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Templeton board affirms roughly $557,000 to reimburse county for NASI recharge design work
Summary
The Templeton Community Services District voted to commit about $557,000 of previously budgeted funds to reimburse the county for design work on the NASI recharge and recovery project after staff said FEMA hazard-mitigation funding appears unlikely in the near term.
The Templeton Community Services District on Jan. 21 approved a motion to reimburse the county flood control/flood and water control district roughly $557,000 toward design services for the NASI recharge and recovery project, a component of the district’s long-term plan to percolate NASI Meadow water for future use.
Staff told the board the county would lead design and environmental work for a replacement turnout and preliminary pipeline work and that the district would reimburse those costs. Staff said FEMA hazard-mitigation funding, which had been expected to cover most of the work, is now uncertain after a review at higher levels of FEMA; the district has therefore reduced the county-led scope (removing the percolation-pond design) to lower near-term costs while preserving the option to proceed if funding is later secured.
The board discussed project history, including a Jan. 9, 2023 storm that exposed and damaged pipeline segments and prompted an alternatives analysis that recommended relocating the turnout off the river and deeper below the channel. Staff emphasized the county’s ability to manage rights-of-way and handle design tasks that would have been costly and time-consuming for district staff.
A member of the public, Jeff English, urged the board to proceed promptly: "This is our board's previous long-term water strategy ... we should just keep moving forward and not delay," he said.
After questions about cost estimates and contingency planning, a director moved to affirm the district’s commitment to reimburse the county for up to the stated amount. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with four ayes and one absence.
Board members and staff said they will return with refined engineering estimates and a possible additional budget request should the district decide to move forward with the remainder of the construction scope. County staff is expected to consider a related budget adjustment by the end of February, which could clarify whether the county can proceed with the design work.
