REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
AND RECORD OF ACTION
April 6, 2021
FROM
ROBERTA WILLHITE, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures
SUBJECT
Title
Amended Revenue Agreement with California Department of Food and Agriculture for Nursery Inspection Program
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve Amendment No. 1 to Revenue agreement No. 20-892 (State Revenue Agreement No. 20-0415-000-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 nursery site inspections on behalf of the State from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021, and revise the agreement to increase the total amount of the contract from $11,622 to a total amount not to exceed $13,350, an increase attributable to an increase in the per-acre cost from $15.14 to $17.35.
(Presenter: Roberta Willhite, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer, 387-2117)
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, 2020 through June 30, 2021, for a maximum reimbursement of $13,350. Sufficient appropriation and revenue have been included in the Department of Agriculture/Weights & Measures (AWM) 2020-21 recommended budget. Services per the revenue agreement will be fulfilled by existing AWM staff.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
This amended revenue agreement with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services/Pest Exclusion Division (CDFA, PHPPS/Pest Exclusion) will authorize AWM to continue to perform inspection services for the state related to the Nursery Inspection Program for the revised maximum reimbursement of $13,350 from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021. The increased maximum reimbursement from $11,622 to a total not to exceed amount of $13,350 is attributable to an increase in the per-acre cost from $15.14 to $17.35.
This amended revenue agreement aligns with the County and Chief Executive Officer’s Goals and Objectives to Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies with respect to performing inspections for the Nursery Inspection Program on behalf of CDFA, PHPPS/Pest Exclusion and receiving reimbursement for the work performed.
AWM inspects nursery stock for injurious plant diseases, weeds and insects and provides regulatory enforcement services that are mandated pursuant to State law. County Agricultural Commissioners are required by California Food and Agricultural Code Division 4, Part 3, Chapter 2, Article 1, §6903 to enforce laws regulating nursery stock. This is accomplished by verifying that nurseries are properly licensed to operate in the State and by inspecting nurseries located with our county in order to ensure that plants available for purchase and use by the general public are free of pests and meet all labeling requirements/standards. CDFA subsidizes the costs incurred for these inspections and licensing activities by disbursing a portion of the annual licensing fees paid to the State by each nursery.
The Board first approved the initial revenue agreement with CDFA, PHPPS/Pest Exclusion on December 20, 1982 (Item No. 44), to provide inspection services at nursery locations throughout San Bernardino County and a revenue agreement has since been renewed on an annual basis.
On January 7, 2021, AWM received the amended State revenue agreement in the amount of $13,350, for the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. This item is being presented to the Board at this time as AWM needed to conduct research to verify the amendment would be beneficial and cost effective. 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 Nursery Inspection Program since July 1, 2020 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 March 1, 2021; Finance (Elias Duenas, Administrative Analyst, 387-4052) on March 16, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on March 16, 2021.