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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWater Rights Strategy for MWC and Other Cities The STEERING COMMITTEE members unanimously agree in writing to extend the term of the Agreement from twelve months of the last date of execution (March 18, 2020) to June 30, 2020. All other Recitals, Definitions, and Terms still apply. In WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their proper officers on the dates noted below. ,37-adra /at cGrfd-0s. ct tr Brad Taylor LJan 9,;020 Jan 29,2020 �,,s,,,,,E.,s ��,;<<„� ,�, , ���,�; Jan 29,2020 Brad Taylor DATE Chris Clayton DATE General Manager City Manager Medford Water Commission City of Central Point Kelly Madding DATE Henry Lawrence DATE City Administrator City Administrator City of Ashland City of Eagle Point Jeff Alvis DATE Aaron Prunty DATE City Administrator City Manager City of Jacksonville City of Phoenix Sandra Spelliscy DATE City Manager City of Talent 2018 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPING A WATER RIGHT STRATEGY FOR ACCESS TO WATER-EXTENSION Page IIof4 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPING A WATER RIGHT STRATEGY FOR ACCESS TO WATER AMONG MEDFORD WATER COMMISSION, CITY OF ASHLAND, CITY OF CENTRAL POINT, CITY OF EAGLE POINT, CIT/ OF JACKSONVILLE, CITY OF PHOENIX, AND CITY OF TALENT This cooperative agreement (hereinafter "Agreement"( is by and among Medford Water Commission and the Cities of Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, and Talent, hereinafter PARTNERS when referred to collectively and MWC, ASHLAND, CENTRAL POINT, EAGLE POINT, JACKSONVILLE, PHOENIX, and TALENT when referred to Individually. RECITALS A. The PARTNERS all own and operate water systems that supply water to their respective customers; B. The PARTNERS recognize the vital importance of providing a reliable source of water to all their respective customers for public health, safety, and welfare and for sustaining economic development; C. The PARTNERS value the Important role each utility plays in meeting the water supply needs of the Rogue Valley Region (RVR(; D. The PARTNERS enter this agreement in a spirit of good will and mutual cooperation, with the understanding that coordinating a Water Right Strategy (WRS) will improve the current and long-term reliability of individual and collective water supplies and Is in the highest public interest; E. The PARTNERS understand that the WRS will document the current understanding of the water rights held by the jurisdictions in the RVR, and provide options to the PARTNERS on how to move forward with securing and allocating water supplies for the RVR that may be in the best interests of the Region as a whole, but it will not bind PARTNERS to any particular direction or action; and F. The PARTNERS recognize that developing a WRS is the first step and that a second step of adopting a WRS would require a second IGA that would then guide the adoption, implementation, and management of the WRS moving forward. It is understood that a second step may not be possible if there is not agreement on how to move forward with the WRS. G. The PARTNERS are willing to fund development of a WRS.' AGREEMENT The PARTNERS agree to the following: I. RECITALS/PURPOSE The above recitals are true and correct and are specifically adopted and incorporated herein as the purpose of this Agreement. If. DEFINITIONS A. ASHLAND means City of Ashland. B. CENTRAL POINT means City of Central Point. C. EAGLE POINT means City of Eagle Point. D. JACKSONVILLE means City of Jacksonville. E. MWC means Medford Water Commission. L6rC"IRATWE AGREEMEM FOR OEVELONRIG L WATER RIGHT STRATEGY FOR MCESS TO WATER Page 12of4 F. 0 W RD means the Oregon Water Resources Department. G. PARTNERS means collectively the Medford Water Commission and the Cities of Ashland, Central Point, Eagle Point, Jacksonville, Phoenix, and Talent. H. PHOENIX means City of Phoenix. I. RVR is an abbreviation for Rogue Valley Region. J. STEERING COMMITTEE means a group comprised of at least a single voting representative from each of the PARTNERS. The Steering Committee function will be to oversee the implementation of this Agreement, to facilitate changes to it necessary to ensure Its continued effectiveness in meeting the needs of the PARTNERS and to settle differences in interpretation of its provisions and execution. K. TALENT means City of Talent. L WRS is an abbreviation for Water Right Strategy. III. RESPONSIBILITIES A. The PARTNERS: 1. Agree to forma STEERING COMMITTEE. 2. Agree not to move forward with any actions to certificate water rights at the MWC Duff Water Treatment Plant intake, except as provided in III.C, until a WRS is completed, or the term of this Agreement ends. 3. Agree to pay the identified, pro -rata costs of the development of a WRS as provided in Section IV (B) of this Agreement. B. MWC: 1. Agrees to award and administer a contract with GSI Water Solutions to develop a WRS as described in Section IV (A) of this Agreement. 2. Agrees to pay monthly invoices to GSI Water Solutions on behalf of the PARTNERS. C. PHOENIX: 1. Agrees not to request expedited processing of its claim of beneficial use under OWRD's Reimbursement Authority Program for Permit S-47672 until a WRS is completed, or the term of this agreement ends, whichever occurs first. 