TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Planning Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Planning Building & Environmental Services
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 250315B with Environmental Science Associates
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 250315B with Environmental Science Associates to increase the contract amount from $1,613,971 to $6,414,081 for a total increase of $4,800,110 to add the scope of work for the General Plan Update and related Environmental Impact Report and extend the term of the agreement to June 30, 2030. (Fiscal Impact: $4,800,110 Expense; General Fund and Fees; Budgeted; Discretionary) [4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
On February 4, 2025, the Board approved Agreement No. 250315B with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to update the Napa County Baseline Data Report (BDR), an essential first step in the General Plan Update (GPU). The BDR provides a comprehensive assessment of existing land use, environmental, cultural, economic, and social conditions, as well as the County’s current regulatory framework. The update incorporates new scientific data, community insights, and best‐practice methodologies, ensuring it remains a reliable, contemporary foundation for long-range planning, environmental stewardship, and public engagement.
At the December 16, 2025 Board of Supervisors meeting, Staff presented an update on progress with the BDR and outlined a proposed approach for amending the ESA contract to include the General Plan Update and related EIR. During that meeting, the Board provided direction emphasizing:
• Inclusive and accessible community engagement;
• Meaningful integration of health considerations throughout the update;
• Coordination with regional planning efforts; and
• Flexibility and innovation in both process and plan structure.
Following the meeting, staff and the consultant refined the GPU and EIR scope of work to directly respond to this direction.
Consistent with Board direction, the scope prioritizes a robust, early, and inclusive outreach and engagement program with a strong emphasis on reducing barriers to participation. All engagement activities will be publicly accessible, conducted with Spanish interpretation with opportunities for additional language support, and designed to reach a diverse cross-section of residents and stakeholders including those not typically engaged in planning processes. Engagement strategies emphasize true listening, professionally facilitated discussions, smaller group formats when appropriate, and flexible meeting structures to encourage productive dialogue. To further expand access, community input, and participation, the County will use Social Pinpoint as an interactive, user-friendly online engagement platform.
To address Board concerns regarding community engagement strategies related to the BDR workshops, staff worked with the consultant to add Task 2.5: Initial Outreach and Engagement, which will occur at the beginning of the project. This task focuses on meeting residents, businesses, trade groups, and other stakeholders where they are, through town halls in each Supervisorial District, meetings with stakeholder groups, participation in community events, and direct outreach. Engagement during this phase will be purpose-driven and focused on gathering input about what the community values, the challenges it faces, and its vision for the future. Input gathered during this effort will directly inform the Community Vision Plan Document which is described in Task 3.1.
In response to Board feedback regarding health and equity, the scope was refined to strengthen the Health in All Policies approach across the General Plan. Planning, Building and Environmental Services (PBES) staff and the consultant team met with County Public Health leadership to ensure public health, equity, and environmental justice considerations are fully integrated across all policy areas, reinforcing a holistic and cross-cutting approach to governance and decision-making. This effort will require the support and involvement from County Public Health leadership.
The refined scope also incorporates Board direction to coordinate the GPU with related regional and resource planning efforts, including climate variability, wildfire risk, water security, and economic transition. Climate change projections, water supply resilience, and hazard exposure will be treated as baseline planning considerations, and the Plan will be aligned with relevant County and regional initiatives, including the Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP), Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) and related efforts, and adjacent habitat conservation and shoreline adaptation planning initiatives. This coordination ensures the General Plan aligns with broader regional goals and constraints and does not operate in isolation.
In response to continued discussion and Board direction, the scope has also been updated to utilize Topic-Specific Workshops rather than the originally proposed Thematic Advisory Groups (TAGs). This represents a modest refinement to the engagement approach intended to broaden participation, enhance transparency, and ensure the process remains as inclusive as possible. The project team will convene a series of Topic-Specific Workshops to provide focused forums for community members, stakeholders, and subject matter experts to help shape the vision, policy direction, and implementation framework of the updated General Plan. While the TAG concept envisioned smaller, ongoing focus groups, those bodies would likely have been subject to the requirements of the Brown Act, including significant additional procedural and noticing requirements that could limit flexibility and cause administrative inefficiencies. The Topic-Specific Workshop format maintains the benefit of focused, technically informed discussion while ensuring that all meetings engage thematic experts but are also open to all interested participants and structured to welcome diverse perspectives. This adjustment supports the Board’s direction to hear all voices throughout the process and avoid barriers to participation.
In addition, the project will include a series of Countywide Community Workshops designed to provide accessible opportunities for members of the public who may not have subject-matter expertise or may not participate in the Topic-Specific Workshops. These workshops will focus on broader community perspectives and values and will help inform the overall vision and priorities of the GPU throughout the process.
To complement the public workshop engagements and ensure that detailed technical and interagency considerations are addressed, the project team will also convene a Public Agency Working Group (PAWG). The PAWG will consist of County staff and representatives from other public agencies and will provide input on topics within their jurisdiction or area of expertise at key milestones throughout the process.
Together, the Countywide Community Workshops, Topic-Specific Workshops, and the PAWG are intended to balance broad community engagement with more focused technical and interagency coordination to support a successful and robust GPU.
Finally, the refinements maintain flexibility for future Board discussion during the visioning phase regarding the organization and naming of General Plan elements, including potential consolidation or reconfiguration of topic areas. The scope allows for innovative engagement tools, inclusive topic-specific workshops, and technology investments to support a forward-thinking, aspirational, and community-driven GPU.
The total anticipated cost for the General Plan Update and related Environmental Impact Report is approximately $4.8 million, including contingency. Project expenditures are expected to occur over approximately four fiscal years beginning in FY 2026-27, averaging about $1.2 million annually, although spending will vary by project phase. General Plan surcharge fee revenues, currently projected at approximately $550,000 annually, are expected to partially offset project costs. The remaining annual fiscal impact to the General Fund is estimated at approximately $650,000 per year. Staff will monitor expenditures and revenues annually and adjust future budget forecasts as the project progresses.
Staff recommend amending the ESA agreement to add the scope of work for the General Plan Update and related EIR and to extend the term of the agreement to June 30, 2030. The project total is $4,428,855 with a $371,255 contingency for a grand total of $4,800,110. Detailed information on deliverables, approach, and engagement is provided in the attached scope of work.
Staff will return to the Board later this spring/summer for acceptance of the Baseline Data Report and an update on plans to formally launch the General Plan Update. At the project kickoff, staff will provide additional updates and seek Board direction and priorities regarding project goals and community engagement strategies.
Requested Action:
Approve and authorize Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 250315B with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to add the scope of work for the General Plan Update and related Environmental Impact Report for the amount of $4,800,110, with an effective date of April 14, 2026, with work to commence in July 2026 upon completion of the BDR.
Procedural Requirements:
1. Staff report.
2. Public comment.
3. Motion on the item, second, and discussion of the motion.
4. Vote on the motion.
FISCAL IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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Discretionary Justification: |
This amendment is justified to expand the existing scope to support the necessary General Plan Update and related EIR, ensuring continuity, efficiency, and timeline for project completion. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
Yes |
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Future fiscal impact: |
Expenditures for the GPU and related EIR preparation are expected to continue through June 30, 2030, and will be budgeted accordingly during each budget cycle. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Failure to approve the amendment would result in project delays, increased expenses, inefficiencies, and lack of continuity from the Baseline Data Report to the General Plan Update. |
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Additional Information: |
County Strategic Initiative: Stewardship & Resilience |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is exempt from CEQA under Section 15262, which allows feasibility and planning studies for possible future actions that have not yet been approved or adopted.