5 - Supervisor Williams, Supervisor Capps, Supervisor Hartmann,
Supervisor Nelson, and Supervisor Lavagnino
Ayes:
A-17)
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Consider recommendations regarding an Agreement for Services with Environmental Science
Associates (ESA) and California Energy Commission (CEC) Grant, as follows:
a) Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Director of the Planning and Development Department, or
designee, (1) to accept grant funds from the California Clean Energy Planning Program (CCEPP)
by and through the CEC as part of the County’s Utility-Scale Solar Comprehensive Plan and
Ordinance Amendments, for Fiscal Years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 in the amount of
$100,000.00, (2) to execute a grant agreement upon review and approval of Auditor-Controller,
County Counsel, and Risk Management, and (3) to make any certifications and assurances that
may be required by the grant agreement;
b) Approve, ratify, and authorize the Chair to execute an Agreement for Services of Independent
Contractor with ESA to provide professional services in the preparation of Utility-Scale Solar
Comprehensive Plan and Ordinance Amendments to allow utility-scale solar development,
including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) compliance, for the period of September
12, 2024, to June 30, 2026, with a base amount not to exceed $488,335.00. This Agreement
converts a Purchase Order to a Board Contract and increases funding by $352,836.00, for a
revised total contract amount not to exceed $502,985.00, inclusive of $150,149.00 under
Purchase Order CN6619 (as previously amended by CO7809), but which otherwise cancels,
nullifies, and supersedes Purchase Order CN6619, as previously amended;
c) Authorize the Planning and Development Department Director, or the Planning and Development
Director’s designee, to:
i) Approve up to a 3 percent contingency cost not to exceed $14,650.00 for services being
performed under the Agreement for Services of Independent Contractor, for a total Agreement
amount not to exceed $502,985.00;
ii) Approve changes or additions in the services being performed under the Agreement for Services
of Independent Contractor, provided the Agreement does not exceed the base amount plus the 3
percent contingency identified in the Agreement; and
iii) Make immaterial changes in accordance with Section 35 of the Agreement for Services of
Independent Contractor; and
d) Determine that the Agreement for Services of Independent Contractor and the Board of
Supervisors’ actions are not a project and, therefore, are exempt from the CEQA pursuant to the
State CEQA Guidelines Sections 15060(c)(3) and 15378(b)(5).
