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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03201990 - FC.1 • IF a FC. I TO; BOARD OF SUPERVISORS -; .'L. Contra FROM: FINANCE COMMITTEE g; ,5 Costa County DATE: March 12, 1990tiT•.._ C�UN SUBJECT: GROUND SQUIRREL ABATEMENT PROGRAM Specific Request(s) or Recommendations(s) & Background & Justification RECOMMENDATION- 1. Authorize $15,000 in appropriations from Special District Augmentation Funds for ground squirrel abatement in 1990-91, which will be matched with $5,000 from Cal Trans and $10,000 from Public Works for the addition of one biologist position. 2. Support the concept of assisting growers with the purchase of treated grain to improve abatement efforts and report back to the Finance Committee by April 9, 1990. 3. Direct the County Administrator, the Director of Agriculture, and the Health Services Director to continue to identify sources of funding for the grain portion of the abatement program. 4. Authorize the Director of Agriculture to notify developers with large tracts of undeveloped land of the abatement program and request that they share in the cost of the program. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The current proposal is for an appropriation of $15,000 of Special District Augmentation Funds. REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND: On January 30, 1990 the Board of Supervisors directed the County Administrator, the Health Services Director, and the Director of Agriculture to identify sources of matching funds for a $15,000 ground squirrel abatement contract. Ground squirrels have been causing major erosion damage to the levees in East County and recently have been reported to be carrying ticks which have been known to carry lyme disease. Due to this fact, the problem of ground squirrels is not only . an agricultural one but, potentially, a health problem. The Director of Agriculture and the County Administrator's Office have explored various alternative funding sources for resolving the ground squirrel problem. The Agriculture Department has recently secured a continuing contract for control of ground squirrels from CAL Trans and Public Works for $15,000. The $15,000 is being used in 1989/90 for a temporary position to fulfill contract obligations. The Department has requested $15,000 for 1990/91 to fill the position permanently to fulfill the contract agreements and other ground squirrel abatement tasks. The County Administrator's Office has identified $15,000 of Special District Augmentation Funds for this purpose. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES Signature: X Recommendation of County Administrator X Recommendation of Board Committee Approve Other /v aks)�7 Signature(s): Tom Torlakson Action of Board on: March 20, 1990 Approved as Recommended X Other Vote of Supervisors: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN X Unanimous (Absent — ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE Ayes: Noes: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON DATE SHOWN. Absent- Abstain: Attested: � a0 /lpo cc: County Administrator Phil Batchelor, Clerk of Department of Agriculture the Board of Supervisors Health Services Department and County Administrator Public Works _ By: DEPUTY Page Two The Director of Agriculture is currently working with the City of Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Water District, Santa Fe Railroad, West County Sanitation, and Central Sanitation to identify funds for ground squirrel services. Both Contra Costa Water District and Santa Fe Railroad are promising sources of funds for this project. The County Administrator's Office has had discussions with the Health Services Department in terms of the implications of these squirrels and the possibility of lyme disease. Currently, Health Services is exploring this issue from the Public Health and Environmental Health perspectives. On March 1, staff to the Finance Committee received an Amended Ground Squirrel Program Proposal from the Director of Agriculture. The Proposal, indicated in the attached request, requests that the County fund 50% of the cost of the poison bait program. The purpose of the request is to get more farmers to use the poisoned bait. Since 1982, growers have paid the entire cost of poisoned bait, before that time the Department of Agriculture paid for both the bait and spreading of the bait. Requiring growers to finance squirrel abatement has caused many of them to discontinue the practice. Unless the majority of farmers use the bait the program does not work. Another concern is the fact that East Bay Regional Parks, which also has a ground squirrel problem, is not involved in the program. The Committee supported the concept of assisting growers with the purchase of treated grain. Testimony from growers in attendance and the Director of Agriculture indicated that more growers must participate in the abatement program if the problem is to be adequately controlled and that the cost of the grain is an obstacle to participation. Moreover, it was indicated that if drought conditions persist, the abatement program should begin in earnest by mid-May. A letter of support from the Contra Costa County Farm Bureau is attached. In view of the above, the Committee directed the County Administrator, Director of Agriculture and the Health Services Director to continue to seek funding for the treated grain portion of the program. The Director of Agriculture was specifically authorized to notify developers with large tracts of undeveloped land to share in the cost of the program. It was estimated that these developers hold approximately fifty square miles of undeveloped land in the County.