ITEM:

CONSENT CALENDAR

 

6.

CONSIDER EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS TO CONTRACT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO EVALUATE ECONOMIC AND COST ALLOCATION ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROPOSED COASTAL WATER AND REGIONAL WATER SUPPLY PROJECTS

 

Meeting Date:

June 15, 2009

Budgeted:

No

 

From:

Darby Fuerst,

Program:

Water Supply Projects

 

General Manager

Line Item No.: 

N/A

 

Prepared By:

Andrew M. Bell

Cost Estimate:

$20,000

 

General Counsel Approval:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  The Administrative Committee considered this item on June 8, 2009 and recommended approval.

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

SUMMARY:  As a party in the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) proceeding for California American Water’s (Cal-Am) application for the Coastal Water Project (CWP), the District is preparing testimony for formal hearings on the scope and costs of the CWP and water supply alternatives identified in the Draft EIR for the CWP.  Many of the issues identified by the CPUC Administrative Law Judge reflect not only the costs of the project, but also the area to be served and financing of the project.  Staff proposes that the District retain a consultant to be the District’s expert witness on economic and cost allocation issues.

 

RECOMMENDATION:  The Board should receive a report by staff including a recommendation to retain a financial consultant to address economic and cost allocation issues in the CPUC proceeding for the CWP.   Staff recommends that the Board authorize the General Manager to enter into a professional services agreement with David J. Stoldt for professional services described in Exhibit 6-A at a cost not-to-exceed $20,000.

 

BACKGROUND:  On March 26, 2009, the CPUC issued the document attached as Exhibit 6-B, which states issues to be addressed in formal hearings on Cal-Am’s CWP.  For more convenient identification in Exhibit 6-B, staff has circled and numbered the items identified by the Administrative Law Judge and the Assigned Commissioner for the proceeding.   Circled items 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 17, and 19 include issues the financial consultant will assist the District in addressing.  District Counsel David Laredo is coordinating staff’s efforts in this proceeding.

 

EXHIBITS

6-A  Consultant Scope of Services

6-B  Joint Scoping Memo Ruling of Assigned Commissioner and Administrative Law Judge Setting Forth Scope and Schedule for Phase 2 (A.04-09-019), March 26, 2009

 

 

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