REPORT TO SHASTA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

BOARD MEETING DATE:  June  27, 2017
CATEGORY:  Consent - Other Departments-30.

SUBJECT:

Annual Work/Financial Plan between the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Shasta County for FY 2017-2018

Supervisorial District No. :  All

DEPARTMENT CONTACT:  Paul Kjos, Agricultual Commissioner/Sealer, (530)224-4949

STAFF REPORT APPROVED BY:  Paul Kjos, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer

RECOMMENDATION

Approve and authorize: (1) The Chairman to sign the Annual Work/Financial Plan with United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services/Wildlife Services in an amount not to exceed $121,751 for the period July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018; and (2) the County Executive Officer, or his/her designee, to sign future Annual Work/Financial Plans (Plans) for Fiscal Years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21, including retroactive Plans if applicable, for the five-year Cooperative Service Agreement approved by the Board of Supervisors on February 7, 2017, provided the Plans are in substantially similar form to the current Work/Financial Plan with maximum annual compensation per Plan that does not exceed $140,000.

SUMMARY

On February 7, 2017, the Board approved a five-year Cooperative Service Agreement and Annual Work/Financial Plan between United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Services/Wildlife Services (USDA WS) and Shasta County for the Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) program for the protection of livestock, crops, property, human health and safety, and natural resources in the County.  The Cooperative Service Agreement is valid from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2021.  The current Annual Work/Financial Plan is set to expire on June 30, 2017.  The Board is requested to approve the Annual Work/Financial Plan for FY 2017-18 and to authorize the County Executive Officer to approve and sign subsequent Work/Financial Plans in the future for fiscal years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 for the five-year Cooperative Agreement.

DISCUSSION

On February 7, 2017, the Board of Supervisors approved a five-year Cooperative Agreement and the FY 2016-17 Annual Work/Financial Plan between the USDA WS and the County.  The Cooperative Agreement with the USDA provides the details about each cooperator’s responsibilities for carrying out the IWDM program in the county.  The current Cooperative Agreement remains in effect until June 30, 2021 or until either of the parties requests to terminate the Agreement. 

Resolution No. 2017-013, also approved by the Board on February 7, 2017, stated the USDA WS IWDM program is a project and is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15308, 15308, and 15061(b)(3).   The FY 2017-18 Work/Financial Plan is part of the previously approved IWDM program and is the next step in the completion of the CEQA exempted project. 

Each fiscal year, a separate Work/Financial Plan is developed by the USDA WS for cooperating counties.  This Plan details the county costs for the fiscal year for the services that the USDA will provide to the county.  It is the Annual Work Plan/Financial Plan for FY 2017-18 that the Board is being asked to consider.

There are many benefits to contracting with the USDA for these services.  The USDA provides professional Wildlife Specialists and Supervisors to work with landowners and managers to humanely deal with wildlife concerns.  The USDA is also able to utilize effective tools which are available only to USDA employees and the Wildlife Specialist working in Shasta County has been identified as an expert in the identification of wolf depredation.  Since the IWDM program was reintroduced in 1998, Wildlife Services has provided a wide range of services throughout the County.  The top priority for the Specialists working in Shasta County is human health and safety.  The Specialists work closely with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to address problems, especially with large mammals such as bears and mountain lions when they threaten people or domesticated animals or cause extensive property damage.  They work with individual landowners to selectively address livestock depredation problems.  They also spend an increasing amount of time educating landowners, particularly those living at the ag/urban interface, about ways to prevent animal damage through technical assistance activities.  These activities can include phone consultation, the distribution of informational leaflets, and/or personal site visits.

The Board is also requested to authorize the County Executive Officer to, in future fiscal years, approve and sign Annual Work/Financial Plans for fiscal years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 for the current Cooperative Agreement, including retroactive Plans, provided they are in substantially similar form to the current Work/Financial Plan with maximum annual compensation per Plan that does not exceed $140,000.  This will create efficiencies in processing future Plans. The USDA provides personnel, equipment, vehicles, supplies, and administrative support and the County funds approximately 63% of the program’s total cost.    

ALTERNATIVES

The Board may choose to not continue the program.  This is not recommended since this program was re-established based on requests from County residents for these services.    The Board could also choose to establish its own program and hire its own staff.  This alternative is not recommended since the USDA funds a portion of the program and provides all the professional and administrative support for this program, along with necessary supplies and vehicles. 

OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

Risk Management has reviewed the Annual Work/Financial Plan and has approved it.  County Counsel has approved the Annual Work/Financial Plan as to form.  The County Administrative Office has reviewed the recommendation.   

FINANCING

The County cost for this program, $121,751, has been included in the Department’s proposed FY 2017-18 budget.  While the County is required to fund 63% of the program costs during the upcoming fiscal year, this cost will be partially offset by unclaimed gas taxes received each year from the State.  A portion of this year’s increased unclaimed gas tax revenue is a direct result of the County’s continued participation in this program.