Title
Agriculture, Weights and Measures Department recommending Chairman be authorized to sign Agreement 09-0550 with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and accompanying Certificate CCC-307, in the amount of $334,345 for the term January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2011 for the provision of services for weed surveys, mapping, inspection, treatment and abatement of noxious/invasive weeds in El Dorado and Alpine counties.
FUNDING: California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
Body
BUDGET SUMMARY: |
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Total Estimated Cost |
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$ 334,345 |
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Funding |
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Budgeted FY 09/10 |
$ 40,700 |
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Budgeted FY 10/11,11/12 |
$ 293,645 |
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Savings |
$ |
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Other |
$ |
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Total Funding Available |
$ 334,345 |
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Change To Net County Cost |
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$ 0 |
Fiscal Impact/Change to Net County Cost: This funding will provide increased revenue and expenditure appropriations up to $334,345, over three fiscal years, FY 09/10 Funding $40,700, ($31,000 is included in the FY 09/10 budget, department to add additional $9,700), FY 10/11 $157,850 and FY 11/12 $135,795. Expenditure appropriations include contract services and additional extra-help Seasonal Ag Technicians for the weed crew.
Background: The Agriculture Department currently manages all regulatory invasive weed work in El Dorado and Alpine counties pursuant to the authority of the California Food and Agricultural Code. The department recently submitted a grant work plan per Board Resolution # 08-1552 with CDFA for ARRA funding. Funding has been confirmed through CDFA, generating this contract. This agreement encompasses control/abatement projects which are important components of the Work Plans of the El Dorado County Weed Management Group, the Lake Tahoe Basin Weed Management Group and the Alpine County/Upper Carson River Watershed Weed Management Group. This funding will allow for the continuation of our current weed eradication efforts without interruption well into the future.
In 2000, State law authorized the formation of Weed Management Areas (WMA) to begin eradication efforts which documented and treated occurrences of "A" rated noxious/invasive weeds, on the western slope of El Dorado County. As the local WMA successfully implemented the program on the Western Slope, the scope of the project expanded in 2002 to include the Lake Tahoe Basin and Alpine County. Continuous funding of our efforts has produced dramatic reductions in the size and occurrence of noxious/invasive weed populations in all of our known project areas. One of our project areas, Yellow starthistle leading edge, has knocked back the expansion of Yellow starthistle up the Highway 50 corridor into the Sierra's by 30%, with the goal of protecting the Lake Tahoe Basin/Sierras from this highly invasive plant. In the Cleveland Fire Area, "A" rated Spotted knapweed was introduced into the area on fire fighting equipment. In 2001, this noxious pest was established at 46 sites with up to 25,000 plants per site. Aggressive eradication efforts have reduced these populations to only 25 sites with an average of 2-5 plants per site. All of our efforts directly protect the Lake Tahoe Basin, USFS lands, private timber production lands, agricultural and range lands, and all of the El Dorado County watersheds.
Action to be taken following Board approval:
1. Board Chairman signs 1st and additional single page of CDFA agreement #09-0550.
2. Board Chairman signs State of California CCC-307 Certification.
3. Board Clerk's Office to return (2) signed Agreements and CCC-307 Certification to Department.
4. Department to return one (1) fully executed Agreement #09-0550 to Board Clerk's Office.
Contact: Myrna Tow x6647
Concurrences: County Counsel, Risk Management, EL Dorado County Employee's Association.