Title
Agriculture, Weights and Measures Department, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign Funding-In Agreement Cal-PPC.EDC.2026-1 with California Invasive Plant Council (CalIPC), which provides funding to the County through the Good Neighbor program for Noxious Weed abatement grant in the total amount of $20,000 for the performance period of May 1, 2026, through May 31, 2028; and
2) Delegate authority to the Agricultural Commissioner to execute future amendments related to this agreement that do not increase Net County Cost, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, as applicable, and subsequent administrative documents or required fiscal or programmatic reports.
FUNDING: California Invasive Plant Council through the United States Forest Service (USFS).
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
This grant would provide approximately $20,000 in funding to the Agriculture Department for currently budgeted activities, which allow the Department to perform enhanced weed activities at the El Dorado County Fairgrounds property, which is frequently used as the Incident Command Post during large fires in El Dorado County. Areas used for staging equipment and personnel are infested with yellow starthistle and other noxious weeds. With this treatment, the intent is to minimize moving seed of this noxious weed into our forest in El Dorado County. These revenues have been included in the Department's FY 2025-2026 budget, so there would be no change to Net County cost.
The Agriculture Department currently manages Noxious and Exotic weed work in El Dorado County and has worked closely with the United States Forest Service. This funding is a pass-through from USFS to CalIPC. If approved, this grant will provide funding for surveying for weed populations, education of the public, and GPS population perimeter delimitation. The department continues to document all invasive weed infestations with description, location, and acreage/percent cover, in order to produce updated comprehensive maps of the invasive weed populations within the El Dorado County area for analysis and treatment.
The ultimate goal of this project is to find and eradicate small, pioneer infestations of noxious weeds in El Dorado County while still economically feasible to do so. The partnership with CalIPC assisting with financial funding makes this a win-win project with the outcome that benefits all partners involved.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the funding, and the Fair Grounds Maintenance Crew could attempt treating and removing the starthistle for the next few years, however the departments staff is trained and knows the eradication procedures.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
El Dorado County Fairgrounds
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding for this grant is included in the FY 25/26 budget and there will be no changes to Net County Cost. Originally, this contract was through the USFS and is a pass-through with CalIPC.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chairs signature on the contract.
2) The Clerk of the Board will forward the document to the department for submittal to CalIPC for final signature. Upon receipt of the fully executed contract the department will forward the original to the Clerk of the Board for filing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Safe and Healthy Communities/Stewardship: Strengthen emergency response capabilities and effectiveness, leverage relationships among law enforcement agencies, develop and maintain increased options and opportunities for unhoused citizens, and take a more holistic approach to HHSA's service delivery Through collaboration and advocacy, we honor and protect our natural and historical resources, agriculture, and rural character for future generations.
CONTACT
Tom Williams (530) 621-7624