Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Fred W. Crowder, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
Subject: Agreement with the Regents of the University of California
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution waiving the Request for Proposal process and authorizing an agreement with the Regents of the University of California to provide 50% cost share funding with the University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) for a Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor position, for the term of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2022, in an amount not to exceed $216,000.
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BACKGROUND:
Northern California is home to a rich variety of wildlife and natural resources and a long tradition of ranching and livestock production. The ability of ranchers to address losses resulting from predation is challenged through evolving concepts regarding wildlife management, conservation, and State laws. When experiencing livestock losses from predation, there are few alternatives other than lethal removal through depredation permit issued by California’s Department of Fish and Game. Additionally, predator management issues in California are likely to receive greater attention, and possibly become more contentious as wolves recolonize northern California. With greater scrutiny of traditional remedies to predation, there is a need to research, develop and implement new tools, as presently there is little research and few resources dedicated to such efforts, and there are many differing opinions regarding what is effective and most cost efficient. Additionally, such human-wildlife conflicts extend beyond range and agricultural lands and affect residents with livestock and pets in the unincorporated area, the urban-wildland interface, as well as visitors to parks and open space. Such situations create a need to provide education and outreach, as well as develop effective and socially acceptable tools for managing wildlife, particularly predators, that will protect livestock, human property, and the wildlife itself.
The Advisor will conduct field and lab research to develop management tools for mitigating human-wildlife conflict in San Mateo County. This will include conflicts in natural resource areas, and properties bordering such areas to address predation as well as ungulate (deer), birds, rodents, and other wildlife interactions. There is currently a significant gap in expertise on human-wildlife conflict within UCANR and other state agencies and institutions. The proposed position is to serve northern California with a focus on San Francisco Bay Area Counties. This position will support ANR Strategic Initiatives in Endemic and Invasive Pests and Diseases, Sustainable Food Systems, and Sustainable Natural Ecosystems.
DISCUSSION:
The funding from this agreement shall be used to support 50 percent of the salary and benefits, recruitment, research, and professional development activities of the Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor position-holder. This will be a University of California employee, hired via the standard UCANR recruitment process, concluding with the hiring of the Advisor in consultation with and representation by the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner. UCANR will fund the remaining 50 percent of the salary and benefits, recruitment, research and professional development activities. The Human-Wildlife Interactions Advisor position-holder shall be headquartered in San Mateo County and shall conduct multi-county extension, education and applied research programs with primary responsibility in San Mateo County with some service to Santa Clara County, Santa Cruz County, and San Francisco County to influence the future success of open space and rangeland in the region and to improve the profitability of agriculture and quantify its social, economic, and health impacts for policy makers and the community, though research and extension. University of California staff are shared between multiple counties-including those with cost share agreements such as this proposal. Santa Clara County cost shares with UC Cooperative Extension for an Urban Ag and Food Systems Specialist position who also provides services to San Mateo and other counties.
A waiver of the Request for Proposal (RFP) process is requested for this agreement as the proposal to create the Advisor position is a joint initiative between the San Mateo County Agricultural Commissioner’s office and UCANR, and the person filling the position will be a UCANR employee.
The Department requests your Board to authorize the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to execute additional amendments to this Agreement which modify the agreement amount 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 provisions.
Approval of this Agreement contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of Environmentally Conscious Community.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-20 Target |
FY 2020-21Target |
FY 2021-22 Target |
|
Number of individuals served through meetings, presentations, publications, and other online engagements |
1,000 |
1,000 |
1,000 |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The term of the Agreement is July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022. The total Agreement amount is not to exceed $216,000 for the three-year term. The agreement allocates $72,000 for each fiscal year of the agreement. The funds for this agreement are included in the Department’s FY 2019-21 Recommended Budget by way of State subvention revenue. There is no impact to the Department’s Net County Cost.