Title
Consider amendment to the Joint Funding Agreement for the implementation of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan by and between the Edwards Aquifer Authority and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the San Antonio River Authority, the City of Victoria, the City of San Antonio acting through the City Public Service Board, the Guadalupe Basin Coalition, and the Union Carbide Corporation.
Body
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move the board approve an amendment to the Joint Funding Agreement (JFA) for the implementation of the Habitat Conservation Plan by and between the Edwards Aquifer Authority and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the San Antonio River Authority, the City of Victoria, the City of San Antonio acting through the City Public Service Board, the Guadalupe Basin Coalition, and the Union Carbide Corporation.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the board to consider an amendment to the Joint Funding Agreement (JFA) for the implementation of the Edwards Aquifer Habitat Conservation Plan (EAHCP) by and between the Edwards Aquifer Authority and the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the San Antonio River Authority, the City of Victoria, the City of San Antonio acting through the City Public Service Board, the Guadalupe Basin Coalition, and the Union Carbide Corporation.
The JFA sets forth the terms and conditions under which the aforementioned entities may contribute funds to the EAA for the implementation of the EAHCP. Collectively, these entities originally pledged to contribute a total of $735,000 annually over the term of the Incidental Take Permit (ITP). As has been previously reported to the committee, GBRA has proposed to reduce their annual contribution from $400,000 to $150,000, and has negotiated the proposed amendment with the parties to the JFA. This reduction would reduce the total annual contribution by the entities who have signed the JFA to $485,000, and will be deemed to be effective as of January 1, 2021. Attached to this summary is the proposed amendment to the JFA, which has been reviewed by legal counsel.
At the January 26 meeting, the Finance/Administrative Committee voted to send this item to the board without a formal recommendation.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
Not applicable.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item supports the EAA’s policy direction to sustain Federally protected aquifer dependent species.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This amendment will reduce the total revenue received from the entities subject to the JFA by $250,000 and was included in the 2021 EAHCP Operating Budget. The total fiscal impact over the remaining term of the ITP is $1.75 million.