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Receive a presentation from Morgan Doran, Director of UC Cooperative Extension Capitol Corridor on the Department’s FY2015/16 annual report
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board receive a presentation from Morgan Doran, Director of UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Capitol Corridor on the Department’s FY2015/16 annual report.
SUMMARY:
UC Cooperative Extension has partnered with Solano County since 1915 to provide programs and services to the county’s farms, ranches, youth, and communities; providing connections to science-based information and research; empowering volunteers, creating new leaders, and preparing tomorrow’s workforce; supporting producers, managers, and agencies by providing advice on critical natural resources and agricultural issues; and supporting economic, youth, and community development throughout the county.
In July 2014 a new structure was implemented that consolidated the UCCE administrative operations of Solano, Yolo and Sacramento counties into one administrative unit, forming the UCCE Capitol Corridor. FY2016/17 marks the third year of a 5-year Multi-County Partnership (MCP) agreement signed by all three counties and the University of California.
Under the MCP model each county provides monetary and in-kind contributions to support UCCE operations in the three-county area. In FY2016/17 total contributions from Solano County to the MCP equal $274,449, which represents 8% and 4% increase over FY2014/15 and FY2015/16 contributions respectively. County contributions to the MCP are leveraged approximately 3 to 1 with funds from the University of California, grants and other revenues.
The MCP model has enabled UCCE to improve support to existing programs and expand additional programs in our communities by sharing resources across county lines and realizing administrative efficiencies.
The University of California remains committed to continuing the long-standing partnership with Solano County and in providing programs and service to Solano County citizens.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Receiving the presentation has no impact on the County’s finances.
DISCUSSION:
UCCE has served Solano County citizens since 1915 through their partnership that has supported programs in agricultural production, home economics, nutrition education, youth development, food preservation, home gardening, natural resource management, small farm production, integrated pest management and science literacy. The partnership is designed to capitalize on combined federal, state and county resources to bring UC’s land-grant resources to the public and to communicate the public’s needs back to the University.
UCCE Solano County operated as a single-county unit for nearly 100 years, until a multi-county partnership was negotiated and implemented beginning in July 2014. The new multi-county partnership was formed between the University of California, Solano County, Yolo County and Sacramento County as an alternative model to improve UCCE’s ability to deliver programs to the counties after decades of declining federal and state financial support.
FY2016/17 is the third year of a five-year agreement between the three counties and the University of California that establishes the multi-county partnership. Monetary and in-kind support are discussed annually through the MCP’s Advisory Committee and then negotiated through each county’s individual budget process.
Total financial support for the MCP in FY2015/16 was approximately $3.8 million with county financial support comprising approximately 25%; UC and grant funds each provided 35% and 5% came from other revenue sources. In FY2015/16 Solano County contributions equaled $263,858, which increased 4% in FY 2016/17 to $274,449.
The MCP has a total of 38 employees, equal to 30 FTE with 9 FTE paid from MCP county funds and 21 FTE paid from UC and grant funds. Five staff employees are based in the Solano County office, while eight UCCE academic Advisors provide programs in Solano County, but are based in other county offices. UCCE currently provides eleven programs in Solano County including seven agriculture programs, 4-H Youth Development, Master Gardener, Master Food Preserver, and Urban Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
UCCE programs reach thousands of Solano County citizens each year directly from Advisor outreach activities and indirectly through volunteer extension programs such as 4-H, Master Gardener and Master Food Preserver. During FY2015/16, UCCE in Solano County had 196 adult volunteers extending youth development programs to over 4,300 youths, and trained high school students to deliver Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) skills to 787 elementary school students at thirteen school sites. The Master Gardener program had 133 certified volunteers reach over 10,200 county residents with home gardening information. The Master Food Preserver program was recently restarted and now has seven volunteers ready to extend home food preservation information in the county. Agriculture programs provide farmers and ranchers in Solano County information on crop production, irrigation efficiency, safe and effective pest control, nutrient management, water quality, drought mitigation, organic production and ecological restoration practices.
Since 2014 UCCE Capitol Corridor has expanded its programs in Solano County by recruiting an Orchard Crops Advisor, a Small Farms Advisor, an Agronomy Advisor, an Urban IPM Advisor and a Master Food Preserver Program Coordinator. Additional positions are being sought to provide leadership and increase diversity of the 4-H Youth Development Program, reduce food insecurity and address viticulture production issues.
UCCE looks forward to another 100 years of partnership with Solano County in providing relevant programs that improve the wellbeing of the people, the County and the State.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to receive the presentation; however, this alternative is not recommended as the County and UCCE have maintained a partnership in Cooperative Extension programs for over 100 years.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.