Title
Recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors ratify and approve Amendment No. 3 to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency previously executed by the General Manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency to extend the term of the MOU to June 30, 2029; revise the contact information for the Parties to the MOU; revise the description of anticipated services; and update the rate structure for the Monterey County Water Resources Agency. (Staff Presenting: Amy Woodrow)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors:
Recommend that Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors recommend that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors ratify and approve Amendment No. 3 previously executed by the General Manager of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency to the Memorandum of Understanding with the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency to extend the term of the MOU to June 30, 2029; revise the contact information for the Parties to the MOU; revise the description of anticipated services; and update the rate structure for the Monterey County Water Resources Agency.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On June 18, 2018, the Board of Supervisors of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency (MCWRA) approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MCWRA and the Salinas Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (SVBGSA) for MCWRA staff to provide technical and professional assistance to the SVBGSA and its consultants during the development of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs). The MOU was amended in 2022 to adjust the MCWRA’s rate schedule and update the “Notices” section. The MOU was amended a second time in 2023 to extend the term, revise the contact information of the parties to the MOU (i.e., SVBGSA and MCWRA), and revise the description of anticipated services.
Amendment No. 3 to the MOU will extend the term for three years, to June 30, 2029 (Attachment 1). It will also update contact information for the SVBGSA and the MCWRA, update the rate structure for MCWRA staff to reflect Fiscal Year 2026-2027 (FY 27) rates, and revise the description of services that the MCWRA is anticipated to provide. All other terms and conditions of the MOU remain in effect and unchanged.
Amendment No. 3 to the MOU anticipates that MCWRA will bill the SVBGSA for support related to annual reporting, development of a Seawater Intrusion Response Plan and related technical analyses, and collaborative implementation planning activities.
The recommended action aligns with the following goals and strategies from MCWRA’s adopted strategic plan: Goal B (Plan for future water needs, carry out environmental studies, and plan new capital projects) - Strategy 2 (Collaborate with local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs), define MCWRA’s role, and implement a GSA integration plan) and Goal C (Ensure long term financial sustainability with sufficient funding to pay for Agency obligations and align expenditures and revenues) - Strategy 6 (Pursue grant funding and cost saving opportunities from all available sources, including collaborating with the GSA).
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
On June 11, 2026, the Board of Directors of the SVBGSA authorized the SVBGSA General Manager to execute Amendment No. 3 to the MOU.
FINANCING:
Funding for staff time to provide services pursuant to the MOU is provided by the SVBGSA, up to $125,000 for FY 27. This amount is included in the FY 27 Adopted Budget in Fund 1501. It is estimated that $50,000 will be expended during FY 27, all of which will be reimbursed by the SVBGSA per the terms of the MOU.
Prepared by: Amy Woodrow, Senior Water Resources Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Approved by: Ara Azhderian, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. 2026-06 MOU A3 MCWRA-SVBGSA