TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Tracy Cleveland – Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights & Measures
REPORT BY: Jaspreet Faller – Staff Services Analyst
SUBJECT: Approval of Agreement No. 260120B with Kristin Lowell, Inc.
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Agreement No. 260120B with Kristin Lowell, Inc. for civil engineering services for the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District to develop the per acre assessment for the term July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. (Fiscal Impact: $5,800 Expense; Pest District; Budgeted; Mandatory).
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BACKGROUND
Agreement No. 206012B will authorize Kristin Lowell, Inc. to prepare the Engineer’s Report for the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for purposes of determining the per acre assessment for owners of qualifying planted vineyard acreage. The revenue received from payment of the assessment is used to fund district activities related to the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter/Pierce’s Disease and Vine Mealybug programs, Enhanced Detection trapping/research, including plant shipment inspections, pest management, and education/outreach.
In 2002, the BOS approved and levied assessments for the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District pursuant to Proposition 218. Each year thereafter, pursuant to Government Code Section 6296.3, the BOS “shall cause to be prepared and filed with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors as a written report” that contains among other things, a description of each parcel of property subject to the assessment and the amount of assessment of each parcel. The document containing this information is called the “Engineer’s Report”.
The agreement with Kristin Lowell, Inc. (KLI) provides that KLI will prepare the Engineer’s Report, assist the County in updating its database of existing planted vineyard acreage within the district area, and calculate the assessments for FY25-26. The assessments will be submitted to the Auditor Controller’s Office in a timely manner so that they may be included on the property tax bills. Assessment revenues collected during FY25-26 will be used to pay for the cost of the Engineer’s Report. Payment for preparation of the Engineer’s Report will be made directly from the agency fund established specifically for the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District.
Kristin Lowell, Inc. is not a local vendor and has been selected because of its unique and specialized knowledge of the assessment area.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
The Engineer’s Report will be paid from assessments collected during FY25-26 from Fund 9512. |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Mandatory |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
There is no fiscal impact beyond this fiscal year. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Without the Engineer’s Report, it will not be possible to identify property parcels subject to the assessment and the Assessor’s tax roll will not include the assessment. As a result, assessment revenues would not be collected, and the District would not be able to contribute to the funding of the various programs that are essential to keeping the County free of invasive pests. |
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: This action is a covered activity under the adopted Negative Declaration that was prepared for the formation of the District.