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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09132011 - C.74RECOMMENDATION(S): APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Department of Conservation & Development Director, or her designee, to execute a contract amendment with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) to allow an increase from $532,948.00 to a total amount not to exceed $605,936.00 and to extend the contract period from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012, for providing continued service to complete the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Tres Vaqueros Windfarm Project. FISCAL IMPACT: None. The contract is funded 100% through permit application fees paid by the project applicant. BACKGROUND: The Department of Conservation & Development contracted with Environmental Science Associates (ESA) in December 2009 to prepare the environmental impact report (EIR) for the Tres Vaqueros Windfarm Project. The contract was set to expire on December 31, 2010. However, in Fall 2010 the project applicant redesigned a portion of the project and changed the project description, which necessitated unanticipated additional analysis by ESA and APPROVE OTHER RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE Action of Board On: 09/13/2011 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER Clerks Notes: VOTE OF SUPERVISORS AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor Contact: Will Nelson, (925) 335-1208 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: September 13, 2011 David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors By: June McHuen, Deputy cc: C. 74 To:Board of Supervisors From:Catherine Kutsuris, Conservation & Development Director Date:September 13, 2011 Contra Costa County Subject:Contract Amendment with Environmental Science Associates for Preparation of the Environmental Impact Report for the Tres Vaqueros Windfarm Project revisions to already-completed BACKGROUND: (CONT'D) sections of the Administrative Draft EIR (Tasks 3-4 in the original contract). The contract was extended to June 30, 2011, but the payment limit was not increased because the contract contained a contingency and the final cost to complete the additional analysis and revisions was not known at the time. The Draft EIR has now been published and public comments have been received, making it possible to more accurately estimate the costs associated with preparing the Final EIR (Tasks 6 and 7 in the original contract). It is now clear that because of the unanticipated work performed on the Administrative Draft EIR, the existing payment limit is insufficient to allow completion of the Final EIR, hence the payment increase. Also, as a result of now knowing the public comments on the Draft EIR, Tasks 6 and 7 in the original contract are being revised and reorganized into Tasks 6, 7A, and 7B in order to be more specific. The revision and reorganization will also align the tasks more closely with the required elements of the environmental review process. CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION: If the Board of Supervisors does not take the recommended action, then the EIR for the Tres Vaqueros Windfarm project will not be completed. CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: No impact.