To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
SUBJECT:
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Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0295-024-SF Sudden Oak Mortality Regulatory Program Contract
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors approve Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0295-024-SF known as the Sudden Oak Mortality Regulatory Program contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture; authorize the Chair to sign the original agreement and one copy of the cover page; direct the Clerk of the Board to return the signed agreement to the Agricultural Commissioner’s Office for further processing; and 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)
DISCUSSION:
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. Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0295-024-SF provides funding to Humboldt County for the Sudden Oak Mortality Regulatory Program. Phytophthora ramorum the pathogen that causes the plant disease known as Sudden Oak Death (SOD) has caused widespread die-off of several native tree species (Tan Oak, Coast Live Oak and Black Oak) in California and Oregon since it was first identified in the mid 1990’s. In 2002, the discovery of an SOD infestation in the Redway area caused Federal and State quarantine restrictions to be placed on Humboldt County (California Code of Regulations, Division 4, Subchapter 6, Section 3700, & Code of Federal regulations, Section 301.92). Numerous host plants for Sudden Oak Death are important to the wood products and nursery industry. There are currently more than 120 plants regulated as hosts for SOD.
Through the mechanism of compliance agreements between plant products producers and Humboldt County, the SOD program provides a regulatory process that permits the movement of plants and plant products subject to state and federal SOD quarantines. Agriculture Department staff conduct regular surveys of local plant nurseries and collect plant samples for laboratory testing in order to determine that commercial plant products are free from the SOD pathogen. Through intensive inspections and laboratory testing, the SOD program ensures that nursery stock, wood products, green waste and compost produced in Humboldt County are not responsible for artificially spreading the SOD pathogen. The entire scope of work conducted by Humboldt County to ensure producer compliance with SOD quarantines will include: quarantine enforcement, eradication, trace-forward/trace-back investigations and communication and training.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no net cost to Humboldt County for the SOD regulatory program. All costs for personnel, mileage and supplies will be reimbursed by the agreement. In fiscal year 2018-19, Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0295-024-SF provides $16,791.70 for Agriculture Department activities related to the SOD regulatory program. The Department’s previously adopted budget for fiscal year 2018-19 populated revenue and expenditure accounts in anticipation of this agreement, therefore no supplemental budget accompanies this request. All costs associated with the SOD Regulatory Program are billed to CDFA on a monthly basis and payment is made in arrears to Humboldt County.
This agreement and the SOD regulatory program are consistent with your Board’s Strategic Priority Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents, and creating opportunities for improved safety and health.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CDFA
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
One complete Cooperative Agreement No. 18-0295-024-SF
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A