To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG, High-Risk Pest Exclusion Program Contract in the Amount of $8,844.35
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG, High-Risk Pest Exclusion Program contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in the amount of $8,844.35 for the period from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026; and
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the original agreement and direct the Clerk of the Board to return all copies to the Agriculture Department for further processing; and
3. Grant a waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear-Free ordinance.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office receives annual subventions from CDFA to offset the local cost of enforcing certain state-mandated programs. The county High-Risk Pest Exclusion Program is intended to keep exotic agricultural and environmental pests out of California.
Humboldt County Department of Agriculture staff conduct inspections of freight at parcel terminals (United Parcel Service and Federal Express), air freight forwarding facilities and incoming nursery stock from certain states known to be associated with spreading pests. Under authority of the California Food and Agriculture Code (Sections 2282.5, 6303, 6401 and 6403), agriculture department staff conduct inspections of plant products for live pests and profile plant shipment invoices to verify compliance with state quarantine requirements.
County high-risk inspections are one local component of the state-wide CDFA Pest Exclusion Program that inspects shipments of plant products at ports, airports, border inspection stations and other commercial or public points of entry to California. When necessary CDFA advises and coordinates state, federal and county personnel in response to confirmed or potential pest introductions to prevent or limit infestations of known serious agricultural or environmental pests. The types of products inspected by county staff include nursery stock, fruits, vegetables, cut flowers, as well as animals shipped for the pet trade. Plant shipments found to be out of compliance or infested with pests are rejected and then either returned to the owner, held pending proof of quarantine compliance, or destroyed.
This request is before the board after the start of the proposed contract period due to receiving the agreement late from CDFA. The waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear-Free Ordinance is requested because the State of California will not modify “standard cooperative agreements” to accommodate local ordinances.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
CDFA-1100-261
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100, 261) |
FY25-26 |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$8,844.35 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$8,844.35 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100, 261) |
FY25-26 |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$8,844.35 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$8,844.35 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Approval of Standard Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG provides $8,844.35 for High-Risk Pest Exclusion activities from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. Payments to Humboldt County are made in arrears and based on monthly invoices and upon meeting contractual requirements. This agreement was anticipated in the FY 2025-26 adopted budget; therefore, no supplemental budget accompanies this request.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no direct impact on staffing to approving this agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to approve the cooperative agreement. However, this is not recommended as the county would not be reimbursed for high-risk pest exclusion activities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: October 22, 2024
File No.: 24-1421