Special Notice / Hearing: None
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Koren J. Widdel, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
Subject: Agreement (#24-0469-009-SF) with California Department of Food and Agriculture for 2025-26 Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution:
A) Authorizing an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to perform trapping and exclusion inspection services for the regulated glassy-winged sharpshooter, for the term of July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026, in an amount not to exceed $348,378 in reimbursement for services performed; and
B) Designating the County Agricultural Commissioner as the local public entity authorized to receive these local assistance funds.
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BACKGROUND:
In 1999, this Board first approved an agreement with California Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA”) to initiate the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control (“PD/GWSS”) Program, through which the CDFA reimburses the County for the costs of trapping and inspection activities that prevent the introduction of glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierces’s disease. The glassy-winged sharpshooter is an insect vector for Pierce’s disease, which infects and kills grapevines, resulting in significant economic impact on the state’s wine grape industry. The agreement between the County and CDFA designates the Agricultural Commissioner as the local public entity authorized to receive these local assistance funds, and has been renewed each year since.
DISCUSSION:
Proposed Agreement #24-0469-009-SF (the “Agreement”) with CDFA for FY 2025-26 until September 30, 2026, a 15-month agreement, provides that the County will receive up to $221,537.00 in FY 2025-26 and $126,841.00 in the federal FY 2025-26 for a total of $348,378.00 in reimbursement for personnel hours expended on glassy-winged sharpshooter activities. Staff will conduct daily inspections of incoming nursery stock shipments from infested areas of California as well as detection surveys at County nurseries and urban landscapes.
Food and Agricultural Code Section 6046 requires the designation of a local public entity in each county to receive the Pierce’s Disease Control/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter local assistance funds. CDFA has specifically requested that each county receiving reimbursement funds provide a Board resolution specifically designating the County Agricultural Commissioner as the local public entity for receipt of these contract funds and has recommended that the Agricultural Commissioner obtain authorization to enter into additional amended agreements during the remainder of FY 2025-26, to expedite funding to the County should emergency program work activities be required. Wording to that effect has been included in the Resolution.
The resolution contains the County’s standard provision allowing further amendments which modify the State’s maximum reimbursement by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate).
The County Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2024-25 Actual |
FY 2025-26 Projected |
|
Nursery stock shipments confirmed to be free of glassy-winged sharpshooter |
2,299 |
2,300 |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
The establishment of target pests can detrimentally impact the livelihood of those working in production agriculture and raise food prices that disproportionately affects economically disadvantaged communities.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this agreement is July 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Revenue in the amount of $348,378.00 authorized by this agreement was included in the Department’s FY 2025-26 Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.