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April 24, 2009
COUNTY OF SONOMA, PETITIONER,v.THE SUPERIOR COURT OF SONOMA COUNTY, RESPONDENT;SONOMA COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSOCIATION, REAL PARTY IN INTEREST.
Superior Court of the County of Sonoma, No. SCV242225, Gary Nadler, Judge.
The County of Sonoma (the County) seeks relief from an order of the superior court compelling the County to arbitrate with real party in interest Sonoma County Law Enforcement Association (SCLEA) under the procedures established in Code of Civil Procedure section 1299 et seq.*fn1 In County of Riverside v. Superior Court (2003) 30 Cal.4th 278 (Riverside), the California Supreme Court held an earlier version of that statute unconstitutional, because the statute impermissibly infringed upon home rule powers reserved to local governments by article XI of the California Constitution. (Riverside, at p. 282.) The Legislature amended the statute in response to the Supreme Court's decision. But the County contends the amended version continues to intrude upon its constitutional authority to establish compensation and terms of employment for county employees. We agree with the County and will therefore grant its petition for writ of mandate.
The County's challenge focuses on the constitutionality of section 1299 et seq., but that statute cannot be understood in isolation. Because this case concerns the collective bargaining process between local government agencies and public employee organizations, the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA), Government Code sections 3500-3510, is also relevant to our analysis. (See Voters for Responsible Retirement v. Board of Supervisors (1994) 8 Cal.4th 765, 780 (Voters for Responsible Retirement).) We will therefore summarize the relevant provisions of the MMBA before setting out the history of current section 1299 et seq.
The MMBA
The MMBA was enacted to "provid[e] a reasonable method of resolving disputes regarding wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment between public employers and public employee organizations." (Gov. Code, § 3500, subd. (a).) The MMBA covers employees of any "public agency," a term that embraces all municipalities and local governmental subdivisions of the state, including counties. (Gov. Code, § 3501, subds. (c), (d).) The statute grants public employees the right to form and join "employee organizations" for the purpose of representation on matters of employer-employee relations. (Gov. Code, § 3502.)
As pertinent here, the negotiation process established by the MMBA requires public agencies to meet and confer in good faith with representatives of recognized employee organizations regarding wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. (Gov. Code, § 3505.) If these meetings produce an agreement, the representatives of the parties must jointly prepare a written memorandum of understanding (MOU). (Gov. Code, § 3505.1.) The statute makes explicit, however, that the MOU "shall not be binding," but rather must be presented to the public agency's governing body "for determination." (Gov. Code, § 3505.1.) Once the governing body approves the MOU, "it then becomes binding on both parties." (Voters for Responsible Retirement, supra, 8 Cal.4th at p. 781.)
Government Code section 3505 states that the meet-and-confer process "should include adequate time for the resolution of impasses where specific procedures for such resolution are contained in local rule, regulation, or ordinance, or when such procedures are utilized by mutual consent." Thus, if the parties reach an impasse in their negotiations, the public agency and the employee organization may agree to appointment of a mediator. (Gov. Code, § 3505.2.) In addition to mediation, the MMBA authorizes public agencies to adopt additional procedures for dispute resolution. (Gov. Code, § 3507, subd. (a)(5).) If after meeting and conferring in good faith, the parties have reached impasse and exhausted any applicable impasse procedures, "a public agency that is not required to proceed to interest arbitration may implement its last, best, and final offer, but shall not implement a [MOU]." (Gov. Code, § 3505.4.) In those circumstances, the MMBA permits unilateral implementation of a public agency's last, best, and final offer.
Senate Bill No. 402
In 2000, the Legislature adopted Senate Bill No. 402 (1999-2000 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 402), which added title 9.5 to part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (Stats. 2000, ch. 906, § 2, codified at Code Civ. Proc., § 1299 et seq.) As initially enacted, Senate Bill 402 provided for compulsory binding arbitration of labor disputes between employee organizations representing firefighters and law enforcement officers and the local agencies employing them.*fn2 Then as now, the statute provided that if in the course of labor negotiations, an employer and an employee organization reached an impasse over matters within the scope of arbitration, the employee organization (but not the employer) could request referral of the dispute to an arbitration panel. (§ 1299.4, subd. (a).) Economic issues, including salaries, wages, benefits, and all other forms of remuneration, fall within the scope of arbitration. (§ 1299.3, subd. (g).)
The arbitration panel established by Senate Bill 402 consists of three members, with the employer and the employee organization each choosing one member, who then designate "an impartial person with experience in labor and management dispute resolution to act as chairperson of the arbitration panel." (§ 1299.4, subd. (b).) Once selected, the arbitration panel is empowered to meet with the parties or their representatives, to make inquiries and investigations, to hold hearings, and to take any other action the panel deems appropriate. (§ 1299.5, subd. (a).) The panel also has broad authority to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, issue subpoenas duces tecum and to require the production of the parties' records, books, and papers. (§ 1299.5, subd. (b).)
Prior to the panel's hearings, each of the parties is required to submit its "last best offer of settlement as to each of the issues within the scope of arbitration . . . ." (§ 1299.6, subd. (a).) After conclusion of the hearing, the panel decides the disputed contract issues by selecting, without modification, the last best offer "that most nearly complies with" a list of "factors traditionally taken into consideration in the determination of those matters within the scope of arbitration . . . ."*fn3 (§ 1299.6, subds. (b), (c).) The statute provides that the panel must then deliver its decision to the parties, but the decision is not to be publicly disclosed for a period of five days, during which time the parties may meet privately and amend or modify the decision by mutual agreement. (§ 1299.7, subd. (a).) Under the original version of the statute, the panel's decision was made public at the conclusion of the five-day period and automatically became binding on the parties. (Former § 1299.7, subd. (b), as enacted by Stats. 2000, ch. 906, § 2.) The statute empowers the arbitration panel to have the decision made part of any existing MOU. (§ 1299.7, subd. (b).)
County of Riverside v. Superior Court
In 2003, the California Supreme Court declared Senate Bill 402 unconstitutional. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 282, 296.) The high court determined that the legislation violated two separate sections of article XI of the California Constitution. (Id. at p. 282.) The court held that the statute violated section 1, subdivision (b) (section 1, subdivision (b)) of that article, which states that a county's "governing body shall . . . provide for the . . . compensation . . . of its employees." (Id. at p. 289.) It further held that the legislation was inconsistent with section 11, subdivision (a) (section 11, subdivision (a)), which provides that "[t]he Legislature may not delegate to a private person or body power to make, control, appropriate, supervise, or interfere with county . . . money, . . . or perform municipal functions." (Id. at p. 291.)
The Supreme Court held that Senate Bill 402 contravened section 1, subdivision (b) "by compelling [the county] to submit to binding arbitration of compensation issues." (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 285.) The court explained that the language of section 1, subdivision (b) clearly provides that "the county, not the state, not someone else, shall provide for the compensation of its employees." (Riverside, at p. 285, italics in original.) The statute violated section 1, subdivision (b) because it "permits the union to change the county's governing board from the body that sets compensation for its employees to just another party in arbitration . . . [and] thereby deprives the county of the authority that section 1, subdivision (b), specifically gives to counties." (Riverside, at p. 285.)
The court rejected the notion that the statute could be upheld because it involved a matter of statewide concern. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 286-289.) It acknowledged that "the Legislature may regulate as to matters of statewide concern even if the regulation impinges "to a limited extent' [citation] on powers the Constitution specifically reserves to counties (§ 1) or charter cities (§ 5)." (Riverside, at p. 287.) But the court distinguished two prior decisions in which it had upheld such statewide regulation --Baggett v. Gates (1982) 32 Cal.3d 128 and People ex rel. Seal Beach Police Officers Assn. v. City of Seal Beach (1984) 36 Cal.3d 591 (Seal Beach) -- because the statutes challenged in those cases had imposed only procedural requirements. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 287-289; see Seal Beach, supra, at pp. 597-601 [meet-and-confer requirement of Gov. Code, § 3505 does not conflict with charter city's authority to propose charter amendments under Cal. Const., art. XI, § 3, subd. (b)]; Baggett v. Gates, supra, at pp. 137-139 [Gov. Code, §§ 3300-3311, establishing basic rights and protections for peace officers, does not violate charter cities' power under Cal. Const., art. XI, § 5 to regulate police force and to provide or compensation, qualifications, or removal of employees].) Senate Bill 402, in contrast, was substantive and not procedural, because it took away from counties the authority to establish local salaries and gave that power to an arbitration panel. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 288-289.) Unlike the statute at issue in Seal Beach, under Senate Bill 402, the county's governing body did not ""retain[] the ultimate power to refuse an agreement and to make its own decisions.'" (Riverside, at p. 289, quoting Seal Beach, supra, at p. 601.)
The Riverside court also ruled that Senate Bill 402 was inconsistent with section 11, subdivision (a). (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 291.) The court agreed that "the Legislature has impermissibly delegated to a private body -- the arbitration panel -- the power to interfere with county money (by potentially requiring the county to pay higher salaries than it chooses) and to perform municipal functions (determining compensation for county employees)." (Ibid.)
Once again, the court rejected the argument that the Legislature could delegate the authority to set compensation to the arbitration panel because the delegation involved a matter of statewide concern. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 291-293.) The court concluded that because section 1, subdivision (b) states that the county shall provide for employee compensation, "compensating county employees is a municipal function[,]" rather than a statewide concern. (Riverside, at p. 292; accord, id. at p. 300 (conc. opn. of George, C.J.) [compensation of county employees is "a quintessentially local question"].) As a consequence, "establishing compensation for its employees is for the county to do, and section 11, subdivision (a), prohibits the Legislature from delegating that function to a private body." (Riverside, at pp. 292-293.)
