GSA staff seeks Prop 4 funding for evaluation costs and community engagement; Stantec contract to continue via new agreement

Agency staff updated the board on funding requests and near-term staffing/contracting needs tied to implementing the strategic plan and completing the periodic evaluation.

General Manager Maya Simerson told the board the GSA has put in a request for Prop 4 funding aimed at recouping periodic-evaluation costs and to cover additional community engagement expenses — specifically the interactive finder tool on the website, which staff estimated would cost about $4,800 this year. Simerson said the facilitators' support services from Stantec provided through Department of Water Resources funding are scheduled to end this month and staff plan to seek a new contract that could begin as soon as next month and run about a year to continue tribal support, public engagement, and Prop 4 project identification assistance.

Simerson also reported staff are working on five-year budget comparisons and year-over-year analyses to assess reserves and reduce community cost impacts; draft financial reports and FAQs were included in the staff packet. The board accepted the updates and staff will return with follow-up materials as they are ready.