Title
Community Development Agency, Long Range Planning Division, recommending the Board enter into a perpetual Agreement for Services 202-S1711 with Aquatic Science Center in the amount of $20,000 annually, inclusive of all costs and subject to a maximum annual adjustment of five percent, for the Delta Regional Monitoring Program as part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Compliance for the West Slope.
FUNDING: General Fund (50%) and Road Fund (50% - Local Funds from Public Utility Franchise Fees).
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
Community Development Agency (CDA), Long Range Planning Division, recommending the Board execute the perpetual contract to enter into an Agreement for Services 202-S1711 with the Aquatic Science Center (Agreement), for the Delta Regional Monitoring Program (Delta RMP).
Pursuant to Section 4.5 of Board of Supervisors Policy C-17, the perpetual term of this Agreement must be initially approved by the Board and reviewed annually thereafter to confirm these ongoing services.
Additionally, the Community Development Agency has determined, in accordance with County Ordinance Section 3.13.030, that special skills and qualifications are required to perform the work associated with the Delta Regional Monitoring Program.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Because the West Slope of the County has more than 50,000 people, the County is required to conduct some form of water quality monitoring, as outlined in Section E.13 of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for the West Slope. To satisfy this requirement, the County attempted to perform a Special Study, which it wanted to contract out due to special skills and qualifications, and spent 17 months conversing with Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (CVRWQCB) staff on it. The County was unable to obtain final direction from CVRWQCB staff and as a result, in order to comply with the General Permit, it has chosen to abandon the Special Study and join the Delta RMP. The County received a letter from the CVRWQCB dated April 1, 2016, stating the County is approved to participate in the Delta RMP. The Aquatic Science Center administers the Delta RMP, and thus the proposed Agreement is necessary for the County to pay its financial contribution to the Delta RMP to be in compliance with the NPDES Permit requirements.
The County designed study, which was not approved by CVRWQCB, was similar in cost and scope to the work that the Delta RMP will conduct.
What is the Delta Regional Monitoring Program
The Delta Regional Monitoring Program (RMP) is a stakeholder-directed project formed to develop water quality data necessary for improving the understanding of Delta water quality issues. The goal of this effort is to better coordinate and design current and future monitoring activities in and around the Delta to create a cost effective approach for providing critically needed water quality information to better inform policy and regulatory decisions of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board and other Federal, State and local agencies and organizations.
ALTERNATIVES
County staff attempted to perform a Special Study, with an outside contrator, to be in compliance with water quality monitoring requirements; however, the County was unable to obtain final direction from CVRWQCB staff. As a result, in order to comply with the General Permit, staff recommends abandoning the Special Study and joining the Delta RMP.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The annual services amount of this Agreement shall be $20,000, inclusive of all costs and expenses. The annual services amount may be adjusted by a maximum of five percent (5%) per year, which shall require written approval and acceptance by the County’s Contract Administrator prior to the new annual services rate becoming effective. The current adopted Fiscal Year 2016/17 budget for Long Range Planning includes sufficient funding for the first year of the Agreement, and future year payments will be included in the applicable proposed budgets. Expenditures on NPDES West Slope Permit requirements are funded by the General Fund (50%) and Road Fund (50%).
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain the Chair’s signature on two (2) originals of the Agreement and send one (1) original back to CDA, for distribution to the Aquatic Science Center.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Brendan Ferry, Principal Planner