CC 2018-08-28_09e Agreement NCMA Annual Report
MEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SHANE TAYLOR, UTILITIES MANAGER
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR THE
NORTHERN CITIES MANAGEMENT AREA ANNUAL REPORT AND
MONITORING PROGRAM
DATE: AUGUST 28, 2018
SUMMARY OF ACTION:
Take action to approve an agreement to produce the 2018 Northern Cities Management
Area (NCMA) Annual Report.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
The City’s share for the agreement is $60,466, which is within the $60,500 in the FY
2018/19 budget for this service. City staff spends an estimated 250 hours a year on
NCMA activities.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute an agreement for consultant services with
GSI Water Solutions, Inc.
BACKGROUND:
The City has continued to participate with neighboring jurisdictions in the preparation of
required reports and studies concerning management of the Santa Maria Groundwater
Basin. Water sampling and preparation of the Annual Report is required by the Court’s
decision in the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin Adjudication. The Annual Report is
prepared by a mutually secured technical consultant firm that is funded proportionally by
all of the participating NCMA agencies. The 2017 NCMA Annual Report was prepared
by GSI Water Solutions, Inc. The agreement with GSI Water Solutions, Inc. (GSI) will
expire on September 13, 2018.
The City has participated with representatives from neighboring jurisdictions to form the
Northern Cities Management Area Technical Group (NCMA TG) in order to coordinate
these water management activities. The NCMA represents the following agencies with
their respective groundwater pumping entitlements:
Urban Area Groundwater Allotment Ag Credit Total
City of Arroyo Grande 1,202 121 1,323
City of Grover Beach 1,198 209 1,405
City of Pismo Beach 700 0 700
Oceano Community Services
Dist.
900 0 900
Item 9.e. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR THE NCMA ANNUAL
REPORT AND MONITORING PROGRAM
AUGUST 28, 2018
PAGE 2
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
The collaborative approach to groundwater management was formalized in the 2002
Management Agreement between the Northern Cities, Northern Landowners, and Other
Parties, and incorporated in the 2005 Settlement Stipulation for the Santa Maria
Groundwater Basin Adjudication (Stipulation). On June 30, 2005 the Stipulation was
agreed upon by numerous parties, including the Northern Cities, referred to as the
“Settlement Agreement,” which was reduced to a Judgement in 2008. The Judgment
orders the stipulating parties to comply with all terms of the Stipulation, including annual
groundwater monitoring and reporting.
In July of 2016, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was advertised and distributed to potential
engineering firms. GSI was selected from the submitting consultant firms following a
proposal rating process. The RFP provided the Northern Cities with an option to award
the contract for the 2017 - 2020 NCMA Annual Monitoring Reports to the selected
consultant. GSI prepared the 2017 Annual Report and staff has been satisfied with the
quality of their work. Therefore, staff recommends exercising the option to award the
contract for the 2018 Annual Report to GSI. The scope of work for the 2018 Annual Report
is included in the proposed agreement. The consultant services agreement is proposed
to be a one-year agreement. Costs are split between all NCMA agencies in accordance
with the percentage of each agency’s groundwater allocation. The cost for the 2018
NCMA Annual Report is also proposed to include a 10% contingency amount to cover
anticipated enhanced monitoring and testing needs resulting from declining groundwater
levels. All NCMA agencies are required by the Court action to participate in the
preparation of the annual report.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the Consultant Services Agreement with GSI Water Solutions, Inc. in
the amount of $60,500, which includes a 10% contingency, in connection with the
annual monitoring report;
2. Do not approve the agreement; or
3. Provide direction to staff.
ADVANTAGES:
Preparation of the Annual Report satisfies the judgment ordering the parties to perform
annual groundwater monitoring and reporting. In addition, implementation of the
monitoring and reporting program, which identifies changes in water levels and quality
enables the City and its partner jurisdictions to react quickly to any issue affecting the
water supply in the groundwater basin. The monitoring program has provided a
mechanism allowing all parties to be better informed with regard to the changing condition
of the basin, and consequently, has allowed for the opportunity for better collaboration
between the City and partner jurisdictions included in the Arroyo Grande Groundwater
Basin Management Agreement.
Item 9.e. - Page 2
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF AN AGREEMENT FOR THE NCMA ANNUAL
REPORT AND MONITORING PROGRAM
AUGUST 28, 2018
PAGE 3
The GSI team includes staff with local experience, a track record of meeting reporting
requirements of adjudicated basins, extensive prior involvement with NCMA and is well
suited to lead the preparation of the 2018 Annual Groundwater Monitoring Report.
DISADVANTAGES:
By approving the agreement, the City will need to pay its share of the cost according to
the Arroyo Grande Groundwater Basin Management Agreement.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted at City Hall and on the City’s website in accordance with
Government Code Section 54954.2.
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