We heard your feedback that our Enewsletter can be VERY long at time. So we are trying something new! A supporting Blog post which contains more news and information that would have otherwise been found in the Enewsletter. No more endless scrolling. YAY!

We are still working through this new format. We thank you for your patience as we figure out what is best. We expect over the next few weeks we will get this honed in and it will be even better.

Thank you for all your support and have a great weekend!

Whitney Diver McEvoy

President & CEO, Yountville Chamber of Commerce

Fancy Savage Cuisine’s mission is to bring people together and feed them well. They strive to make you feel just as comfortable in the backyard eating BBQ with your hands as you do at a Michelin-star dinner enjoying the finest food and wine pairings that the Napa Valley has to offer.  Learn More.

This year, we’re excited to invite you to our expanded and reimagined tasting experience building on all that we’ve learned from the past decade. In a historic bank building in downtown St. Helena, we’ve designed a space to bring you into our world. Thoughtful details and raw materials compliment four new tasting experiences: Rock, Paper, Scissors, and The Vault. Learn More.

Louis M. Martini’s decision to settle in Napa Valley was driven by a desire to craft exceptional wines by sourcing the best fruit possible. In the years that followed Prohibition, he established a legacy of craftsmanship and a passion for Napa Valley that continues to this day. Our history reflects the vision, ingenuity and endurance of a family committed to making the best Cabernet Sauvignon possible. Learn More.

Important new laws taking effect July 1

These Impact Your Business

This summary is provided by the Employment Law Team at Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty

Jennifer Douglas, Marissa Buck and Kristina Kiessig

SB 553: Workplace Violence Prevention Plans and Trainings Must be Completed by July 1, 2024

All California employers* must comply with the following requirements by July 1, 2024:

1. Create a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan or WVPP (you can find a model template here);
2. Create a Violent Incident Log;
3. Create an employee training plan and have all employees trained prior to the July 1 deadline.

Employers should review the full requirements of SB 553 for compliance (the requirements will be enforced by Cal/OSHA). We also recommend reaching out to your worker’s compensation insurer for assistance with your WVPP.

*There are limited exceptions to SB 553, including employees who telework from a location of their choice that is not controlled by the employer, and workplaces with less than 10 employees at any given time that are not accessible to the public.

SB 478: Honest Pricing Law or Hidden Fees Statute – No Service Charges Permitted

Beginning July 1, 2024, SB 478 will go into effect, which means businesses will no longer be allowed to add a service fee (or any other hidden fees, aka drip pricing) to a customer’s bill. Instead, all fees must be included in the price of the item or service the customer is purchasing, with the exception of government fees and taxes. The “Honest Pricing Law” or “Hidden Fees Statute” is intended to allow the customer to see the true price of an item or service they are purchasing instead of having additional fees and charges added at checkout or on their bill.

Senator Dodd recently proposed a new law, SB 1524, which would exempt restaurants and other food and drink providers from the Honest Pricing Law. If passed, this exemption would apply to “individual food or beverage items sold by a restaurant, bar, or other food service provider, or pursuant to a contract for banquet or catering services.” This bill would allow for drip pricing, as long as the mandatory fees are set out in the advertisement, menu, or other display for the items. The proposed law is still under review by the legislature and has not been passed yet. We will be watching closely and will send an update if anything changes.

SB 525: Minimum Wage Increase for Health Care Workers

SB 525 creates a higher minimum wage for “covered health care workers” and was originally set to go into effect on June 1, 2024. This law requires certain health care facilities depending on facility type to pay wages varying from $18 to $23 per hour. As of now, the new law has been postponed until July 1, 2024, and it is expected to go into effect at that time.

Minimum Wage Increase for Certain Municipalities on July 1, 2024

As of January 1, 2024, the state minimum wage for all employers was increased to $16.00 per hour. Certain municipalities and cities in California have local minimum wage ordinances that are higher than the state minimum wage, some of which are set to increase mid-year. If you have employees in other cities throughout the state, we recommend checking for any minimum wage ordinances that may be in place.

The following local municipalities are set to increase their minimum wage on July 1, 2024:

• Alameda               $17.00 per hour
• Berkeley               $18.67 per hour
• Emeryville             $19.36 per hour
• San Francisco       $18.67 per hour

Potential PAGA Reform Statute

Governor Newsom announced an agreement with lawmakers on a proposed PAGA (Private Attorneys General Act) reform statute that is expected to be drafted and reviewed by the legislature soon. This statute would replace the PAGA measure that was set to be on the ballot in November. The proposed law has not been drafted yet, but we will be keeping a close eye on this as it develops.

NEW FOR MEMBERS: California Paid Family Leave Grant 

Yountville Chamber Partners with California Paid Family Leave Grant to Get Money into the Hands of Small Business

Yountville Chamber is pleased to announce its partnership with California Paid Family Leave Grant (CPFLG). CPFLG allows eligible small businesses in California with 1-100 employees with at least one (1) employee utilizing California’s Paid Family Leave program to apply for grants up to $2,000 per employee to offset the increased costs associated with the employee out on leave. 

California’s Paid Family Leave program allows California workers to take paid leave to bond with a new child (through birth, adoption, or foster care), to care for a seriously ill family member, or to participate in a qualifying event because of a family member’s military deployment.

Businesses impacted by California’s Paid Family Leave program will have increased costs such as training and upskilling existing staff to cover the duties of the employee on California’s Paid Family Leave; hiring and training additional staff to cover the duties of the employee on California’s Paid Family Leave; and marketing, recruitment, and other reasonably foreseeable training costs. 

For more information, eligibility details, and to apply, visit CaliforniaPFL.com.

Thursday, August 1

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

Bardessono 

Membership University prepares you to reach great heights through your membership. New, current, and future Yountville Chamber of Commerce business members are all welcome. Light pasties will be provided. 

Monday, June 17 – Sunday, June 23

Throughout Yountville

You’re invited to join us for any or all of the events, fundraisers, sip & supports, and other special offerings that embrace inclusivity for all! Take a look at our calendar to start planing each event you want to join. 

Thursday, July 18 
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Louis M. Martini Winery

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and build your professional network. Enjoy drinks and appetizers while mingling with other young professionals in the area. This is a great chance to expand your horizons and make meaningful connections.

Check out our latest Member to Member benefit list below. Remember to review the details, call ahead to confirm the availability of the discount, and have your membership card handy.

If you require additional membership cards (the Member to Member discount is available to all employees of your business) or if you wish to add an offer to the list, please contact whitney@yountville.com

Embracing AI in the Digital Era: The Transformative Impact of AI on Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

The WSI AI Business Insights Survey, involving over 500 business owners and marketing professionals, offers an in-depth analysis of the current and projected landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across small and medium-sized businesses. This report encapsulates the challenges and strategies related to AI integration, providing critical insights for businesses aiming to leverage this transformative technology to foster growth, enhance efficiency, and strengthen market competitiveness.

Learn More

Does your business have an upcoming event? It’s your time to submit your events. Get your event in front of the tens of thousands of visitors to Yountville.com each month.

There are so many reasons to love Yountville – luxurious accommodations, prestigious wineries and tasting rooms, incredible dining options, and a vibrant art scene all within just a few blocks of each other.

It’s time to add one more — its scenic cycling routes that wind through Napa Valley’s rural landscape. Catering to both the avid enthusiast and the leisurely explorer alike, Yountville is a perfect base from which to ride.

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