Title
Agriculture Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Cooperative Service Agreement 061-S1710 with the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services and County of El Dorado, for the term July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, with total compensation not to exceed $63,000, for the maintenance of an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management program to protect residents, property, livestock, crops, and natural resources from damage caused by predators and other nuisance wildlife.
FUNDING: General Fund and Unclaimed Gas Tax.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The Agriculture Department recommends approval of this Cooperative Service Agreement to ensure the continued assistance in resolving wildlife damage problems and protect public health and safety in El Dorado County. This Agreement also allows for cooperation with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Services (formerly Department of Fish and Game). Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services (APHIS) will bill quarterly for actual cost incurred, not to exceed the annually approved amount specified in the Work and Financial plan. This Cooperative Service Agreement includes a provision for any party to terminate the Cooperative Service Agreement, without cause, upon sixty (60) days written notice.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Wildlife Services program is a cooperative venture between El Dorado/Alpine County and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). In the past, the USDA was providing one full time employee at no county cost as a 50/50 match for the county's one full time Wildlife Services employee. El Dorado and Siskiyou Counties were the last two counties in the state that held this agreement with USDA. Through budget reductions at the Federal level, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services (USDA APHIS-WS) program has renegotiated ...
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