GSA appropriates $2.398 million for domestic well mitigation and approves program rule amendments
Loading...
Summary
Committee approved appropriating $2,398,000 of previously collected GSP project fee revenue to fund the domestic well mitigation program and recommended rule and resolution amendments to streamline implementation, including a nonrefundable deposit for ineligible applicants and a three‑bid requirement.
Madera County — The GSA committee moved to align previously collected project fee revenue with the domestic well mitigation program and recommended rule changes intended to speed implementation.
Jared Weeks (Madera County GSA) told the committee that revenue from the previously approved GSP project fee (item 25072) — $2,398,000 — had been collected but not formally appropriated in the current fiscal year. He asked the committee to approve appropriation of those funds to the GSA’s professional and specialized services budget for FY25/26 to support the domestic well mitigation program. "This action does not establish a new fee," Weeks said; directors approved the appropriation by roll call, 2–0.
Weeks also presented implementation progress: final program rules, bilingual applications, a landowner agreement undergoing legal review, public outreach materials including flyers and postcards, a program website (maderadrywell.com), and a bilingual phone line. Staff said implementation has begun and the program had completed its first two applicants.
To streamline delivery, staff proposed amendments to Resolution 2025‑141 to clarify that application deposits are nonrefundable for ineligible applicants, to require three bids for contractor selection (with two from the GSA’s prequalified driller list), and to authorize milestone payments and advances up to specified limits (staff noted approvals not to exceed $35,500 for certain actions). Jared said work will be backed by financial documentation and eligibility checks and that contract terms and milestone payment schedules will be included in agreements between the landowner and the GSA.
Directors and public asked about assessment costs and the firm performing field assessments; staff said LSCE will perform field assessments under contract with the county’s consultant, and that staff will return with per‑assessment cost estimates. The committee approved the resolution amendments and implementation approach 2–0.