Senate Bill No. 440
The Legislature responded to the decision in Riverside by adopting Senate Bill No. 440 (2003-2004 Reg. Sess.) (Senate Bill 440). (See Stats. 2003, ch. 877.) Senate Bill 440 amended section 1299.7, subdivision (b) and added a new subdivision (c) to that section. (See Stats. 2003, ch. 877, § 1.) Amended subdivision (b) now provides: "At the conclusion of the five-day period, which may be extended by the parties, the arbitration panel's decision, as may be amended or modified by the parties pursuant to subdivision (a), shall be publicly disclosed and, unless the governing body acts in accordance with subdivision (c), shall be binding on all parties, and, if specified by the arbitration panel, be incorporated into and made a part of any existing memorandum of understanding as defined in Section 3505.1 of the Government Code." (§ 1299.7, subd. (b), amendment in italics.) New subdivision (c) provides: "The employer may by unanimous vote of all the members of the governing body reject the decision of the arbitration panel, except as specifically provided to the contrary in a city, county, or city and county charter with respect to the rejection of an arbitration award." (§ 1299.7, subd. (c).)
In enacting Senate Bill 440, the Legislature declared that its intent was to "[m]ake Title 9.5 (commencing with Section 1299) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure consistent with the decision of the California Supreme Court in County of Riverside v. Superior Court (2003) 30 Cal.4th 278." (Stats. 2003, ch. 877, § 3(b)(4).)
Petitioner is a general law county and is a "public agency" within the meaning of the MMBA. (Gov. Code, § 3501, subd. (c).) SCLEA is the exclusive employee representative of County employees with job classifications in certain law enforcement categories. The County and SCLEA were previously parties to an MOU governing wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment for SCLEA's membership. That MOU expired by its terms on June 18, 2007. Prior to its expiration, the parties began negotiations over a new agreement. They were unable to agree on the terms of a successor MOU, and SCLEA declared an impasse in the negotiations in May 2007.
The parties then proceeded to impasse mediation in accordance with the County's employee relations policy. After a number of mediation sessions, the parties were still unable to reach agreement. On August 17, 2007, the County submitted its last, best, and final offer to SCLEA, but SCLEA's members voted to reject it. Further mediation likewise failed to yield an agreement, and on November 13, 2007, SCLEA formally requested that mediation be closed.
On November 19, 2007, SCLEA made a written request to submit the dispute to interest arbitration. The County denied the request on December 4, 2007, and expressed its view that the interest arbitration provisions of section 1299 et seq. represented an unconstitutional delegation of municipal power to private persons and an illegal impingement on the County's plenary authority over the terms and conditions of county employment. SCLEA later renewed its request for interest arbitration. The record is not entirely clear as to how the County responded to this request, if it responded at all, but it is apparent that the County refused to proceed to arbitration.
The County then notified SCLEA that it would submit a resolution to the County's board of supervisors asking the board to implement unilaterally the terms of the County's last, best, and final offer. The board adopted the resolution on January 8, 2008.
On January 25, 2008, SCLEA filed in the superior court a petition to compel arbitration pursuant to section 1299 et seq. The County opposed the petition to compel arbitration and filed its own cross-complaint seeking declaratory relief. The first cause of action of the County's cross-complaint sought a declaration that section 1299 et seq. is unconstitutional because the statute "vest[s] in a private body, rather than a duly elected legislative body, the power to set the terms and conditions of county employment[.]"*fn4
SCLEA answered the County's cross-complaint, and both parties filed cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings.
The County's principal argument below was that section 1299 et seq. impinged substantially on its exercise of home rule powers guaranteed by section 1, subdivision (b) and section 11, subdivision (a) of article XI. It noted that the California Supreme Court had declared an earlier version of the statute unconstitutional in Riverside, and asserted that the amended statute continued to infringe impermissibly on the County's authority to "provide for" the compensation of its employees. The County further argued that the statute: (1) impermissibly delegated the municipal function of setting compensation to a private body, (2) interfered with the board of supervisors' ability to meet its obligations under the Ralph M. Brown Act (Gov. Code, § 54950 et seq.), and (3) interfered with county money by imposing on the County the expense of participating in the interest arbitration proceedings.
The parties stipulated to having SCLEA's petition and the issues raised in the County's cross-complaint decided in a single proceeding. The superior court held a hearing on the petition and the parties' motions for judgment on the pleadings on July 16, 2008. After receiving additional briefing from the parties, on August 1, 2008, the superior court issued an "Order on Submitted Matter." The order granted SCLEA's motion for judgment on the pleadings and denied the County's cross-motion as to the County's first cause of action.*fn5 The superior court ruled that section 1299 et seq. was constitutional. It acknowledged that the process imposed by the statute "is procedurally demanding" but concluded that the County's board of supervisors could convene and vote within five days to reject the arbitration panel's award. The court stated, "if the arbitrator's decision is indeed rejected, the governing body is free to proceed with a determination of the compensation issue." The court therefore ordered the County to submit to arbitration.
The superior court granted a temporary stay of its decision until further order from this court on the County's petition for writ of mandate. The County filed its petition in this court on August 25, 2008. The following day, we issued a temporary stay of the superior court's August 1, 2008 order and directed SCLEA to submit a preliminary opposition to the petition, to which the County was permitted to reply. On October 23, 2008, we issued an order to show cause.*fn6
In this court, the County renews the arguments made below that section 1299 et seq. impermissibly infringes upon the County's constitutional authority under section 1, subdivision (b) and section 11, subdivision (a). After discussing our standard of review, we will first analyze the merits of the parties' contentions regarding section 1, subdivision (b) before considering their arguments under section 11, subdivision (a).*fn7
I. Standard of Review
We accord a presumption of constitutionality to acts of the Legislature, particularly when that body has adopted a statute with the relevant constitutional prescriptions clearly in mind. (Pacific Legal Foundation v. Brown (1981) 29 Cal.3d 168, 180.) But "we also must enforce the provisions of our Constitution and "may not lightly disregard or blink at . . . a clear constitutional mandate.' [Citation.]" (Amwest Surety Ins. Co. v. Wilson (1995) 11 Cal.4th 1243, 1252.)
The County's challenge to the constitutionality of section 1299 et seq. is subject to de novo review. (California Family Bioethics Council, LLC v. California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (2007) 147 Cal.App.4th 1319, 1338.) The County raises a facial challenge, so we consider "only the text of the measure itself, not its application to the particular circumstances of an individual." (Tobe v. City of Santa Ana (1995) 9 Cal.4th 1069, 1084.) Thus, to succeed on its challenge, the County cannot prevail merely "by suggesting that in some future hypothetical situation constitutional problems may possibly arise as to the particular application of the statute . . . . Rather, petitioner[] must demonstrate that the act's provisions inevitably pose a present total and fatal conflict with applicable constitutional prohibitions." (Pacific Legal Foundation v. Brown, supra, 29 Cal.3d at pp. 180-181.)
SCLEA insists that we must deny the County's petition unless no set of circumstances exists under which the law will be valid. We think this is a more stringent test than that applied by the California Supreme Court. (See, e.g., San Remo Hotel v. City and County of San Francisco (2002) 27 Cal.4th 643, 673 ["minimum showing" required for facial challenge is that statute is unconstitutional "in the generality or great majority of cases"].) We may not "uphold the law simply because in some hypothetical situation it might lead to a permissible result." (California Teachers Assn. v. State of California (1999) 20 Cal.4th 327, 347.)
II. Section 1299 et seq. Violates Section 1, Subdivision (b) Because It Divests the County's Governing Body of the Ultimate Authority to "Provide For" Employee Compensation
A. History and Purpose of Section 1, Subdivision (b)
In analyzing the parties' arguments concerning section 1, subdivision (b), we are guided by that section's history and purpose. (See Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 285- 286.) The California Supreme Court reviewed the history of current section 1, subdivision (b) in Voters for Responsible Retirement, supra, 8 Cal.4th 765. There, the court explained: "Article XI, section 1(b) was originally enacted in June of 1970, as part of a comprehensive revision of article XI, governing the constitutional prerogatives of and limitations on California cities and counties." (Voters for Responsible Retirement, at p. 772.) Its predecessor was former article XI, section 5, a provision that had been amended in 1933 to "transfer[] control over the compensation of most county employees and officers from the Legislature to the boards of supervisors." (Voters for Responsible Retirement, at p. 774.) According to the Supreme Court, the purpose of the 1933 amendment was "to give greater local autonomy to the setting of salaries for county officers and employees, removing that function from the centralized control of the Legislature." (Id. at p. 772.) Thus, under section 1, subdivision (b) "the county, not the state, not someone else, shall provide for the compensation of its employees." (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 285, italics in original.)
Riverside drew additional support for this view from the ballot argument in favor of the 1933 amendment to former section 5. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 286.) The argument to the voters stated that the measure "gives the board complete authority over the number, method of appointment, terms of office and employment, and compensation of all deputies, assistants, and employees." (Ballot Pamp., Special Elec. (June 27, 1933) argument in favor of Prop. 8, p. 10, italics added.) Later, in what our Supreme Court has termed an "authoritative review of the predecessors to present article IX, sections 3, 4 and 5" (Dibb v. County of San Diego (1994) 8 Cal.4th 1200, 1207), Professor Arno Van Alstyne observed, "The purpose of this [provision], it seems clear, was to limit the power of the Legislature; for without it, the authority to enact legislation with respect to . . . compensation of county . . . employees would reside, as before, in the Legislature. The vesting of this power . . . in [the] boards of supervisors was thus apparently intended to be an exclusive vesting." (Background Study Relating to Article XI, Local Government (1966) Cal. Const. Revision Com., at pp. 103-104.) Section 1, subdivision (b) is therefore a "home rule" measure, one specifically intended to deprive the Legislature of the power to set compensation for county employees and to entrust that authority to county governing bodies. (See Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 285, 288.)
B. The Compensation of County Employees Is a Local, Not Statewide, Concern
SCLEA first argues that the statute is valid because it addresses a matter of statewide concern. Citing the legislative findings in support of the bill, it contends that section 1299 et seq. was enacted to avoid "public safety labor strife" that might otherwise lead to strikes by firefighters and law enforcement officers. (See § 1299 [legislative findings and declarations].) We disagree.
