Planning department budgets SGMA work and flags wildfire‑evacuation planning costs above $90,000

Planning staff told the board that Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) work and associated contracts will be budgeted in the planning department and that they are coordinating cost shares with Lassen County and West Yost.

The presenter said consultant estimates for required wildfire‑evacuation and environmental‑justice work exceed what the county can fully fund in one fiscal year and that the estimated cost for the evacuation planning is "just under $100,000 but it's over $90,000." To balance the budget, staff proposed reducing the scope by approximately two‑thirds this fiscal year and completing the remainder in the next year; the board discussed using Title 3 or Title 2 funding for portions of the scope.

Staff said an updated MOU (being drafted) will allocate cost shares between Lassen and Modoc and that the county will be the direct contractor with West Yost for the basin work. Supervisors asked for the revised consultant scopes and cost‑share MOU to be returned to the board for approval.