DATE: August 7, 2018
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Les Wright, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Retroactive Cooperative Agreement for the Nursery Inspection Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Cooperative Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Nursery Inspection program, effective July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2019, with a total reimbursement amount of $11,785.
REPORT
Approval of the recommended action will allow the County to enter into an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture to reimburse the County for the Department’s costs associated with inspecting producer/wholesale and retail nursery locations to verify compliance with state nursery laws and regulations.
This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Should your Board not approve the recommended action, the Department will not receive funding from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) for this mandated inspection program, which may impact Net County Cost.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
This revenue agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2018. The Department received the agreement from the CDFA on June 27, 2018.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. Fresno County will receive approximately $11,785 in revenue from the CDFA to fund this program. The estimated revenues and appropriations to fund the full cost of the program are included in the FY2018-19 Recommended Budget for Department of Agriculture Org 40101007.
DISCUSSION:
The Department is mandated with the responsibility of inspecting production and wholesale nurseries to verify that the nursery stock complies with pest cleanliness, labeling, quality and varietal trueness standards. The Department issues and authorizes the use of shipping permits and nursery stock certificates to facilitate the movement of nursery stock.
The agreement reimburses the County for the costs associated with the inspection and enforcement activities for existing production and wholesale nurseries covering seven hundred sixty nine (769) acres at the rate of fifteen dollars and thirty three cents ($15.33) per reimbursable acre.
On May 8, 2018, your Board authorized the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute specific revenue agreements for FY 2018-19, which included this Nursery Inspection Program. A provision within that Agenda Item authorized the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute these agreements, as long as the total reimbursement amount for each agreement was within 15 percent (15%) of the Department’s estimations. At that time, the Department estimated $10,000 in revenues for this program. The actual amount approved by the CDFA, $11,785, is outside the 15 percent allowance permitted by the prior Agenda Item; therefore, this agreement is brought before your Board individually for approval.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 32, May 8, 2018
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with the CDFA
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander