Title
Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Water Resources Agency for the supervision and management of the 2010 General Plan Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin Zone 2C Study. (ADDED VIA ADDENDUM)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Water Resources Agency for the supervision and management of the 2010 General Plan Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin Zone 2C Study.
SUMMARY:
Policy PS-3.1 of the Monterey County 2010 General Plan requires the County to undertake a comprehensive study of the condition of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin. The study is designed to occur over a period of 5 years, and will result in a report with recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. A copy of PS-3.1 is enclosed as Exhibit 1. This action will create a Memorandum of Understanding between the County and the Water Resources Agency whereby the Agency will, on behalf of the County, will manage and supervise the Study.
DISCUSSION:
Chair Calcagno submitted referral 2014.01 on February 14, 2014. The purpose of the referral was to commence the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin Zone ZC study required by County General Plan Policy PS-3.1 and to perform a near term assessment of the groundwater basins health and status, no later than by August 1, 2014.
A status report in response to the referral was provided to the Board on March 11, 2014. That report included a recommendation that the County enter into an agreement to compensate the Agency for its services in managing and supervising the study, as the County does not have the expertise to undertake such responsibilities.
Enclosed as Exhibit 2 is a draft Memorandum of Understanding ("MOU") between the County and the Agency for the Board's consideration. The MOU provides that the County will compensate the Agency for the services of a designated person in the Water Resources Hydrologist class who will serve as the Project Manager; labor rates for that class are set forth in Attachment B to the MOU. It is anticipated that approximately $75,000 per year will be needed for the required services; however, the initial budget has been set at an amount not to exceed $150,000 in order that the parties may track expenses and adjust the budget accordingly.
The County, with the assistance of the Agency, is negotiating an agreement and scope of services with the firm Brown and Caldwell, which has been selected to perform the study. It is anticipated that an agreement with Brown and Caldwell will be before the Board for consideration on May 20, 2014. It is currently estimated that the total cost for Brown and Caldwell's work will be about $750,000.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The report has been prepared by the County Counsel's Office in coordination with CAO-Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division (CAO-IGLA), the Agency, and RMA/Planning.
FINANCING:
Sufficient funds exist within the authorized FY 2013-14 budget for General Plan implementation to fund this MOU. Additional funds will need to be budgeted in future fiscal years to complete the study required by PS-3.1.
Prepared by: Approved by:
Leslie J. Girard Nick Chiulos
Chief Assistant County Counsel Assistant County Administrative Officer
Ext. 5365 Ext. 5145
Attachments: Ex 1 PS 3-1 rpt attach
Ex 2 Water Study MOU County rpt attach
cc: Benny Young, Resource Management Agency
Carl Holm, Resource Management Agency
Mike Novo, Resource Management Agency/Planning
Dave Chardavoyne, Water Resource Agency
Robert Johnson, Water Resource Agency
Mari Beraz, CAO-Budget & Analysis Division