The Supreme Court rejected a virtually identical argument in Riverside. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 286-289.) While conceding that the Legislature's findings are entitled to great weight, it explained, " "[T]he Legislature is empowered neither to determine what constitutes a municipal affair nor to change such an affair into a matter of statewide concern.' [Citation.]" (Id. at p. 287.) The court then held that compensating county employees is a municipal function. (Id. at p. 292.) Subsequent cases have followed Riverside and held that a number of other policies affecting county employee compensation are matters of local, not statewide, concern. (See Dimon v. County of Los Angeles (2008) 166 Cal.App.4th 1276, 1279, 1283 [meal periods and pay for missed meal periods]; Curcini v. County of Alameda (2008) 164 Cal.App.4th 629, 643, 645 [claims for overtime pay and meal and rest breaks]; In re Work Uniform Cases (2005) 133 Cal.App.4th 328, 338-340 [payment for work uniforms of county employees].) It necessarily follows that the compensation of the County's employees is not a matter of statewide concern.*fn8
C. The Distinction Between Substantive and Procedural Regulation of Labor Relations
Although it held the compensation of county employees to be a local or municipal affair, Riverside recognized that ""the maintenance of stable employment relations between police officers and their employers is a matter of statewide concern.'" (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 287, quoting Baggett v. Gates, supra, 32 Cal.3d at pp. 139-140.) The court therefore agreed that the Constitution does not prohibit the Legislature from regulating such matters even if the regulation impinges to a limited extent on powers the California Constitution reserves specifically to counties and cities. (Riverside, supra, p. 287.) Riverside " "emphasize[d] that there is a clear distinction between the substance of a public employee labor issue and the procedure by which it is resolved. . . .' [Citation.]'" (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 289.) It drew a sharp contrast between cases involving the Legislature's attempts to regulate actual wage and salary levels and those in which the Legislature had established only procedures governing labor relations. (Id. at pp. 288-289.) In the former category of cases, the court found that the Legislature had infringed upon the constitutional rights of other governmental entities. (See San Francisco Labor Council v. Regents of University of California (1980) 26 Cal.3d 785, 789-791 [statute requiring University of California to pay employees at least prevailing wages violated powers reserved to regents under art. IX, § 9]; Sonoma County Organization of Public Employees v. County of Sonoma (1979) 23 Cal.3d 296, 302, 314-317 [statute prohibiting distribution of state funds to local public agencies that granted their employees cost-of-living allowances greater than those provided to state employees violated art. XI, § 4, subds. (c) & (f) and art. XI, § 5, subd. (b)].) In the latter category of cases, the court had upheld the challenged statutes because they imposed only procedural safeguards and requirements, and had impinged only minimally on home rule powers protected by article XI. (Seal Beach, supra, 36 Cal.3d at pp. 597, 598-601; Baggett v. Gates, supra, 32 Cal.3d at pp. 137-140.)
In summary, procedural statutes do not conflict with the constitutional powers of local governments because "the governing body of the agency . . . retains the ultimate power to refuse an agreement and to make its own decision." (Seal Beach, supra, 36 Cal.3d at p. 601.) A statute is substantive, however, if under its provisions "the county's governing body does not retain the ultimate power" to set employee compensation. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 289.) The constitutionality of section 1299 et seq. thus turns on whether it permits the County's governing body to make the final decision on the compensation of county employees. The answer to this question requires us to examine section 1299 et seq. in the context of the public employee labor relations scheme established by the MMBA. (See Building Material & Construction Teamsters' Union v. Farrell (1986) 41 Cal.3d 651, 665 [court must interpret provision of statute in context of entire statutory scheme, including statutory provisions in separate codes]; Ailanto Properties, Inc. v. City of Half Moon Bay (2006) 142 Cal.App.4th 572, 591 [same].)
D. Section 1299.7 Impermissibly Interferes With the Governing Body's Constitutional Authority Under Section 1, Subdivision (b) to Establish Employee Compensation
The County argues that the requirements of subdivisions (b) and (c) of section 1299.7 conflict with the County's plenary legislative authority under section 1, subdivision (b) to "provide for the . . . compensation . . . of employees." The County's argument is twofold. First, it contends that under the procedures established by Senate Bill 440, it is the arbitration panel that establishes employee compensation, and the authority of the County's governing body -- the board of supervisors -- is reduced to a mere veto power. It asserts that this deprives the board of its constitutional right to set the compensation of county employees and leaves it with nothing more than the power to reject the arbitration panel's decision, and then only by a unanimous vote. Second, the County maintains that the unanimous vote requirement of section 1299.7, subdivision (c) is inconsistent with section 1, subdivision (b) because the Constitution grants the power to set employee compensation to the "governing body," and in the County's view, this can only mean a majority of the governing body. Because section 1299.7, subdivisions (b) and (c) make the arbitration panel's decision binding on the County even if a majority of the board votes to reject the decision, the County argues that the statute has deprived the "governing body" of its authority to provide for the compensation of county employees. The County's argument therefore turns on the proper interpretation of the term "governing body" in section 1, subdivision (b).
SCLEA responds that section 1, subdivision (b) grants the Legislature the power to "provide for . . . an elected governing body in each county." (Cal. Const., art. IX, § 1, subd. (b).) According to SCLEA, this power necessarily includes the power "to determine the number of board members and quorum and voting procedures." It contends that the unanimous vote requirement of section 1299.7, subdivision (c) is merely procedural. SCLEA also asserts that the unanimous vote requirement does not, as the County contends, prescribe rule by the minority because a single vote could decide the fate of any proposed piece of legislation. It cites a number of constitutional and statutory provisions imposing supermajority requirements on the Legislature and local governments and argues that despite such supermajority requirements, the resulting decisions are still considered actions of the legislative body to which the requirement applies. Finally, in its supplemental brief, SCLEA argues that the unanimous vote requirement of section 1299.7, subdivision (c) represents the Legislature's attempt to create a "balance" on the governing body's power to implement its last, best, and final offer unilaterally.
1. The Nature of Interest Arbitration
Before addressing the parties' arguments, we pause briefly to explain the nature of interest arbitration, since the legal effect of this type of arbitration is relevant to our analysis. "Interest arbitration concerns the resolution of labor disputes over the formation of a collective bargaining agreement." (1 Grenig, Alternative Dispute Resolution (3d ed. 2005) Dispute Resolution Methods, § 2:40, p. 34.) It differs from the more commonly understood practice of grievance arbitration because, ""unlike grievance arbitration, [it] focuses on what the terms of a new agreement should be, rather than the meaning of the terms of the old agreement.' [Citation.]" (Hess Collection Winery v. Agricultural Labor Relations Bd. (2006) 140 Cal.App.4th 1584, 1596-1597 (Hess).) Put another way, interest arbitration is concerned with the acquisition of future rights, while grievance arbitration involves rights already accrued, usually under an existing collective bargaining agreement. (School Comm. of Hanover v. Hanover Teachers (2002) 435 Mass. 736, 738, fn. 2 [761 N.E.2d 918, 920, fn. 2].) An interest arbitrator thus does not function as a judicial officer, construing the terms of an existing contract and applying them to a particular set of facts. (Hess, supra, 140 Cal.App.4th at p. 1597.) Instead, the interest arbitrator's function is effectively legislative, because the arbitrator is fashioning new contractual obligations. (Ibid.)
For these reasons, interest arbitration is sometimes referred to as "contract arbitration or quasi-legislative arbitration." (Stockton Metropolitan Transit Dist. v. Amalgamated Transit Union (1982) 132 Cal.App.3d 203, 210.) Consequently, as Professor (later Justice) Joseph Grodin recognized, when binding interest arbitration is applied in the public sector, it may result in the arbitrator's involvement in matters that extend beyond those over which labor and management customarily bargain in private sector disputes; binding interest arbitration may push the arbitrator into the realm of social planning and fiscal policy. (Grodin, Political Aspects of Public Sector Interest Arbitration (1976) 64 Cal. L.Rev. 678, 682, 687-688.) The obvious reason for this is that costs arising from the terms of a binding interest arbitration award must be paid out of governmental funds. For example, if an interest arbitrator were to accept the demand by a firefighters' union that a local government add an engine company, this might require "the building of a new fire house or the purchase of new equipment, . . . [and] could very well intrude upon management's role of formulating policy." (See Fire Fighters Union v. City of Vallejo (1974) 12 Cal.3d 608, 619.) A decision in a binding public sector interest arbitration proceeding might therefore require the governmental employer either to cut other items from its budget or to increase taxes. (Grodin, supra,64 Cal. L.Rev. at p. 687.)
2. Section 1299.7 Affects a Governing Body's Legislative Powers
The foregoing discussion supports the County's contention that section 1299.7 affects matters ordinarily falling within the legislative powers of a county board of supervisors. The fixing of the salaries of county employees is unquestionably a legislative function. (Carrier v. Robbins (1952) 112 Cal.App.2d 32, 35; see Alameda County Employees' Assn. v. County of Alameda (1973) 30 Cal.App.3d 518, 531.) It is equally clear that "[t]he fixing of the number of employees, the salaries and employee benefits is an integral part of the statutory procedure for the adoption of the county budget . . . ." (Hicks v. Board of Supervisors (1977) 69 Cal.App.3d 228, 235.) The exercise of the board's legislative power in budgetary matters "entails a complex balancing of public needs in many and varied areas with the finite financial resources available for distribution among those demands. . . . it is, and indeed must be, the responsibility of the legislative body to weigh those needs and set priorities for the utilization of the limited revenues available." (County of Butte v. Superior Court (1985) 176 Cal.App.3d 693, 699.) In so doing, the board must weigh "a number of other factors besides the level of the union members' salaries." (California Teachers Assn. v. Ingwerson (1996) 46 Cal.App.4th 860, 876.) The County is therefore correct in contending that section 1299.7 affects "the board's creative legislative function to set employee wages."
