COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division

DATE:

October 11, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 8, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Environmental Services Agency Director

Gail Raabe, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

SUBJECT:

Agreement (#05-0489) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program for the Term of July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 in an Amount Not to Exceed $ 351,333

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1.

Authorizing the execution of an agreement (#05-0489) with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program for the term of July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006 in an amount not to exceed $ 351,333; 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 Fiscal Year 2005-06.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and Provide People Access to Our Natural Environment

Goal 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship

The agreement contributes to this commitment and goal by reimbursing the County for pest detection work activities that protect the agricultural industry and the environment from harmful exotic pests that may be introduced into northern California.

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 the first Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Control Program contractual agreement in FY 1999-00 and the annual agreement has been renewed each year.

DISCUSSION:

Under the FY 2005-06 contract, the Agricultural Commissioner will receive funding in the amount of $351,333 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 revenue total includes an increase of $40,353 over the previous fiscal year. This additional revenue will reimburse the County for two seasonal extra help Biologist/Standards Specialists who will assist with daily inspections during the spring season when agricultural industry requests for inspections are greatest. 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 2005-06 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 2005-06, 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 this agreement beginning in the FY 2000-01.

The revenue authorized by this contractual agreement has already been included in the Division’s FY 2005-06 Adopted Budget. This agreement and resolution has been reviewed by County Counsel.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract totaling $351,333 will reimburse the County for all expenses related to the state Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Program during FY 2005-06. The revenue authorized by this contractual agreement has already been included in the Division’s FY 2005-06 Adopted Budget for the Environmental Protection Program. There is no Net County Cost associated with this contract.