To: Board of Supervisors
From: Board of Supervisors
Meeting Date: September 28, 2021
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Department Contact: |
Supervisor McGourty |
Phone: |
463-4441 |
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Department Contact: |
Amber Fisette |
Phone: |
463-4363 |
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Item Type: Consent Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: N/A |
Agenda Title:
title
Approval of Annual Allocation of Funds in the Amount of Sixty Eight Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($68,750) to the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, for Agency Administration and Implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, until Such a Time that a Regulatory Fee or Other Funding Mechanism is Implemented (Ukiah Area)
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Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Approve annual allocation of funds in the amount of sixty eight thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($68,750) to the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency, for Agency administration and implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan, until such a time that a regulatory fee or other funding mechanism is implemented (Ukiah Area)
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Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
By Resolution Number (No.) 17-056 (April 18, 2017), the Board approved Board of Supervisors (BOS) Agreement No. 17-015, a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) Forming the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency and committing the County of Mendocino to act as the Agency's Treasurer and Controller. On July 10, 2018, the Board approved BOS Agreement No. 18-104 with Larry Walker and Associates for the development of the Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan, funded by a Proposition 1 Groundwater Sustainability Planning Grant from the California Department of Water Resources. On June 23, 2020, the Board approved the First Amendment to BOS Agreement 18-104 with Larry Walker and Associates for the development of the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Sustainability Plan for the Additional Amount of $1,037,140.
Summary of Request:
The Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Agency (UVBGSA) is a JPA comprised of the County of Mendocino, City of Ukiah, Russian River Flood Control & Water Conservation Improvement District (RRFC), and Upper Russian River Water Agency (URRWA). Pursuant to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), the UVBGSA’s Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) is currently in development, and is required to be implemented beginning in January 2022. A GSP is a 20-year plan to ensure the sustainable use of groundwater within a groundwater basin. The goal of the GSP is to establish a standard for “sustainability” of groundwater management and use, and to determine how the basin will achieve this standard.
On August 13, 2021, the UVBGSA Board of Directors met to discuss funding for the implementation of the GSP and ongoing administrative costs of the UVBGSA. Following a presentation by the Financial Ad Hoc Committee, the Board adopted the Committee’s recommendations including funding by member contributions in the immediate future, subject to commitment of funds by the respective Boards and Councils, until such a time that fees can be imposed. The Board also supported conducting a study in order to implement a regulatory fee for long-term funding.
The estimated average annual costs for GSP implementation and UVBGSA administration over the next five years are $275,000 or $68,750 annually for each of the four Member Agencies. That amount includes funding for administration, monitoring and reporting, grant writing, legal fees, and conducting the study necessary to implement a regulatory fee to support the agency long-term. Based on the projected budget, the UVBGSA respectfully requests each Member Agency commit to additional contributions in the annual amount of $68,750, beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021/22, until such a time that a regulatory fee can be implemented for ongoing funding of the UVBGSA. It is anticipated the fee study and implementation of a regulatory fee will take 2-3 years, although no timeline is guaranteed. If this request is approved, a FY 2021/22 First Quarter budget adjustment of $68,750 will be processed through Budget Unit (BU) 0326, and the annual contribution will be budgeted accordingly in future years.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not approve allocation of funds and provide alternative direction.
How Does This Item Support the General Plan? It supports water supply sustainability and development and compliance with state law.
Supervisorial District: Districts 1, 2, & 5
vote requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: <https://www.mendocinocounty.org/government/affiliated-agencies/ukiah-valley-basin-gsa>
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: General Fund |
budgeted in current f/y: No |
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current f/y cost: $68,750 |
if no, please describe: Previous contributions from prior fiscal years were funded through BU 0326 - Water Agency. It is recommended to utilize BU 0326 for this project and make a budgetary adjustments with available funds. |
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annual recurring cost: $68,750 |
revenue agreement: No |
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budget clarification: Requesting additional allocation of funds from General Fund. |
Agreement/Resolution/Ordinance Approved by County Counsel: N/A
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CEO Liaison: Judy Morris, Deputy CEO |
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CEO Review: Choose an item. |
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CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Atlas Pearson, Deputy Clerk I |
Final Status:Approved |
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Date: September 29, 2021 |
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