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MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – California State Board of Equalization (SBOE) Board Member Fiona Ma, CPA, invites small businesses in Lake County to a free seminar on Tuesday, Feb. 9.
The seminar will take place from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center, 15500 Central Park Road in Middletown. Check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.
The seminar is an informative and exciting opportunity for businesses in the Lake County, and will focus on such issues as common sales and use tax problems, a discussion on employees versus independent contractors, record keeping best practices and forms of ownership.
“I encourage every small business owner to take advantage of this wonderful, free opportunity to help their businesses grow and thrive,” said Ma.
“This comprehensive seminar will cover the do’s and don’ts of complying with the appropriate tax laws so that businesses can focus on expanding their market share, hiring new workers and helping our community recover, particularly after the tragic fire season last year,” she said.
Nonprofit seminar topics include property tax exemptions for nonprofit organizations, filing and compliance for exempt organizations, and an overview of what is taxable for fundraising events and sales.
To register call 1-888-847-9652 or visit http://www.boe.ca.gov/cgi-bin/seminar.cgi?FLAG=447 .
Walk-ins are welcome. Registration is not mandatory to attend. This event will not be televised.
Learn more about a variety of other BOE in-person classes at http://www.boe.ca.gov/sutax/sbf.htm ; online seminars can be found at http://www.boe.ca.gov/info/VirtualSeminars/seminars_online.htm .
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SACRAMENTO – Sen. Mike McGuire, chairman of the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, announced that the 43rd Annual Zeke Grader Fisheries Forum is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 11, at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
“This has been a challenging year for California fisheries,” Sen. McGuire said. “Between a dreadful salmon season and a disastrous crab season, thousands of hard-working California fishing families are struggling and we need to step up and assist them during this difficult time. Our annual hearing will focus on the need for a disaster declaration and the many other hot issues facing the multi-million dollar fishery and aquaculture industries in California.”
John Laird, California’s Natural Resources Secretary, and Charlton Bonham, Director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, will headline this year’s list of speakers and presenters.
Presentations and discussion will focus specifically on crab, salmon, aquaculture and seafood marketing needs.
The agenda features presentations by state agency leaders, commercial and recreational fishing representatives, river advocates, aquaculture producers, and fish processors.
The hearing begins at 10 a.m. and will be held in Room 112 of the Capitol. The public is welcome to attend the hearing. There is no cost to attend.
The hearing will also be live-streamed on the State Senate’s Web site at www.senate.ca.gov .
“It is an honor to carry on this important tradition that was started by a North Coast legislator, former State Senator Barry Keene, more than 40 years ago,” McGuire said. “The fishery and aquaculture harvest has a deep history here in California and continues to be a significant economic driver up and down the coast and we hope folks come out next week and join the conversation.”
Sitting on the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture with Chair McGuire are Vice Chair Assemblyman Jim Wood, Sen. Jerry Hill, Sen. Jim Nielsen, Sen. Fran Pavley, Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, Assemblyman Philip Ting and Assemblyman Das Williams.
For more information about the Fisheries Forum visit the Committee Web site at http://fisheries.legislature.ca.gov/ .
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SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on Thursday adopted general waste discharge requirements (WDRs) for wineries and beverage and food processors that updates 2002 general WDRs for wineries and expands permit coverage to beverage and food processors within the North Coast region.
The North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board includes Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, a portion of northern Lake County, Marin, Mendocino, Modoc, Siskiyou, Sonoma and Trinity counties.
In a separate action, the board also adopted a “conditional waiver” that waives requirements for wineries and beverage and food processors discharging less than 1,500 gallons of process wastewater per day.
The board actions increase protection of groundwater quality, streamline the permitting process, improve consistency and incentivize water conservation.
Small wineries and some types of beverage and food processing facilities, such as cheese and potato processors, were not regulated. The board actions expand permit coverage to include the previously unregulated processors and small wineries.
“Updating the requirements and bringing in small wineries and food processors that weren’t a part of the regulation is critical to protecting our groundwater,” said Regional Water Board Executive Officer Matt St. John.
The updated general WDRs provide increased protection of the beneficial uses of groundwater by requiring wineries and beverage and food processors to address nutrients and salinity in their process wastewaters and solids.
The updated general WDRs require wineries and processors to either meet end-of-pipe limitations or monitor groundwater to demonstrate compliance with groundwater water quality standards.
Those facilities that qualify for a “conditional waiver” of requirements are required to employ best management practices such as minimizing the use of non-biodegradable and salt-containing cleaners to reduce impacts to groundwater quality.
Facilities are required to submit an application for coverage under the updated WDRs or conditional waiver as soon as possible. Wineries currently enrolled under the 2002 winery WDRs are required to submit an application by July 28.
Regional Water Board staff reached out to the general public, conducted public workshops and worked extensively with wine industry representatives to develop the new general WDRs and conditional waiver. The proposed requirements were modified in response to comments and input from the public and industry representatives.
For more information on the new WDRs and conditional waiver, visit http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/northcoast/water_issues/programs/wine_beverage_food/ .
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SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture, Meat, Poultry and Egg Safety Branch, Egg Safety and Quality Management (ESQM) program is announcing a vacancy on the Shell Egg Advisory Committee (SEAC).
The SEAC makes recommendations to the CDFA Secretary on all matters pertaining to quality standards for shell eggs, uniformity of inspection, adjustment of fees for administration and enforcement, and the annual budget.
ESQM monitors egg quality at production, wholesale and retail levels.
The goal is to provide California consumers with eggs that are wholesome, properly labeled, refrigerated, and of established quality, while maintaining fair and equitable marketing standards in the California egg industry.
The vacancy is for an alternate industry member representing the southern California area. Members of the committee receive no compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for per diem expenses, such as mileage, lodging, meals, and incidental expenses.
Applicants for the alternate industry member vacancy must be a registered egg handler or a representative of a registered egg handler in the state of California. Individuals interested in being considered for the SEAC appointment should send a brief resume by February 5, 2016 to:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Anthony Herrera, Egg Quality Manager
1220 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Additional information is available on the Egg Safety and Quality Management program’s web page at http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/mpes/esqm.html . You may also contact Anthony Herrera, Egg Quality Manager at 916-900-5062.