3. Section 1299.7, Subdivision (c) Grants a Local Governing Body Only a Veto Over the Arbitration Panel's Decision
We also agree with the County's characterization of the governing body's authority under section 1299.7, subdivision (c). Under that section, a governing body's sole power is to reject the decision of the arbitration panel. This limited power of rejection is more akin to the veto power traditionally associated with the executive than it is to the legislative power to make laws. (Compare People v. Bunn (2002) 27 Cal.4th 1, 15 [legislative function "embraces the far-reaching power to weigh competing interests and determine social policy"] with Harbor v. Deukmejian (1987) 43 Cal.3d 1078, 1086 [noting ""qualified and destructive legislative function'" of gubernatorial veto].) The parties have referred us to no case involving a statute with an analogous voting requirement, and our own research discloses none. Nevertheless, the few available authorities support the County's view that the statute allows the governing body no more than a veto over the arbitration panel's decision. (Cf. Consumer Energy, etc. v. F.E.R.C. (D.C. Cir. 1982) 673 F.2d 425, 435 [power of one house of Congress to block implementation of agency rule described as "veto"]; State ex rel. Barker v. Manchin (W. Va. 1981) 279 S.E.2d 622, 632 [power of legislative committee or full legislature to sustain or reverse agency regulation "constitutes a legislative veto power comparable to the authority vested in the Governor"].) That is, the effect of the governing body's rejection is exclusively "negative, frustrating an act without substituting anything in its place." (Harbor v. Deukmejian, supra, 43 Cal.3d at p. 1085.) Thus, where the county's governing body "acts in accordance with [section 1299.7,] subdivision (c)," (§ 1299.7, subd. (b)), it does not thereby "provide for" the compensation of county employees. The result of such a vote is only to prevent another body from establishing binding terms for the compensation of county employees.
4. The Term "Governing Body" in Section 1, Subdivision (b) Necessarily Means a Majority of the Governing Body
We turn now to the crux of the County's argument. Section 1, subdivision (b) grants the county's "governing body" the power to establish the compensation of county employees.*fn9 Although the constitutional provision does not specifically say that only a majority of the governing body, as opposed to a minority thereof, may set compensation, for the reasons we discuss below, no other construction of section 1, subdivision (b) is reasonable, or indeed even permissible. Permitting a minority of a governing body to set the compensation of county employees by making the arbitration panel's decision binding on the county would be inconsistent with both longstanding statutory rules of interpretation and established California case law, as well as deeply offensive to basic principles of representative democracy.
In determining how the term "governing body" in section 1, subdivision (b) is to be interpreted, we are guided first by rules of construction established by the Legislature itself. Both Code of Civil Procedure section 15 and Civil Code section 12 provide: "Words giving a joint authority to three or more public officers or other persons are construed as giving such authority to a majority of them, unless it is otherwise expressed in the Act giving authority." (See also Pen. Code, § 7, subd. (17) [same].) The California Supreme Court long ago described this as "a necessary rule, and established by the general authorities . . . ." (Jacobs v. Board of Supervisors (1893) 100 Cal. 121, 132.) The board of supervisors of a general law county is composed of five members. (Gov. Code, § 25000, subd. (a).) Thus, section 1, subdivision (b) grants the authority to establish employee compensation to a collective body of more than three members -- the five-member board of supervisors -- and section 1, subdivision (b) does not "otherwise express[]" that the power granted shall be exercised by other than a majority. The cited statutes would thus seem to compel the conclusion that the term "governing body" in section 1, subdivision (b) means a "majority of the governing body."
This conclusion is bolstered by California case law. More than 100 years ago, in People v. Hecht (1895) 105 Cal. 621, our Supreme Court elaborated on the power enjoyed by a majority of a collective legislative body: "If a majority possesses all the authority of the whole, then such majority must be competent to its exercise. [¶] For all practical purposes the majority becomes the full board. It is the receptacle -- the reservoir -- of all the authority conferred upon the whole . . . ."*fn10 (Id. at p. 627, italics added; accord, 4 McQuillin, Municipal Corporations (3d ed. 2002) Council Meetings, § 13.07, p. 820, fn. omitted ["The act of a majority of a board . . . at a meeting duly held is the act of the body"].) More recently, Division One of this District explained that "if a board is composed of five members three of such members constitute a majority capable and competent to exercise the authority of the whole board." (Ursino v. Superior Court (1974) 39 Cal.App.3d 611, 620; accord, Delegation of Authority, 63 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 240, 245.) Since a majority of the governing body possesses all of the authority of the whole and effectively "becomes the full board" (People v. Hecht, supra, 105 Cal. at p. 627), section 1, subdivision (b)'s allocation to the "governing body" of the power to establish employee compensation must be read as allocating that power to a majority of the governing body.
California's statutory law provides additional support for this reading. The firmly established common law rule is "that legislative action is only valid if it has been approved by a majority of the members elected." (2 Martinez, Local Government Law (2008) Processes of Governance, § 11:9, p. 11-55.) This rule finds specific expression in the Government Code provisions relating to the boards of supervisors of general law counties. Under Government Code section 25005, "[n]o act of the board shall be valid or binding unless a majority of all members concur therein."*fn11 (Italics added.) In addition, under the Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code section 54950 et seq., ""action taken' means a collective decision made by a majority of the members of a legislative body." (Gov. Code, § 54952.6, italics added.) The Legislature has therefore determined that only a majority of a county board of supervisors has the power to pass valid or binding legislation.
The common law and statutory rules requiring that legislative bodies act only by majority vote reflect "the deeply embedded principle of majority rule in a democratic society . . . ."*fn12 (2 Martinez, Local Government Law, supra, § 11:9, pp. 11-55 to 11-56.) In legislative bodies, "the principle of majority rule is of the very essence. . . . It is in fact the basis upon which popular self-government largely rests." (Mason, Manual of Legislative Procedure (1979) Vote Required, ch. 46, § 510, ¶ 6, p. 357; see also Madison, The Federalist No. 10 (Cooke ed. 1961) p. 60 [describing majority rule as "the republican principle, which enables the majority to defeat [a minority's] views by regular vote"].) Simply put, in a representative democracy such as ours, a "simple majority vote is a formal requirement in our system for giving policies legal effect and legitimacy." (Roberts & Chemerinsky, Entrenchment of Ordinary Legislation: A Reply to Professors Posner and Vermeule, 91 Cal. L.Rev. 1773, 1797.)
The foregoing discussion makes clear that section 1299.7 interferes with the constitutional authority of governing bodies to set county employee compensation under section 1, subdivision (b), because the statute permits less than a majority of the governing body to set employee compensation by making the arbitrators' decision final and binding upon the county. Section 1299.7, subdivision (b) provides that the arbitration panel's decision will become final and binding unless the governing body acts in accordance with subdivision (c). (§ 1299.7, subd. (b).) Subdivision (c) of that section permits the governing body to veto the arbitration panel's decision only by a unanimous vote of all of the body's members. (§ 1299.7, subd. (c).) Therefore, the terms of the statute empower a minority of a board of supervisors to make the arbitrators' decision binding on the county, even if the majority of that body disagrees.
As we explained above (see part II.D.2., ante), the setting of employee compensation is a legislative act that is part of the governing body's budgetary process. Thus, the statute purports to authorize the adoption of a legislative act -- and the imposition of binding contractual obligations upon a county and its taxpayers -- even if a majority or supermajority of the democratically elected representatives of the people rejects the arbitration panel's decision.*fn13 Because "three members must "concur' in order to act" (Four-Fifths Vote, supra, 66 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. at p. 337), the votes of one or two members of a governing body simply cannot be construed as an act of the governing body itself. (See Gov. Code, § 25005; cf. Price v. Tennant Community Services Dist. (1987) 194 Cal.App.3d 491, 497 ["it is nonsensical to talk about a quorum or majority of one"].)
The anomalous nature of section 1299.7's procedure becomes even more apparent when we compare it to the usual manner in which the compensation of county employees is established. Ordinarily under the MMBA, an MOU between a public agency and a public employee organization becomes binding only if it is affirmatively approved by the governing body of the local agency. (See Bagley v. City of Manhattan Beach (1976) 18 Cal.3d 22, 25 [Gov. Code § 3505.1 "reflect[s] the legislative decision that the ultimate determinations are to be made by the governing body itself . . . ."]; Glendale City Employees' Assn., Inc. v. City of Glendale (1975) 15 Cal.3d 328, 336 [only the governing body's "favorable "determination' engenders a binding agreement"].) In contrast, the statute before us does not require a favorable determination by the county's governing body. Instead, it provides that at the conclusion of the five-day period, the arbitration panel's decision shall be binding on the parties unless rejected by a unanimous vote of all members of the governing body. (§ 1299.7, subds. (b), (c).) This means that the arbitrators' decision will become binding where there is no legislative action at all. The decision also becomes binding if it receives an unfavorable determination from the majority of the governing body, so long as at least one member of the body either votes to accept the decision or does not vote.
As our Supreme Court has observed, local governments "function both as employers and as democratic organs of government." (Seal Beach, supra, 36 Cal.3d at p. 599.) The court has upheld the Legislature's regulation of public employee labor relations where "the burden on the [local government's] democratic functions is minimal." (Ibid.) By permitting a minority of a county's governing body to impose binding obligations on a county, it is plain that section 1299.7 imposes far more than a minimal burden on the democratic functions of local government. It therefore cannot be viewed as a mere procedural regulation of county labor relations. (See Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 288-289.) It is instead substantive, in that it impinges substantially on the authority of local governing bodies to provide for the compensation of their employees, and it therefore conflicts with the Constitution's reservation of this power to local governments. (Id. at p. 288.)
In sum, as we have explained above, the term "governing body" in section 1, subdivision (b) can only refer to a majority of the governing body. Thus, a statute that permits less than a majority of the governing body to establish the compensation of county employees cannot be squared with the governing body's constitutional authority to "provide for" county employee compensation. We therefore agree with the County that section 1299.7 violates article XI, section 1, subdivision (b) of the California Constitution.
