DATE: May 8, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Les Wright, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Authorize Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to Execute Specific Revenue Agreements for Fiscal Year 2018-19.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Authorize the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to Execute Specific Revenue Agreements for FY 2018-19 (estimated $5,344,710); and
2. Authorize the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to execute amendments to these same revenue agreements on behalf of the County of Fresno, including approving any revenue changes within a 15% increase or decrease of each agreement’s amount.
REPORT
The first recommended action will authorize the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute specified revenue agreements on behalf of the County of Fresno for Fiscal Year 2018-19. Due to programmatic changes made during the year, amendments to agreements may be required. The second recommended action will allow the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to execute amendments within a 15% increase or decrease of the agreement’s maximum amount.
These items are countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board decides not to adopt this recommendation, the Department will bring each revenue agreement before your Board for consideration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no net County cost associated with the recommended actions. Approval of the recommended actions will save administrative resources required to process designated agreements and amendments to agreements below a specific dollar amount, which are typically estimated in each year’s adopted budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Agricultural Commissioner has historically sought out revenue sources to fund various activities of the Department. These revenue sources typically require that the County of Fresno enter into revenue agreements with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other government agencies. Currently, these revenue agreements must be signed by the Chair of your Board. However, since 2012 your Board has annually authorized the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute specific revenue agreements and amendments to those agreements for increases or decreases within 15% of the amount for each agreement. If approved, the recommended actions will extend the authority for the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to execute certain agreements, and to execute amendments to those agreements for increases or decreases within 15% of the amount for each agreement for FY 2018-19.
In the interest of efficiency, approval of the recommended action will authorize in FY 2018-19 the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute, on behalf of the County of Fresno, certain revenue agreements specified below. In turn, this will decrease CAO and Department staff dedicated to process associated Agenda Items for agreements for consideration by your Board. All revenue agreements shall continue to be reviewed and approved by County Counsel and the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector, regardless of your Board’s action.
Although time frames for the following Agreements vary depending upon the source, most are based upon the state fiscal year, the calendar year or federal fiscal year.
Any revenue agreements not specified below or any that may fall outside the authorities given by this action will be brought to your Board for consideration individually.
Listed below are the revenue agreements anticipated for FY 2018-19 with their estimated revenues:
1. Asian Citrus Psyllid Detection Trapping: estimated $385,000 for year-round residential detection trapping of Asian Citrus Psyllid hosts. (Source: CDFA, based on Federal Fiscal Year)
2. Bulk Citrus Inspection: estimated $65,000 for inspection of bulk citrus shipments for Asian Citrus Psyllid. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
3. California Seed Law (MOU): estimated $5,100 for enforcement of California standards for labeling and cleanliness of agricultural seed sold. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
4. CCIA Seed Certification (MOU): estimated $4,400 allows the county to perform harvester inspections and issue movement certificates for certified seed grown in the county. (Source: California Crop Improvement Association, based on State Fiscal Year)
5. CDFA Dog Team: estimated $220,000 for the Dog Team Parcel Inspections Program. The Dog Team is used to detect the presence of unwanted plant pests in packages shipped through local parcel facilities. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
6. Certified Farmers Market: estimated $20,000 for certified farmer’s market and certified producer production site inspections performed in Fresno County. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
7. Citrus Maturity: estimated $118,000 for inspection and testing for maturity of navel oranges. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
8. Enforcement Evaluation and Improvement Project: estimated $66,000 for the collection and submission of compliance and enforcement data. (Source: CDPR, based on State Fiscal Year)
9. European Grapevine Moth: estimated $488,340 for detection trapping of commercial vineyards throughout the county. Traps are placed throughout the County from March to August. (Source: CDFA, based on calendar year)
10. Exotic Pest Detection Trapping: estimated $336,350 for an exotic pest trapping program to detect insect pests of economic concern before they become established in California. Insect traps are placed throughout the County from April to October to detect exotic insect pests. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
11. GWSS Areawide: estimated $647,000 for detection trapping and delimitation surveys for Glassy-winged Sharpshooter in commercial citrus and grapes, grower reimbursement for treatments to commercial citrus made on behalf of the program. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year, two-year agreement expires June 2020)
12. GWSS Survey/Trapping/Regulatory/Treatment: estimated $2,600,000 for detection trapping and delimitation surveys, nursery plant shipment inspections, and residential treatment to prevent the spread of Glassy-winged Sharpshooter. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year, two-year agreement expires June 2020)
13. Light Brown Apple Moth: estimated $17,000 for placement and servicing of insect detection traps for Light Brown Apple Moth, a pest of agricultural commodities. (Source: CDFA, based on Federal Fiscal Year)
14. Nematode Control Program: estimated $1,800 for the certification and documentation of soil treatments for the Nematode Control Program in nursery stock plantings. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
15. Nursery Inspection and Enforcement: estimated $10,000 for annual nursery stock inspection and compliance assessment at producer/wholesale nursery locations within the County. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
16. Organic Inspections: estimated $12,000 to reimburse the Department for random on-site grower inspections and farmers’ market inspections to ensure compliance with state organic law. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
17. Pest Exclusion-High-Risk Inspections: estimated $86,000 for inspection of High Risk inspection such as fruit and foliage at freight terminals to prevent introduction of pests of concern to California. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
18. Pesticide Use Reporting (MOU): estimated $50,000 reimburses the Department for entering paper pesticide use reports into electronic form for ease of data retrieval for investigations and reports funded through the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association. (Source: California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association, based on State Fiscal Year)
19. Petroleum Products: estimated $18,300 for inspection of petroleum dispenser and gasoline price signs to be in compliance with regulatory requirements. Verify weight loads and certificate accuracy, which are used in purchase transactions. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
20. Pink Bollworm - Cotton Plowdown: estimated $6,300 for Cotton plowdown enforcement to eradicate Pink Bollworm Moth. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
21. Standardization Inspections: estimated $162,000 for inspection of fruits and vegetables for maturity, defects, and package labeling to ensure state minimum standards. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
22. Water Hyacinth Survey and Treatment (Amendment): estimated $17,000 for survey and removal of water hyacinth in the San Joaquin River and its tributaries within Fresno County. (Source: California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways, based on State Fiscal Year)
23. Weighmaster Program: estimated $9,120 for inspection of junk dealers and recyclers to help deter fraudulent transactions and decrease the sale of stolen metal property. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #36, April 25, 2017
BAI #26, April 12, 2016
BAI #23, June 2, 2015
BAI #11, June 10, 2014
BAI #27, October 23, 2012
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander