Title
Adopt Resolution to:
a. Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report on the USDA APHIS-WS IWDM Program and Agreement Renewal (State Clearinghouse No. 2017031003) (Attachment E).
b. Approve and authorize the Agricultural Commissioner to execute the Cooperative Services Agreement between the County and United States Department of Agriculture --Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service--Wildlife Services for the term of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023 (Attachment B).
c. Approve and authorize the Agricultural Commissioner to execute the annual Monterey County Financial Plan pursuant to the Cooperative Services Agreement for an amount not to exceed $158,312 for July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019 (Attachment C).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt a Resolution (Attachment A) to:
a. Certify the Final Environmental Impact Report on the USDA APHIS-WS IWDM Program and Agreement Renewal (State Clearinghouse No. 2017031003) (Attachment E).
b. Approve and authorize the Agricultural Commissioner to execute the Cooperative Services Agreement between the County and United States Department of Agriculture --Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service--Wildlife Services for the term of July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2023 (Attachment B).
c. Approve and authorize the Agricultural Commissioner to execute the annual Monterey County Financial Plan pursuant to the Cooperative Services Agreement for an amount not to exceed $158,312 for July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019 (Attachment C).
SUMMARY:
The project is the renewal of a Cooperative Services Agreement (CSA) between the County and the USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services for a five-year period beginning on or about July 1, 2018, and annual financial plans pursuant to the CSA, to maintain an Integrated Wildlife Damage Management program in Monterey County for another five years.
The County prepared an EIR to provide CEQA review of the proposed five-year agreement renewal with USDA’s APHIS IWDM program and annual plan. The decision before you is to certify and make findings on the EIR, approve a five-year Cooperative Services Agreement with the USDA, and approve the annual Financial Plan for 2018-19.
DISCUSSION:
The USDA APHIS-WS has an existing IWDM program that it implements throughout California and the rest of the United States. The IWDM program is intended to protect residents, property, livestock, crops, and natural resources from damage caused by predators and other wildlife. APHIS-WS implements the IWDM program to selectively remove individual animals that are nonnative or cause damage to property, infrastructure, agricultural or livestock commodities, and public health and safety.
The Monterey County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office and APHIS-WS have cooperatively conducted wildlife damage management activities in some capacity in the county since as early as 1923. In that time, Monterey County has alternated between participating in a cooperative agreement with APHIS-WS and independently operating its own wildlife damage management program. Since the 1990s, however, APHIS-WS has been providing services to the County under a cost-share agreement.
The current five-year Cooperative Services Agreement between the County and APHIS-WS expires June 30, 2018. The renewed five-year Cooperative Services Agreement would authorize continuation of the existing APHIS-WS IWDM program in the county. Activities performed under the IWDM program would be implemented by APHIS-WS field specialists in accordance with the regulations, standards, and guidelines of the IWDM program. As set forth in the current Cooperative Services Agreement, the County would not be involved in any of the wildlife damage management activities. Neither APHIS-WS nor Monterey County is proposing any changes to the APHIS-WS IWDM program in Monterey County in conjunction with the County’s renewal of the CSA. All of the direct control methods that could be used by APHIS WS field specialists under the CSA with the County would be implemented primarily on private land, with a limited amount of work in County-operated parks. Before wildlife damage management is conducted on private land in response to a request for assistance from a property or resource owner, an Agreement for Control must be signed by APHIS-WS and the landowner or representative.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
As referenced in the EIR, various public agencies were contacted in its preparation. County Counsel has been consulted throughout the process and approves the Cooperative Services Agreement and annual Financial Plan as to form.
FINANCING:
This program, if approved, would be funded by the Agricultural Commissioner’s FY 2017-18 budget, from Unit 8001, for $158,312. The EIR cost to date was $86,696, and was funded by salary savings from the Agricultural Commissioner’s FY 2016-17 and 2017-18 budgets.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
This program assists with maintaining agricultural viability and public safety by continuing the USDA’s joint program with the County Agricultural Commissioner’s office.
Mark a check to the related Board of Supervisors Strategic Initiatives
x Economic Development
__Administration
__Health & Human Services
__Infrastructure
x Public Safety
Prepared by:
Christina McGinnis, Ag Resources and Policy Manager, x7384
Approved by:
Robert Roach, Acting Agricultural Commissioner, x7379
Attachments:
A. Resolution
B. Five-year Cooperative Services Agreement
C. 2018-19 annual Financial Plan
D. Draft EIR
E. Final EIR