Adopt budget resolution allocating additional funds for the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Department FY2023-24 budget in the amount of $50,000 for Dog Team vehicle purchase and add vehicle to the equipment list. (No general fund impact) (4/5 vote required) (Izquierdo)

Adopt budget resolution allocating additional funds for the Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures Department FY2023-24 budget in the amount of $50,000 for Dog Team vehicle purchase and add vehicle to the equipment list.

The Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures contracts with the State of California Department of Food and Agriculture under the Dog Team Agreement to provide inspection and surveillance activities related to plant products entering the State of California via parcel deliveries at the United States Postal Service Regional Center in West Sacramento. California Dog Teams continue to demonstrate that unmarked parcels present a high-risk pathway for significant agricultural pests to enter the area.  These services are provided within the Dog Team Agreement which consists of dogs carefully selected after completing an 8-week training through the USDA National Detector Dog Training. Since the inception of the program, Yolo County has been without its own dog and K-9 handler and has had to rely on other counties such as, Fresno, Contra Costa, Sacramento and Santa Barbara, to conduct these critical inspections and to fulfill the Agricultural Commissioners mandate to prevent invasive and harmful pests from entering the county.  

The following statistics indicate total package amounts intercepted by fiscal year:

Pests detected in these packages were categorized by the following ratings according to the CDFA - Plant Health Division, A - indicates pests known to cause economic or environmental detriment. Over the last nine years, 30% of the packages intercepted by Yolo County were A-rated.  

Due to recent program changes within Sacramento and Santa Barbara County Dog Teams, dog and K-9 handler services provided to Yolo County will be greatly reduced and very limited.  The impact to the department will be two fold; (1) Due to less visits from Sacramento County, our dog contract duties will be unfulfilled, impacting revenue for the department, and (2) Also provide a greater potential for invasive pests to enter Yolo County and Northern California, which may potentially harm agricultural operations.  

The Department proposes obtaining a qualified dog and K-9 handler dedicated primarily to Yolo County, a review of total program costs is currently being compiled and finalized by the Human Resources Department and the Department of Financial Services and will be submitted to the Board at a later date. In order to meet the requirements set forth in the California Detector Dog Team Program Policies and Procedures Manual - Article 4, the county will be required to acquire a vehicle that will ensure the safety of the canine in transit. As such, the department requests the Board approval to purchase a vehicle that will meet these requirements.  According to the Fleet Division, due to dealer deadlines, vehicles due for delivery in Spring 2024 must be ordered by the end of this calendar year. 

Staff coordinated with Fleet and Procurement to secure vehicle quotes. 

Competitive solicitation requirements lists 3 or more quotes for any goods, supplies and services for $10,000 - =<$50,000. The Fleet Division secured the following quotes for the 2023 Transit Connect Cargo Van :

Ford Lincoln Fairfield	$39,283.24
All Star Ford	$39,677.10
Ford Fairfield	$46,248.20