Title
Agriculture Department recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign Cooperative Service Agreement No.009-M1610 15-73-06-6574-RA/009-M1610 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, 2015 through June 30, 2016, with total compensation not to exceed $53,000, 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). 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 contracts with all counties throughout the state for wildlife services. The Department's contract amount this year was for $60,336.09. USDA APHIS was able to renegotiate this amount due to the current budget constraints for Fiscal Year (FY) 15/16. The new contract amount for this year is $53,000.00.
There are two types of protection offered under this program with the main goal to control only the animals that are causing damage or injury, and providing technical assistance in wildlife damage prevention:
1. Urban animal damage. These calls involve home owners who have skunks, raccoons, or other wildlife that have taken up residence in the vicinity of their home, and are causing property damage, or
2. Farmers and ranchers with livestock, crop and/or property loss. Typically, these calls involve both domestic and wild animal attacks on agricultural land.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternatives to the USDA Wildlife Specialist would likely draw upon residents utilizing private professional pest control operators for small animal issues and possibly individuals who may not be licensed.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel, Risk Management and Procurement and Contracts
CAO RECOMMENDATION
CAO recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the referenced cooperative service agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Sufficient appropriations were included in the fiscal year 2015-2016 budget with additional salary savings being used to off set the additional amount of $25,000 needed to complete this contract for $53,000.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1. Chair to sign three (3) original Cooperative Service Agreements.
2. Board Clerk's Office to return three (3) original Cooperative Service Agreements to the Department of Agriculture.
3. Agriculture Department to distribute as appropriate.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Damage from wildlife impacts affects the economic welfare of our agriculture and our urban residents.
CONTACT
Charlene Carveth X5522