Title
Recommend that the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (“Agency”):
a. Approve increasing the contract authority for the Agency General Manager from $100,000 to $200,000; and
b. Authorize the Agency General Manager to engage independent contractors to provide goods and services for the Agency where the annual aggregate cost does not exceed $200,000. (Staff: Ara Azhderian)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (“Agency”) Board of Directors recommend that the Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve increasing the contract authority for the Agency General Manager from $100,000 to $200,000; and
b. Authorize the Agency General Manager to engage independent contractors to provide goods and services for the Agency where the annual aggregate cost does not exceed $200,000.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
Current state law (California Government Code section 25502.5) permits a board of supervisors to authorize the county purchasing agent to approve contracts engaging independent contractors to perform services in an amount not exceeding $200,000 in the annual aggregate without action by the board of supervisors. Chapter 2.32 of the Monterey County Code (“Code”) addresses the duties of the County’s Purchasing Agent including the Purchasing Agent’s contract authority to engage independent contractors and, at Section 2.32.035, also addresses the contract authority of the County Counsel, District Attorney, and Public Defender for contracts relating to the duties of those offices.
In 2024, the County Board of Supervisors authorized the Purchasing Agent, County Counsel, District Attorney, and Public Defender to engage independent contractors to perform services for the County without action by the Board where the annual aggregate cost does not exceed $200,000. Prior to this 2024 action, the limit was $100,000.
In 2018, the Agency Board of Supervisors approved increasing the contract purchasing authority for the General Manager to $100,000, and authorized the General Manager to engage independent contractors to provide goods and services where the aggregate cost does not exceed $100,000.
To align the Agency’s purchasing authority with that of other County officials, staff is requesting that the Board of Directors recommend that the limit be raised to $200,000. This change will improve the administrative efficiency to engage independent contractors to perform services for the Agency.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
FINANCING:
There is no fiscal impact.
Prepared by: Jessell Fenley, Administrative Services Assistant, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831)755-4860
Attachments:
1. Executed Board Order, dated October 16, 2018
2. Board Order