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Delegate authority to the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute a revenue agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for Solano County’s FY2024/25 Pierce’s Disease Control Program in the amount of $1,226,098; Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) recognizing $23,861 in unanticipated revenues to fund increased services and supplies and contracted services for glassy-winged sharpshooter eradication activities (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No __X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No __X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Agriculture recommends the Board of Supervisors:
1. Delegate authority to the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute a revenue agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for Solano County’s FY2024/25 Pierce’s Disease Control Program in the amount of $1,226,098; and
2. Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) recognizing $23,861 in unanticipated revenues to fund increased services and supplies and contracted services for glassy-winged sharpshooter eradication activities (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
GWSS is an invasive leafhopper insect that vectors the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, which causes Pierce’s disease in grapevines. Once infected with Xylella, grapevines typically decline and die within one to five years. Because there is no known cure for Pierce’s disease, GWSS is one of the most threatening agricultural pests in California, jeopardizing the State’s $73 billion grape and wine industry.
In October 2021, the Agriculture Department (Department) detected a glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) infestation in Vacaville’s Browns Valley neighborhood. In response to the detection, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) declared a proclamation of emergency designating 3,500 acres within Vacaville as an infested area and outlined legal authority and necessary actions required to contain and eradicate the infestation. CDFA renewed the proclamation of emergency in November 2023.
In June 2024, the Board of Supervisors approved a master contract list for the Department’s FY2024/25 cooperative agreements with CDFA. The list included an anticipated amount for the GWSS agreement totaling $984,601. Subsequently, CDFA provided the Department an updated estimate totaling $1,202,238, which was included in the FY2024/25 Recommended Budget; however, CDFA has now provided the Department with the final agreement totaling $1,226,098, $241,497 higher than approved under the master contract list and exceeding delegated signature authority granted to the agricultural commissioner by more than 15%. The final amount is also an increase of $23,861 over FY2024/25 appropriations, requiring an ATR be approved by the Board to increase appropriations for revenues and expenses.
Efforts to completely eradicate GWSS from Vacaville are ongoing. Between 2021 through 2023, the Department detected 142 adult GWSS, and 5 adult GWSS detections have occurred in 2024 to date. The Department’s emergency response activities along with extensive cooperation from local residents have prevented the GWSS infestation from spreading outside of the originally defined quarantine boundary.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The recommended action will result in State reimbursement to the Department totaling $1,226,098, which includes an additional amount of $23,861 to provide services through June 30, 2025. This revenue will offset costs incurred in response to the Vacaville glassy-winged sharpshooter infestation, inspection of incoming nursery plant shipments and routine pest surveillance trapping. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2024/25 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to not adopt the attached resolution; however, this alternative is not recommended as this would result in a loss of up to $1,226,098.03 in revenue that would offset County costs.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel reviewed and approved the amendment to the agreement as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION