The County and the Water Agency are petitioners in the lawsuit County of San Joaquin, et al. v. Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, et al. (San Joaquin Co. Super. Ct. Case No. STK-CV-UWM-2016-3596), filed April 14, 2016. On May 10, 2016, the Board of Supervisors authorized the County Counsel to execute two agreements in connection with the lawsuit: (1) a joint representation and cost allocation agreement, executed by all six petitioners in the case – Contra Costa County, the Contra Costa County Water Agency, San Joaquin County, Central Delta Water Agency, the Planning and Conservation League, and Food & Water Watch; and (2) a contract for legal services with the law firm of Shore, McKinley & Conger, LLP, to represent the four public agencies in the lawsuit. Under this contract, the County and Water Agency are jointly responsible for paying one-third of the fees charged by the firm and one-third of costs incurred in this case. The other two public agencies will each be responsible for one-third of fees charged and costs incurred.
The requested budget adjustment will appropriate funds to the County Administrator's budget to pay County Counsel costs and invoices from Shore, McKinley & Conger, LLP, in a total amount not to exceed $250,000.