Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: CM - County Manager (including Budget)

Directors' Update: March 1, 2023

Business Meeting: March 7, 2023

Summary:

Amending a personal services agreement with AMP Insights for preliminary consulting services related to a water bank.  This second amendment adds to the first amended agreement (which included preliminary study and preparation and submission of a Water Banking Pilot Grant Program grant application to the Department of Ecology) to provide for additional work needed for the grant application and to find and vet additional water right(s) for application.

Publications:

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To: Becky Butler; Grace Jimenez

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners has allocated ARPA funds for, among other things, necessary water and sewer infrastructure improvements; and

WHEREAS, a water bank is a form of water supply infrastructure to support future residential, commercial, industrial, and/or agricultural uses as water supplies tighten due to growth over time; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County desires to explore the possibility of a water banking pilot grant from the Department Ecology, which can cover the cost of acquiring and vetting currently unused water rights for deposit into the bank; and

WHEREAS, identifying the type of bank and a suitable set of water rights for such an application requires technical expertise beyond that of county staff; and

WHEREAS, after an informal competitive process as required by 2 CFR § 200.320, AMP Insights' proposal for consulting services was most advantageous; and

WHEREAS, AMP completed preliminary study and presented to the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), and the BOCC decided to pursue an Ecology Water Banking Pilot Program grant application and approved a First Amended Agreement to accomplish that work; and

WHEREAS, there was unexpected additional work related to ensuring the eligibility of one of the water rights proposed to be acquired for the bank, and for searching for an vetting other potential water rights for acquisition; and

WHEREAS, the Board finds the Second Amendment Agreement appropriate for the increased work, within the terms of the original informal competitive solicitation, and in the public interest.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the attached Second Amended Agreement with AMP Insights for consulting services concerning a water bank is approved, and Eric Eisenberg is authorized to sign on behalf of the County.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 7th day of March, 2023.