E. Section 1299.7, Subdivision (c) Is Not Analogous to a Supermajority Requirement
SCLEA seeks support from constitutional and statutory provisions requiring a supermajority for the passage of legislation, but these do not assist its argument. (See, e.g., Cal. Const., art. IV, § 8, subd. (d) [requiring two-thirds vote of Legislature for passage of urgency statutes]; art. IV, § 10, subd. (a) [requiring two-thirds vote of Legislature to override Governor's veto]; art. XIII, § 7 [requiring two-thirds vote of Legislature to authorize county boards of supervisors to exempt certain real property from taxation]; art. XIIIA, § 3 [requiring two-thirds vote of Legislature to increase state taxes]; art. XVIII, § 1 [requiring two-thirds vote of Legislature to propose amendments or revisions to Constitution]; Code Civ. Proc., § 1245.245 [requiring two-thirds vote of board of supervisors for certain uses of county property acquired by eminent domain]; Gov. Code, § 25550 [requiring unanimous vote of board of supervisors to convey property to city]; Gov. Code, § 29088 [requiring four-fifths vote of board of supervisors to change budget after public hearing]; Pub. Contract Code § 20128 [requiring four-fifths vote for post-award alteration of public works contract].) All of the provisions cited demand a heightened majority for passage of certain acts of a legislative body. When such supermajority requirements are imposed, "governmental action is conditioned upon the ability of its proponents to secure the support of more than a bare majority."*fn14
(Westbrook v. Mihaly (1970) 2 Cal.3d 765, 797 (italics added), overruled on another ground as stated in Los Angeles County Transportation Com. v. Richmond (1982) 31 Cal.3d 197, 203.) By limiting the power of a simple majority of the body to change the status quo through the passage of legislation, supermajority requirements "afford[ ] minorities power to preserve the status quo." (Westbrook v. Mihaly, supra, 2 Cal.3d at p. 797, italics added.) The intent of such a requirement is " "to deter the . . . action to which it applies, since it conditions such action on a degree of consensus unusual in our pluralistic society.' [Citation.]" (Los Angeles County Transportation Com. v. Richmond, supra, 31 Cal.3d at p. 204, italics added; see Gordon v. Lance (1971) 403 U.S. 1, 5-6 [supermajority rules make it "more difficult for some kinds of governmental action to be taken"].)
Section 1299.7, in contrast, does not require a supermajority of the governing body to change the status quo through the adoption of legislation; it permits a minority of the governing body to perform a legislative act. Section 1299.7 imposes a unanimous vote requirement on local governing bodies not to approve their own measures, but to block the action of a wholly separate body.*fn15 In other words, under section 1299.7, a minority of the governing body can force a change in the status quo by making the arbitration panel's decision binding. Thus, as we have seen, a legislative measure will be adopted, and the county's taxpayers will be bound by the decision of an unelected arbitration panel, if a single member of the local governing body either votes to accept the arbitrators' decision or simply does not vote. (§ 1299.7, subds. (b), (c).) Thus, section 1299.7 purports to permit the performance of a legislative act -- the setting of county employee compensation -- by a minority of the governing body. Properly viewed, section 1299.7, subdivision (c) is thus not a supermajority requirement at all. It is a provision for minority rule.
F. SCLEA's Policy Arguments Are Unpersuasive
In its supplemental brief, SCLEA contends that the inclusion of the unanimous vote requirement in section 1299.7, subdivision (c) was intended as a "balance" on the local governing body's power of unilateral implementation under Government Code section 3505.4. SCLEA contends that the arbitration process would be meaningless if governing bodies could reject the arbitrators' decision by a simple majority vote, and the union advances a number of policy arguments in support of the unanimity requirement. SCLEA's arguments are unpersuasive.
First, whether the Legislature intended the unanimous vote requirement as a "balance" or check upon a local governing body's power of unilateral implementation is not directly relevant to the question before us. We are here asked to decide whether section 1299.7 comports with the powers reserved to county governments under article XI of the California Constitution. The County's constitutional argument "does not challenge the motives and goals of the Legislature as good or bad. It simply challenges whether the power exists under the Constitution to do that which was done or is proposed to be done." (Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Assn. v. Fresno Metropolitan Projects Authority (1995) 40 Cal.App.4th 1359, 1362 (Howard Jarvis).) Whatever the Legislature's goals may have been, we are called upon to address only the much narrower question of the statute's constitutionality. (Id. at p. 1363.)
Second, we cannot agree with SCLEA's argument that allowing a simple majority of a governing body to reject an arbitration panel's decision makes the arbitration process meaningless. Such an argument proves too much. One might just as well argue that the meet-and-confer requirement of the MMBA is "meaningless" because the governing body retains the ultimate authority to refuse to agree on any particular issue in the negotiations. (E.g., Claremont Police Officers Assn. v. City of Claremont (2006) 39 Cal.4th 623, 630.)
Finally, we reject SCLEA's policy-based arguments in support of the unanimous vote requirement. SCLEA contends that the unanimity requirement ensures that section 1299 et seq. is not used offensively against employee organizations. We are frankly puzzled by this argument, because the decision to invoke the procedures of section 1299 et seq. rests entirely in the hands of the employee organization.
Section 1299.4, subdivision (a) allows only the employee organization, not the public agency, to request interest arbitration. (§ 1299.4, subd. (a) ["the employee organization may, by written notification to the employer, request that their differences be submitted to an arbitration panel"], italics added; 1 Zerger, et al., California Public Sector Labor Relations (2008) Impasse Resolution, § 12:40, p. 12-18 ["only an employee organization may request interest arbitration"].) We therefore fail to see how a local government could ever use the procedure offensively against an employee organization.
SCLEA also expresses the view that "without a unanimity requirement, the cost and effort required for an employee organization to challenge a governing body's conduct during negotiations would substantially increase." SCLEA cites no authority for this argument, but it appears to be premised on the assumption that an employee organization will be "forced" to submit to arbitration to exhaust its administrative remedies before bringing an unfair labor practice charge. We are unable to evaluate this argument, because SCLEA has failed to support it with proper authority. (See Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.204(a)(1)(B).) In any event, as stated previously, our only task is to determine whether section 1299 et seq. passes constitutional muster. Concerns regarding the possible financial consequences of the statutory procedure are more properly addressed to the Legislature.
G. Severability
Raising an argument it did not make below, SCLEA contends that if we determine the unanimous vote requirement renders section 1299 et seq. unconstitutional, we may avoid invalidating the statute by severing the word "unanimous" from section 1299.7, subdivision (c). Assuming that this argument is properly before us, we disagree.
Initially we observe that section 1299 et seq. contains no severability clause, although the absence of such a clause is not conclusive. (Legislature v. Eu (1991) 54 Cal.3d 492, 535.) To be severable, the invalid provision must be grammatically, functionally, and volitionally separable. (McMahan v. City and County of San Francisco (2005) 127 Cal.App.4th 1368, 1374.) Assuming the word "unanimous" is grammatically and functionally separable from the remainder of the statute, it is far from clear that it is volitionally separable, because we cannot be certain that the Legislature would have enacted the measure without the unanimous vote requirement. (See Barlow v. Davis (1999) 72 Cal.App.4th 1258, 1267.) A Senate bill analysis refers specifically to the unanimous vote requirement under the "arguments in support" of the legislation. (Sen. Com. on Public Employment & Retirement, 3d reading analysis of Sen. Bill No. 440 (2003-2004 Reg. Sess.) as amended July 17, 2003, p. 3.) Furthermore, the Legislature adopted the bill over the specific objections of local governments to the unanimous vote requirement. (Id. at p. 4.) Opponents of the legislation contended that "a unanimous decision of the board of supervisors or city council . . . is nearly impossible to achieve and question[ed] whether it will survive subsequent constitutional challenges on the same basis that SB 402 was found unconstitutional." (Id. at p. 3.) We cannot say with confidence that Senate Bill 440 would have been adopted in the absence of this provision. (McMahan v. City and County of San Francisco, supra, 127 Cal.App.4th atp. 1374.) We therefore conclude that the word "unanimous" may not be severed from the remainder of the legislation.
III. Section 1299 et seq. Impermissibly Delegates to the Arbitration Panel the Power to Interfere With County Money and to Perform Municipal Functions
Although our conclusion that section 1299 et seq. violates section 1, subdivision (b) would ordinarily be sufficient to resolve the matter before us, we will nevertheless consider the County's arguments under section 11, subdivision (a). In Riverside, the Supreme Court admonished that we must view the two provisions as a whole and not in isolation. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at pp. 290-291, fn. 6.) Like the Supreme Court, we will therefore also examine the constitutionality of section 1299 et seq. under section 11, subdivision (a). (Riverside, at pp. 291-295.)
The County claims that the statute violates section 11, subdivision (a) in four ways. First, it interferes with county money because the arbitration panel may potentially require the County to pay higher salaries than it chooses. Second, the statute allows the arbitration panel "to perform the municipal function of determining compensation for County employees." Third, the unanimous vote requirement of section 1299.7, subdivision (c) interferes with the majority voting process of the County's board of supervisors. Fourth, because the decision of the arbitration panel becomes binding after five days under section 1299.7, subdivision (b) unless the board of supervisors rejects it by unanimous vote of all the members, the statute interferes with the board's ability to comply with the requirements of the Ralph M. Brown Act, Government Code section 54950 et seq.
SCLEA responds by arguing that there can be no violation of section 11, subdivision (a) because under the statute "the governing body's power to perform municipal functions is not delegated at all." In SCLEA's view, section 1299 et seq. does not transfer any power to enact decisions to the arbitration panel, because the panel's decision "does not have the force and effect of law until such time as the governing body chooses to accept the panel's decision." Indeed, SCLEA goes so far as to claim that the statute does not require the County to take any action it does not choose to take.
We agree with the County's first two arguments. We conclude that section 1299 et seq. impermissibly delegates to the arbitration panel the power to interfere with county money and to perform the municipal function of setting the compensation of county employees. We therefore need not reach the County's remaining contentions.
