Staff Report 3

Analysis 

Background

Earlier this year, a group of property owners in the Timber Cove County Water District (District) contacted staff with a request that LAFCO conduct a Municipal Service Review (MSR) of the District. After further discussion, notification to the District of the owners’ interest, and reporting to the Commission of the status of the request, staff determined that, due to staff workload, the preparation of the MSR would best be accomplished through the work of an outside consultant.  

In August, staff initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the project. As stated in the RFP, the purpose of the MSR is to inform determinations of the Commission with regard to feasible options for improving the efficiency of public service delivery to those living and working within the District boundary.

Response to RFP

Staff received two proposals in response to the RFP. One proposal was from Municipal Resource Group, LLC, of Danville, and the other was from Plan West Partners, Inc., of Arcata.

The principals and staffs of both companies have extensive experience with LAFCO, with local government, including special districts, and with Municipal Service Reviews. After review of their proposals, staff believes that both consulting companies could effectively conduct the MSR for the Timber Cove County Water District.

Cost

With so many aspects of how the consultants would approach and conduct the MSR being equal, staff ultimately reviewed the cost of the study as proposed by each and determined a recommendation based on cost. Municipal Resource Group projected its cost at $37,129 and Plan West’s stated amount is $24,638.40.

In its review, consideration and approval of the 2019-20 budget, the Commission supported use of monies in the Fund Balance for consultant studies.

Environmental Determination

The Municipal Service Review of the Timber Cove County Water District is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines Section 15306 (Information Collection). This section exempts projects which consists of basic data collection, research, and resource evaluation activities which do not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. In that the purpose of the MSR is to gather information without specific action taken by the Commission, the project is exempt from CEQA.

Recommendation 

Staff requests that the Budget Committee support staff’s recommendation that the Commission authorize the Executive Officer to initiate a contract with Plan West Partners, Inc., the lower bidder for this project

Attached are documents associated with this project, for the Committee’s information.

Attachments 

1. Request from Property Owners for Municipal Service Review
2. Staff Notification of MSR to Timber Cove Water District
3. Request for Proposals
4. Response to RFP from Plan West Partners, Inc.