TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Tracy Cleveland - Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures
REPORT BY: Jaspreet Faller - Staff Services Analyst II
SUBJECT: Public Hearing to Consider any Objections or Protests, and to Adopt a Resolution Imposing Assessments on Behalf of the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District
RECOMMENDATION
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PUBLIC HEARING 9:00 AM - Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District
Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer of Weights and Measures requests the following actions to the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District (District):
1. Open Public Hearing to consider any objections or protests with respect to the assessments proposed for the District for Fiscal Year 2023-24; and
2. Close Public Hearing and adopt a Resolution authorizing and levying assessments for Fiscal Year 2023-24 on qualifying properties in the District.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In August 2002, the Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District (District) obtained authorization from owners of property containing one or more acres of planted vineyards (“qualifying property owners”) to levy an assessment of up to $20 per acre to fund the detection, prevention, and treatment of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and Pierce’s Disease through partially funding the Napa County Glassy-winged Sharpshooter workplan.
In 2006, qualifying property owners voted to expand the scope of the District to include activities to control other winegrape pests in addition to Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and Pierce's Disease. Currently the District collects assessments for funding a Vine Mealybug control program, and an Enhanced Detection Trapping/Research program as well as a portion of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter prevention and detection program. In 2022, the district was reauthorized for an additional five years until March 26, 2027. This public hearing is to consider objections or protests to the proposed assessment. The resolution imposes an assessment in the amount of $10.70 per planted vineyard acre for Fiscal Year 2023-24 on qualifying properties and is attached.
PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Open Public Hearing.
2. Staff reports.
3. Public comments.
4. Close Public Hearing.
5. Motion, second, discussion and vote on the item.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN 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? |
Agricultural Commissioner |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
The revenue from the assessments is used in combination with State funding and the County General Fund as a part of a financial partnership developed to prevent Pierce’s Disease and the spread of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and other winegrape pests, such as the Vine Mealybug. Program activities include the placement and inspection of traps; inspection of all incoming plant shipments; release of biological control; education and outreach and inspection of properties to determine the presence of the pests. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
While there is no direct future fiscal impact beyond FY2023-24, it is anticipated that the District will continue to participate in a financial partnership, for activities related to Glassy-winged Sharpshooter, Vine Mealybug, and other potential pests and diseases of winegrapes. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
If this item is not approved, there would be a decrease in the level of service for these programs, a higher risk of establishment of Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and the spread of Pierce’s Disease, an increase in spread of Vine Mealybug, and possible damage from other pests and diseases of winegrapes in Napa County. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Effective and Open Government |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The formation of the District and original imposition of assessments was analyzed in a Negative Declaration adopted March, 2002, and the instant activity is further statutorily exempt from CEQA pursuant to 14 California Code of Regulations 15273 (State CEQA Guidelines) in that the assessments are utilized to assist in funding the Agricultural Commissioner's programs related to winegrape pests and diseases.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Napa County Winegrape Pest and Disease Control District (District) was formed in 2002 for the purpose of providing funding for the prevention of Pierce's Disease and the spread of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (GWSS). In August 2002, qualifying property owners approved the imposition of an assessment not to exceed $20 per acre per year to carry out that objective. All vineyards that are one or more acres in size are subject to the assessment. In 2006, qualifying property owners voted to expand the scope of the District to include activities to control other winegrape pests in addition to Glassy-winged Sharpshooter and Pierce's Disease. Currently the District collects assessments for funding a Vine Mealybug (VMB) control program, a research program, as well as a portion of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter prevention and detection program.
Currently the District collects assessments for funding a Vine Mealybug (VMB) control program, a portion of the Glassy-winged Sharpshooter prevention and detection program, UCCE research, and outreach and education.
In 2022, the District was reauthorized until March 26, 2027. Each year, an Engineer's Report is prepared to verify parcels with vineyard acreage subject to the assessment, ownership information and amount of the assessment for each parcel.
The proposed assessments are based upon an allocation of program costs over all properties subject to assessment within the District - approximately 45,250 acres - which varies slightly from year to year. The Fiscal Year 2023-24 Engineer's Report recommends the levy of an assessment in the amount of $484,175, for a per acre assessment of $10.70.
Assessment funds that are collected are placed into a special revenue fund and disbursed by the Pest District Board of Directors. A fiscal year end trust account balance of approximately $96,695 from Fiscal Year 2022-23 will result in total funds available in the amount of $580,870 for Fiscal Year 2023-24 which is the revenue amount used in the District's budget.
The total estimated cost for the Agricultural Commissioner to implement the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Napa County GWSS workplans, the Vine Mealybug program, and outreach is $840,000 with direct funding coming from the Department of Food and Agriculture ($180,000), the County ($185,000), and the proposed assessments ($475,000).