Title
a. Authorize the Director of the Information Technology Department to execute a non-standard agreement with U.S Forest Service to contribute $15,500 to the cost of repair of damage caused by rain and fire to the North Coast Ridge Road, used by the County for access to its Anderson Peak public safety communications site; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Information Technology Department to execute one (1) amendment to the agreement, subject to County Counsel review, to provide for contribution in the maximum additional amount of $2,000, and to extend the completion date of the road repair project by six (6) months, in the event of unexpected additional costs or construction delays.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Authorize the Director of the Information Technology Department to execute a non-standard agreement with U.S Forest Service to contribute $15,500 to the cost of repair of damage caused by rain and fire to the North Coast Ridge Road, used by the County for access to its Anderson Peak public safety communications site; and
b. Authorize the Director of the Information Technology Department to execute one (1) amendment to the agreement, subject to County Counsel review, to provide for contribution in the maximum additional amount of $2,000, and to extend the completion date of the road repair project by six (6) months, in the event of unexpected additional costs or construction delays.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The proposed agreement between U.S. Forest Service and the County of Monterey provides for the County’s contribution to the costs of road maintenance on the North Coast Ridge Road in Big Sur. This road extends along a ridge line near Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It provides the only vehicular access to the County’s public safety communications site on Anderson Peak.
This communications site serves as the primary law and fire repeater site supporting coastal law enforcement (drug interdiction, search and rescue, etc.), and fire and ambulance response communications. The ability to access and maintain the communications site at this location to ensure operational availability is essential. Due to recent rain and fire events, the North Coast Ridge Road is in poor condition and has been deemed unsafe for vehicular travel.
The North Coast Ridge Road is privately-owned. The U.S. Forest Service was granted a limited easement in 1993 for use of the road. As the responsible agent for the condition of this road, Forest Service is requesting that all tenants of the Anderson Peak site, including Monterey County, contribute to hire a contractor to perform necessary maintenance on the road. This will allow site tenants to resume vehicular access in a safe manner. The amount requested of Monterey County, $15,500, is based on the estimated cost of the repair, as apportioned among the tenants of the Anderson Peak site, based on site usage. Site usage is based upon the amount of equipment each tenant operates at the site.
The Board is asked to authorize an amendment providing for an additional expenditure of no more than $2,000, to expedite completion of the road repair, in the event there are unanticipated costs. The requested authorization would also permit amendment to extend the term of the agreement, in the event there are unanticipated construction delays. The amendment would be subject to prior County Counsel review.
The U.S. Forest Service will procure a contractor to perform the construction and will regularly report to the County on the status of the road repair project, which is expected to be completed by September 2018.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed the proposed agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
The cost of this collections agreement is $15,500, which has been included in the FY17-18 Approved Budget for the Information Technology Department, ITD 1930, Unit 8436, Appropriations Unit INF002.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
The North Coast Ridge Road is currently unsafe due to rain/fire events and must be repaired to allow radio technicians access to perform maintenance and support of County law and fire radio communications equipment. This agreement provides for the County’s contribution to the cost of repairs that ensure the safety of County technicians and public safety generally.
__Economic Development
__Administration
__Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
X Public Safety
Prepared by: Lynnette Beardsall, Management Analyst II, 759-6938
Approved by:
_______________________________________ Date: ________
Eric A. Chatham, Director of Information Technology, 759-6920
Attachments: United States Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service Collections Agreement