title
Adopt a resolution authorizing the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute revenue agreements for a net total of $316,511 with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Pesticide Regulation; and Authorize the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute revenue contract amendments up to 15% over the approved contract amounts
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
1) Adopt a resolution authorizing Jim Allan, Solano County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures, to sign various revenue agreements for a net total of $316,511 with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and
2) Authorize the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute any revenue contract amendments, up to 15% over the approved amount, to these agreements on behalf of Solano County.
SUMMARY:
Agreements and contracts with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) entered into by the Solano County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer must be signed by the Chair of the Board of Supervisors or an authorized designee. The Board has historically given the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures authorization to execute these contracts, agreements and associated amendments on behalf of Solano County through approval of a resolution.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Today’s Board action will result in anticipated State reimbursement to the Department of up to $316,511 in FY2017/18. The Agriculture Department is currently performing these functions with receipt of agreements or under intent to contract. Anticipated revenues are included in the Department’s FY2017/18 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures receives funding through State agencies, fees and other contractual agreements to offset County costs. A major source of funding for agricultural and weights and measures programs are the State of California agreements. To obtain the revenue, Solano County enters into agreements with CDFA and DPR. These agreements are initially prepared by the State agency and then sent to the County for approval.
Funding for these agreements is also augmented in some program areas by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as pass through funding.
Listed below are the revenue agreements and anticipated annual funding:
1) Pest Exclusion: High-Risk Inspections: FY2017/18 includes $15,053 for inspection on high risk shipments, such as fruit or foliage, at ground and air freight facilities in order to prevent introduction of pests of concern to California.
2) Enforcement Evaluation and Improvement Project (EEIP): FY2017/18 includes an $11,192 contract with the State Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) for the collection and submission of historic compliance and enforcement data, with the goal of improved communication and collaboration between DPR and the County Agricultural Commissioners in the tracking, development, and preparation of enforcement responses as needed.
3) Nursery Inspection Program: FY2017/18 includes $20,421 for annual nursery stock inspection and compliance assessment at producer/wholesale nursery locations within the county.
4) Light Brown Apple Moth Detection and Trapping Agreement: FY2017/18 includes $7,964 for placement and servicing of insect detection traps for Light Brown Apple Moth, a pest of agricultural commodities.
5) Light Brown Apple Moth Regulatory Agreement: FY2017/18 includes $10,474 for inspection of production nurseries, retail nurseries, placement and servicing of detection traps for Light Brown Apple Moth in production nurseries to facilitate interstate shipping.
6) Pest Detection Agreement: FY2017/18 includes an anticipated contractual amount of $120,000 for insect trapping and implementation of the web based CalTrap program. This is a new statewide program, being utilized to track the deployment, servicing and locations of insect traps used to detect insect pests of economic concern before they become established in California. Target pests include: the Mediterranean Fruit Fly, Japanese Beetle, Gypsy Moth, and others. Insect traps are placed throughout Solano County from May to October to detect these pests. Revenue from this contract will support the deployment of the traps, data base updates to facilitate the online system, purchase of tablets for use and regular inspection by agricultural staff and submission of samples to CDFA.
7) Sudden Oak Death Program: FY2017/18 includes a contract for $74,057. The funding is provided for inspection, testing and certification of nursery stock to prevent movement of Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of Sudden Oak Death, to non-infested areas of the state.
8) Petroleum Products Enforcement: FY2017/18 includes $7,350 for inspections. Inspections are conducted at retail fuel establishments throughout Solano County to confirm that pricing signs and advertising are in compliance with regulatory standards. The Weighmaster Enforcement component of this contract has been eliminated due to state budget cuts.
9) Asian Citrus Psyllid: FY2017/18 includes $50,000 in anticipated revenues for placement of pest detection traps for Asian Citrus Psyllid, the insect vector of Huanglongbing disease, also known as citrus greening. The disease impairs the movement of nutrients in the plant resulting initially in uneven fruit ripening and eventually death of the tree.
Executed agreements will be placed on file with the Clerk of the Board.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to approve one or more of the revenue agreements and/or direct staff to consider other options and return with new recommendations. However, this is not recommended as this would result in a potential loss of up to $316,511 in revenues that offset County costs.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the agreements as to form. The County Administrator’s Office has reviewed this proposal and concurs with the recommendation. The California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation support this procedure for obtaining County approval for contracts and agreements.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION