COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division

 

DATE:

June 18, 2003

   

BOARD MEETING DATE:

July 15, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

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

   

SUBJECT:

Fiscal Year 2003-2004 Contractual Agreement with the California Department of Food & Agriculture for the Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program (#03-0124) in an Amount Not to Exceed $310,980

 

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution:

1.

Authorizing the execution of an agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for agricultural inspection and detection survey services for the Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program in an amount not to exceed $310,980; and

2.

Designating the Agricultural Commissioner as the local public entity authorized to receive these local assistance funds; and

3.

Authorizing the Agricultural Commissioner to enter into future contract amendments should additional funding be allocated for expanded work activities during FY 2003-04.

   

Background

In May 2000, the Governor signed SB 671 which provided emergency funding to fight the glassy-winged sharpshooter and the spread of Pierce's disease. The glassy-winged sharpshooter is an insect vector for Pierce's disease, which infects and kills grapevines. The sharpshooter spreads the bacterium that causes the disease as it feeds on a wide variety of ornamental plants and agricultural crops. Pierce's disease has the potential to have significant economic impacts on the state's wine grape industry. Currently, there are no effective treatments for this disease.

The glassy-winged sharpshooter is now established in several southern California counties.

The goal of the Statewide Control Program is to prevent the spread of the glassy-winged sharpshooter, thereby reducing the potential impacts of Pierce's disease while additional research is carried out in search of effective treatments and biocontrol agents. Early detection of the glassy-winged sharpshooter in central and northern California is important for developing possible control strategies.

The Board approved an annual Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program contract beginning in fiscal year 1999-00.

 

Discussion

Under the FY 2003-04 contract, the Agricultural Commissioner will receive funding in the amount of $310,980 to conduct daily inspections of incoming nursery stock shipments from infested areas of southern California as well as detection surveys for the sharpshooter at retail and wholesale nurseries, grape production areas and urban landscapes. The contract funding also reimburses the County for two seasonal extra help Pest Detection Specialists who deploy and service glassy-winged sharpshooter insect traps. The insect traps are placed throughout the County on residential and rural properties and are serviced at regular intervals from April through October. This agreement incorporates the FY 2003-04 Pierce's Disease Control Program Work Plan, which has been approved by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).

 

Food and Agricultural Code Section 6046, requires the designation of a "local public entity" in each county to receive the Pierce's Disease Control/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter local assistance funds. CDFA has requested that each Board of Supervisors provide a resolution specifically designating the County Agricultural Commissioner as the "local public entity" for receipt of these contract funds. Wording to that effect has been included in the resolution pertaining to renewal of this contract. CDFA has also recommended that the Agricultural Commissioner obtain authorization to enter into any additional amended agreements during the remainder of FY 2003-04, in order to expedite funding to the County should additional emergency program work activities be required. The resolution includes this authorization per the CDFA recommendation. The Board designated the Agricultural Commissioner as the "local public entity" and gave authorization to enter into additional amended agreements in the resolutions adopted for previous fiscal years.

 

The revenue authorized by this contractual agreement has already been included in the Division's FY 2003-04 Recommended Budget. County Counsel has reviewed this contract.

 

Vision Alignment

The Pierce's Disease Control/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter contract with the CDFA keeps the commitment of Preserve and Provide People Access to Our Natural Environment and goal number 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. It also keeps the commitment of Sow the Seeds of Our Future Prosperity and goal number 18: San Mateo County attracts and maintains leading edge industries. The contract contributes to these commitments and goals by reimbursing the County for agricultural inspection and pest detection survey work activities that protect the agricultural industry and the environment from a harmful exotic pest that may be introduced into Northern California.

Fiscal Impact

There is no Net County Cost associated with this contract. CDFA will reimburse the County up to $310,980 for all direct and indirect expenses related to the Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program during FY 2003-04. The revenue authorized by this contractual agreement has already been included in the Division's FY 2003-04 Recommended Budget.