops, feeding, watering, and transporting livestock. It also enables them to provide support information to emergency personnel, such as identifying access roads and water points.
Ag Pass cards are obtained through an application process prior to an emergency. This process is designed to confirm that the c...
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