A. History and Purpose of Section 11, Subdivision (a)
Section 11, subdivision (a) originated as article XI, section 13, of the Constitution of 1879. (Grodin, et al., The California State Constitution (1993) p. 198.) It was intended primarily to prevent the Legislature from interfering in the financial affairs of local governments, but its prohibitions extend to other forms of interference as well. (People ex rel. Younger v. County of El Dorado (1971) 5 Cal.3d 480, 500.) It was also directed at preventing the Legislature from creating special commissions that would assume authority over local functions, such as the operation of a city fire department, municipal waterworks, or public enterprises such as parks and streets. (See Howard Jarvis, supra, 40 Cal.App.4th at p. 1368.) As we explain below, the authority section 1299 et seq. grants to the arbitration panel to set the terms and conditions of employment for county employees is inimical to the purposes of section 11, subdivision (a), because such power intrudes significantly upon the functions of local government. (See Taylor v. Crane (1979) 24 Cal.3d 442, 453.)
B. The Legislature Has Delegated the County's Powers to a Private Body
We first confront SCLEA's argument that the County's power to perform municipal functions has not been delegated at all. This argument is belied by the language of the statute itself. (See Howard Jarvis, supra, 40 Cal.App.4th at p. 1373 [rejecting argument that authority established by Legislature did not levy tax where authority's enabling statute specifically provided for levying and collection of tax by authority].) The statute unequivocally places the authority to decide disputed compensation issues in the hands of the arbitration panel at the behest of the employee organization. (§§ 1299.4, subd. (a), 1299.6, subd. (b) ["The arbitration panel . . . shall decide on the disputed issues . . . . ," italics added.) Moreover, at the conclusion of a five-day period after its issuance, the arbitration panel's decision "shall be binding on all parties, and, if specified by the arbitration panel, be incorporated into and made a part of any existing memorandum of understanding as defined in Section 3505.1 of the Government Code."*fn16 (§ 1299.7, subd. (b).) In Riverside, the Supreme Court concluded that these provisions constituted a legislative delegation of local authority to a private body. (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 294.)
C. The Governing Body's Power to Reject the Arbitration Panel's Decision Does Not Cure the Unconstitutional Delegation
The remaining question is whether the employer's opportunity to reject the arbitration panel's decision under section 1299.7, subdivision (c) through a unanimous vote of all members of the governing body somehow means that a delegation has not occurred. (See Howard Jarvis, supra, 40 Cal.App.4th at p. 1374.) We find this case analogous to Howard Jarvis. There, the court held that the fact that the Legislature had conditioned the delegation of taxing power to the Fresno Metropolitan Projects Authority on voter approval did not make the delegation an act of the voters rather than an act of the Legislature. (Id., at p. 1375 ["the act of the Legislature is subject to ratification by the people. It remains, nonetheless, the act of the Legislature"]; cf. Bayside Timber Co. v. Board of Supervisors (1971) 20 Cal.App.3d 1, 15 [unconstitutional delegation of authority to adopt forest practice rules not cured by statutory amendment permitting counties to adopt more stringent regulations].)
Similarly, the mere fact that the arbitration panel's decision will not become binding if the County's board of supervisors is able to muster the necessary unanimous vote to reject it does not mean that no delegation has occurred. The decision of the arbitration panel is in no sense an act of the governing body. Indeed, the statute does not require the governing body to ratify the arbitrators' decision before it becomes binding.
The decision can become binding without any legislative action at all. (See § 1299.7, subd. (b) [decision shall be binding unless governing body acts to reject it].) The decision will become binding even if a majority or supermajority of the governing body votes to reject it, if either one member votes against rejection or is absent or abstains. (§ 1299.7, subd. (c) [rejection requires "unanimous vote of all the members of the governing body"].) In such cases, the decision on the disputed issues will have been made by an arbitration panel created by the Legislature, and not by the County's elected governing body. Thus, even as amended by Senate Bill 440, the statute still offends section 11, subdivision (a) because it "has impermissibly delegated to a private body -- the arbitration panel -- the power to interfere with county money (by potentially requiring the county to pay higher salaries than it chooses) and to perform municipal functions determining compensation for county employees)."*fn17 (Riverside, supra, 30 Cal.4th at p. 291.)
D. Cases Involving Statutes Allowing Local Governments the Option to Establish Agencies Are Inapposite
Amicus PORAC attempts to analogize this case to The Housing Authority v. Dockweiler (1939) 14 Cal.2d 437 (Dockweiler), but that case is distinguishable. There, the Legislature had enacted a statute authorizing counties and cities to establish independent housing authorities. (Id. at pp. 443-444.) The Supreme Court rejected the argument that the Legislature had improperly delegated county or municipal functions. (Id. at p. 463.) The key to this holding was the fact that the statute left the decision on whether to create a housing authority entirely up to the local governing body. (Ibid.) The court therefore concluded "that it is the local governing body, and not the legislature, that confers upon the authority the right to exercise its functions." (Ibid.)
Dockweiler and similar cases are therefore properly understood as holding section 11, subdivision (a) "inapplicable to statutes which are dependent, for their effectiveness, upon local option." (Background Study Relating to Article XI: Local Government (1966) Cal. Const. Revision Com., at p. 328; accord, City of Whittier v. Dixon (1944) 24 Cal.2d 664, 667 [no improper delegation where local governing body, not Legislature, conferred authority to act on parking place commissioners]; California Assn. of Retail Tobacconists v. State of California (2003) 109 Cal.App.4th 792, 828-829 [no violation of art. XI, § 11, subd. (a) where act authorized creation of local county commissions because counties could establish commissions "if they so choose"].) Here, in contrast, the arbitration panel has been created by an act of the Legislature alone, and local governments have no authority to refuse to submit to arbitration once it is invoked by an employee organization. (§ 1299.4, subds. (a), (b).)*fn18
The order to show cause is discharged. The petition for writ of mandate is granted. Let a peremptory writ of mandate issue commanding respondent superior court to (1) vacate the portions of its order of August 1, 2008 granting SCLEA's petition to compel arbitration and ruling in SCLEA's favor on the cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings as to the first cause of action in the County's cross-complaint for declaratory relief, and (2) enter a new and different order denying SCLEA's petition to compel arbitration and granting the County's cross-motions for judgment on the pleadings as to the first cause of action in the County's cross-complaint. The County is entitled to recover its costs in this writ proceeding. (Cal. Rules of Court, rule 8.493(a)(1)(A).)
The previously issued stay shall dissolve upon issuance of the remittitur.
We concur: Simons, J., Stevens, J.*fn19
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Carpet pad flap front bag with leather linging and metal tab closure and adjustable strap. One interior compartment with two zip pockets and two pouch pockets with stamped logo. One exterior pouch pocket.
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Dimensions: L9.5" x W3" x H7"
Strap Length: 17.5"
Colour: Multi
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variety of iris
... I. mesopotamica, even larger hybrids were created, many of them fragrant, in a full range of colours and combinations, often with brightly contrasting "beards" on the falls. Dwarf bearded irises, most of which flower in early spring, are for the most part varieties of the almost stemless I. pumila and the taller I. chamaeiris, both from dry, rocky places in...


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text: Rehabilitation FAQs Answers to Common Questions about Rehabilitation at Alvarado Hospital Will you accept my insurance? While the San Diego Rehabilitation Institute at Alvarado Hospital accepts most private and government insurance plans from patients who have a referral from a physician, we encourage you to contact us for insurance-related questions. What conditions do you treat? We help patients after they have suffered a number of debilitating illnesses and injuries, including but not limited to stroke, head injury/TBI, injuries to the spinal column, fractures and amputation. What types of rehabilitation services do you offer? Alvarado Hospital offers a number of rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, recreational therapy, and speech therapy. Call us or click here to learn more about our specific services. I wasn't originally treated at Alvarado. Can I still get my rehabilitation there? Yes! We accept patients regardless of where they received their initial hospital care. You are free to choose a rehabilitation center based on what is most convenient and accessible for you—or if we are closer to your home. What are programs and therapies offered? Alvarado Hospital helps its rehabilitation patients get back to living their lives through a number of different, highly advanced treatments. Some of them include: Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) LSVT BIG™ Therapy Videostroboscopy and Voice Treatment Nutrition Services Adaptive Golf and Annual Golf Tournament Peer Visitor program Vision Rehabilitation Wound Rehabilitation Treatment We also offer a Comebackers Neuro Club and newsletter for suvivors of neurological incidents. For a complete list of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation available at Alvarado Hospital, click here. Why chose the San Diego Rehabilitation Institute? Our treatment team is led by a physiatrist—a medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation—and includes a broad spectrum of rehabilitation professionals. Our rehabilitation program is the recipient of the Gold Seal of Approval® for Stroke Rehabilitation from The Joint Commission. Only those rehabilitation programs that meet the high-quality standards of The Joint Commission are awarded the Gold Seal®. In addition, any patient who joins the free Alvarado Advantage Club receives a complimentary Union-Tribune newspaper each day of hospitalization, gourmet coffee card for visitors, daily visit from our Patient Experience coordinator and much more! Who is involved in the patients' care? Our team includes a physiatrist; physical, occupational, recreational, pelvic, spine and speech therapists; and rehabilitation nurses to provide patient-centered rehabilitation. Other specialists on the team include a neurologist, respiratory therapists, licensed clinical counselors, social workers and registered dieticians. All care is coordinated by a case manager who guides patients and their loved ones through the appropriate levels of treatment with an aim to restore them to their optimum level of function at home, work and community. What is the next step? If you are interested in rehabilitation services at Alvarado Hospital, we invite you to contact us today to learn more about the programs and services we offer. For inpatient care, call (619) 229-7380 For outpatient care, call (619) 229-7216 We look forward to hearing from you and helping you achieve optimal rehabilitation and improving your quality of life!


