North Bay Business Journal

Charles Schwab, a provider of full-service brokerage services, announced the opening of a new independent branch in Novato. …

Marin Energy Authority, the first community choice aggregation program in California and electricity supplier of choice to Marin County and Richmond residents, will deploy the P-ECOSYS consumer-engagement platform by San Francisco-based PlanetEcosystems. …

Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom is set to be the speaker for 86th annual commencement for the class of 2013 at College of Marin. …

Marin Energy Authority, the first community choice aggregation program in California and electricity supplier of choice to Marin County and Richmond residents, will deploy the P-ECOSYS consumer-engagement platform by San Francisco-based PlanetEcosystems. …

County of Marin can now fully fund retiree health benefits just like it does employee pensions by ensuring that funds are set aside for unfunded liabilities as well as current costs. …

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) announced that all new Agilent electronic test instruments sold after will be covered by a “bumper-to-bumper” three-year repair warranty. …

Meadowcroft Wines’ Thomas Henry brand received a World-Class Design award from HOW magazine in its 2013 International Design Awards issue. …

Vineyard & Winery Management and The Press Democrat are launching the North Coast Wine Challenge. …

CK Mondavi, a brand owned and operated for 70 years by C. Mondavi & Family, launched a mobile-device-optimized website to enhance the user experience for wine consumers using smartphones and tablets. …

William “Bill” Price III, co-founder of private investment company TPG Group and a financier of North Coast wineries such as Kosta Browne, purchased the 138-acre Gap’s Crown pinot noir and chardonnay vineyard in the Sonoma Coast appellation east of Rohnert Park.

Part of the multibillion restructuring of hard-hit real estate investments over the past few years by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) are potential changes to a joint venture with Premier Pacific Vineyards of Napa to acquire up to $200 million in West Coast vineyards. … Part of the $1 million-plus invested in production and distribution of the Napa Smith beer brand since it was acquired is a tasting room opened this month at the specially designed south Napa brewery-winery, located at 1 Executive Way. … St. Helena-based ETS Laboratories is now offering free same-day results on common analyses such as juice panels for San Joaquin County vintners. … As part of a mergers-and-acquisitions panel at the recent Wine Industry Financial Symposium in Napa, Jeff Menashe of Demeter Group observed four trends among active buyers of wine businesses and successful sellers.

The costs to public pension plans of the financial system crisis and diminished investment returns coupled with unfunded retiree commitments are coming due – and it is not a pretty sight.

In Sonoma County, officials are preparing a proposal for a $300 million bond offering to help cover a $400 million unfunded pension liability.