DATE: March 3, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Melissa Cregan, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Retroactive Amendment to Revenue Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive First Amendment to the High Risk Pest Exclusion Agreement No. 25-0395-000-SG with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, with no change to the term of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, increasing the maximum compensation by $193,298 to a total of approximately $324,523.
REPORT
There is no additional Net County Cost (NCC) associated with the recommended action, which will increase the maximum amount of funding in the High Risk Pest Exclusion Agreement (Agreement) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) from $131,225 to approximately $324,523 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 mandated pest exclusion program activities.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
The recommended Amendment is retroactive to July 1, 2025, because CDFA offered additional funds for the program after the Agreement was executed in September 2025. An amended workplan had to be prepared and sent to CDFA for review before the recommended Amendment could be brought before your Board for approval. The Department received the recommended Amendment from CDFA on December 23, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in NCC associated with the recommended action, which will increase the Agreement by $193,298, to a total of approximately $324,523. Sufficient appropriations and estimated revenues are included in the Agriculture Org 4010 FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Pest exclusion serves as the primary defense mechanism to safeguard Fresno County and California agriculture from invasive pests, including harmful insects, plant diseases, and other organisms that threaten crops, the environment, and the economy. Incoming plant materials and shipments entering Fresno County via parcel carriers, nurseries, and commercial consignments represent significant pathways for the introduction of invasive species and plant pathogens. Agricultural inspectors are tasked with examining packages, beehives, and nursery stock to enforce quarantine regulations and prevent the entry of invasive pests and plant diseases. Shipments detected with pests may undergo treatment, be returned to the sender, or be destroyed to avert potential infestations.
On April 22, 2025, your Board authorized the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures (Ag Commissioner) to approve and execute specific revenue agreements with CDFA for FY 2025-26. As such, the Ag Commissioner executed the Agreement with CDFA on September 2, 2025, total not to exceed approximately $131,225. Additionally, your Board authorized the Ag Commissioner to amend the same agreements for any potential increase or decrease to the maximum compensation not exceeding the greater of 15% or $10,000.
Initial funding for this program for FY 2025-26 was reduced compared to previous years, resulting in a reduced contract and scope of work. After the Agreement was executed, approximately $193,298 in additional funding was allocated and the scope of work was expanded to include additional pathways, such as specialty markets and warehouses, swap meets and flea markets, and other pest risk pathways.
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 #27, April 22, 2025
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Amendment I to Agreement No. 25-0395-000-SG with CDFA
CAO ANALYST:
Amy Ryals