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Raymundus Magnus SAINT LOUIS CATHOLIC - December 1, 2016 ... priests will have the courage to teach the Truth and defend the Faith against all her enemies both within the Church and outside the Church. And may all confusion be dispelled from the Church. He is among the leaders of the effort to defend the Church's timeless teaching, Her dogmas and doctrines, concerning marriage and the Eucharist. And really to hold the faith as it was taught by the Lord Himself and handed down in Sacred Tradition. And if the unthinkable should happen and ...http://stlouiscatholic.blogspot.com/2016/12/raymundus-magnus.html
The Dean of the Roman Rota Archbishop Pio Vito Pinto Warned That the Four Cardinals Could Be Stripped of Their Cardinala ABBEY ROADS - November 29, 2016 ... read eccentrics like Ann Barnhardt and her Canadian Kickers polka-band followers, but it's a bit more disturbing as qualified writers express doubts and concerns and even harshly criticize the Pope. The stories are disturbing and distracting and worst of all, it harms the spirit of devotion and prayer. I'm serious about that, even though I make fun of the stories as a sort of release, I suppose. No one really knows how the Pope will respond and what will happen - hence the ...http://abbey-roads.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-dean-of-roman-rota-archbishop-pio.html
Reflection for the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Part 2 THE CATHOLIC SCHOLAR - November 17, 2016 ... will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you..." No one in Jerusalem could ever say that Jesus didn't warn them about the consequences of their sin and lack of faith. The same goes for all of us. Jesus has given us plenty of warnings, too. We face the same choice as the people of Jerusalem. Will we listen to Jesus and change our lives? Or will we ignore Him and face ...http://thecatholicscholar.blogspot.com/2016/11/reflection-for-33rd-week-in-ordinary_17.html
Donald Trump on 60 Minutes and the Battle Is Won - The War Continues... ADRIENNE'S CORNER - November 14, 2016 http://adriennescatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2016/11/donald-trump-on-60-minutes-and-battle.html
Christ the King Novena 11/11-12/7 BATTLE BEADS BLOG - November 11, 2016 Novena to Christ the King Recite One Our Father, One Hail Mary and One Glory Be per day followed by the Novena Prayer: O Lord our God, You alone are the Most Holy King and Ruler of all nations. We pray to You, Lord, in the great expectation of receiving from You, O Divine King, mercy, peace, justice and all good things. Protect, O Lord our King, our families and the land of our birth. Guard us we pray Most Faithful One. Protect us from our enemies and from ...http://battlebeads.blogspot.com/2016/11/christ-king-novena-1111-127.html
Prayers for Veterans Day 11/11 A CONCORD PASTOR COMMENTS - November 10, 2016 Her e's my Veterans Day Prayer followed by two more from Alden Solovy at To Bend Light . You might want to share these prayers with veterans you k now... Prayer for Veterans Day God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation, who laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom... We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war and whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day... We ...http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2016/11/prayers-for-veterans-day-1111.html
Power, Corruption, and Impure Love NARU HODO - November 5, 2016 http://lift-up-your-hearts.blogspot.com/2016/11/power-corruption-and-impure-love.html
Pause for Prayer: FRIDAY 10/28 A CONCORD PASTOR COMMENTS - October 28, 2016 http://concordpastor.blogspot.com/2016/10/pause-for-prayer-friday-1028.html
Prayer: Autumn Prayer of Acceptance IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY: SET THE WORLD ABLAZE - October 20, 2016 ... soil by their decomposition and decay. When I fear loss of my youthfulness and the reality of my aging, turn my face to the brilliant colors of October trees. Open my spirit to the mellow resonance of autumn sunsets. Brush your love past my heart with the beauty of golden leaves twirling from the autumn trees. When I grow tired of using my gifts to benefit others, take me to the autumned fields where earth freely yields the bounty of her summer. Let me become aware of how she allows her lands ...http://predmore.blogspot.com/2016/10/prayer-autumn-prayer-of-acceptance.html
Rings and Things FR RAY BLAKE'S BLOG - October 9, 2016 ... his death Ramsey had worn it as his personal ring, it was on his finger as he died and was removed from his corpse, post mortem. Quite what the Pope's intention was is anyone's guess. It is stretching things alot to assume it was a repudiation of Apostolicae Curae, or even a recognition of Ramsay personally as a brother bishop. Ramsay had gone to the usual extraordinary Anglican Catholic party's lengths after the publication of the 1928 prayer Book to ensure the 'Dutch tutch' ...http://marymagdalen.blogspot.com/2016/10/rings-and-things.html
Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 16, 2016, Year C BIG C CATHOLICS - October 9, 2016 ... the dishonest judge says.Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night? (Luke 18:1-7) At the time of Jesus if anyone had dared to compare God with an unjust judge who was ultimately swayed only by the nuisance of a shrieking female plaintiff such a comparison would have been condemned as irresponsible and even blasphemous. But what is Jesus telling us? Again, that consistency, perseverance, steadfastness, along with continuing courage, are needed in ...http://www.bigccatholics.com/2016/10/homily-for-29th-sunday-in-ordinary-time.html
Our Lady of the Rosary October 7th BATTLE BEADS BLOG - October 7, 2016 ... increasingly divided Christian world under a version of Islamic law. For the next hundred years, the Turks expanded their empire westward on land, and asserted their naval power in the Mediterranean. In 1565 they attacked Malta, envisioning an eventual invasion of Rome. Though repelled at Malta, the Turks captured Cyprus in the fall of 1570. The next year, three Catholic powers on the continent – Genoa, Spain, and the Papal States - formed an alliance called the Holy League, to defend ...http://battlebeads.blogspot.com/2016/10/our-lady-of-rosary-october-7th.html
Persevere Like the Mustard Seed (Sunday Homily) BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES - October 2, 2016 ... other reasons for concern, But I don't want to discourage you. Many of us are already discouraged. But let's listen to what God told Habakkuk and what Jesus told his disciples: persevere! Especially, persevere in prayer. Next weekend we will have our annual Forty Hours, and the timing couldn't be better. Do you know the origin of Forty Hours? It began in the 1500s, in Italy. The way they did it was to have each parish take turns with 40 hours of prayer before ...http://frmartinfox.blogspot.com/2016/10/persevere-like-mustard-seed-sunday.html
Plant Those Mustard Seeds! (27.C) HOMILIES AND OCCASIONAL THOUGHTS - October 2, 2016 ... achieve anything by taking today's Gospel seriously. In a fictional way, he accomplished something very important: he taught me not to take today's Gospel seriously. At least not to take it literally—for that is really and truly to miss what Jesus is saying to us. In the first place, we get sidetracked if we take his words literally. It almost sounds like Jesus is daring his disciples. You can't uproot trees (or move mountains), therefore your faith must be smaller than a mustard seed. ...http://gregorynsmith.blogspot.com/2016/10/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-read-novel.html
St. Jerome: Father and Doctor of the Church CATHOLIC FIRE - September 29, 2016 ... Church and in Rome and he was forced to leave the city. Jerome went to Bethlehem, established a monastery, and lived the rest of his years in study, prayer, and asceticism. Jerome died at Bethlehem, September 30th, 420. Saint Jerome's remains are interred in the church of Saint Mary Major at Rome and his relics are in the Sistine chapel of Saint Mary Major in Rome. Saint Jerome is the patron saint of archaeologists, archivists, Bible scholars, librarians, libraries, ...http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2016/09/st-jerome-father-and-doctor-of-church.html
Saint Jerome, Latin Father and Doctor of the Church BIG C CATHOLICS - September 29, 2016 ... of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. — St. Jerome September 30th, is the feast day of Saint Jerome, one of the four original doctors of the Latin Church, who is best known for translating the Bible from Greek (the Septuagint) into Latin (the Vulgate). He is widely regarded as the most learned of the Latin Fathers. A remarkable scholar and a sometimes prickly man, St. Jerome nevertheless believed deeply in the mercy of Christ. ____________________________________ One of ...http://www.bigccatholics.com/2016/09/saint-jerome-latin-father-and-doctor-of.html
Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23, Psalm 88:2-8, Luke 9:51-56 WHOM SHALL I SEND? SEND ME LORD - September 26, 2016 ... ourselves and at the many times we have rejected people who could be our friends and brothers and sisters simply because they did not fit our mold. On the other hand when we have experienced rejection and hurt do we respond as James and John wanted to do and call down the wrath of God on our enemies? You rebuked Your apostles and You revealed to them that You are a God of Mercy. You did not come to destroy but to restore and the only way that was possible was to keep Your gaze ...http://whomshallisend.blogspot.com/2016/09/job-31-3-11-17-20-23-psalm-882-8-luke.html
St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church CATHOLIC FIRE - September 13, 2016 ... in possession of much, but one who gives much." "The highest point of philosophy is to be both wise and simple; this is the angelic life." "Chastity uplifts sex to its true nobility and dignity. It gives sex its true beauty and glory. Chastity enables us, through our sexuality, to give glory to Christ in our body." "As water extinguishes fire, so prayer extinguishes the heat of the passions." "Charity is the scope of all God's commands." "Feeding the hungry is a greater work ...http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2016/09/st-john-chrysostom-doctor-of-church.html
Feast of the Most Holy Name of Mary CATHOLIC FIRE - September 12, 2016 ... technically as an "optional memorial." The name Mary is rooted in various ancient languages: in Hebrew Myriam; in Aramaic Maryam; in the Greek Old Testament, Mariam; and in Greek and Latin New Testament, Maria. Saint Quotes on Mary's Name "After the most sacred name of Jesus, the name of Mary is so rich in every good thing, that on earth and in heaven there is no other from which devout souls receive so much grace, hope, and sweetness." ~ St. Alphonsus Liguori "The invocation of the sacred ...http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2016/09/feast-of-most-holy-name-of-mary.html
The Saints on the Power of the Holy Name of Mary BIG C CATHOLICS - September 11, 2016 ... Virgin's name we proclaim her power, implore her aid and place ourselves under her protection. Oh name of the mother of God, thou art my love. — St. Anselm The name of Mary is the key of the gates of heaven. — St. Ephrem Mary is the salvation of all who call upon her. — St. Bonaventure O most sweet name! O Mary, what must thou thyself be, since thy name alone is thus amiable and gracious. — Blessed Henry Suso In dangers, in perplexities, in doubtful cases, think of ...http://www.bigccatholics.com/2016/09/the-saints-on-power-of-holy-name-of-mary.html


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2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms to comfortably sleep six adults with swimming pool
This beautiful 500 year old farmhouse was restored and divided into three properties in 2004 and is situated on a working farm and vineyard just outside Torrita di Siena in Tuscany, 7km from the beautiful town of Montepulciano.
