TO: Members of the Governing Board
FROM: David Morrison, Director - Planning, Building & Environmental Services
REPORT BY: Barb Ruffino, Staff Services Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 210015B (NCGSA) with Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers
RECOMMENDATION
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Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services requests approval of and authorization for the Chair to sign Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 210015B with Luhdorff & Scalmanini Consulting Engineers, increasing the maximum amount by $235,200 for a new total of $2,035,700 for additional services to support the development of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Napa Valley Groundwater Sub-basin.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On June 9, 2020 the Agency entered into Agreement No. 210015B with Luhdorff & Scalmanini for specialized services to support the development of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Napa Valley Groundwater Subbasin. This proposed amendment increases the contract maximum by $235,200 for tasks including additional stakeholder outreach/engagement, GSP development, development of the NV Integrated Hydrologic Model as well as revision of the County’s Groundwater Ordinance and Water Availability Analysis.
Given Luhdorff & Scalmanini’s past and current performance providing these specialized services as well as their knowledge and experience of local Napa County issues Luhdorff & Scalmanini remain well suited to assist staff with the preparation of a Groundwater Sustainability Plan.
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? |
27200-00 |
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Is it Mandatory or Discretionary? |
Discretionary |
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Discretionary Justification: |
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: |
There is no future fiscal impact as the GSP will be completed in FY 21/22. |
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Consequences if not approved: |
Submittal of GSP to State by deadline of January 31, 2022 will be jeopardized. |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Vibrant and Sustainable Environment |
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.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
In September 2014, the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) was signed into law. SGMA provides a framework for long-term sustainable groundwater management across California. It requires that local authorities in medium- and high-priority groundwater basins form a locally-controlled and governed Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA), to prepare and implement a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP). GSP’s are detailed road maps for how groundwater basins will reach and/or maintain long term sustainability. GSPs for the remaining high- and medium-priority basins in California are due to the (DWR) by January 31, 2022. As part of their SGMA 2019 Basin Prioritization, DWR designated the Napa Valley Groundwater Subbasin as a high-priority basin due to the local reliance on groundwater resources. The Napa Valley Subbasin is the only groundwater basin in Napa County at this time that requires a GSP.
On June 9, 2020 the Agency entered into an agreement with Luhdorff & Scalmanini to provide technical and highly specialized services needed for the GSA to comply with GSP and SGMA Regulations. The agreement included tasks to support groundwater stakeholder outreach and involvement, development of a GSP for the Napa Valley Subbasin supported by an integrated hydrogeologic model, collection, management and dissemination of groundwater data, installation of groundwater/surface water monitoring facilities and reporting of annual groundwater conditions to the public, DWR’s SGMA portal and the California Statewide Groundwater Elevation Monitoring Program.
Amendment No. 1 provides additional funding for increased stakeholder engagement , GSP development, development of the NV Integrated Hydrologic Model as well as the task to revise the County’s Groundwater Ordinance and Water Availability Analysis.
Director of Planning, Building and Environmental Services recommends that the Board of Directors approve Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 210015B (NGSA) with Luhdorff and Scalmanini Consulting Engineers in the amount of $2,035,700.