REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 8, 2019
FROM
ROBERTA WILLHITE, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures
SUBJECT
Title v
Revenue Agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture for Inspection Services related to the Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regulatory Program.
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve State Revenue Agreement No. 19-0253-000-SA with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services/Pest Exclusion Division for the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures to continue to provide quarantine response and regulatory enforcement activities under the Asian Citrus Psyllid Bulk Citrus Regulatory Program on behalf of the State from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, for a total amount not to exceed $17,512.55.
(Presenter: Roberta Willhite, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, 909-387-2177)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The revenue agreement specifies a term from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, for a maximum reimbursement of $17,512.55. Appropriation and revenue that is included in the Department of Agriculture / Weights & Measures (AWM) 2019-20 budget is less than the amount specified in the revenue agreement. Approval of budget adjustments to AWM’s 2019-20 budget is not requested at this time, but may be included on a future quarterly countywide budget report presented to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Services per the revenue agreement will be provided by existing AWM staff.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This revenue agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services/Pest Exclusion Division (CDFA, PHPPS/Pest Exclusion) will reimburse AWM for performing inspection and enforcement services related to the Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) Bulk Citrus Regulatory Program for a maximum reimbursement of $17,512.55 from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020.
This revenue agreement aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer Goals and Objectives to Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies with respect to performing inspections for the ACP Bulk Citrus Regulatory Program on behalf of CDFA, PHPPS/Pest Exclusion and receiving reimbursement for the work performed.
The Asian Citrus Psyllid (ACP) is an insect pest that carries Huanglongbing (HLB), or citrus greening disease, a fatal bacterial disease of all citrus that has no cure. Since 2012, when HLB was first detected in Los Angeles, it has spread to both Orange and Riverside Counties and has been found in Mexico as well. The HLB disease has infected more than 1,400 citrus trees in Southern California, and over 1,000 square miles are now under quarantine, including portions of San Bernardino County. HLB has not yet been found in San Bernardino County and it is imperative that sustained and coordinated efforts to keep the ACP from spreading the disease from the quarantined areas of the State into the commercial citrus orchards of San Bernardino County continue. AWM will continue to conduct quarantine response and regulatory enforcement activities at locations throughout the county where citrus is being grown, packed or transported. These activities include performing regulatory inspections and records reviews to ensure compliance with quarantine safeguarding measures and issuing Hold Notices, Notices of Rejection and Notices of Violation for non-compliant shipments of citrus fruit. AWM will prioritize inspection activities as appropriate to meet changing needs and will endure compliance with the requirements imposed by California Code of Regulations, Title 3, Division 4, Chapter 3, §3435 and the Federal Domestic Quarantine for Citrus Greening and Asian Citrus Psyllid.
The Board first approved the initial revenue agreement with CDFA, PHPPS/Pest Exclusion on July 11, 2017 (Item No. 5), to provide ACP Bulk Citrus quarantine response and regulatory enforcement activities at locations throughout San Bernardino County and a revenue agreement has since been renewed on a continual annual basis.
On August 27, 2019, AWM received the State revenue agreement in the amount of $17,512.55 for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. This item is being presented to the Board at this time as this is the first date available for presentation following the required operational, fiscal and legal reviews. Approval at this time will have no impact on work performed for the ACP Bulk Citrus Regulatory Program since July 1, 2019 as it will be reimbursed under this agreement.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Katherine Hardy, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 17, 2019; Finance (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on September 18, 2019; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on September 20, 2019.