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C. 25

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	John Kopchik, Director, Conservation & Development Department
Date:	August 8, 2023

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Contract Amendment with Exponent for Services of Dr. Susan Paulsen, Water Resources Consultant

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 08/08/2023

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Ken Carlson, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Ryan Hernandez, 925-655-2919

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 8, 2023
Monica Nino, County Administrator

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Conservation and Development Director or designee to execute, on behalf of the County and the Contra Costa County Water Agency, a contract amendment with Exponent, Inc., to extend the term from December 31, 2023 through December 31, 2024 and increase the payment limit by $50,000 to a new payment limit of $100,000 to provide water resources consulting connected with the State of California’s Delta Conveyance Project.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The $50,000 increase in cost will be funded by the Contra Costa County Water Agency. Pursuant to the executed Reimbursement Agreement between Contra Costa and Solano Counties, Solano will reimburse one half of Exponent’s charges, up to $25,000.

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Conservation and Development currently has a contract with Exponent, Inc. for the services of Susan Paulsen, Ph.D, PE, who has provided expert scientific review on the draft environmental impact report for the State of California’s Delta Conveyance Project (DCP). Dr. Paulsen has prepared the County and Water Agency's "Technical Comments on the Delta Conveyance Project and Associated Draft Environmental Impact Report, Exhibit C" that was submitted to the State prior to the public comment deadline.

Continuing to utilize Dr. Paulsen's extensive knowledge of California water supply issues, including expertise in hydraulics, water quality and water quality modeling specific to the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta for the upcoming Water Right Change Petition hearing before the California State Water Resources Control Board on the DCP, will serve the County’s interests in protecting water quality in the west Delta.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

Failure to approve the contract leaves the County without critical expertise in water resources during the next phase of review of the Delta Conveyance Project.