DATE: May 14, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Melissa Cregan, Agriculture Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Authorize Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measure to Approve and Execute Specific Revenue Agreements and Related Amendments for Fiscal Year 2019-20.
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Authorize the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to approve, and execute on behalf of the County of Fresno, specific revenue agreements for FY 2019-20 (estimated $2,611,620), subject to approval as to legal form by County Counsel, and approval as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector; and
2. Authorize the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to approve, and execute on behalf of the County of Fresno, amendments to these same revenue agreements on behalf of the County of Fresno, which may increase or decrease each agreement maximum by an amount not to exceed the greater of 15% of the agreement maximum, or $10,000, subject to approval as to legal form by County Counsel, and approval as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector.
REPORT
The first recommended action will authorize the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to approve and execute specific revenue agreements, listed in the report below, on behalf of the County of Fresno for Fiscal Year 2019-20, subject to approval as to legal form by the County Counsel, and approval as to accounting form by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector. Due to programmatic changes made during the year, the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer may also need to amend these revenue agreements. The second recommended action will allow the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer to approve and execute, on behalf of the County of Fresno, amendments to each revenue agreement that may increase or decrease the agreement maximum by an amount not to exceed the greater of 15% of the agreement maximum, or $10,000.
These items are countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
If your Board decides not to adopt these recommendations, the Department will bring each revenue agreement and associated amendments 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, the Chairman of your Board must approve and sign these revenue agreements. However, since 2012, your Board has annually authorized the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to execute specific revenue agreements, as well as amendments to those agreements for increases or decreases within 15% of the maximum 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 any necessary amendments to those agreements that may increase or decrease each agreement maximum in an amount not to exceed the greater of 15% of the agreement maximum, or $10,000, for FY 2019-20.
In the interest of efficiency, approval of the recommended action will authorize in FY 2019-20 the Fresno County Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures to approve and 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 granted by this action, will be brought to your Board for consideration individually.
Listed below are the revenue agreements anticipated for FY 2019-20, 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. Bee Safe Program: estimated $122,000 for inspection of apiary hive markings and pest inspection. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
3. Bulk Citrus Inspection: estimated $70,400 for inspection of bulk citrus shipments for Asian Citrus Psyllid. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
4. California Seed Law (MOU): estimated $5,400 for enforcement of California standards for labeling and cleanliness of agricultural seed sold. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
5. CCIA Seed Certification (MOU): estimated $4,800 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)
6. CDFA Dog Team: estimated $185,000 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)
7. 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)
8. Citrus Maturity: estimated $118,000 for inspection and testing for maturity of navel oranges. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
9. European Grapevine Moth: estimated $506,000 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 $430,300 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. Light Brown Apple Moth: estimated $21,000 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)
12. 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)
13. Nursery Inspection and Enforcement: estimated $11,000 for annual nursery stock
inspection and compliance assessment at producer/wholesale nursery locations within the County. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
14. Organic Inspections: estimated $10,000 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)
15. Pest Exclusion-High-Risk Inspections: estimated $500,000 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)
16. 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)
17. 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)
18. Pink Bollworm - Cotton Plowdown: estimated $13,500 for Cotton plowdown enforcement to eradicate Pink Bollworm Moth. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
19. Standardization Inspections: estimated $130,000 for inspection of fruits and vegetables for maturity, defects, and package labeling, to ensure state minimum standards. (Source: CDFA, based on State Fiscal Year)
20. 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 #32, May 8, 2018
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:
Raul Guerra