To: The Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors
From: Warren Lai, Public Works Director/Chief Engineer
Report Title: Memorandum of Agreement to Provide Funding and Support for the Operations, Maintenance, and Enhancements of the Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information Program, Countywide. (100% Flood Control District Funds)
Recommendation: Recommendation of the County Administrator
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Acting as the governing body of the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (FCD), APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Chief Engineer, or designee, to execute a Memorandum of Agreement to provide funding in the amount of $162,490 over five years for the Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information (AQPI) program with the University of California San Diego Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, the Sonoma County Water Agency, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, the Santa Clara Valley Water District, the East Bay Dischargers Authority, the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District, the Alameda County Water District, the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, Zone 7 Water Agency, and West County Wastewater.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost share for the FCD contribution to the Memorandum of Agreement will be $162,490 over a five-year period, calculated as an annual cost of $30,000 increased four percent annually, funded by 100% Flood Control District Funds. Project No. 7505-6F8173
BACKGROUND:
In 2016, the Bay Area Integrated Regional Water Management Planning Group, represented by the San Francisco Estuary Partnership, received a grant from the Department of Water Resources for the San Francisco Bay Area AQPI System Project. The AQPI Project will create the AQPI System that will provide early notification of more precise rainfall location, intensity, and amounts, by utilizing regional radar facilities and developing standard and customizable data delivery systems accessible to participating agencies. The AQPI System will allow for better situational awareness, the improved operations of combined sewer and wastewater systems, the improved operations of flood protection facilities, better management of water supply reservoirs, improved emergency response, and a myriad of other benefits to transportation and other business sectors for the entire Bay Area.
On July 28, 2020, the Board approved the FCD to enter into a “Planning Agreement to form the San Francisco Bay Area Advanced Quantitative Precipitation Information System Project Local Partner Agencies Committee” (LPAC Agreement) with multiple local agencies to coordinate the regional San Francisco Bay Area AQPI System Project. The LPAC Agreement required the parties to meet periodically and develop a subsequent agreement among relevant and willing parties.
The Memorandum of Agreement is the resulting product of coordination between the parties and formalizes the ongoing financial and technical support for operations, maintenance, and enhancements to the AQPI program. Each participating agency is required to contribute an annual funding share to the program and may designate one representative to the Local Sponsor Advisory Board, which supersedes the Local Partner Agencies Committee and its functions. The Local Sponsor Advisory Board shall be required to meet biannually and will be responsible for program oversight, including providing recommendations for program direction, prioritization, and outcomes.
The FCD recommends approval of the Memorandum of Agreement and associated cost share. The Memorandum of Agreement was reviewed and approved as to form by County Counsel.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If the Memorandum of Agreement is not approved, the FCD will not be able to designate a representative to the Local Sponsor Advisory Board for the AQPI program, greatly limiting FCD’s ability to provide oversight to the program, as well as recommendations for direction, prioritization, and outcomes.