(NBBJ) - As they gear up to draft regulations on promotional events on agricultural land — particularly, at wineries — and whether too much of it is happening in certain areas, Sonoma County planning officials at a meeting last week heard neighbors to such sites say more-effective regulation and enforcement are needed, while wine business representatives forwarded their own list of potential rules and reminded those present how crucial events are to the modern industry.

A few dozen people, including members of the public and industry on a winery events working group formed by county planning Director Tennis Wick, met at the department’s Santa Rosa office Wednesday to put forward issues — at times facing contention from other group members and one in the audience — that would be addressed in the forthcoming rules. The timeline calls for public workshops and a draft this fall, ahead of public hearings at the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors in the first quarter of 2016.

“When we talk about preserving agriculture in this county, a lot of small wineries are reliant on tasting room sales to stay in business,” said Katie Jackson, who is involved in government relations and community outreach for Jackson Family Wines and is part of the working group.

Fred Corson, chairman of the Dry Creek Valley Citizens Advisory Council, which is consulted on land-use permits in that area, said the council often is frustrated by county policies such as “industrywide events” and “rural character” that aren’t written and permit management that isn’t open to all stakeholders.

“It’s a festering thing that somehow needs to be addressed,” he said during the meeting. Afterward, he said he favored a Napa County-style random audit of use permits.

“I think if they get that done, there would be a lot of self-policing,” he said.

The group meets again Aug. 12 to clarify land-use definitions of allowed events, related activities and areas of overconcentration, and analyze policies from other counties.

Two areas in Sonoma Valley that seem to have an overconcentration of winery visitor activity are Kenwood and a section of Highway 121