DATE: February 04, 2020
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Melissa Cregan, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
SUBJECT: Retroactive Agreement for the Exotic Pest Detection Trapping Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a retroactive Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Exotic Pest Detection Trapping Program, effective July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, with a total reimbursement amount of $552,706.
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 Department’s costs for Exotic Pest Detection Trapping Program activities.
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 the Exotic Pest Detection Trapping Program.
RETROACTIVE AGREEMENT:
This revenue agreement is retroactive to July 1, 2019. The Department received the agreement from the CDFA on December 13, 2019.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net County cost associated with the recommended action. Fresno County will receive approximately $552,706 in revenue from the CDFA to fund this mandated program. The estimated revenues and appropriations to fund the full cost of the program are included in the FY2019-20 Adopted Budget for Department of Agriculture Fund 0001/ Org.40101001/Subclass10000/Account 3545.
DISCUSSION:
Exotic fruit flies are of concern to the agriculture industry in California. Federal and State quarantines protect against the entry and spread of exotic fruit flies 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.
This program provides the second line of defense against exotic pest 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, Gypsy Moth, Japanese Beetle, and a host of other targeted species. Through early detection the likelihood of these pest becoming established in the state is lessened and the cost and environmental impact of eradication is minimized.
The County shall provide services for placing and servicing traps for the detection of exotic insect pests which are considered detrimental to agriculture and the economy of California.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement 19-0264
On file with Clerk - California Civil Rights
On file with Clerk - CCC 04-2017 Final
CAO ANALYST:
Raul Guerra