2. Agrees to notify the PARTNERS within a reasonable period of time in the event that OWRD begins review of its pending claim of beneficial use for Permit S-47672. IV. WATER RIGHT STUDY SCOPE AND COST A. The draft outline of the scope of work to develop a WRS is included as Exhibit A. The PARTNERS intend to collaboratively develop and establish a final scope of work after this agreement is executed. IDL COOPEMTMEAGREEMENT FOR OEVELONNG A wATER RIGHT 5 M EGY FOR ACCESS To WATER Page I3of4 B. The PARTNERS agree to share the cost of the WRS on a pro rata basis in proportion to their populations based on Portland State University's 2015 population data, as shown in Exhibit B. Exhibit B indicates preliminary costs. The total cost of the WR5 is expected to be less than $80,000. Final pro -rata cost share will be determined at the time the contract with the consultant is signed. Payments by PARTNERS will be due quarterly and must be remitted to MWC within 30 days of invoice. V. DECISION MAKING PROCESS A. All decisions made under this Agreement, and during the course of the development of the WRS, shall be made through negotiations among the PARTNERS. B. The WRS does not bind any PARTNER(S) to any future action or direction proposed by the WRS. VI. LIABILITY. INDEMNITY AND HOLD HARMLESS A. INDEMNIFICATION. To the extent allowed by the Oregon Constitution and the Oregon Revised Statutes, and not to exceed monetary limits of the Oregon Tort Claim Act, the PARTNERS agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless each other from claims, liability or damages, including attorney fees, arising out of error, omission or as of negligence on the part of the indemnifying party, its officers, agents, or employees in the performance of this Agreement. B. STATUS. In providing the services specified in this Agreement (and any associated services) the PARTNERS are public bodies and maintain their public body status as specified in ORS 30.260. The PARTNERS understand and acknowledge that each retains all immunities and privileges granted them by the Oregon Tort Claims Act and any and all other statutory rights granted as a result of their status as local public bodies. VII. TERM AND TERMINATION The term of the Agreement is twelve months from the last date of execution, unless the STEERING COMMITTEE members unanimously agree in writing to extend that date. Any PARTNER may agree to terminate its participation in the Agreement at any time with 15 -day written notice to the other PARTNERS, provided, however, that once a contract with the selected consultant has been signed, the terminating PARTNER agrees to pay Its full pro -rata share of the cost of the consultant contract to MWC. TO wATrR Page 14of4 In WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their proper officers on the dates noted below. Brad Taylor DATE General Manager Medford Water Commission Kelly Madding DATE City Administrator City of Ashland Jeff Alvis DATE City Manager City of Jacksonville Sandra Spelliscy DATE City Manager City of Talent Chris Clayton ° v City Manager City of Central Point f/eDS/'DDq DATE Henry Lawrence DATE City Administrator City of Eagle Point Aaron Prunty DATE City Manager City of Phoenix Page 14of4 In WITNESS WHEREOF,the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be signed by their proper officers on the dates noted below. ltd Ta�� Brad Taylor(Ja 5,2019) Jan 25,2019 Christopher cyton(Jan 25, 019) Jan 25,2019 Brad Taylor DATE Chris Clayton DATE General Manager City Manager Medford Water Commission City of Central Point Kelly Madding 7/ Kelly Madding(Feb 22, 019) Feb 22,2019 Hu„y Lava, a(Feb22,2019) Feb 22,2019 Kelly Madding DATE Henry Lawrence DATE City Administrator City Administrator City of Ashland City of Eagle Point Jeff leis(Feb 25,2019) Feb 25,2019 Aaron Prunty(Mar 18,20-19) Mar 18,2019 Jeff Alvis DATE Aaron Prunty DATE City Administrator City Manager City of Jacksonville City of Phoenix sands Spelliscy Sandra Spelliscy(Mar 18,2019) Mar 18,2019 Sandra Spelliscy DATE City Manager City of Talent 2018 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FOR DEVELOPING A WATER RIGHT STRATEGY FOR ACCESS TO WATER Exhibit A. Outline of scope of services for Development of a Water Rights strategy For Partner Water Providers Initial Meetings with City Councils a. As an initial step for this project, GSI Water Solutions (Contractor) will attend a meeting to discuss the Water Rights Strategy project with members from the city councils of the Partner Water Providers and the Medford Board of Water Commissioners. K As an optional additional task, Contractor would attend individual council meetings with the city councils for each of the Partner Water Providers and the Medford Board of Water Commissioners, as requested. 2. Water Rights Review a. Contractor will review the water rights held by each of the Partner Water Providers. b. Contractor will work with all the Partner Water Providers to ensure there is agreement and shared understanding of these water rights. 3. Analysis of Demand Projections a. Contractorwill review information provided by each of the Partner Water Providers regarding their demand projections. b. Contractor will meet with each of the Partner Water Providers to discuss their demands. c. Contractor will evaluate the demands and make efforts to align these demands to Identify total demand of all the Partner Water Providers. d. Contractor will develop a memorandum that describes the individual demands of the Partner Water Providers and the total demand of all partners, and that compares those projected demands to anticipated water supply. 4. Water Rights strategy a. Contractor will meet with each of the Partner Water Providers to understand their Interests and priorities related to development of their water rights. b. Contractor will conduct up to 2 meetings with all of the Partner Water Providers to: I. Describe water rights Issues that could affect the water rights strategy for the Duff Water Treatment Plan water rights. ii. Identify shared priorities for the Partner Water Providers. iii. Reach consensus among the Partner Water Providers on the criteria that Contractor will use to prioritize water right certification. iv. Identify, as needed, "new" sources of supply to meet future long-term demands. c. Contractor will develop a draft water rights strategy for review by the Partner Water Providers and will work with the partners to obtain their feedback, and to ensure all the Partner Water Providers concur on the ultimate water rights strategy. d. Contractor will develop a final report documenting the final water rights strategy and the process used to develop that strategy, as well as the steps necessary to implement the identified strategy. The report will Include an executive summary for decision makers. 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