Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2003-2004
Investigation of the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 7 findings
F1
The purpose of the MAVCD is to monitor breeding grounds, regulate the mosquito population, and control the spread of mosquito borne disease. The district carries out these duties by: a) conducting various educational programs b) monitoring known breeding grounds c) sending frozen mosquitoes to UC Davis for testing d) sending chicken blood samples to the VDRL state lab for disease testing e) applying larvicides and distributing mosquito eating fish Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES The District does not routinely send mosquitoes to an outside lab for testing, but would do so in the event of mosquito-borne disease found in the County. Besides the use of larvicides and fish, the program controls mosquitoes through other Integrated Pest Management measures such as property-owner education and source reduction.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
West Nile Virus and other forms of mosquito borne diseases are a threat to all of Santa Cruz County according to the CDC and Santa Cruz health officials. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The south portion of the county, Supervisorial Districts 2 and 4, is currently included in the MAVCD. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The MAVCD is funded by a property tax assessment. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The cost of extending the MAVCD to the unincorporated areas of Supervisorial Districts 1, 3, and 5 is expected to be $340,000 the first year to increase the staff from 3 to 6 and to purchase new equipment. The annual future cost is estimated to be $270,000. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should extend the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District to the entire county. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Steps are being taken to determine feasibility of implementation. The County has hired a consultant to conduct a public opinion survey to measure property owner support for possible expansion. This survey has been implemented, and the results, analysis and recommendations will be reported to the Board of Supervisors in September. The County will also contact the City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley and the City of Capitola to inform them of the survey findings and determine their interest in possible annexation to the District. Further steps would depend on the outcome of the survey and may result in a decision to proceed with a ballot measure in all or some parts of the County.
F6
The combined cost for the three cities (Capitola, Santa Cruz, and Scotts Valley) not currently covered by the MAVCD should be approximately $220,000 a year. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors AGREES The County agrees with this finding, with the following clarification. This cost of extending the district is estimated to range from $130,000 to $220,000. Staffing needs would depend on type of services requested: mosquito operations only with advice on other vectors, as is current practice, or with other vector services such as rodent and yellowjacket control.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should extend the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District to the entire county. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Steps are being taken to determine feasibility of implementation. The County has hired a consultant to conduct a public opinion survey to measure property owner support for possible expansion. This survey has been implemented, and the results, analysis and recommendations will be reported to the Board of Supervisors in September. The County will also contact the City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley and the City of Capitola to inform them of the survey findings and determine their interest in possible annexation to the District. Further steps would depend on the outcome of the survey and may result in a decision to proceed with a ballot measure in all or some parts of the County.
F7
The cost to cover all of Santa Cruz County (unincorporated areas and the cities) as of March 17, 2003 will be paid by an estimated property tax assessment of $8 to $10 per parcel. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors PARTIALLY AGREES Since the last analysis of estimated costs per parcel for a countywide program, upon which the Grand Jury finding was based, actual program operating costs have increased and the revised estimated per parcel charge is $10 - $11.50. This is an approximate range; actual costs, of course, may vary depending on cost efficiencies from serving large areas and the level of service required for certain parts of the County. Conclusions
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should extend the Mosquito Abatement and Vector Control District to the entire county. Response: Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors Steps are being taken to determine feasibility of implementation. The County has hired a consultant to conduct a public opinion survey to measure property owner support for possible expansion. This survey has been implemented, and the results, analysis and recommendations will be reported to the Board of Supervisors in September. The County will also contact the City of Santa Cruz, City of Scotts Valley and the City of Capitola to inform them of the survey findings and determine their interest in possible annexation to the District. Further steps would depend on the outcome of the survey and may result in a decision to proceed with a ballot measure in all or some parts of the County.
Conclusions 2
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CL1 Page 4The MAVCD is doing an outstanding job of controlling potentially deadly pests in the southern portion of the county.
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CL2 Page 4Extending the district to the entire county would benefit the northern portion of the county.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
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