Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Koren J. Widdel, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
Subject: Agreement (#20-0097) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for high risk pest exclusion inspection services for the term of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, in an amount not to exceed $636,594.09.
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BACKGROUND:
In 1999, your Board approved the first agreement with California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to initiate the High Risk Pest Exclusion (HRPE) Program. The agreement has been renewed each year. HRPE program funding addresses the need for County plant inspection activities to prevent the introduction of exotic insects and diseases through identified high-risk pest pathways.
DISCUSSION:
The County will receive $636,594.09 as reimbursement for 6,294 personnel hours to be expended on HRPE activities under agreement 20-0097. Staff will perform 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. Pest exclusion work activities protect the agricultural industry and the environment from harmful exotic pests that may be introduced into California. The Department's FY 2020-21 Approved Recommended Budget recognizes this revenue.
CDFA will accept the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer’s approval and signature on agreement amendments providing the Department submits a resolution that outlines the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer’s authority to sign amended documents. The Department requests your Board to authorize the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to execute additional amendments to this agreement with CDFA which modify the State’s maximum reimbursement obligation 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. The agreement and Resolution have been reviewed and approved by County Counsel as to form.
Industry shipping patterns continue to impact the types of agricultural shipments entering the County at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). It is anticipated that two percent of the shipments inspected during FY 2020-21 will be rejected due to presence of actionable pests that are subject to State and Federal quarantine law. The Department is tracking shipments with actionable pests intercepted by Los Angeles County Department of Agriculture/Weights and Measures at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) as a benchmark versus the actionable pest interceptions at SFO. Exotic pest introduction and establishment may adversely affect the environment, agriculture, and the economy of the State.
PERFORMANCE MEASURE:
|
Measure |
FY 2019-20 Estimate |
FY 2020-21 Projected |
|
Percent of shipments inspected with actionable pests at SFO |
2% |
2% |
|
Percent of shipments inspected with actionable pests at LAX |
1% |
2% |
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total agreement amount is $636,594.09 which is offset through intergovernmental revenue for services provided by the County. The term of the agreement is July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The revenue from this agreement is included in the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer FY 2020-21 Approved Recommended Budget. There is no Net County Cost associated with this agreement.