To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Cooperative Services Agreement No. 23-7306-0254-RA known as the Humboldt County Financial Plan for the Wildlife Services Program between Humboldt County and United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services-Wildlife Services (4/5th Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Agreement No. 23-7306-0254-RA the Humboldt County Financial Plan with United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services- Wildlife Services;
2. Authorize the Chair to sign three copies each of Financial Plan and Cooperative Services Agreement No. 23-7306-0254-RA, and return all signed copies to the Agricultural Commissioner’s office for further processing; and
3. Grant a waiver of the Nuclear Free Ordinance (4/5th Vote Required).
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100), Wildlife Services (279)
DISCUSSION:
The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Services-Wildlife Services (USDA-WS) program provides the assistance of a trained Wildlife Services Specialist to resolve conflicts between humans and wildlife in Humboldt County. The USDA-WS program has operated continuously since 1921 and provides county residents with an integrated wildlife damage management program, including protection from livestock predation losses; property damage; protection of public health through disease monitoring (rabies) of wild animal populations; responding to attacks and potential threats posed by wildlife including protecting passengers and aircraft from collisions with wildlife; and protecting federal and state-listed threatened and endangered species. The contractual agreement between Humboldt County and USDA-WS consists of a cooperative services agreement (CSA) and a financial plan. The CSA outlines the work, terms, and conditions of the program for a period of five years beginning July 1, 2023 and ending June 30, 2028. The financial plan between the county and the USDA-WS must be approved for the program each year. The current previously approved CSA covers the period from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023.
In 2020, Humboldt County’s Wildlife Services (WS) program began operating under an amended CSA. The amendment (Amendment 1 to CSA No. 18-73-06-0245-RA) modified the standard CSA to include increased time (48 hours) and the use of non-lethal mitigation efforts prior to taking a predator in incorporated jurisdictions and populated unincorporated areas of the county. Under the amended CSA, restrictions in these areas include the requirement that cooperators employ non-lethal mitigation efforts recommended by the wildlife service specialist. In addition, other requirements of the amended CSA require the WS program to provide enhanced reporting, does not allow intentional lethal take of beaver, and includes terms to address concerns about threatened and endangered species which occur or are predicted to occur (such as gray wolves and California Condor) in Humboldt County. Amendment 1 to the CSA places no restrictions on the USDA-WS program when responding to any situation where it is determined that a risk to human health and safety involving wildlife exists, or to services provided by the program to commercial agriculture.
A waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance is requested because the USDA will not modify its cooperative agreements to accommodate local ordinances.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100, 279) |
FY22-23 |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY24-25 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
|
Funding Sources (1100, 279) |
FY22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected* |
FY24-25 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
$80,173 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
All personnel, supervision, equipment and supplies necessary to accomplish USDA-WS activities pursuant to the CSA will be provided by the USDA-WS. Humboldt County and USDA-WS share staff salary, benefits, and other expenses to provide the services as specified in the agreement and annual financial plan. The WS program includes the county cost share of $80,173. The proposed general fund allocation for the WS program in FY 2023-24 is $80,173. Billings for actual costs incurred will be invoiced by the USDA-WS to the Agriculture Commissioner for payment on a quarterly basis. These funds have been included in the proposed FY 2023-24 budget and will be included in future budget cycles.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impact:
Approval of this agreement will have no direct staffing impact.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Framework.
Core Roles: Support business, workforce development and creation of private-sector jobs
New Initiatives: Provide community-appropriate levels of service
Strategic Plan: N/A
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to approve the WS Cooperative Services Agreement and Financial Plan although this is not recommended, as this action would likely result in loss of the WS program to Humboldt County.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. CSA No. 23-7306-0245-RA
2. Financial plan FY 23-24
3. Wildlife Services self-insurance
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No. C-1
Meeting of: June 14, 2022
File No.: 22-742