Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Koren J. Widdel, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
Subject: Amendment to Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the High Risk Pest Exclusion Program
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution authorizing the President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an amendment to Agreement No. 25-0417-000-SG with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for high risk pest exclusion inspection services for FY 2025-26 to amend the scope of authorized inspection services, increasing the maximum amount reimbursable to the County for services performed by $300,226.47 for a new total amount not to exceed $504,044.50.
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BACKGROUND:
In 1999, this Board first approved an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA”) to initiate the High Risk Pest Exclusion (“HRPE”) Program, through which the CDFA reimburses the County for the costs of inspection activities conducted by staff of the County’s Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (“Department”) that prevent the introduction of exotic insects and diseases through identified high risk pest pathways. The agreement between the County and CDFA for these inspection services has been renewed each year since.
The current agreement (#25-0417-000-SG) with CDFA (the “Agreement”) for FY 2025-26, which this Board authorized on September 23, 2025, through Resolution No. 081422, provides that the County may receive up to $203,818.03 in reimbursement for 1,844 personnel hours expended on eligible HRPE activities, for the term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
DISCUSSION:
The CDFA recently notified the State’s County Agricultural Commissioners throughout California that an additional $4.51 million from the State’s Unclaimed Gas Tax fund had been allotted to the HRPE High Risk Pest Exclusion Program. On December 18, 2025, the CDFA sent to the County Agricultural Commissioner a proposed amendment to the Agreement for consideration by this Board, which if authorized would provide up to $504,044.50 in reimbursement for 4,602 personnel hours to be expended on eligible HRPE activities.
Such activities include performing daily inspections of air freight shipments at San Francisco International Airport (“SFO”), nursery stock truck shipments at wholesale nurseries, and plant product shipments at parcel facilities. The amendment of the Agreement authorizes additional inspection pathways for reimbursement, including inspections of outdoor household articles from quarantined areas at risk for spreading Spongy Moth and Spotted Lanternfly into the County. Pest exclusion work activities protect the agricultural industry and the environment from harmful exotic pests that may be introduced into California. All other terms of the Agreement remain unchanged.
Industry shipping patterns continue to impact the types of agricultural shipments entering the County at SFO. It is anticipated that one percent of the shipments inspected during FY 2025-26 will be rejected due to presence of actionable pests that are subject to State and Federal quarantine law. Exotic pest introduction and establishment may adversely affect the environment, agriculture, and the economy of the State.
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 |
|
Percent of shipments inspected with actionable pests at SFO |
1% |
1% |
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Invasive species threaten food security, human health and livelihoods globally. As a part of the County’s pest prevention efforts, HRPE inspections improve the food security of all residents by helping prevent infestations that could disrupt the County’s food supply. There are no anticipated negative community impacts from this contract.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the amended agreement remains unchanged as July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. Revenue in the amount of $504,044.50 authorized by this agreement was included in the Department’s FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.