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Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to sign the First Amendment to Agreement 6820 with the El Dorado County Water Agency, revising the project list to add the South Tahoe Public Utilities District Fire Hydrant Intertie Improvement Project in the amount of $114,882.10 by reallocating funds from the Outingdale Dam Rehabilitation Project, which finished under budget, and updating the El Dorado County Fairgrounds Project description, with no increase in compensation or change to the term of the Agreement.
FUNDING: American Rescue Plan Act Funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which allocated $1.9 trillion to assist in the recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. El Dorado County received a direct allocation of $37.46 million.
On November 9, 2021, with Legistar Item 21-1680, the Board allocated $6,020,000 in ARPA funds for water infrastructure projects identified as "Tier 1" projects by the El Dorado County Water Agency:
Fairgrounds Water Quality and Drainage Improvements $400,000
Rubicon Tank 1 Water Feed Line Replacement $75,000
Lower Meeks Bay Pressure Reducing Station $200,000
Sly Park Intertie Improvement $750,000
Outingdale Dam Rehabilitation $440,000
South Upper Truckee Erosion Control Project* $575,000
Grizzly Flats Pump Station Reliability Improvements $2,530,000
Grizzly Flats Reservoir Lining Rehabilitation $300,000
Rubicon Wells 2 and 3 Backup Power Project $200,000
West Lake Tahoe Regional Water Treatment Plant $500,000
Georgetown Divide Water System Assessment $50,000
TOTAL $6,020,000
*The South Upper Truckee Erosion Control Project will be completed by the County's Transportation Department. The remaining projects, totaling $5,445,000 will be administered by EDCWA, who will further sub-award funds to various implementing agencies.
On July 6, 2022, with Legistar Item 22-1288, the Board approved Agreement 6820 providing the full $5,445,000 in funding to be disbursed to the EDCWA for the Board approved projects.
Through the implementation of the projects, the EDCWA has requested the approved project list be changed as follows:
The El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) was allocated $440,000 for the Outingdale Dam Rehabilitation Project. The project has now been completed and came in under budget by $114,882.10. EID made EDCWA aware that the project was going to come in under budget, so this information was brought to the EDCWA Board for consideration on how to reallocate this remaining funding. The Amendment reduces the Outingdale Dam Rehabilitation project funding by $114,882.10 to a new total of $325,117.90.
On September 13, 2023, the EDCWA Board was presented with several options for use of the residual funds spanning from re-solicitation of projects to selection of an already identified project that meets the ARPA criteria for water resources projects. The EDCWA Board selected the South Tahoe Public Utilities District’s (STPUD) fire hydrant installation project as the preferred option for use of the residual funds in the amount of $114,882.10. EDCWA has confirmed with STPUD that this project is viable, still needs funding to implement, and can meet all ARPA requirements including procurement and schedule constraints. The Amendment adds the STPUD Fire Hydrant Installation Project in the amount of $114,882.10.
The El Dorado County Fair Association Project of $400,000 was described in the Agreement as a replacement of the underground culvert. The Fair Association was directly awarded ARPA funds for the culvert repairs with Legistar 22-0664. The Amendment revises the Fairgrounds project description to align with the original project description presented to the Board, as a rehabilitation of the primary drainage channel on the Fairgrounds. The revised project description has been reviewed by the El Dorado County Fair Association.
The First Amendment also updates the Notices and Contract Administrator article to reflect changes in staffing at the EDCWA and Chief Administrative Office. The amendment does not increase compensation or the term of the Agreement.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the Amendment and the original spending plan would remain in place.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel and Risk Management have reviewed and approved the Amendment. The Water Agency Board of Directors approved the change in spending plan on September 13, 2023.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of the Amendment will not increase the amount of ARPA funding to the EDWCA.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair’s signature on two copies of the Amendment and forward one copy to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Emma Owens, Principal Management Analyst