To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Brown and Supervisor McCowen
Meeting Date: February 25, 2020
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Department Contact: |
Supervisor Brown |
Phone: |
463-4441 |
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Department Contact: |
Supervisor McCowen |
Phone: |
463-4441 |
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Item Type: Regular Agenda |
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Time Allocated for Item: 10 mins |
Agenda Title:
title
Discussion and Possible Action Including Authorization of Allocation of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) to the Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) to Continue the Feasibility Study of a Potential Licensing Proposal for the Potter Valley Project and Other Related Costs
(Sponsors: Supervisors Brown and McCowen)
End
Recommended Action/Motion:
recommendation
Authorize the allocation of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) to the Inland Water and Power Commission (IWPC) to continue the Feasibility Study of a Potential Licensing Proposal for the Potter Valley Project and other related costs.
End
Previous Board/Board Committee Actions:
On October 16, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved the allocation of $25,000 to IWPC for the investigation and negotiation of potential acquisition of the Potter Valley Project. On May 14, 2019, the Board approved the allocation of $50,000 to IWPC for a feasibility study of a potential licensing proposal for the Potter Valley Project.
Summary of Request:
Last year, MCIWPC, Sonoma Water, County of Humboldt, CalTrout and the Round Valley Indian Tribes agreed to collaborate to prepare a feasibility study that would lead to a “Two Basin Solution” that could be submitted to FERC. Currently, the jointly-retained consultant team, led by Stillwater Sciences, is in the midst of preparing the feasibility study. That study is scheduled for completion in April and, if there is agreement among the planning agreement partners, a report reflecting that agreement will be submitted to FERC.
The work by Stillwater Sciences and the ongoing collaboration with the planning agreement parties is requiring extensive work by MCIWPC, our FERC consultant, Tom Johnson, and our outside counsel, David Aladjem. Much of the discussion that is currently taking place, for instance regarding how the project could be financed in the future or how it could be governed, requires considerable work by these two individuals and their respective expertise. Accordingly, MCIWPC is requesting that each member agency contribute an additional $25,000 to continue funding the required work. MCIWPC believes that these funds will probably be sufficient to complete the feasibility study. At that point in time, MCIWPC and our members will need to evaluate what has happened, how we can move forward, and the appropriate allocation of costs. Previous contributions from prior fiscal years were funded through Budget Unit 1940 - Miscellaneous. Supervisor Brown and McCowen recommend utilizing Budget Unit 1940 for this project and making a $25,000 budgetary adjustment with available funds as part of the mid-year budget adjustments on March 10, 2020.
Alternative Action/Motion:
Do not approve allocation of funds and provide alternative direction.
Supervisorial District: District 1, 2 and 5
vote requirement: Majority
Supplemental Information Available Online At: N/A
Fiscal Details:
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source of funding: Available general funds at Mid-year |
budgeted in current f/y: No |
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current f/y cost: $25,000 |
if no, please describe: |
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annual recurring cost: unknown |
revenue agreement: N/A |
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budget clarification: Identify available general funds at mid-year on March 10, 2020. |
Agreement/Resolution/Ordinance Approved by County Counsel: N/A
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CEO Liaison: Executive Office |
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CEO Review: Yes |
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CEO Comments:
FOR COB USE ONLY
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Executed By: Lindsey Dunham, Deputy Clerk I |
Final Status:Approved |
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Date: February 27, 2020 |
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