To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0002-018-SF, Pest Detection Trapping Contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture in the Amount of $21,689
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0002-018-SF, known as the Pest Detection Trapping Program contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) in the amount of $21,689 for the period of 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 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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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 costs associated with enforcing certain state-mandated programs. One of these programs, the Pest Detection Trapping Program, is conducted annually by the Agriculture Department and is intended to identify introductions of specific insect pests that are known to cause serious damage to agriculture or the environment. Humboldt County’s detection program is the local component of an annual state-wide effort by counties that target multiple species of known destructive insect pests.
Under the direction of CDFA, standard agreement No. 25-0002-018-SF provides funding for Humboldt County’s trapping survey and will focus on two “A-rated” pests, Spongy Moth and Japanese Beetle. The Spongy Moth Lymantria dispar is native to Europe and first identified in the United States in Massachusetts in 1869. The Spongy Moth is a significant pest because the caterpillars feed on more than 300 species of trees and shrubs. The caterpillars defoliate trees leaving them vulnerable to diseases and other pests which can eventually kill the tree. Established in the eastern United States, early detection of local introductions is essential for preventing their spread.
Japanese Beetle was first found in the United States in 1916 in New Jersey. Since then, Japanese Beetles have spread throughout most states east of the Mississippi River. The Japanese Beetle is a highly destructive plant pest whose larvae feeds on grass roots damaging lawns, golf courses and pastures. Japanese Beetle adults attack the foliage, flowers or fruits of more than 300 different ornamental and agricultural plants.
Each of these pests has the potential to cause significant damage to Humboldt County’s environment and could, if established, cause quarantine restrictions to be placed on Humboldt County timber and agricultural products. The Agricultural Commissioner’s staff will place and inspect traps located throughout Humboldt County from June-October 2025.
The waiver from the provisions of the Nuclear Free Ordinance is requested because the State of California will not modify its cooperative agreements to accommodate local ordinances. This contract comes to the Board after the start of the term due to late receipt from the CDFA.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
CDFA-1100-261
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100, 261) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$21,689 |
$21,689 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$21,689 |
$21,689 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100, 261) |
FY25-26 |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$21,689 |
$21,689 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$21,689 |
$21,689 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Costs for personnel, mileage, and supplies will be reimbursed by the contract. Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0002-018-SF provides a total of $21,689 in funding for fiscal year (FY) 2025-26 for Agriculture Department activities related to the Pest Detection Trapping Program. All costs are billed to CDFA monthly, and payment is made in arrears to Humboldt County. These funds were included in the proposed FY 2025-26 budget in the budget 1100-261, therefore a supplemental budget is not included in this request.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no additional impact on staffing as work performed under the contract requirements is part of the staff’s normal workload.
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 the detection trapping activities.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0002-018-SF
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: July 2, 2024
File No.: 24-1000