COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division

 

DATE:

December 3, 2001

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 18, 2001

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director Environmental Services
Gail Raabe, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

SUBJECT:

Approval of Memorandum of Understanding Providing for County Participation in the San Mateo County Weed Management Area and Authorizing the Agricultural Commissioner to Execute Certain Documents.

 

Recommendation

 

Adopt the resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which provides for the participation of the Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division, the Parks and Recreation Division and the Department of Public Works in a local weed management area with other interested parties; and authorizing the Agricultural Commissioner, on behalf of the County, to execute any documents necessary to implement the MOU, to seek grant funding for local weed control projects and to enter into any amendments to the MOU.

 

Background

AB 1168, signed by the Governor in October 1999, established the Noxious Weed Management Account and authorized the expenditure of $600,000 over a three-year period for local weed control/eradication projects. This legislation added Sections 7270-7274 to the Food and Agricultural Code (FAC) providing the authority for the establishment of Weed Management Areas and outlining various provisions for dissemination of these funds to local organizations by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). In September 2000, additional legislation (AB1740) appropriated $5,000,000 to the Noxious Weed Management Account for expenditures without regard to fiscal year.

 

In December 2000, the Agricultural Commissioner sponsored an informational meeting to solicit interest in the establishment of a weed management area in San Mateo County. Seventeen participating agencies/organizations have mutually developed the MOU.

 

Discussion

FAC Section 7272 (b) defines a Weed Management Area (WMA) as a "local organization that brings together all interested landowners, land managers (private, city, county, state, federal), special districts, and the public in a county or other geographical area for the purpose of coordinating and combining their action and expertise to deal with their common weed problems." To date, 40 county or regional groups in California have organized a WMA.

 

Weed management areas are unique because they attempt to address agricultural (regulatory) weeds and "wildland" weeds under one local umbrella or organization. Weed management areas typically sponsor technical educational opportunities, map and inventory noxious weed infestations, establish local research and demonstration projects, prepare educational brochures and pamphlets, and coordinate control projects within their region using integrated weed management strategies. By controlling the spread of noxious weeds, these strategies protect and enhance the value of parkland and open space, agricultural lands and natural plant and animal communities.

 

In order to be eligible for AB 1168 state funding, local groups must establish a weed management area with a MOU between participating agencies/organizations and submit an annual Weed Management Plan to the state for approval. CDFA will only disburse grant monies through a County Agricultural Commissioner's office. The Agricultural Commissioner must administer the grant, even if the monies are "passed through" to other agencies for specific weed projects. Up to ten percent of the funding can be utilized for covering the costs of administering the grant. Disbursement in subsequent years will be based on the success of previously-funded weed projects, and on the ability of the WMA to secure in-kind matching support in the form of local funding and/or volunteer contributions of materials and labor.

 

The purpose of this MOU is to formally establish a weed management area and define the terms and conditions under which the San Mateo County Weed Management Area will operate. The MOU describes the authority, purpose and activities of the San Mateo County WMA. It establishes a local steering committee comprised of the Agricultural Commissioner and representatives from livestock production, agricultural production, parks and public land management, water and natural resources, transportation and utilities, education and research and environmental advocacy.

 

The MOU is between the County of San Mateo, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Department of Parks and Recreation, Midpennisula Regional Open Space District, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission-Water Department, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), San Mateo County Farm Bureau, Stanford

 

University Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, Friends of Edgewood Natural Preserve, San Francisquito Creek Watershed Council, Pescadero Conservation Alliance, Pennisula Open Space Trust, California Native Plant Society, the University of California Cooperative

 

Extension and San Mateo County Resource Conservation District. The document contains a provision allowing additional parties to become part of the weed management area.

 

This MOU has been reviewed by County Counsel, the Director of Parks and Recreation and the Director of Public Works.

 

Fiscal Impact

Approval of the Memorandum of Understanding authorizing participation in the San Mateo County Weed Management Area will allow the County to secure grant funding disbursed from the State Noxious Weed Management Account for local weed control projects. Grant funding totaling $100,000 may be available for FY 2002/03 through FY 2003/04. By signing the MOU, the County incurs no net county cost or obligation to expend County general fund monies.