The house has been carefully restored with original arches and beams and typical Tuscan tiled flooring throughout. The main entrance leads through the utility room and downstairs bathroom to the large open plan kitchen with dining table for 8 guests. The lounge has two sofas, one of which is a comfortable sofa-bed. There is a fireplace in the sitting room for the winter but central heating throughout.
Upstairs there are two large bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. The master bedroom has beautiful views of the gardens, pool and the rolling Tuscan hills towards Montepulciano. The front bedroom has a large loggia for breakfast in the sun.
Outside there is a large patio and private garden leading down to the lovely swimming pool and surrounding terrace.
Shops and restaurants: The nearest supermarket can be found in nearby Torrita di Siena and Sinalunga. These area has very many good restaurants that cater for all types of food and budgets. There is a Michelin star restaurant in Montefelonico as well as a Tuscan cookery school but our favourite is the local Jolly Cafe in Torrita! There is plenty of wine tasting to be done in this area and endless historical sites to visit.
Top Traveller Review
Tuscany does not get much better than this!
The water pressure is great so proper showers are available after a strenuous session of drinking local wine on the terrace or even running thhrough the locality past farms & vineyards (if you are sad enough to maintain your training ritual whilst on what should be a hedonistic holiday).
Many gorgeous local trips to , eg. Montepulciano or Montalcino make you want to star in a Carlo Ponto movie (circa 1953).
Do not forget the insect repellant as the working farm in which you are situated can sometimes flying insects at the rear of the property (as opposed to the lounge lizards from the nearby bars and cafes).
Your own transport is essential to take full advantage of the brilliantly situated property.
Laurence & Sian
About the Owner
Sarah studied in Florence for a year and so fulfilled a dream in 2005 when we were able to not just buy but be involved in the renovation of this beautiful farm house. With young children we are limited to brief visits in school holidays, so we hope you enjoy your stay!
12 Reviews
4.8 based on 12 holidaymaker reviews
Tuscany does not get much better than this!
A sensitively restored farmhouse with plenty of room including 2 delightful bedrooms one of which has a fabulous balcony. The other overlooks the substantial & picturesque pool and spectacular views of rural Tuscany.
The water pressure is great so proper showers are available after a strenuous session of drinking local wine on the terrace or even running thhrough the locality past farms & vineyards (if you are sad enough to maintain your training ritual whilst on what should be a hedonistic holiday).
Many gorgeous local trips to , eg. Montepulciano or Montalcino make you want to star in a Carlo Ponto movie (circa 1953).
Do not forget the insect repellant as the working farm in which you are situated can sometimes flying insects at the rear of the property (as opposed to the lounge lizards from the nearby bars and cafes).
Your own transport is essential to take full advantage of the brilliantly situated property.
Laurence & Sian
Lots of character ,peaceful location
We wanted to stay in the Tuscan country side and this property was perfect - very peaceful with lovely views. The accommodation was good and very clean. The property is not within walking distance of a bar or restaurant but is only a short drive away from Montipulciano which is a beautiful town with lots of restaurants and bars. We visited Florence and Siena but we ensured that we had lazy days chilling out at the farmhouse making the most of the views and the relaxing ambience - reading books and sipping wine by the pool - perfect
Charming, family friendly, well located farmhouse
We had a great stay at this beautifully and well restored farmhouse near Montepulciano and Montalcino.
- Location was great close to many interesting villages and medium sized Toscan must-do's.
- Facilities were great, with 3 bathrooms, 2-3 separate areas for sleeping and a great pool. Everything kept clean and amenities well-functioning.
- Communication and coordination with owners was swift, effective and friendly.
Further we were spoiled to have the whole facility and pool to ourselves, which just made the stay even better.
We would recommend this place to anyone, both couples and families.
Enchanted April
After a miserable, dark, wet winter we made an impulse decision to visit Italy for Easter. A quick Internet search and I found Poggio Sarragio, it seemed to fit the bill. We were so lucky. What a lovely, lovely house and fab location. It had everything we needed except the Internet. A double plus! We had a truly relaxing break. Tuscany in spring is beautiful. Wild flowers, sunshine and warmth. Great for walking and cycling - and spotting film locations. We got The English Patient, Gladiator and New Moon. The house is so well situated. Remote enough to get peace and quiet but close enough to so many lovely places. Everyday we had a relaxing morning at the house then drove out to one of the many lovely villiages in the area -Montepulciano, Montefollonico, Monteciello, Cortona, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni and Siena - lots to see, eat, drink and buy. Sarah was so helpful ensuring our stay went well. she made sure we had supplies after we arrived late on a holiday weekend and booked us in to a great restaurant - La Botte Piena in Montefollonico. We will definitely be booking again, as will be a number of our friends.
nice and quiet holiday
We stayed in this house for a week with 6 people including 3 children. The house is a good size for this number of people and we comfortably stayed there. Such good place to visit lots of little villages and we drove to lots of them everyday, enjoyed sightseeing, restaurants and small shopping. Good thing about staying the house is we can cook when we want to, also there is a table outside of the house, and we ate there everyday. We had such great view and so lucky having a swimming pool there too. The house is clean and has everything you need, and we can just go food shopping to the supermarket near. The house is very easy to find although it seems like middle of nowhere, but GPS will take you there so it is very easy.
We would like to go back there again if we can find enough time again. It was such a good holiday.
Beautiful Tuscan Retreat
The property offered all the facilities we needed for 4 people. It was sensitively restored, with many original features retained but luxurious fittings added, such as the large bathrooms. We particularly loved starting each day by having coffee on the sunny balcony. It was very clean and communication with the owner was excellent. The swimming pool was also very clean and safe for children, situated below a very pretty garden with idyllic views.
We loved the location, which was great for visiting Florence, Sienna and the Chianti countryside, but also offered so many other places to explore; we really needed another week. We especially loved Cortona, Pienza and the wine festival in Raddi-in Chianti. The local area was very pretty and the local farmers and neighbours friendly and helpful. Each morning, fresh bread was sold at the door and the local supermarket provided for all our needs.
From the Owner
"The opportunity to renovate and so make it our own was more than we thought possible. Of course that came with usual builder problems but we think we did ok in the end! Now we have a lovely little place with stunning views of working vineyards in Tuscany, great neighbours and friends."
Activity and Interests
Torita di Siena 2km,
Montepulciano 7km,
A1 Val di Chiano exit 5km,
Perugia Airport 45 min,
Florence 1 hour,
Pisa airport 2 hours,
Rome 2.5 hours.
Other Activities: Wine tasting
Prices and Availability
Rental rates
|Rental Period
|Minimum Price
|Additional Nights
|Weekend Night
|Event Price
My Standard Rate
4 night minimum stay
for 4 nights
Additional pricing information
|Refundable Damage Deposit
|Departure clean
The pool may will be opened during May and closed after September.
Departure cleaning and checking charge of £60.
Owner's Cancellation Policy
- 0% refund for cancellations more than 0 days before check-in date.
From the Owner
"Ours is the middle of three small houses. On one side our neighbours spend some months of the year here coming over from Canada. They know the area completely and so are very friendly and extremely knowledgable! Our other neighbours are doctors from Leeds who are there less but just as welcoming when they visit. For the kids - gettting eggs freshly laid from the farmhouse or for us, tasting Nobile from Il Greppo at the end of the drive!"
Property Type
- farmhouse
- Away From It All
- Family
- Historic
- Romantic
- Tourist Attractions
- Fireplace ...
- Hair Dryer
- Heating
- Iron & Board
- Linens Provided
- Living Room ...
- Parking
- Sofa Bed
- Towels Provided
- Tumble Dryer ...
- Washing Machine
- Wood Stove
- Coffee Maker ...
- Dishes & Utensils
- Dishwasher
- Freezer
- Kitchen ...
- Microwave
- Oven ...
- Refrigerator
- Hob ...
- Toaster
- Child's Highchair
- Dining ...
- Dining Area
- Books
- CD Player
- DVD Player
- Radio
- Stereo
- Television
- Toys
- Video Library
Pool / Spa
- Communal Pool ...
- Outdoor Pool
- Long-term Renters Welcome
- children welcome ...
- non smoking only
- pets not allowed
- wheelchair inaccessible
Location Type
- rural
- churches
- playground
- restaurants
- winery tours
Leisure Activities
- outlet shopping
- scenic drives
- sight seeing
- walking
Local Services & Businesses
- ATM/bank
- groceries
- hospital
- medical services
Sports & Adventure Activities
- cycling
- fishing
- golf
- hiking
- mountain biking
- sailing
- swimming
- tennis
Floor Area
- 160 m²
- Master Bathroom - Toilet, Bath with Shower
- Second Bathroom - Toilet, Shower Enclosure
- Downstairs Bathroom - Toilet, Shower Enclosure
- 2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 7
- Master Bedroom - 1 Large Double Bed, 1 Child Bed, Ensuite bathroom
- Second bedroom - 1 Large Double Bed, 1 Cot, Ensuite shower room
- The Master bedroom has some beautiful furniture including an iron day-bed that can be used as a single bed. The bathroom has a bath and shower and the view from the bedroom window looks far over the valley toward Montepulciano and Torrita di Siena. The second bedroom has a white theme and has a stunning arched window that opens onto the loggia with outside table and chairs. There is travel cot that can be used in either room. Downstairs the lounge has a very comfortable sofa bed for overflow guests and there is a downstairs bathroom with shower.
- Balcony ...
- Bicycles ...
- Terrace ...
- Garden ...
- Barbecue
- Tennis ...
- Terrace
- 4 garden chairs
- 4 deck chairs
- Self-catering


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