To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG, High-Risk Pest Exclusion Program Contract with California Department of Food and Agriculture
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Amendment No. 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG, High-Risk Pest Exclusion Program contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA); and
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the amendment 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. On Aug. 19, 2025, your Board approved Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG which provides funding to Humboldt County for the High-Risk Pest Exclusion Program. The amendment before your Board today increases the funding provided through Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG by $13,026.95. The new total of the agreement shall not exceed $21,871.30. Sections of the Scope of Work and Budget are amended to incorporate inspections of additional pathways and to account for the additional funding. All other terms of the original agreement shall remain the same.
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.
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 |
$21,871.30 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$21,871.30 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100, 261) |
FY25-26 |
|
State/Federal Funds |
$21,871.30 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$21,871.30 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG increases the original agreement by $13,026.95 for a new total not to exceed $21,871.30 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. The department’s revenue and expenditure accounts were included in the fiscal year 2025-26 budget in Fund 1100, Budget Unit 261 -Agricultural Commissioner in anticipation of this agreement therefore no supplemental budget accompanies this request.
STAFFING IMPACT:
There is no direct impact on staffing with approval of the amended agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could choose not to approve the amended cooperative agreement. However, this is not recommended as the county would not be reimbursed for high-risk pest exclusion activities at additional pathway sites.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Amendment No. 1 to Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG
2. Executed Cooperative Agreement No. 25-0397-000-SG
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: Aug. 19, 2025
File No.: 25-963