Title
a. Approve Amendment No. 4 to Joint Funding Agreement No. 16WSCA600466210 with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $25,000, funded by an increase in USGS match contribution, to allow USGS to complete final updates to the Salinas Valley Integrated Hydrologic Model; and
b. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to execute Amendment No. 4 to Joint Funding Agreement No. 16WSCA600466210.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve Amendment No. 4 to Joint Funding Agreement No. 16WSCA600466210 with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), increasing the not-to-exceed amount by $25,000, funded by an increase in USGS match contribution, to allow USGS to complete final updates to the Salinas Valley Integrated Hydrologic Model; and
b. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to execute Amendment No. 4 to Joint Funding Agreement No. 16WSCA600466210.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
New policies implemented with the adoption of the 2010 General Plan for Monterey County to address groundwater overdraft resulted in litigation. As part of a settlement agreement reached in 2012 in one of the lawsuits (Salinas Valley Water Coalition et al. v. County (Monterey Superior Court Case No. M109451), the County considered and adopted an amendment to Policy PS-3.1 of the Public Services Element of the General Plan. Per the amended policy, the County is conducting a five-year study to assess the general health of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin (SVBG) with regard to its ability to provide a sustainable supply of water for land-use activities projected through Year 2030 to meet the County General Plan projected development (“Investigation”).
In March 2016, the County entered into a Joint Funding Agreement No. 16WSCA600466210 (Agreement) with USGS to configure and calibrate an integrated comprehensive hydrogeologic model to assess the general health of the SVGB, the cooperative agreement was converted into this Agreement (Attachment A), which has been amended three times since March 2016, to increase funds and extend time frames (Attachments B-D). The proposed Amendment No. 4 (Attachment E) modifies USGS’ match contribution toward the contract amount and its proposed work delivery by an increase of $25,000. The purpose of Amendment No. 4 is to increase funding with the $25,000 Cooperative Matching Funds contributed by the USGS. These additional funds will be used toward the Salinas Valley Integrated Hydrologic Model (SVIHM) update and completion of SVGB Investigation. The tasks outlined in Amendment No. 4 are expected to occur from the date of execution through October 31, 2021.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Monterey County Water Resources Agency performs project management for the SVGB Investigation. The Office of the County Counsel has reviewed Amendment No. 4 as to form.
FINANCING:
With approval of Amendment No. 4, the total Joint Funding Agreement will increase to $1,406,074. The County’s share of the cost of the Investigation will not increase; it will remain at $1,266,571. Total USGS cost will increase by $25,000, for a total USGS match contribution of $139,503. Resource Management Agency (RMA) staff time to process Amendment No. 4 is funded as part of the RMA Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2020-21, General Fund, Fund 001, Administration Appropriation Unit RMA013. Details of the prior agreement amendments are provided in Attachment F-Summary of Joint Funding Agreement and Amendments.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Approval of Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement with USGS supports the Board of Supervisors’ Economic Development, Administration, and Infrastructure Strategic Initiatives by ensuring accurate, timely, and transparent fiscal accounting and effective resource management to enable the RMA to complete critical work related to groundwater sustainability in the Salinas Valley basin for the long-term benefit of the County. Completion of the SVGB Investigation supports Economic Development by implementing General Plan policy.
X Economic Development
X Administration
Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
Public Safety
Prepared by: Shandy Carroll, Management Analyst III (831) 784 5643
Reviewed by: Melanie Beretti, Property Administration/Special Programs Manager
Approved by: Shawne E. Ellerbee, Assistant Director of Resource Management Agency
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Attachments:
Attachment A-Joint Funding Agreement No. 16WSCA600466210 (JFA)
Attachment B-Amendment No. 1 to JFA
Attachment C-Amendment No. 2 to JFA
Attachment D-Amendment No. 3 to JFA
Attachment E-Proposed Amendment No. 4 to JFA
Attachment F-Summary of Joint Funding Agreement
(Attachments are on file with the Clerk of the Board)