ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
14.	CONSIDER DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FROM LOCAL WATER PROJECT FUNDING PROGRAM
Meeting Date:			October 20, 2014	Budgeted:	Yes
From:			David J. Stoldt	Program/	Local Water Projects
			General Manager	Line Item No.:	1-10-1
Prepared By:			David J. Stoldt	Cost Estimate:	Not to exceed $200,000
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: Water Supply Planning Committee recommended approval of the grant to the Fairgrounds 2-0 with one abstention, and recommended non-approval of the Pacific Grove request by a vote of 2 to 1.
CEQA Compliance: N/A

SUMMARY: At its June meeting the District Board adopted a budget that included expenditure of up to $200,000 of the Water Supply Charge for development expenses for local water projects. The program requires matching by the local project sponsor. Each jurisdiction and other interested parties (potential Project Sponsors) were solicited to submit an application.

At its July meeting the Board authorized distribution of the grant/loan application for FY2014-15. Applications were due by October 1. Two applications were received. The application from the City of Pacific Grove (Exhibit 14-A) requests $100,000 for its Local Water Project. The application from the Monterey County Fairgrounds (Exhibit 14-B) requests up to $75,000 for a phase 1 feasibility study for the connection of their public restrooms to their on-site well in order to reduce reliance on Cal-Am potable water. The Fairgrounds application intends to create its local match through allocation of freed-up potable water similar to the Airport District grant last year. An application was expected from the Pebble Beach Company with respect to developing a groundwater supply for the Del Monte Golf Course, but preliminary feasibility studies indicated a low likelihood of success. It was also thought that City of Seaside might make a request similar to what was submitted for the recent IRWM application, but no application was received.

Water Supply Planning Committee recommended approval of the grant to the Fairgrounds 2-0 with one abstention, and recommended non-approval of the Pacific Grove request by a vote of 2 to 1. Two of the Committee members expressed concern that the Pure Water Monterey groundwater replenishment project negotiations for a definitive agreement are at a critical stage and it would not be appropriate at this time to financially support a potential reduction in wastewater flows from Pacific Grove to the Regional Treatment Plant. The Committee did, however, restate its support for local projects like Pacific Grove’s that free-up potable water supply.

RECOMMENDATION: The Water Supply Planning Committee recommends approval of the grant to the Fairgrounds, and recommends non-approval of the Pacific Grove request.

DISCUSSION: Project eligibility, requirements that staff and Water Supply Planning Committee will consider are as follows:

Project Purpose: Direct water supply benefit includes the development of a new water supply that may be used to offset the existing unlawful diversions of the California American Water Company from the Carmel River, as affected by the 2009 Cease and Desist Order imposed by the State Water Resources Control Board (“SWRCB”), or may result in a new additional supply of water that may serve future needs of the Monterey Peninsula.

Ancillary benefits may include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Water supply reliability, conservation, and efficiency of use;

· Water quality improvement – river, ocean, groundwater;

· Recycling or reuse of wastewater consistent with SWRCB Recycled Water Policy;

· Reduction of non-point source pollution, or point source discharge consistent with SWRCB Ocean Plan;

· Reduction of carbon-based emissions consistent with California AB32 goals;

· Storm Water capture and reuse consistent with California ASBS policy goals;

· Groundwater recharge;

· Flood management and protection of property; and

· Environmental mitigation, fisheries protection, or habitat restoration;

District Goals: Does the proposed project provide water to meet additional District goals? District goals include the following four goals:

· Can the Project provide water supply to the District for drought/rationing reserve (i.e. water that is not supplied to a beneficial use immediately upon project completion) and if so, how much?

· Can the Project provide water supply to the District for potential future reallocation to the jurisdictions (i.e. water that is not supplied to a beneficial use immediately upon project completion) and if so, how much?

· Can the project be run in a manner that would provide surplus production that could be “banked” into the Seaside Groundwater Basin utilizing the District’s Aquifer Storage and Recovery project?

· Are there multiple benefits to the region or the State as described above?

Evaluation: Projects are evaluated by staff and recommendations made to the Committee based upon the following “Merit Factors.”

· Application contains basic information requested

· Project produces new water supply

· Amount of new supply

· Ancillary benefits demonstrated and determined to be of value to community

· District goals identified above, are met by project.

· Feasibility of Project has been demonstrated.

· Project Schedule is well defined and feasible.

· Project Financing is well defined and contingencies examined and identified.

· Annual Cost of Water is well defined and determined by the District to be consistent with alternate water supply projects, with consideration for ancillary benefits.

· Project status with respect to permits, consultants, and land appear to be consistent with successful project completion.

EXHIBITS

14-A City of Pacific Grove Local Water Project Grant/Loan Application

14-B Monterey County Fairgrounds Local Water Project Grant/Loan Application

U:\staff\Boardpacket\2014\20141020\ActionItem\14\item14.docx