Title
a. Approve and authorize the General Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with OneRain, Inc., in the amount not to exceed $142,177 to upgrade the central base stations, the radio repeaters, and the data concentrator of the Agency’s flood warning system from Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time (ALERT) to ALERT2 technology, for the period beginning upon execution of the Agreement through December 31, 2017; and,
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations by $142,177 financed by unassigned fund balance in Fund 113 (4/5th vote required).
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the General Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with OneRain, Inc., in the amount not to exceed $142,177 to upgrade the central base stations, the radio repeaters, and the data concentrator of the Agency’s flood warning system from Automated Local Evaluation in Real Time (ALERT) to ALERT2 technology, for the period beginning upon execution of the Agreement through December 31, 2017; and,
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the Monterey County Water Resources Agency’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget to increase appropriations by $142,177 financed by unassigned fund balance in Fund 113 (4/5th vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The current Monterey County ALERT flood warning system is operated and maintained by the Agency. The system consists of approximately 50 remote sites located throughout the major watersheds of Monterey County and two redundant central databases receiving data from the remote sites. These remote sites measure a variety of environmental factors including rainfall, and water levels that are used to forecast flooding and monitor storm events.
ALERT is a communications protocol that was developed by the National Weather Service in the 1970’s and is a method of transmitting environmental data from remote sites to a central database in real time. A new standard protocol (ALERT2) has been implemented to replace the existing ALERT protocol. ALERT2 provides a more robust method of transmitting data that dramatically reduces data transmission losses occurring during storms because of competing/colliding rain reports from different remote sites.
This initial cost of acquisition ALERT2 hardware and software is an expense that the Agency cannot afford with its current financial standing. An opportunity to transition to ALERT2 technology was made possible when the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced early last year that funding was available under its Flood Emergency Response Projects Grant Program.
The Board of Directors issued a resolution authorizing the general manager to apply for DWR grant funding on January 26, 2015. Acting as the lead agency, the Agency teamed up with the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services (MCOES), the Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services (SCCOES), and the County of Santa Cruz Flood Control and Water Conservation District (SCFCWCD), and submitted a grant application on February 9, 2015.
The grant application was successful with the Agency and the SCFCWCD receiving funds to upgrade their central base stations that receive data from remote sites and the radio repeaters of their respective flood warning systems. The Agency received additional funding to upgrade the transmission hardware to ALERT2 at 17 of the 50 remote sites. The MCOES and the SCCOES received funding to update their flood emergency operations plans to meet state emergency standards. The total funding awarded to the four agencies to complete these tasks is $312,124.
The Agency received $202,024 of the total fund award. A portion of this grant award will fund the Agreement with OneRain, Inc. to upgrade the central database stations, the radio repeaters and the data concentrator of the ALERT system, and the remaining of the grant funds will be used by Agency staff to purchase and install the transmission hardware of 17 remote sites.
The Agency currently has a three-year contract through July 31, 2018 with OneRain, Inc. for the license of the software running the base stations receiving and displaying ALERT data and for support of a key piece of equipment collecting ALERT data. Support for this ALERT data collection system will be maintained as the transition to ALERT2 technology is implemented by selecting OneRain, Inc. for this project.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Monterey County Office of Emergency Services, the Santa Cruz County Office of Emergency Services, and the County of Santa Cruz Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The Monterey County Water Resources Agency Board of Directors approved this Agreement on September 19, 2016.
FINANCING:
The Agency has adequate Fund Balance in Fund 113 of $404,117. This transaction will reduce the Fund Balance by $142,177 and leave $261,940 remaining. Funds for these services to the Agency are reimbursable by DWR Grant in the amount of $142,177 and are expected to be reimbursed by the end of this fiscal year.
Prepared by: Germán Criollo, Associate Hydrologist, (831) 755-4860
Approved by:
David E. Chardavoyne, General Manager, (831) 755-4860
Attachments:
1. Professional Services Agreement with OneRain, Inc.
2. DWR Grant Contract
3. MCWRA Executed Board Order