RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Agricultural Commissioner, or his designee, to execute a contract with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, to pay the County an amount not to exceed $117,486 to provide trapping services for the detection of the Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) for the period July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This contract provides reimbursement for County expenses incurred during the placing and servicing of traps for the detection of the Light Brown Apple Moth on behalf of the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

BACKGROUND:

Light Brown Apple Moth (LBAM) was first discovered in the San Francisco Bay Area in the late fall of 2006. Since then, it has been detected in 16 counties, from Sonoma to Los Angeles. A Federal Domestic Quarantine Order (DA-2007-42) was established on May 2, 2007 that required, in addition to other actions, additional LBAM trapping to ensure continued interstate movement of regulated articles. To confirm that areas of the state are free from LBAM, traps are placed alongside existing detection traps.