DATE: March 11, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Melissa Cregan, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Retroactive Amendment to Revenue Agreement with California Department of Food and Agriculture
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive First Amendment to the Detection Trapping Agreement No. 24-0132-009-SF with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, effective upon execution with no change to the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025, and increasing the maximum by $193,171 to a total of $572,393.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended action, which will increase the maximum amount of funding in the Detection Trapping Agreement (Agreement) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) from $379,222 to $572,393 to support ongoing program operations. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board does not approve the recommended action, the Department will not receive additional funding from CDFA for Detection Trapping program activities.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Amendment is retroactive to July 1, 2024, because CDFA offered additional funds for the program after the original agreement was finalized in October 2024. An amended workplan had to be prepared for the additional funding and sent to CDFA for review before the recommended Amendment could be brought before your Board for approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in NCC associated with the recommended action, which will increase the Agreement with CDFA by $193,171, to a total of $572,393. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Department of Agriculture Org 4010 FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Exotic pests are a concern to the agriculture industry, economy, and environment of California. Federal and state quarantines protect against the entry and spread of exotic pests by requiring strict adherence to treatment and inspection procedures for hosts. Exotic pests have not become established in California due to (1) strict federal exterior and state interior quarantines, (2) an exotic pest detection program, and (3) aggressive eradication programs when an infestation is discovered.
The Department’s insect trapping program provides the second line of defense against exotic pests through the early detection of new introductions before they become widely established. Traps are placed in primarily urban areas to detect such insects as Mediterranean and Mexican fruit flies, Spongy Moth, Japanese Beetle, and a host of other targeted species. Through early detection, the likelihood of these pests becoming established in the state is lessened and the cost and environmental impact of eradication is minimized. The program places and services traps for the detection of exotic insect pests which are considered detrimental to agriculture, the economy, and the environment of California.
On April 9, 2024, the Board authorized the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures (Ag Commissioner) to approve and execute specific revenue agreements with CDFA for FY 2024-25, and to amend the same agreements for any potential increase or decrease of an amount not exceeding the greater of 15% of the maximum, or $10,000.
On October 2, 2024, the Ag Commissioner executed Agreement No. 24-0132-009-SF with CDFA.
The funding in the original Agreement was $379,222, and an additional $193,171 in funds was made available by CDFA to the Department to place and service traps to detect exotic pests. The recommended Amendment is before your Board for consideration because the increase to the Agreement would be greater than $10,000 or 15% of the original Agreement amount and exceeds the delegated authority of the Ag Commissioner.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #35, April 9, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to Agreement No. 24-0132-009-SF with CDFA
CAO ANALYST:
Amy Ryals