Title
Consider authorizing the Resource Management Agency Director to execute a Professional Services Agreement with the firm Brown and Caldwell to perform the 2010 General Plan Salinas River Groundwater Basin Zone 2C Study.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to execute a Professional Services Agreement with the firm Brown and Caldwell to perform the 2010 General Plan Salinas River 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 Zone 2C of the Salinas River 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. The Study will include the near term assessment requested by Chair Calcagno in referral 2014.01. This action will authorize the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with the firm Brown and Caldwell to perform the Study.
DISCUSSION:
Chair Calcagno submitted referral 2014.01 on February 14, 2014. The purpose of the referral was to commence the Salinas River 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.
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 Water Resources Agency for its services in managing and supervising the study, as the County does not have the expertise to undertake such responsibilities. The MOU was authorized by the Board on May 13, 2014 and has been executed.
As previously reported to the Board, the firm Brown and Caldwell has been identified as the firm best able to perform the Study. With the assistance of the Water Resources Agency, a Professional Services Agreement has been negotiated including a comprehensive scope of services that provides for the near term assessment requested by referral 2014.01 (described as "Project 1" in the scope of services) and the longer term comprehensive study (described as "Project 2"). A copy of the draft agreement is enclosed as Exhibit 2.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The report has been prepared by the County Counsel's Office in coordination with CAO-Intergovernmental & Legislative Affairs Division (CAO-IGLA), and the Water Resources Agency.
FINANCING:
The Study is estimated by Brown and Caldwell to cost approximately $774,000. Based upon the schedule and cost estimate set forth in the draft agreement, approximately $387,000 will be needed in FY 2014-15. Additionally, approximately $75,000 will be needed in FY 2014-15 to pay for the Agency's services as provided in the MOU. The total needed in FY 2014-15 is therefore approximately $462,000.
During the June 10, 2014 Budget Hearings the Board approved a $1,000,000 appropriations increase in the County Administrative Office 001-1050-8038 Other Financing Uses (CAO017) for FY 2014-15 expenditures related to General Plan Implementation and Long Range Planning efforts. The amount identified from that $1,000,000 allocation to be used towards this Study was $270,000 for FY 2014-15. Based on the latest cost estimate for this Study and associated Agency Services, there is a funding gap in FY 2014-15 of $192,000.
RMA will work closely with its assigned CAO Budget & Analysis Analyst during the course of FY 2014-15 to determine if a budget modification will be required to increase appropriations for this effort. Should it be determined that additional funding is required, a request for budget modification to maintain fiscal balance will be presented through the Board's Budget Committee prior to year-end. Additional funds will need to be budgeted in future fiscal years to complete the study, and additional funds may be necessary during FY 2014-15 for other General Plan implementation work.
Prepared by: Approved by:
Leslie J. Girard Nick Chiulos
Chief Assistant County Counsel Assistant County Administrative Officer
Ext. 5365 Ext. 5145
Attachments: Exhibit 1 and Exhibit 2
cc: Benny Young, Resource Management Agency Director
Carl Holm, Resource Management Agency Deputy Director
Mike Novo, Resource Management Agency/Planning Director
Dave Chardavoyne, Water Resources Agency General Manager
Robert Johnson, Water Resources Agency Assistant General Manager
Howard Franklin, Water Resources Agency Senior Hydrologist
Mari Beraz, CAO-Budget & Analysis Division
Leslie L. Chau, Brown and Caldwell