To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
SUBJECT:
title
Cooperative Services Agreement No. 24-7306-0254-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
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Agreement No. 24-7306-0254-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 Cooperative Services Agreement No. 24-7306-0254-RA and CSA amendment, and return all signed copies to the Agricultural Commissioner’s office for further processing; and
3. Grant a waiver of the Nuclear Free Ordinance.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Safe & Healthy Communities
Strategic Plan Category: 1001 -Support and sustain partnerships between public safety and partner agencies to enhance public safety in our communities
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.
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.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100), Wildlife Services (279)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (Fund, Budget Unit) |
FY23-24 |
FY24-25 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$80,173 |
$80,168 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$80,173 |
$80,168 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (Fund, Budget Unit) |
FY23-24 |
FY24-25 Projected* |
|
General Fund |
$80,173 |
$80.168 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$80,173 |
$80,168 |
*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 $80,168. The proposed general fund allocation for the WS program in FY 2024-25 is $80,168. 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 2024-25 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.
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. CSA Amendment
3. Exhibit A to CSA Amendment-Humboldt Maps
4. CSA Original Agreement Executed Aug. 11, 2023
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: June 6, 2023
File No.: 23-705