TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Brian D. Bordona, Director of Planning, Building, and Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Jesse Gutierrez, Principal Planner - Sustainability
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 240241B with Ascent Environmental, Inc. for the development of the Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and Initial Study CEQA document.
RECOMMENDATION
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Approve and authorize Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 240241B with Ascent Environmental, Inc. to extend the term to June 30, 2027 and to increase the contract maximum from $758,710 to $888,710 for continued and additional specialized services to develop a Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and to prepare an Initial Study CEQA document. (Fiscal Impact: $130,000 Expense; General Fund; Budgeted; Discretionary)
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BACKGROUND
In June 2019, Napa County; the Cities of American Canyon, Calistoga, Napa, and St. Helena; and the Town of Yountville adopted Resolutions emphasizing the "Countywide Commitment to Address Climate Change." Following the Resolutions, all six jurisdictions came together to form the Climate Action Committee (CAC) via the signing of a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA). The CAC consists of two elected appointees from each of the jurisdictions for a total of 12 members.
At the October 6, 2022, meeting of the Napa County League of Governments (NCLOG), which included representatives from all six jurisdictions, there was broad support for proceeding with a Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (RCAAP) to provide a policy and implementation framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) emissions.
At their meeting on May 16, 2023, the County Board of Supervisors directed staff to prepare and issue a Request for Proposals to consultants to prepare a RCAAP. The plan would provide a policy and implementation framework for reducing GHG emissions.
On November 27, 2023, the CAC unanimously affirmed staff’s recommendation of Ascent’s proposal for specialized services to develop a RCAAP and associated California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The RCAAP will identify specific measures and actions to reduce GHG and adapt to climate change within the jurisdictions of the JPA.
Agreement No. 240241B between Napa County and Ascent Environmental Inc. was approved by the County Board of Supervisors on December 19, 2023. As part of the development of the RCAAP measures and actions, Ascent and supporting staff held six community outreach focus groups to discuss the region’s most pressing concerns with organizations that work directly with residents in the region. The six focus groups highlighted conversations with organizations working with- Families, Youth, Community Organizations, Agricultural focus, Public Health, and Multi-Language Services. The project launched a public facing website climateactionnapa.konveio.com on which the public could participate.
Ascent has delivered memos from their research and studies supporting the measures and actions of the RCAAP. The GHG inventory memo, completed in 2022 by Ascent, is the baseline information for updating and forecasting GHG emissions. In addition to the GHG forecast memo, Ascent with assistance from the project team composed of County and City staff drafted potential GHG reduction measures and actions. In April 2024 the final Climate Vulnerability Assessment (VA) was presented which identifies and analyzes climate change effects that will impact Napa County and will aim to improve community resilience in the face of changing climate.
Ascent provided an evaluation of the CEQA environmental review options that would qualify the RCAAP as a CEQA qualified document once adopted. An All Jurisdiction Working Group (AJWG) made up of staff from each of the JPA jurisdictions was created to continue conversations at the staff level to help with review of the RCAAP. The AJWG will assist in better understanding each jurisdictions goals and priorities for implementing the measures and actions developed through the process. The AJWG and municipal agency leadership agreed to move forward with an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) as the next step of the CEQA review process for the RCAAP. On June 27, 2025, the CAC gave staff direction to move forward with the IS/MND recommendation.
On July 9, 2025, Ascent provided a scope of work and estimated budget for the IS/MND of $130,000 with an estimated timeline for completion of 9-10 months from the date of notice to proceed. This approach to the CEQA process is supported by the CAC and the costs of which would be shared by the member jurisdictions unless alternate sources or additional funding are secured.
Amendments
This Amendment No. 3 will cover continued support for the development of the RCAAP, possible contingencies, and the new task of preparing an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the RCAAP. This includes an MND assuming the IS concludes that any potential environmental impacts related to RCAAP implementation can be mitigated to a less-than-significant level. Additional services would include continued project management and coordination, meetings support, assessing potential environmental impacts and recommending feasible mitigation measures for potentially significant impacts. Environmental factors that may be affected by RCAAP implementation include Air Quality/Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Biological Resources, Cultural Resources, Energy, Noise and Vibration, and Transportation. Project deliverables will include an IS administrative draft, IS public draft, MND, administrative draft response to comments memorandum, final response to comments memorandum, mitigation and monitoring and reporting program, and hearing and approval support. Amendment No. 3 will increase the maximum compensation by $130,000. The maximum payments under the Agreement totaled $677,670 for professional services and $211,040 for expenses.
Amendment No. 2 covered services for legal support for the preparation and completion of the RCAAP and the accompanying CEQA document. This includes review and feedback of the administrative and screen check drafts of the draft and final RCAAP, administrative and screen check drafts of the CEQA document, reviewing public comments received by the County on the RCAAP and the CEQA document and providing legal support in drafting responses to such comments, and interfacing with Ascent and County staff and officials, including, as needed, attendance at public meetings and/or closed sessions of the decisionmakers. Amendment No. 2 increased the maximum compensation by $82,400. The maximum payments under the Agreement totaled $547,670 for professional services and $211,040 for expenses.
Amendment No. 1 covered additional costs and work not budgeted in the initial agreement. Additional support included updates and revisions to emissions forecasts, revisions to GHG measures, revisions to the Climate VA and adaptation measures, ensuring RCAAP is compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, support for an additional community outreach meeting, additional CAC meeting support, additional project coordination and management, and small contingency budget. Amendment No. 1 increased the maximum compensation by $76,750. The maximum payments after Amendment No. 1 under the Agreement totaled $465,270 for professional services and $211,040 for expenses.
Agreement No. 240241B was for a maximum of $599,560 of which $500,000 was paid through a budget allocation obtained by former State Senator Bill Dodd and the remainder split between the municipalities on a pro rata basis.
Cost Share
Costs related to Amendment No. 3, which will increase the maximum compensation by $130,000, will be divided among the municipalities. In accordance with the cost-sharing formula agreed to in the JPA, the member jurisdictions are responsible for paying for costs under the Amendment, as follows:
Napa County $42,900
American Canyon $16,640
Calistoga $10,790
Napa $38,870
St. Helena $11,050
Yountville $9,750
Total $130,000
Requested Actions:
1. Approve and authorize Amendment No. 3 to Agreement No. 240241B with Ascent Environmental, Inc. increasing the contract maximum by $130,000 for a new contract maximum of $888,710 for continued and additional specialized services to develop a Regional Climate Action and Adaptation Plan and prepare an Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration CEQA document.
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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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
Preparation of a Climate Action Plan is included in both the General Plan and the Strategic Plan and has been supported by the Board of Supervisors in several Resolutions. |
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Is the general fund affected? |
No |
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Future fiscal impact: |
The project will be completed in FY 2025-2026. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
The County and other jurisdictions will have to prepare/update individual Climate Action Plans. There will be reduced cooperation and coordination in regional greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts, and potentially less access to future grant and/or state funding. |
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.