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MCOG approves amendment to Dow & Associates contract to add staff, cover higher costs for regional energy program
Summary
The Mendocino Council of Governments approved a second amendment to the administrative and fiscal services contract with Dow & Associates to add a dedicated staff position, cover higher direct costs for energy-efficiency kits and marketing, and allow a retired staff member reduced hours during transition.
The Mendocino Council of Governments voted to approve a second amendment to the Dow & Associates administrative and fiscal services contract that will add a dedicated staff position and increase direct spending for the county's portion of the Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) program.
MCOG staff told the board the amendment follows a voluntary reallocation of NREN funds by partner agencies so Mendocino and Lake counties could receive more funding for on-the-ground work after the partnership reached its final configuration in 2024. The amendment adds funding for one dedicated NREN staff person in Mendocino County, more paid marketing and a larger number of energy-efficiency kits to offset rising kit costs, the staff presentation said.
Staff also said the amendment accommodates an anticipated retirement: Janet, an MCOG employee identified in the staff report, would be allowed to continue working an average of eight hours a week after retirement to support transition and budget-cycle tasks. The amendment adds $11,000 from the Local Transportation Funds (LTF) fund balance to cover some of those additional hours, the presentation said.
Board members did not propose amendments during the discussion and the item drew no public comment. A motion to approve the amendment was moved and seconded; a roll-call vote showed all present board members voting in the affirmative. The clerk recorded yes votes from Director Raffinan, Director Klein, Director Ollini, Director Hansen, Director Carter, Director Chris and Chair Haschek.
The staff report said the reallocation came from other partners — listed in board materials as the Sierra Business Council and Redwood Coast Energy Authority — and that the NREN total budget cannot be increased systemwide until 2028. The amendment therefore reallocates existing NREN funds to Mendocino County for the current contract period and identifies one year of staffing costs in the attached budget. Staff said construction or direct expenses (the energy-efficiency kits) are funded directly through MCOG's budget and are not part of the Dow & Associates administrative contract.
