To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA, Known as the California Organic Program Contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and Supplemental Budget Request (4/5th Vote Required)
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Amendment 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA, known as the California Organic Program Contract between Humboldt County and the California Department of Food and Agriculture and Approve the Supplemental Budget Request (Attachment I) in Fund 1100, Budget Unit 261, Agricultural Commissioner (4/5 vote required);
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the original agreement and return all signed copies to the Agricultural Commissioner’s office for further processing; and
3. Grant a waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance.
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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) (1100-261)
DISCUSSION:
On June 28, 2022, your Board approved Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA, known as the California Organic Program Contract between Humboldt County and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The Agricultural Commissioner’s office receives annual subventions from CDFA to help offset the local cost of enforcing certain state-mandated programs. Pursuant to the California Food and Agriculture Code, Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA provides funds to Humboldt County for the local enforcement of State organic program requirements associated with the California Organic Foods Act. The county will receive payments as appropriate for activities related to organic producer registrations, renewals, amendments, inspections, pesticide residue monitoring and complaint investigations. Per terms of the agreement, Humboldt County staff will conduct spot inspections of organic program registrants at their production sites and at farmer’s markets to verify compliance with organic program requirements by program participants. County staff are also required to attend CDFA state organic program trainings and National Organic Program online trainings. The request for a waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance is requested since the State of California will not modify its cooperative agreements to accommodate local ordinances. The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office receives annual subventions from CDFA to offset the local costs of enforcing certain state-mandated programs. Amendment 1 of Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA provides funding to Humboldt County for the California Organic Program Contract. The California Department of Food and Agriculture has requested to amend Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA. Amendment No. 1 increases funds to cover the costs of additional investigations conducted by the Agricultural Commissioner’s office for this fiscal year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of Amendment 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA provides an additional $2,200 to the original Cooperative Agreement amount of $6,010, which brings the new Cooperative Agreement amount to $8,210 for the period from July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023. Payments are made in arrears in two blocks for work completed from July 1 to December 31, 2022 and from January 1 to June 30, 2023. Payments are based on invoices submitted to CDFA, with Humboldt County receiving $60.00 for each new or amended organic registration, $225.00 for each spot inspection, and $75.00 for each initial visit and first organic inspection. An additional $10.00 is paid for each organic program participant inspected at farmers’ markets. For approved complaint investigations the county will be reimbursed by CDFA for the actual costs of conducting the investigation. Random surveillance samples collected as part of organic program residue monitoring will be paid at the flat rate of $130.00 for each sample collected.
These additional funds were not anticipated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23 budget in fund 1100, budget unit 261, Agricultural Commissioner, therefore a supplemental budget in the amount of $2,200 is requested (Attachment 2).
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CDFA
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to approve this amendment; however, this is not recommended as it will not allow the Agricultural Commissioner’s office to receive reimbursement for the additional investigations.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Amendment 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 22-0378-000-SA
2. Supplemental Budget
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-1
Meeting of: 06/28/2022
File No.: 22-813