To: Board of Supervisors
From: Agricultural Commissioner
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 19-0093-000-SA California Organic Program Contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture in the amount of $5,100
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve Cooperative Agreement No. 19-0093-000-SA, known as the California Organic Program Contract between Humboldt County and the California Department of Food and Agriculture;
2. Authorize the Chair to sign the original agreement and return all 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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SOURCE OF FUNDING:
California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA)
DISCUSSION:
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. The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office receives annual subventions from CDFA to help offset the local cost of enforcing certain state-mandated programs. Pursuant to the California Food and Agriculture Code, Cooperative Agreement No. 19-0093-000-SA provides funds to Humboldt County for the local enforcement of State organic program requirements associated with the California Organic Foods Act. The county will receive payments as appropriate for activities related to organic producer registrations, renewals, amendments, inspections, pesticide residue monitoring and complaint investigations. Per terms of the agreement, Humboldt County staff will conduct spot inspections of organic program registrants at their production sites and at farmer’s markets to verify compliance with organic program requirements by program participants.
Currently in Humboldt County there are more than 130 producers registered with the California Organic Program which produce a variety of organic commodities on 84,390 acres of agricultural lands. County organic production includes fruits and vegetables, dairy products, livestock and forage crops.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of Cooperative Agreement No. 19-0093-000-SA provides $5,100 for the period from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020. Payments are made in arrears in two blocks for work completed from July 1, to December 31, 2019 and from January 1 to June 30, 2020. Payments are based on invoices submitted to CDFA, with Humboldt County receiving $60 for each new or amended organic registration, $210 for each spot inspection, and $70 for each initial visit and first organic inspection. Humboldt County will be paid $10 for each organic program participant inspected at farmers’ markets. For approved complaint investigations the county will be reimbursed by CDFA for the actual costs of conducting the investigation. Random surveillance samples collected as part of organic program residue monitoring will be paid at the flat rate of $120 for each sample collected. No supplemental budget is necessary as revenue and expenditure accounts in the department’s FY 2019-20 budget were funded in anticipation of this agreement.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by enforcing laws and regulations to protect residents.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
CDFA
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion
ATTACHMENTS:
One complete Cooperative Agreement No. 19-0093-000-SA.
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.:
Meeting of:
File No.: