TO: Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NCGSA)
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Planning, Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Jamison Crosby, Natural Resources Conservation Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Agreement 230312B (NCGSA) with SCI Consulting Group
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 230312B (NCGSA) with SCI Consulting Group, increasing the maximum by $27,487 for a total of $110,075, for additional services to support development of a fee, special tax or benefit assessment to fund implementation of Napa County’s Groundwater Sustainability Program and extending the term to December 31, 2025. (Fiscal Impact: $27,487 Expense; Groundwater Sustainability Agency Special Revenue Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
On January 31, 2022, the Napa Valley Subbasin Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) was submitted to the Department of Water Resources (DWR) and on January 26, 2023, DWR approved it, validating the course of action laid out in the plan.
On February 8, 2022, staff made a report to the Napa County Groundwater Sustainability Agency (NCGSA) about options for funding implementation of the GSP with the recognition that while implementation grants would be sought, those grants would not be adequate to fully fund activities moving forward. The staff report put forward four options for funding ongoing operations:
1. County General Fund (current condition);
2. Special Tax approved by the voters;
3. Special Assessment approved by the voters; and/or
4. Fee. Background information on the different options were presented and discussed and the GSA Board gave the direction to staff to move forward with developing a professional services agreement to further study the options at hand.
On February 7, 2023, the NCGSA approved Agreement No. 230312B for $84,088 plus expenses to evaluate options and make recommendations for the establishment of fee, special tax or benefit assessment to fund implementation of Napa County’s Groundwater Sustainability Program and depending on the outcome of the evaluation and recommendations, to prepare a comprehensive Fee Report for the proposed programs and improvements to be funded. Work commenced to investigate options for the NCGSA to consider and work was paused while three GSP Workplans were developed and which were subsequently approved by the NCGSA on March 26, 2024. An additional task has been added to the scope to develop a comprehensive database that details groundwater use on a parcel-specific basis. The database will include a combination of estimated and actual groundwater extraction data. If approved, the term of the Agreement will be extended to December 31, 2025.
If approved, the agreement which is the subject of this action will further explore funding options and alternatives and make recommendations for the establishment of fee, special tax or benefit assessment to fund implementation of the GSP and the County’s overall groundwater sustainability program. Depending on the outcome of the evaluation and recommendations, SCI will prepare a comprehensive Fee Report for the proposed programs and improvements to be funded. Included in the agreement are plans for two presentations to the GSA Board to apprise them of progress and receive the Board’s input and direction.
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
Yes |
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Is it currently budgeted? |
Yes |
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Where is it budgeted? |
2720000 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Ongoing implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) is a State requirement. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Fiscal impact through FY 2024-25 is as described in the amendment |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Funding for ongoing implementation of SGMA would have to come from the County General Fund. |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.