Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Koren J. Widdel, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
Subject: Agreement (#24-0132-034-SF) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Pest Detection Trapping Program
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution:
A) Authorizing an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the detection and trapping of regulated insect pests that can significantly affect agricultural crops and the environment for FY 2024-25 in an amount not to exceed $678,702; and
B) Authorizing the County Agricultural Commissioner to execute amendments to the agreement with the CDFA which modify the State’s maximum reimbursement by no more than $25,000 (in aggregate) and/or modify the agreement term and/or services so long as the modified term or services is/are within the current or revised fiscal provision, and provided no such amendment would require the expenditure or commitment of County funds.
body
BACKGROUND:
On December 1, 1981, the Board approved the first agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to initiate the insect Pest Detection Trapping Program. The agreement has been renewed each year. The statewide insect pest detection trapping program protects the agricultural industry, home gardens, and the environment by providing early detection of exotic state regulated pests that may be introduced into California.
DISCUSSION:
The County will receive $678,702 under agreement #24-0132-034-SF as reimbursement for personnel hours expended on the Pest Detection Trapping Program activities during FY 2024-25. San Mateo County pest detection program staff place and monitor 543 Mediterranean fruit fly traps, and 2,376 other pest traps per year (e.g. Japanese beetle, Spongy moth, Oriental fruit fly, and Melon fly). The insect traps are placed throughout the County on residential and rural properties and are serviced at regular intervals from April through November. In the past five years, Pest Detection staff have intercepted Oriental fruit flies, which resulted in delimitation surveys where it was determined there was not a breeding population.
CDFA periodically places insect specimens in County pest detection traps for training purposes and to test the identification abilities of Pest Detection Specialists. During FY 2023-24, Pest Detection Specialists recovered 70% (7 out of 10 of all exotic insect quality control specimens planted by CDFA). It is anticipated that Pest Detection program staff will be able to recover at least 90% of exotic insect quality control specimens planted by CDFA during FY 2024-25.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution and agreement as to form.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2023-24 Actual |
FY 2024-25 Projected |
|
Percent of exotic insect quality control specimens recovered by Pest Detection Program staff |
70% |
90% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of this agreement is July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025. Revenue in the amount of $678,702 authorized by this agreement was included in the Department’s FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.